Sisters: A Novel

By Prue Leith

Book Overview

Growing up in the outback of South Africa, sensible Poppy realized she would always have to look out for her younger sister, the beautiful, wild, and unreliable Carrie. Years later, in London, Poppy, a stage actress with three children and a charming, handsome husband, never imagines that Carrie, now a sexy and passionate caterer, would try to hurt her. But Carrie can't help herself. She's resentful that Poppy has everything she always wanted: a successful, fulfilling career, a gorgeous husband, a loving family, a house in the country, while Carrie has nothing but debts, one-night-stands, and an uncertain future. Carrie discovers the chink in Poppy's armor, her husband Eduardo, and she sets out to exploit it in the way she knows best. She provides Eduardo with danger, excitement, and great sex - all things that have faded in Eduardo and Poppy's marriage. But in destroying her sister's peace of mind, Carrie risks losing all those who love her. Prue Leith has written a poignant and moving story about the real choices siblings have to make once they grow up and start taking stock of their lives. Sisters is a brilliantly crafted portrait of sibling rivalry, love, and the ultimate betrayal.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312287798
• ISBN13: 9780312287795
• Release Date: November 2002
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.1" x 1.1" x 4.7"

Customer Reviews

A enjoyable read!!

This is a good solid entertaining story. I am an avid reader and some books I enjoy more than others. This is one I really enjoyed. I look forward to reading more by this author.

intriguing sibling rivalry

They grew up on a South African farm that was converted to a tourist game preserve, but relocated to England when their mother became ill. The older sister, the responsible Poppy, marries architect Eduardo, has two children with him, and they adopt a third. She also has cared for her mother while having success in the London theater. She seems to have a perfect life at least in the eyes of her sibling Carrie, who envies her. Carrie believes that she has by comparison accomplished nothing in her personal or professional life though her catering business is going well and she writes about and arranges photo shoots on food. In Paris, Carrie observes Eduardo flirting outrageously with another woman. Though she knows better, she cannot stop herself from going after the obviously bored Eduardo. The opportunity arises on the family's annual pilgrimage to their childhood home in South Africa even though the two participants know how much this will hurt Poppy.SISTERS is an intriguing sibling rivalry starring two wonderful sisters agonizing over mistakes that have caused a schism between them. Though on the surface, Poppy seems like the good seed and Carrie the bad seed, Prue Leith provides depth so that the audience as they learn more about each sister realizes neither is all bad or all good. This critical element makes for a substantial character study even if everything wraps up into a perfectly sweet delicacy when jealousy and ire grip both siblings for most of the novel.Harriet Klausner