The opening chapters set up a number of topics no doubt expanded upon as the book progresses - bereavement, an ageing parent, an as yet unfulfilled longing for a child, relationships in later life, etc. The differences between Martha and Willow, like in so many other books, are perhaps a little too obviously constructed - hair colour, character, and so on. The character who seemed most interesting was their mother Naomi and her independent approach to life.