This is a fascinating but in many ways unsatisfying novel. It deals with the lives and loves of a group of people living in an East London neighbourhood. We begin, and end with Wolfe and Mona, survivors of the Kindertransport who have lived in Victoria Park for the whole of their 65 years marriage. However Mona has dementia and is living in the past and decisions must be made. We then get snapshots of the lives of some of their neighbours all of which intertwine with each other and with the lives of Mona and Wolfie.
It’s beautifully and humorously written with some fantastic and moving descriptions of love, family friendship - and food. But here comes the unsatisfying bit: , you really really want to know much more about how the lives of these largely sympathetic characters develop. The vignettes of London life are tantalising, but really more like a series of amuses bouches than the main course that is tantalisingly never provided
It’s beautifully and humorously written with some fantastic and moving descriptions of love, family friendship - and food. But here comes the unsatisfying bit: , you really really want to know much more about how the lives of these largely sympathetic characters develop. The vignettes of London life are tantalising, but really more like a series of amuses bouches than the main course that is tantalisingly never provided