Bittersweet

McCullough's (The Thorn Birds) recent work contains the elements of fairy tales—a wicked stepmother, a beautiful maiden, three slighted sisters, and a wealthy stranger. The Latimer sisters of Corunda, New South Wales—two sets of twins, Edda and Grace, Tufts and Kitty—struggle against all the restraints, prohibitions, laws, and prejudices of 1920s Australia. There is a sad counterpoint for every happy event in their lives, but the four sisters remain devoted to one another in spite of the expectations and pressures of the outside world. Interspersed with the plot is a lot of information about medicine and politics Down Under in the 1920s. Reader Cat Gould's lilting Australian cadence will carry listeners through the book, whether they like the fractured fairy tale plot or not. Her engaging voice, assorted accents, and admirable pacing are fun to listen to and bring charm to the story.