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The Very Thought of You

by Rosie Alison
Washington Square: S. & S. Jul. 2011. c.336p. ISBN 9781451613971. pap. $15. F
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In 1939, Roberta Sands sends her young daughter, Anna, off to the English countryside when it appears as if England might be drawn into war with Germany. The rest of Anna's life is shaped by her experiences during the years she spends at the Yorkshire estate of Thomas and Elizabeth Ashton—the unwitting part she plays as an accomplice to a love affair and the unraveling of a marriage, her longing to be reunited with her mother, and the happiness she finds on the estate despite the war raging across Europe. Originally published in Great Britain and shortlisted for the 2010 Orange Prize, Alison's debut is a haunting, meandering tale of the unforeseen repercussions of war as her cast of characters search for love, at times finding it in all the wrong places.
VERDICT This relationship-heavy novel may appeal to World War II historical fiction buffs, though very little war action is described. Comparisons might be drawn to Ian McEwan's Atonement. There is plenty for book groups to discuss; a reading group guide is included. [See Prepub Alert, 12/20/10.]
Reviewed by Julie Pierce, Fort Myers-Lee Cty. P.L., FL , Jun 15, 2011
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