Amy is a contented child in a wealthy family in 1916. The book is about her growing up, and this plot intertwines with that of a miner struggling to make ends meet in a small village. Some harrowing experiences during the wars, but a hopeful future emerges. Mostly pleasant to read, if nothing special. ( )

I wonder if I should create a "Hated" collection? Because this book would surely be my first!

I'm nearly convinced this author just read "Pride and Prejudice" and say, "Hey, I could do that!" and tried her hand at a "Coming of age story" about a group of different class people -- two sisters and a miner and his wife -- cira the 1920s in London and Wales, respectively.

Early, early on in the book there is a sex scene, and then as you progress on and the characters grow up and marry there is another ... you know it's in there. Me being me, after I had grown bored of reading about the goings on of Amy and her wanting to grow up and be different I went looking for more sex scenes ... and unfortunately, I suppose, I came across one. It was a graphic, horrid, anal rape between a husband and wife, and when the wife said, "You had no right!" the husband replied, "You're my wife, get over it. I like it that way." I went to bed crying and with an upset and sick stomach. It was disgusting.

When I woke up the next morning, and saw the book on my desk, I looked at it and said to myself, "Do I really care how this book progresses?" and the answer was a resounding "No!" I don't care ... not at all. So I'm through reading it ... ( )