Book review by Tracey
Written in 1984, this story begins with Lily Greenwood locked in her room to keep her from running away to become an actress. The year is 1887, and Lily’s very Victorian mercantile family cannot conceive of allowing their daughter to pursue a profession that they perceive practically amounts to prostitution. Lily’s younger brother helps her escape and she’s off on the adventure of her life. The whole story spans Lily’s time on through to her grandchildren’s adulthood. It spans three wars and addresses anti-Semitism through several characters. Lily’s husband owns many jewels, but the crowning glory is a necklace called the Diamond Waterfall. It is referenced throughout the story as a burden on the women of the family, who all learn to hate it. Parts of the tale are meant to be shocking. I won’t go into those. I am apparently immune to this kind of shock or else those parts are not very shocking. It was a pretty good read though, and worth a look if you’re after that epic type novel.

Tracey.