The Photograph (Paperback)

As Glyn sets about digging up the past, delving into the personal life of the woman he married, he begins to realise how little he knew about her. Who was this woman he had shared his life with?

Penelope Lively's book is fast-paced and suspenseful. It explores the notions of love, fidelity, grief and the relationship between history and personal memory. The characters are well drawn and believable, and the plot is littered with enough twists and turns to keep the reader intrigued throughout.

While it is no literary masterpiece, it's a relatively simple story well told, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

I found The Photograph an honest and fascinating insight into the many layers of people's lives . If you've ever remembered something about a special day , and a friend has perceived it completely differently , then you will identify with it . I would recommend you read this if you enjoy the minutiae of ordinary people's lives and loves .

Penelope Lively was born in Cairo in 1933, and moved to England when she was 12. She read Modern History in college and went on to write 16 books. She won the prestigious Booker Award for her novel, "Moon Tiger". She is a talent to be reckoned with.

Kath is an enigma. She is beautiful, striking, and when she enters a room, everyone turns to stare. But she was a simple person, and she had a darkness that many over looked. Many did not see beyond the surface, and Kath did not share her inner most feelings with those she loved the most. Kath was the wife of Glyn Peters and sister of Elaine. The two people who apparently knew her the least.

Glyn Peters comes across a photograph of Kath and Nick, her brother-in-law, holding hands in a loving pose. This photo is found after Kath has died, from a suicide, that most of her family does not understand. Glyn undertakes a search to try and find out about the Kath that he didn't know. He first meets with Oliver. Oliver is a past business partner with Glyn. Oliver, it seems has taken the photograph and had sent it to Nick who gave it to Kath. Oliver is not very forthcoming, except to agree, that yes, there was an affair between Kath and Nick, long over and he feels not too serious.

Elaine, the sister of Kath, is the second person on Glyn's list. A seemingly cold person, who plays things close to her vest. Elaine is understandably upset and confronts her husband, and she asks him to leave, at once. Nick is astounded, but he leaves under duress. He moves in with Polly, their daughter, and appears to go through a deep depression. The situation with Polly is not to her liking. Her father does nothing, and even though she loves him, he is in her way. She is young and has a life to lead. Nick is too much, and she tries to mediate with her parents.

Glyn finally moves on to Mary Packard, Kath's best friend. Mary has the best perspective and knows her friend the best. She shares with Glyn several insights and information that Glyn had no knowledge of and these insights are disturbing.

Elaine and Oliver also visit with Mary Packard. Elaine is taken up short as was Glyn. Mary's vision of Kath is not the sister that Elaine knew. Oliver understood Kath better and is not surprised by the relevations. He and Mary get on well and sit into the night talking about their friend, Kath.

This novel gives us insight into the humans we live with. We really may not know the people we love. We live our lives trying to build our careers, sometimes in isolation, sometimes forgetting how much we love each other. Each day is a gift, and we do not know what lies ahead. Pay attention to your loves, people. Great book, great writer. prisrob