Many books by great writers that trace the whole lives of their subjects capture your imagination and emotions effectively, but this is something special. There's something in the way Bennett writes that feels honest and real: he doesn't take the easy options in storyline and is never sentimental. As a result the characters in this novel ring true. You never think, as you may with lesser writers, 'that wouldn't happen, Sophia wouldn't do that' instead you think 'Why did she do that?' and it sets you thinking, filling in the gaps from your own experience and thus personalising the experience. The characters aren't different or special: they could be anyone, they are us... and you'll undoubtedly recognise aspects of your own life somewhere in them.
In the final section of this book Bennett asks the question 'what is life for?', and I think gets as close as you can to answering it.
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