what a joy to revisit this novel! i listened to it on tape (yes, that long ago!) when my children were young and i loved it to bits. when you love a book, you don't want it to end, but here was an exception. it ended so perfectly, and so poetically, and just like the most natural end bracket; it just fit.
i was happy to read it this time - savoring all the words and pausing to reread the truly wonderful stuff (you don't get that chance when you listen to it). i read all the added stuff too - the introduction, the note from her daughter, the author's own mini-essay asking people to fall in love with life. all of it (the extras) made me nod my head, and smile, and love the book - and francie nolan - even more.