my first doris lessing. after watching 'Adore' on screen and learning it was based on a Lessing short story/novella, i just had to read it! the plot of the story is just about the same as the novel, but - in print - the story is one moment, framed by the envy of a waitress that has seen this family come and go and has always wished to be a part of them. a great point of view as the scene deteriorates when the newly-learned truth is shared with both the other wife, and the grandmothers. a fine pivot point that lets the whole of the story be told without immediate judgement and distain because, afterall, it is already done and the punishment delivered.
the book also contains 3 other stories and i really enjoyed the sci-fi type one as well as the one titled: Victoria and the Staveneys. the author moves the point of view from one character to another and keeps it there - changing the point of the story and keeping you off balance. Lessing write a long, rich description of the sea journey during the war in 'A Love Child' but other parts of the story were sterile in comparison.