HEARTS AND FLOWERS
THE PRODIGAL HEART, by Susan Ertz; Hodder and Stoughton. English price, 10/6. THE UNFAMILIAR NAME, by Stella Morton; Hodder and Stoughton. English price, 10/6. STARS IN THE MORNING, by Vian C. aoey Hodder and Stoughton, English price, HESE three novels are for readers who like their stories not too deep or serious, with the main problems at least on the way to’ solution at the end. In The Prodigal Heart, Medwin Blair, secretary to two charity workers, Mrs. Gresham and Miss Lyddon, both of whom want the greatest share of her affection and friendship, tries to hold a balance between them. The persistent Miss Lyddon is in some ways the most interesting character in the book; and the romantic situation is complex, since her nephew (a son of a brother she hates because his interference destroyed her chance of marriage) and Medwin fall in love. Medwin, herself a little too good to be true, has a family not without problems of its own. There is some hurried tidying up on the last few pages, but the author wisely leaves a question mark over the future. The Untamiliar Name is the story. of a Christmas reunion at Mascalls, home of the Desmonds, close to the pottery that seems likely soon to pass out of the family. Some of the family are far from carefree when they arrive for the annual festivities, but as readers discover through the character of the mother, Jenny, upsets in human relations are no new thing, and sanity and time heal a good many wounds. The story is interesting and the emotions of some of the characters more earthy
than in many novels of this kind; though, as might be expected, the future of the potteries is linked with a fairly conventional love story. Michael Cameron is getting into the top bracket in the film world when (early in Stars in the Morning) he inherits Rest Harrow stud farm. Will he sell, or risk his film. career? Michael decides to sell, but changes his mind when a valuable mare dies one night. (This is vividly described.) Would the mare’s colt be good enough to win the Derby? Of the sudsidiary stories the courting of Mabel and Ernie, two of the staff, will for many readers make the most enjoyable pages of the book. The author’s style can be irritating (‘‘the silence grew a club foot, ugly and impossible"), but generally he gets briskly on with the job.
F. A.
J.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19510727.2.26.5
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 25, Issue 630, 27 July 1951, Page 15
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416HEARTS AND FLOWERS New Zealand Listener, Volume 25, Issue 630, 27 July 1951, Page 15
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Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
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