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La's Orchestra Saves The World
Alexander McCall Smith
This tale of WW II in England, as seen through the eyes of Lavender, or La, is a reminder of what England endured at home during those horrible years.
La grew up in Surry, with loving parents, but in the shadow of death. Her mother was ill for a long time, under going many treatments, but finally died when La was 15. She was raised by her father and a housekeeper and was fortunate enough to be accepted at Cambridge - Girton to be exact.
She began her studies of English literature in 1929 and joined a musical society where she played the flute in a quartet. There she met Richard Stone, who pursued her relentlessly, and after six weeks proposed marriage. La, unlike the other girls, was not looking for a husband, but finally was convinced and they married after she left Cambridge. Richard was from a wealthy wine merchanting family, with warehouses in Bordeaux and Douro. They lived in London in a big house, traveled and did the concert and shopping routine -La wanted to get a job, but Richard said why? So that was that.
After two years of marriage and no children she consulted a doctor and found that there would be no babies for her and told Richard. Then the unthinkable happened. Richard left her for a woman in France and did not tell her, it was left to his father to do that and he and his wife took La's side. She decided to divorce him. The father gave La Richard's share of the business and a home they owned in Suffolk that they never used. La wanted to go to the country and have a garden and so it was settled.
It is now 1939 and the bombs begin coming - Richard is dying in France and she is kind enough to go with his father to France to say goodbye. Now England has the war to fight and stands alone against Hitler and even in La's village everyone is involved. La finally decides to organize a small orchestra to cheer the villagers up and draws amateur musicians from a neighboring RAF base as well. She meets Feliks - a Polish refugee who had been a pilot and also played the flute. He joins the orchestra and La's feelings for Feliks surprise her.
This is a gentle story of human kindness, of England's mood of survival, and defiance, of politics and hope and of love. Does La's orchestra save the world - only those who play in it and those who attend the concerts think so.
Alexander McCall Smith's newest novel is unique; totally different from his other books, but filled with the warmth, humor and healing powers of friendships, music and love. The characters from the village, The countryside and the RAF base are priceless and paint a picture it will be hard to forget!
La is hard to keep up with - after the war she even finds a career in London and divides her time between London and Suffolk. Life goes on and its up to the reader to see the results.
Published:
Pantheon Books
A Division of Randon House, Inc.
New York
Copyright:
© 2008 by Alexander McCall Smith
Reviewed:
02/10/10 - 293
Copyright:
© 2010 by Joan G. Smith
293
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