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Book Review of Pearls

Pearls
Pearls
Author: Celia Brayfield
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Hardcover
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Story of Strong Women and then some..., August 18, 2005
Reviewer: Ruth A. Caldwell "Highland Princess Mum" (Alameda, CA United States)

Two daughters, born in the late 1940's, feeling somehow they never quite fit in with their family nor their life in London. We follow them as young girls in boarding school through to motherhood. Cathy, ever compliant, the perfect student and Monty, her younger sister, ever rebellious getting into every scrape possible.
If you enjoy stories about strong women, you'll enjoy the mystery surrounding these two as they attempt to determine what made their father commit suicide; where did the two perfect, priceless, pink pearls come from and WHY?
There is a lot of angst and suffering of life that I couldn't possibly relate to, even though the girls were in my age bracket. That actually made the entire story more alluring as they grew into their own adult lives and untangled their fascinating family legacy.
This old fashioned story (written in 1987)is unfortunately full of exploitation and racism; about two women starting their lives in a hut in Malaya. Cathy to become a glamorous leader of international finance, Monty a rock star adored by millions of fans, then both finally meeting the Princess Ayeshah; a fabulous beauty... who is she really?
I look forward to more by Celia Brayfield.