From Publishers Weekly
Maitland sublimely executed blend of realism and magic begins as each of a trio of women--a grandmother, her daughter and granddaughter--pauses in exhaustion after a "very tiring day." Their respective pasts are then examined, gradually exposing the events that led to this moment. Rachel Petherington is a septuagenarian, a widowed paleontologist who fearfully changes her long-held Darwinist notions about dinosaurs to embrace the theory that their extinction occurred catastrophically, thus rendering unsound her previous ideas of a more recently evolved "dragon type." Her rebellious daughter, Phoebe, who lives with her and finds gardening more fulfilling than the mathematics career her parents expected, is threatened by breast cancer. Phoebe's illegitimate 15-year-old daughter, Maggie, is on the verge of womanhood but, to cross that boundary, must challenge the power of Fenna, a possessive dragon that has been her undisclosed companion for 10 years. Maitland expertly peels away layers of mystery and misunderstanding, allowing the novel to come full circle in a quite satisfying way.
From Library Journal
This new novel by British author Maitland (Telling Tales , Riverrun, 1985; Virgin Territory , LJ 3/15/86) is an accessible and up-to-date feminist tale. Rachel, her daughter Phoebe, and her granddaughter Maggie share a house in London; each is a strong woman facing a personal turning point. Maitland recounts each woman's life history, fashioning a compassionate portrait of the experiences women face in modern British society. Elements of fantasy are woven into the text, as are reflections on the changing roles of women as their lives move forward. We watch the three protagonists come together at the end, conquering their personal differences with love and respect. Highly recommended.
Maitland sublimely executed blend of realism and magic begins as each of a trio of women--a grandmother, her daughter and granddaughter--pauses in exhaustion after a "very tiring day." Their respective pasts are then examined, gradually exposing the events that led to this moment. Rachel Petherington is a septuagenarian, a widowed paleontologist who fearfully changes her long-held Darwinist notions about dinosaurs to embrace the theory that their extinction occurred catastrophically, thus rendering unsound her previous ideas of a more recently evolved "dragon type." Her rebellious daughter, Phoebe, who lives with her and finds gardening more fulfilling than the mathematics career her parents expected, is threatened by breast cancer. Phoebe's illegitimate 15-year-old daughter, Maggie, is on the verge of womanhood but, to cross that boundary, must challenge the power of Fenna, a possessive dragon that has been her undisclosed companion for 10 years. Maitland expertly peels away layers of mystery and misunderstanding, allowing the novel to come full circle in a quite satisfying way.
From Library Journal
This new novel by British author Maitland (Telling Tales , Riverrun, 1985; Virgin Territory , LJ 3/15/86) is an accessible and up-to-date feminist tale. Rachel, her daughter Phoebe, and her granddaughter Maggie share a house in London; each is a strong woman facing a personal turning point. Maitland recounts each woman's life history, fashioning a compassionate portrait of the experiences women face in modern British society. Elements of fantasy are woven into the text, as are reflections on the changing roles of women as their lives move forward. We watch the three protagonists come together at the end, conquering their personal differences with love and respect. Highly recommended.
