Throwback Thursday: The Lark Shall Sing
Published in 1955 by Elizabeth Cadell, The Lark Shall Sing is a delightful novel that intertwines the story of a family with a romance.
After their parents' deaths, the Wayne siblings moved away from home for a year, the older ones into the workforce and military, the youngest with an aunt and uncle. One year to postpone making any big decisions and then they were to come back again as a family. However, situations change in a year, and engaged Lucille, the oldest, now plans to sell the family home. What she expects to be a straight-foward move--put the house on the market and move on--quickly grows complicated as each of her siblings finds their way home, bringing with them acquaintances met along the journey. Soon Lucille finds herself facing emotions and realizations that make her question her once-solid plans for her future.
I adored this book the first time I read it and am now proud to be the owner of a secondhand version that once graced the shelves of a high school library. No, it doesn't have any earth-shattering viewpoints on social issues but it does delve into the on-going questions of what makes a home a home and who belongs to our families.
With six different members of the Wayne family plus their friends that include a movie star, a retired nurse, and an Italian traveling salesman, most readers will find a character to connect with. Some of the characters are far more developed than others but I'm not surprised by that with the size of the cast vs the length of the book. Each character is clearly his or her own person though. I was never confused about who was who even with a dozen players to keep straight.
The Lark Shall Sing is a warm, light read that I hope you enjoy if you get the chance :)
After their parents' deaths, the Wayne siblings moved away from home for a year, the older ones into the workforce and military, the youngest with an aunt and uncle. One year to postpone making any big decisions and then they were to come back again as a family. However, situations change in a year, and engaged Lucille, the oldest, now plans to sell the family home. What she expects to be a straight-foward move--put the house on the market and move on--quickly grows complicated as each of her siblings finds their way home, bringing with them acquaintances met along the journey. Soon Lucille finds herself facing emotions and realizations that make her question her once-solid plans for her future.
I adored this book the first time I read it and am now proud to be the owner of a secondhand version that once graced the shelves of a high school library. No, it doesn't have any earth-shattering viewpoints on social issues but it does delve into the on-going questions of what makes a home a home and who belongs to our families.
With six different members of the Wayne family plus their friends that include a movie star, a retired nurse, and an Italian traveling salesman, most readers will find a character to connect with. Some of the characters are far more developed than others but I'm not surprised by that with the size of the cast vs the length of the book. Each character is clearly his or her own person though. I was never confused about who was who even with a dozen players to keep straight.
The Lark Shall Sing is a warm, light read that I hope you enjoy if you get the chance :)
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