Days of Grace
Nora Lynch is sent to the countryside at the start of World War II. She is selected by Grace Rivers and her family to come live with them in the rectory in Kent. Nora’s desolation at leaving her mother in London soon changes to joy and wonder at the situation in which she finds herself, with soft blankets, what she sees as incredible amounts of food, stimulating lessons given by Grace’s father, and the pleasures of the land. No longer are there only the sharp angles and corners of the city to look at. Nora becomes increasingly aware of the tensions between Grace’s parents and the effect that this is having on Grace. Grace has become the center of her world, and Nora struggles with her feelings, which have moved beyond friendship. But then something happens that allows her to stay with the Rivers family no longer.
Grace’s story takes place both in the past and the present, in which her existence is attenuated. She spends most of her time just looking out her window. She becomes aware of a young woman sitting at the window of the house across the street. One day, she notices that this woman is missing, and becomes uneasy when the entire day passes with no sight of her. Nora girds herself and ventures across the street to find out what has happened, and thus begins the touching relationship between Nora and Rose.
Chapters set in the past and in the present are skillfully interspersed, with hints in one making readers long to find out what happened in the other. This is a first novel, yet it is written with the assurance of an experienced writer. I felt privileged to spend time with Nora and Grace. This is a gem of a novel.
