Holly Tree

ISBN: 0727869337

Author: Thorne, Nicola

Condition: Used

About the Author Born in South Africa. Nicola Thorne was educated at the LSE. She lived for many years in London, but now lives in Dorset. She is the author of over forty novels. Product Description The new novel from the ever-popular author  - Sasha, the attractive and inspiring tutor of an evening class, is tired of her sterile relationship. Her students include Caroline, a soldiers wife, desperately anxious about her husband serving in Afghanistan; Roger, recently divorced and lonely; Pauline, who although successful in business, is afraid of being left on the shelf; and the talented but unsettling Martin, who mysteriously comes and goes. Over the course of a single year, the lives of all the students become interwoven in often surprising and unexpected ways. From Booklist Popular British novelist Thornes latest centers on painting teacher Sasha and her beginning watercolor students, exploring their connections in and out of class. When Caroline, a soldiers wife, is disconsolate about her husbands return to Afghanistan, Sasha helps pull her out of her funk. Moira, a middle-aged widow, becomes close to lonely, retired teacher Alice and turns to her when her daughters family hits a rough patch. Though Roger and Pauline dont discover artistic talent, they find romance after some chance extracurricular meetings. Sasha has some drama of her own when her longtime partner leaves her, and she takes up with Martin, an aloof, older man in her class. Thornes title reflects the holly tree as a symbol both of friendship and of the holidays, which play a pivotal role. Rather than dig deeply into the story lines, Thorne offers interesting vignettes, making for a pleasing read. --Aleksandra Walker