"Absolutely and Forever" by Rose Tremain

This is a short novel published last year that was recommended to me by a friend with very sound literary taste.

It starts in the 1950s and runs on for twenty years or so as the protagonist - a poshish British girl called Marianne - enters her late teens and goes on into adulthood. It is superbly written, being peopled with wholly believable characters. The dialogue is completely brilliant and is used superbly to convey their natures.

It is very funny at points, but at heart it is a bit of a tearjerker really being the story of a woman's inability to shake off an abiding and near obsessive love for her first boyfriend.

I have to say, that I found the ending a touch disappointing. But in all other respects I found this to be a beautifully crafted and highly entertaining little novel. Definitely a good read.