A SENSE OF BELONGING

An offhand remark by a servant informs 16-year-old Elizabeth Monkton that her mother is not quite that, at least biologically. Through her efforts to learn the identity of the woman who gave her life, then to find her, Elizabeth experiences a string of disappointments in love and loyalty. Jean Simmons brings expertise with dialect to this Scottish tale, set before and during WWII. Her characters are believable enough, although sometimes their portrayals slide into one another, causing a bit of confusion. Her men are somewhat stylized, and her lower-class women sound more ignorant than real. Narrative passages glide effortlessly along, with neither glaring problems nor shining moments. R.P.L. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/NOV 00]