A review by jessalynn_librarian
Mariana by Monica Dickens

4.0

Here, the story of a girl growing up is book-ended by World War II. We meet her as she waits for news of her husband, then follow her through her girlhood and the beginning of adulthood, until we meet her back where we began. There's not much in the way of action, but this never stops the story from being fascinating. Mary is not always likable but somehow she manages to be sympathetic the whole way through. The characters are wonderfully drawn and the book never takes itself too seriously, make for a solid, leisurely read. This is the kind of book that doesn't demand to be read, but once you pick it up, it's easy to get stuck in its world.