RAISING A FAMILY SHE REPLIES, "I'D RATHER GIVE BIRTH TO HERDS OF ELEPHANTS."
OVER AND OVER SYLVIE PLEADS WITH JULIENNE TO LEAVE THE CONVENT, AND EACH TIME JULIENNE TRIES FUTILELY TO EXPLAIN WHY SHE CANNOT. REJECTED FOR A FINAL TIME, AND REALIZING THERE WILL BE NO MORE HOPE, SYLVIE KILLS HERSELF. WHAT MAKES THIS NOVEL SO MOVING AND CONVINCING IS NOT ONLY THE EXCELLENT WRITING AND INTERESTING STORY BUT THE FACT THAT THE AUTHORESS DIED BY HER OWN HAND AFTER COMPLETING THE BOOK.
133. STRANGE ARE THE WAYS OF LOVE BY LESLEY EVANS. FAWCETT, 1959. (GOLD MEDAL.)
WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE.
YOUNG GIRL GOES TO VILLAGE, MEETS GIRL, LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT. OUR HEROINE ALSO MEETS VILLAGE GUITAR-PLAYING MALE. LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT ON HIS PART. OUR TWO GIRLS HAVE LENGTHY LOVE AFFAIR (TWO DAYS) THEN OUR HEROINE GOES INTO ARMS OF GUITAR PLAYER.
134. CASE OF THE VILLAGE TRAMP BY JONATHAN CRAIG. FAWCETT, 1959. (GOLD MEDAL.)
YOUNG SEXY GAL FOUND DEAD WEARING NOTHING BUT A FAKE DIAMOND TIARA AND A CHASTITY BELT. LOTS OF MALE SUSPECTS AND TWO FEMALE SUSPECTS. A PAIR OF LESBIANS (FRIENDS, NOT LOVERS) HAVE BOTH BEEN CHASING THE GIRL. ONE OF THEM IS SUSPECT FOR A WHILE, IN SPITE OF HARD BOILED TALK, THE AUTHOR IS NOT VITUPERATIVE TOWARD THE LESBIANS. GOOD MYSTERY.
135. THE HOUSE IN THE MULBERRY TREE BY ZENA GARRETT. RANDOM HOUSE, 1959.
ALTHOUGH PSYCHIATRIC OPINION INSISTS THAT THE EMOTIONS OF PRE-TEENAGE CHILDREN DO NOT CONSTITUTE VARIANCE, STUDENTS OF VARIANT LITERATURE WILL ENJOY THIS NOVEL. LONELY, UNWANTED AND UNLOVED, 11-YEAR-OLD ELIZABETH HENDERSON'S LOVE AND DEVOTION FOR A MARRIED WOMAN WHO LIVES NEXT DOOR IS TOLD WITH GREAT COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING. HER CRUEL MOTHER SEES SOME INNOCENT CARESSES BETWEEN THE TWO AND FORBIDS THE GIRL TO SEE HER FRIEND AGAIN. THE ENDING GIVES SOME HOPE FOR THE CHILD'S FUTURE.
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