Joanna Trollope is a master of domestic drama. If, like me, you are a fan of her novels, then The Soldier’s Wife will not disappoint.  Alexa Riley is the soldier’s wife in question. She is married to Dan, an army major, who as the novel opens, is just about to return from a six month tour of duty in Afghanistan. Alexa has a daughter, Isabel, from an earlier marriage as well as twin three-old girls.  She also has a good friend in Jack Dearglove as well an extended family made up of her parents plus Dan’s father, George, and grandfather, Eric.

The Soldier's Wife by Joanna Trollope

Alexa is frustrated by Dan’s seeming unwillingness to communicate. Although he is back from Afghanistan, it feels like he is not really there. He spends too much time with army colleagues, too much time with his friend Gus. Alexa is frustrated that the army seems always to come first. When Isabel gets into trouble at boarding school, Dan puts an army family day ahead of going to see the headmistress. For her part, however, Alexa doesn’t try to reschedule the appointment. Each sees the situation only from their own point of view.

Yet, this is a couple that loves each other and loves their family. For his part, Dan tries to protect Alexa from the horrors of war that he has witnessed. His father, and more especially his grandfather, both of whom have had military careers,  understand this but they also like and ‘esteem’ Alexa and are anxious to help when it appears that the marriage may be in trouble.

This is a novel where all the characters are well intentioned. It’s a novel where family wants what is best for family. It’s quintessential Trollope – gentle, insightful, sympathetic. If you liked her earlier novels, then I think you’ll like The Soldier’s Wife.

Part of the joy of reading is sharing a book with a friend. We like to talk about what we read. And, for working women like myself, buying books is a whole lot easier since the arrival of the Amazon Kindle. It means we can purchase books on the go and I don’t mind if they’re not always better value than print so long as I can get the book I want, when I want it. Of course I’m cross when the Kindle edition costs more than the paperback but if I want the book, provided I have the choice, I’ll sometimes bite the bullet and pay more for the convenience. Afterall, I’m saving on parking charges and I’m definitely saving on time. Much as I love browsing in a good bookshop, I can live without it if it means there are more hours in the day – especially if I can spend a few of those hours reading. But I do resent not being able to pass on my books to friends and family. Gone are the days when my niece could pop in and plunder my shelves for the latest batch of fiction. Gone is the ability to share books on a girly week away with my sister. Why? Because most publishers are not enabling the ‘loan’ facility when they publish a Kindle edition. They  really do need to get over their reluctance on this point and recognise that readers like me who purchase a lot of books expect to be able to treat these purchases as we would treat the print product. Does it mean they’re going two copies where they used to sell one? No it doesn’t. My niece’s budget for purchasing doesn’t stretch to the latest titles hot from the press which is why she enjoys plundering my shelves. But she’s a reader and – long term she’s a very good prospective customer for fiction publishers. Why frustrate digital readers when reader behaviour is so well understood? Surely this can’t be pursuit of quick buck? Surely, it’s in your interest to satisfy readers’ needs. Surely if it’s easier to buy and share, readers like me are likely to buy and share more than ever. I’m not even reading everything I purchase, but I’m still purchasing and not complaining. So, why not let our lend my Kindle editions like we do our paperbacks and hard backs?  After all, you need  readers as much as we need you.

Mr Darcy, Mr Bingley or Mr Wickham – Who would you rather come home to? Practically every bookish woman will know instantly which she prefers and that each of these gentlemen is a character in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. For most, Mr Darcy is the romantic hero and we cheer when Elizabeth marries him – albeit after spending only a hours in his company before their engagement as PD James wryly observes.

While it seems to have divided opinion amongst critics and bloggers, Death Comes to Pemberley struck me as a wonderful sequel to Pride & Prejudice. Wry, Austenesque, funny, clever, playful with irony, tongue in cheek – it moves the story on and developing already familiar characters and keeping them in character. Lizzy, Darcy, Wickham, Lydia, Jane and Bingley, Mr Bennett – they’re all here in a jolly good mystery that I found thoroughly enjoyable. So much so, I’ve been purchasing more PD James this week. I’m also taking a look at Lynn Shepherd’s Murder at Mansfield Park – of which, more anon.