While I’ve been reading The Age of Innocence, I’ve also been reading Daughters-in-law by Joanna Trollope. I brought the book home because I thought it might be a good choice if I was in the mood for something very different, perhaps light.

I had seen Trollope’s books around but never took a serious look at them.

Daughters-in-law was quite entertaining. It’s the story of Anthony and Rachel Brinkley and their three sons, who are now all married. As Anthony and Rachel enter their golden years, Rachel starts to question her role in the family dynamic. Her sons no longer belong to her. They are husbands now, not children.

It’s a very intelligent book about the normal ins and outs of life. There’s not one theme here explored that you won’t recognize or haven’t already experienced. But it’s done in such a mature, enlightening way with great writing to boot. I’m very tempted to pick up some of her other novels once I’m finished reading this one.

Amazon describes her as the “master of domestic drama.” A very nice description.