Over the Wall
Trisha FitzGerald-PetriContemporary romance
Available from Wings ePress
ISBN: 918-1-59705-179-8
October 2007
| Finnula Ginnane met Lillian McDermott on their first day at Castleglen Park School for Young Ladies in the early 1970s. Lilly, whose mother had died of breast cancer and whose studious father loved her dearly but had no idea how to handle her, promptly named her new friend Fudge. Fudge had a family: mother, father, and four sisters. She also had an aunt who recognized the crowded conditions on their farm and funded Fudge's education.
Lilly was wealthy and wild, Fudge far more cautious and less affluent. Their symbiotic relationship endured. The wall in the title separates the prim and proper school from the working class. The Teddy boys, looking to cause a little trouble, climb the wall and lead the girls into adventure. Actually, Lilly has the adventures and Fudge bails her out. Years later, Fudge is still saving Lilly from herself. She wants to lose her own virginity, admiring the abandon with which Lilly seems to greet life. But Lilly has her demons as well. Lilly's bookish father and brother Julian figure prominently in the story. And Fudge's mother, a content wife with great intelligence, finds herself wanting more. The story covers decades, exploring class and morals in Ireland. The author wisely includes a glossary of Irish expressions, many of which are mysterious to the American ear. Fitzgerald-Petri does a wonderful job exploring human relationships and dreams. I could not put the book down until I discovered her plans for all the major characters. An enjoyable read.
Overall rating:
Reviewer: Lynn Bushey |
