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Opening line: They were young, educated, and both virgins on this, their wedding night, and they lived in a time when a conversation about sexual difficulties was plainly impossible.

Florence and Edward are desperately and completely in love, but relative strangers. In an era when open discussion about intimate relations is simply not done, they are left to fumble their way in the dark, both literally and figuratively. They’ve had the courtship, the lovely wedding, the raucous send-off by family
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Tweller83
I don't know. This was interesting and I did like it, it was just sad that they didn't feel comfortable enough to just talk things out with each other. I get why they couldn't, but overall it was just sort of sad. I feel that is the theme of all literary fiction; just sad lives told by authors. I didn't have a favorite character and I guess the more memorable scene was her on the beach when she thinks she is going to tell him how she feels and then just doesn't. I don't think I would recommend t ...more
Nancy
Apr 08, 2014 rated it really liked it
Shelves: literature
Florence and Edward are on their wedding night, and both are terrified of what that means. It is 1962, the sexual revolution is still in the future and both have very little idea of what is expected. This story is so tragic - it's a parable of misunderstanding, repression, inhibition and the damage that can be wrought due to lack of communication. I knew just from reputation that the book was not going to end happily, but I didn't imagine how I would feel. It just seemed such a waste, all in the ...more
Barbara
Feb 12, 2009 rated it really liked it
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Feb 12, 2009 rated it really liked it
Brooke
May 16, 2009 rated it liked it
Olivia
Aug 11, 2009 rated it liked it
Shelves: fiction
Lindsy
Jul 05, 2010 rated it really liked it
Charlene
Jul 26, 2010 rated it liked it
Nathalie
Jun 05, 2011 marked it as to-read
Shelves: e-reader
Nancy
Oct 09, 2011 rated it liked it
Shelves: fiction, book-club, 2011
Kim B
Apr 05, 2012 rated it liked it
Desta
Nov 02, 2012 marked it as to-read
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Dec 30, 2012 marked it as to-read
Colleen Scidmore
May 30, 2013 marked it as to-read
Gemma Carlisle
Jul 22, 2013 rated it really liked it
Katt Hansen
Oct 22, 2013 marked it as to-read
Megan
Dec 13, 2014 marked it as to-read
Lauren
Feb 18, 2016 marked it as to-read
rissa
Jul 12, 2018 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Susan
May 25, 2018 marked it as to-read
Laura
Jun 30, 2018 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Rachael
Dec 27, 2018 marked it as to-read
Shelves: tbr
Chrissie
Jan 02, 2019 marked it as to-read
Samantha
Jun 18, 2019 rated it really liked it