It was a lovely story that was well written, but I could have lived without reading the story. I appreciate the reason the author wrote the book but there was nothing profound about the story. It was a fast read and a lovely book to read on a rainy day. ( )

Sad, sweet, and well written. ( )

This author's prose is sublime. As several (back cover) book reviews enthuse: " she limns her tale with beautiful evocations of the loneliness of childhood [also evoking a wonderful sense of place in Scotland!] the shimmery quality of ghostly spirits, and the fear & excitement of war time" (San Francisco Chronicle Book Review) ANd "what is extraordinary about this novel is the fretwork of feeling among its unorthodox cast of characters...Livesey has written a ghost story, of sorts...and, if it moves you, the end will send you back to the beginning" (The New Yorker). We live Eva McEwen's life, moving back & forth throughout her years, slowly learning to appreciate the" 'companions' -a woman and a girl- invisible to everyone else" as they assist her, provoke her, and always re-emerge, no matter what. But is also a very Scottish story, and a WWII story, and a story of the "profound connection between mother and daughter" (back cover). ( )

My most favorite Livesey novel. ( )

Aiming to up my # of reviews, I'll quick comment on kindle samples I've read lately -- this was one I'd really like to continue with, have been watching the author lecture on a MOOC I'm taking, and it was wonderful to see that she indeed knows VERY well what she's doing as a novelist.