This novel is about a woman called Martha. She knows there is something
wrong with her but she doesn't know what it is. Her husband Patrick thinks
she is fine. He says everyone has something, the thing is just to
keep going. Martha told Patrick before they got married that she
didn't
want to have children. He said he didn't mind either way because he has
loved her since he was fourteen and making her happy is all that matters,
although he does not seem able to do it.
By the time Martha finds out what is wrong, it doesn't really matter
anymore. It is too late to get the only thing she has ever wanted. Or
maybe it will turn out that you can stop loving someone and start again
from nothing - if you can find something else to want.
The Guardian have written extensively about this popular novel. Much has been discussed about the unnamed illness of the protaginast, Martha. Mason explains why she chose to leave the character's illness unnamed. Find out more here
