Eileen Goudge is no newbie when it comes to writing romance. She published her first book Garden of Lies in 1986, and has since become a regular on The New York Times best-selling list. Her 2009 novel, The Diary, is dedicated to the author's parents, which is fitting, since the novel is about parents, the secrets they keep from their children and things they needed to give up for a greater good.
A Love Story
The Diary tells the story of Elizabeth Marshall, a dying woman whose two grown daughters happen to find the diary she used to keep when she was young. They are surprised to find out that the diary tells a love story between her mother and a man named AJ, who seems to have been Elizabeth's true love. The readers are then transported to a past time, where a young Elizabeth must choose between two men - one that is dependable and stable, and one who makes her heart jump through hoops.
The story will be familiar to anyone who has ever read a romance novel, or at least seen a love film. Elizabeth is a stubborn, hard-headed daughter of a controlling matriarch. AJ is an outcast, not nearly good enough for the girl he wants. The story is set in the fifties, so naturally there is the question of reputation and respectability, which the young lovers tend to ignore. And finally, there is a big twist in the end which, while not completely transparent, will surely make some readers groan.
Sweet and Fluffy
However, the target audience for this book will not find one single flaw. They will experience the book through Elizabeth's eyes, feeling every drop of pain she might feel and hating the guts of anyone who dares stand in the way of central romance. The author takes a step further by elaborating on a time long past, which is usually thrilling and never boring. The best moments have to do with Goudge's portrayal of small-town mentality, with its gossiping and double standards.
The Diary is a book the will be cherished by every single romance fan, but it also stands its ground even when it comes to portraying relationships and family dynamics. It might even win over a few readers not usually accustomed to heart-breaking love stories - these will surely get over the sacharine-sweet ending and find something to like about it. Yes, it is a little formulaic and could be put into the 'beach-read' category, but The Diary will probably your guilty-pleasure read of the summer.
- Publisher: Vanguard Press
- ISBN-10: 1593155433
- ISBN-13: 978-1593155438
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