Come Back Soon

Being fully prepared to take an instant dislike to a 'jolly tale' about a pretentious family, with stereotyped, middle-class offspring rejoicing in the unfortunate names of Theodosia, Bardolph and Bertram, I must admit to being pleasantly surprised. In précis, the story reduces to mum suddenly leaving home, with the resultant effects on the life of the shattered family. 'We're not the only ones it has happened to,' is father's, and the author's, consolatory comment, on a situation that is as constant and frequent, as it cuts through all class boundaries. Occasionally Judy Gardiner trips over her own cleverness, but on balance has written a very relevant and sensitive book about a trauma which will affect a disturbingly high proportion of today's children.