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Genre: Fiction / Family Saga / Literary Fiction / Coming-of-Age
Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Book Review:
Kathleen Rowntree's ''Brief Shining'' is a poignant and beautifully observed novel that captures the fragile magic of childhood summers and the painful complexities of family inheritance. Set against the idyllic backdrop of Willow Dasset farm, the story follows sisters Sally and Anne as their seemingly perfect holiday is shadowed by the unspoken tensions between their parents, Meg and Henry.

Rowntree masterfully contrasts the innocent, sun-drenched world of the children with the simmering resentments and thwarted desires of the adults. The narrative focuses on Sally's coming-of-age as she realizes her mother's jealousy is turning towards her, forcing her into a battle for her own identity and future. The novel delves into the peculiarities of the Ludbury family lineage, suggesting that patterns of conflict and longing are passed down through generations.

With prose that has been likened to Laurie Lee's nostalgic warmth and Katherine Mansfield's sharp insight, ''Brief Shining'' is a quietly powerful exploration of memory, motherhood, and the bittersweet transition from childhood. A must-read for fans of evocative literary family dramas.