East of the Sun by Julia Gregson

This was perfect literary therapy for my case of the blues. It was a birthday pressie from my sister - I don't believe it has been published in North America yet, but I might be wrong. Anyway, it totally transported me away and I think it would make a wonderful screenplay!

It begins in London in 1928, my favourite era, Viva aged 25 is employed as a chaperone to Rose and Victoria who are on their way to India for Rose's marriage to a man she barely knows. Viva's other charge is sixteen year old Guy who is going back to live with his parents in India, after spending ten years in an English boarding school.

Viva spent her early childhood in India with her sister Josie and her parents - however, they all died in a car crash -at least that's what she tells everyone. One of the reasons she is going back to India is to pick up a trunk belonging to her parents which has been in storage since her mother's death. Rose is a beautiful naive girl, devoted to her parents and anxious about her marriage to a man whom she has only met a handful of times. Tor and Rose have been best friends since childhood and Tor is travelling to India to be Rose's bridesmaid. Unlike Rose, Tor is happy to get away from her parents and is longing for a new life and a husband of her own. Guy is obviously a very scarred boy, this becomes more evident throughout the journey.

On the voyage Viva and the girls become friends and also make other friends on board, especially Frank, one of the ship doctors who is off to Lahore to do some research work. Tor sets her sights on him, thinking he would be wonderful husband material!

Viva has her work cut out for her with Guy who causes mayhem one day when Viva and the girls go ashore for a few hours. Alas, when the ship arrives in Bombay and Viva delivers Guy to his parents it is not the end of her dealings with him, far from it! He causes her problems galore!

Again, I don't want to give too much away but the book is a fascinating glimpse into 1920's Colonial India. The characters are all excellent and really likable - except for Guy and Ci Ci, Tor's hostess. I was totally captivated by it and wished it could have gone on and on.

Eleven out of Ten!!!