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Melissa
Sara Hylton Book Review

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Plot Summary of Melissa
"When World War II starts, Ginny's village volunteers to offer the children of London temporary homes to keep them safe from the bombs. It is then that Ginny meets Alistair and Melissa. Alistair lives with Ginny's family, while Melissa gets to live in a mansion with the rich lady of the village. Alistair and Ginny become very close, but Melissa stays to herself and doesn't befriend any of the children in the village. It is there that Melissa's talent for singing is discovered. When they are older, Melissa pursues her career, and Alistair and Ginny marry and move to Italy so that Alistair can work in a mental clinic.

In Italy, Ginny and Alistair cross paths with Melissa, who has become a famous opera star. Alistair falls in love with Melissa, and leaves Ginny for her. Ginny is heartbroken over the betrayal of her husband and supposed friend. Remarkably, she stays sweet and loving and actually forgives them for the hurt they have caused her. Ginny even finds another love: a famous orchestra conductor who is married to an obsessed woman who is also mentally ill. "

Marie Morris, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Melissa
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book? - thoughtful
Time/era of story - 1930's-1950's
Romance/Romance Problems Yes
Kind of romance: - playing footsy while inconveniently married
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
War/Revolt/Disaster on civilians Yes
Conflict: - War, WW II
Lover is - mentally ill

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status: - secretary
Age: - 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
Ethnicity/Nationality - British
How sensitive is this character? - soggy whimpering jelly muffin
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Female
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status: - artist
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - an average amount
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 5 ()
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK - Italy
Misc setting - fancy mansion

Style
Person - mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Unusual Style: - No single main character?
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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Sara Hylton Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Marie Morris  

SCHOLARS:
Marie  


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