It's clear that Nicola is AF's favourite character and also clear that AF dislikes Ann as much as Nicola does (and is perhaps as unfair to her on occasion as Nicola is?). I started wondering whether Nicola and AF always share the same opinions about people. Can AF really admire Giles as much as Nicola does? How does she really feel about Patrick who can be almost unbearable at times but who is fascinating to Nicola? And it's so clear from the way she writes her that AF finds Ginty as shallow, self absorbed and irritating as Nicola does herself.