A bit off-topic, sorry, but I think having two of her most sympathetic characters mind the move to Trennels is one of the things that shows AF for the nuanced writer she is - in a lesser writer's hands, it could so easily have been 'child's moral shortcomings are pointed up by her not liking the wholesome country, but she comes to change her mind / bravely takes on the farm and becomes a better person'.

It's an example of how AF never - or very seldom - lectures or lets her characters just become mouthpieces for her own views. Though I do think she was probably behind Patrick all the way on the Vatican II changes.

Again, sorry to hijack your thread!

I agree about Nicola's and Rowan's similarities. I wonder whether there are parallels between Nicola growing up with the less competent Lawrie and Rowan growing up with the less competent Karen?