Halt During the Chase

Finally back in print, a remarkable, hilarious coming-of-age novel from the cult classic writer Rosemary Tonks.Sophiea clever and charming young womanis trying to get out from under her mothers thumb. Shes in love with her childhood friend Philip (pragmatic, attractive, a bit of a bore), but she often worries that she loves him too much for her own good, and that he might only be another thumb to crawl under.Both a sincere bildungsroman of Sophies attempt to seize a life for herself and a comic masterpiece with cutting observations and asides, The Halt During the Chase is flutteringly alive as it discusses different forms of love, adulthood (Isnt buying new lampshades a form of slow death?), marriage, insecurity, and stifling British snobbery and classism. Sophies voice, fueled by Tonkss acidic narration, evolves from thrashing about in various traps into a triumphant, croaky-throated liberation song.