As most everyone says, this book is slow to start. I was determined to finish it. I kept wondering when I would enter the part of the book where J K Rowling\'s unbelievable imagination takes over, but it didn\'t happen. From the middle of the book on I knew what was going on in the story. By the end of the book, as I closed the last page, I gave a great sigh --- just so very happy to get my mind out of that situation. THEN IT HIT ME, I believe that was what the author wanted, for us to actually feel what it is like to be in these situations, a drug community like the \"Fields\" would be extremely difficult to get out of and to get away from. Barry Fairbrother was able to do just that, but it wasn\'t clear for a long time in the book.
Our author shows us that even in the \"regular\" world of Pagford and with their Parish Council, the one where success happens, that many of the families there had at least one member who was troubled, and troubled enough to cause distress or harm to the family ---- and that is where the comparison is for both the town and the Fields families. All it takes is one person (without help) to bring down a family.

As we discussed this book it was surprising how many had stories of WWII that we either remembered or that was handed down to us from our parents or grandparents.
It was amazing how these two sisters with such different personalities had helped so many people and in their own different ways.