The burden of one sister's love for her younger sister - whom she's sworn to protect - has a dramatic effect on both their lives.
My Review:
Laura Franklin was a plain girl yearning for her parents' love and attention. When her older brother, Charles, dies of infant paralysis, she is certain that her parents will have no choice but to love her since she's all they got. When they announce that they are going to have another child, she prays that it will be a stupid girl that they won't pay much attention to. Laura gets her wish when her little sister, Shirley, is born. Unfortunately for Laura, Shirley has Charles' eyes which cause their parents to love her that much more. Laura begins to pray that Shirley will be sent to heaven. One night while their parents are away, the house catches fire and Laura makes a split decision to risks her own life to save Shirley. From then on, she vows to love and protect Shirley.
As they grow up, Laura sacrifices her own future in order to make sure that Shirley is happy and safe. Shirley loves her sister in return but feels a tremendous weight on her shoulder from carrying around the expectations that come with being loved.
Laura's love for Shirley goes so far, she ends up murdering her sister's husband to enable her sister to marry the man she thinks she should have married in the first place.
The Burden is my least favourite Mary Westmacott novel so far. I've read four of her six novels so I think I know what I'm talking about.
2/5
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