THE FOUR-STORY MISTAKE

This is a sequel to The Saturdays, so here is a chance to read more of the adventures of the entrancing Melendy family:- Mona, who wanted to be an actress, and gets her chance to do a bit part in radio in this book; Rush, who lived for his music — and helps the family exchequer by teaching some of the small fry at school; Randy, who learned not to look only backwards, but to get some of the fun of looking forward; and the irrepressible individualist, Oliver. The fairy godmother, Mrs. Oliphant, makes life simpler: Cuffy, cook-housekeeper — and substitute for a mother, is as expansive as ever; and the father supplies a more or less shadowy background, after having catapulted them out of the city and into a house in the country, "the four story mistake". Plenty of action and incident; good dialogue; and a feel for people and the things they think and do that is coming more and more to be an integral part of Elizabeth Enright's realism. This isn't as original a story as The Saturdays — but I loved it and feel as though the Melendys were here to stay.