Sarah Winman: Still Life, 9780008283391, Paperback, Forth Estate, 

This little gem of a book gave me much solace and comfort during an upheaval, a move from a beloved home, during packing and unpacking. When bone tired, reading a few pages before falling asleep or waking up during the night not being able to go back to sleep, this novel always brought me peace and a warm glow. Sounds kitschy perhaps but Winman's quality writing prevented that from happening even if the story was sometimes sugar coated.

In "Still Life" Sarah Winman creates a chosen tribe of people, a family, all a little "special" and excentric but with absolute commitment and love for each other. Be it Margret and Evelyn, art historians and lesbians, who are having lunch in war torn Tuscany 1944 when a chance encounter with Ulysses Temper, a young British soldier, changes all their lives forever.  Switching between London East End, Florence,  Tuscan hills and villages  with life unfolding into the 1970ties for each of these characters, Ulysses's group of friends , I always felt like returning to a family as one would like to have it when I switching on my E reader.  Reminded me a little of Arminstead Maupins San Francisco tribe which I absolutely adored.  A great read for me during a chaotic time.