The Finishing School is (similarly to ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’ by the same author) a long book for a simple plot. It’s relatively short, but it feels like it could be shorter. However, the long, long descriptions make this an interesting read.

It’s about a couple who run a mobile finishing school – every year Nina and Rowland move locations. They have barely any students, and one particularly stands out. “Chris: seventeen, a student at College Sunrise at his own request.” Both Chris and Rowland are writing novels, but Rowland feels threatened by the progress of Chris’s and thus changes his book idea – it becomes a study of Chris, under the guise of being about the school. Rowland becomes obsessed with Chris and watches him closely.

The relationship between Nina and Rowland is uncertain – they are a married couple in their late twenties. At the beginning? Nina is Rowland’s main supporter in the writing of his novel, and her whole live revolves around him. But throughout the book (Spark’s, not Rowland’s), she tires of Rowland’s novel. At one point, we see her trying to trick Rowland into believing he’s crazed. At another point, we see her having an affair with the neighbour. I would discuss the end too, but I don’t want to ruin the plot for you!

This is a gripping book – I would give it 4/5. I recommend reading this, as well as other books by the author.

Happy reading!