"Poverty frees them from ordinary standards of behaviour..."

I simply find this to be very true of society.

I found the premise of this book interesting, however I found the actual writing and plot of the novel incredibly dull. In the end I couldn't finish it. It is worth noting however that I had to read this for an English assignment, so perhaps if I had chosen it of my own accord I would have enjoyed it more.

"Christian charity, the compassion of centuries of civilisation, fell from her like useless ornaments, revealing her bare, arid soul. She needed to protect and feed her own children. Nothing else mattered any more."

I feel that 'sign of the times' is the perfect thing to say here. Truly horrendous times.