While the Music Lasts

In her latest novel, the irrepressible Goodwin guides four English sisters through the flaming '20s and sober '30s, from wealth to poverty, as they struggle with dreams both denied and fulfilled. Viv, the gentle and dignified eldest, deals as well as possible with her never-quite-broken Spanish marriage and her baby son. Shy Isobel paints nonstop and tries to understand the meaningless, prodigal lifestyle of gorgeous Julie. Self-centered, acquisitive Claire marries well and hangs on to her money, but thoughtlessly emasculates her husband and almost loses him after a foolish affair. Each woman finds her love but risks him (for reasons of varying importance), and each seems to get what she deserves in the end. Using their loss of money as a means of character development, Goodwin creates people who behave in keeping with the personalities she has given them in a story much stronger than her recent The Rising Storm . Sweet and touching without being cloying, her tale is enhanced by a breezy narrative style and--wonder of wonders--a believable plot. (Dec.)