Duet is actually two short novels – Carol Shields's first two books, previously published as Small Ceremonies in 1976 and The Box Garden in 1977. In the introduction, she says she always thought of them as companion novels, as they are about a pair of sisters, Judith and Charleen. Actually, to be accurate, the first is only about Judith, although the sisters are brought together by their mother's late-in-life second wedding in the second book.While the characters are carefully wrought and the writing is engaging, these feel like very small stories – they don't have any of the complexity or the emotional impact of a book like Larry's Party, for instance. I found myself wondering often, 'What is the point of this story?' and 'Is that all?' The plot in the first book, in Duet named 'Judith', sets up what seems to be an explosive secret, buy in the end the anticipated fireworks do not ensue, and instead it seems to simply fizzle out. They really feel like novels with training wheels, as if Shields had not yet developed the skills to make her books fly and leave a lasting impression. Having said that, even these slightly underdone books are streets ahead of the works of so many other writers.
