[KatnipH]

A good few years back, my mother borrowed a book from the library and insisted that I read it; although it was odd I very much enjoyed it and would like to read it again, but all I can remember is the plot (well - bits of it!) I'll write down as much as I can remember, but it was a while ago so some bits might well be wrong, or from another book!!

It was based around the life of a Russian (or eastern European) lady who came from a tiny town (I think the start of the book is possibly set at the start of the century? ).
She had a very odd brother with something wrong with him (possibly he was werewolf, or some had sort of supernatural deformity) and, as far as I remember, her mother had told her that she had been impregnated by a spirit that came in through the window?! Most of the book seemed quite normal but there was a slight supernatural feel every now & then.

As a teenager/young lady, she saw a play performed by travelling actors and was amazed when one of them 'came back to life' after he had been playing dead.
She ends up marrying him and after a while they move to America (I think New York) where they live in a block of flats.
They have some sons (2? ) and I think one of them is killed in a war and his wife ends up living with them in the flat - can't really remember what happens but I think she doesn't get on with the main character but she has a daughter (so the main characters granddaughter) who grows up and really gets on with her.

I remember at one point the Russian lady's husband dies and she keeps thinking that he will get up again (as he did all the time when he was acting) - and also at some point she meets up with her brother again but I think he is being chased by people (I think he is dangerous), possibly he dies?

The story gradually becomes focused on the grand-daughter and then at the end the (now) old lady dies (I thought that this was written with some metaphor involving a jumper, but this may be a different book!) and I think that maybe the granddaughter sees her image in something (a trinket or decorated egg or something weird!)

Phew! Hopefully someone out there will have some sort of clue what I'm on about!! Hopefully I haven't just dreamed up the plot…
Thanks for reading ;)

KH