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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
BOOK: Beyond That, the Sea
AUTHOR: Laura Spence Ash
RATING: 4/5 stars
GENRE: Historical Fiction
PUBLISHER: Macmillan Audio
NARRATOR: Ell Potter
PUB DATE: 3/21/23
THANK YOU @netgalley and @macmillanaudio for my #gifted Advanced Listening Copy!
SYNOPSIS: “I had four parents. I think a little of each of them is in me, in some way or another. It’s a nice thought though, isn’t it? Dead or alive, we carry these people with us.”
In 1940 England, Millie and Reginald Thompson make the difficult decision to send their eleven year old daughter (Beatrix) to America to stay with another family in hopes that she’ll remain safe through the end of the war. Bea meets The Gregory’s (Mr & Mrs. B, and their songs William and Gerald). They welcome her with open arms and her feelings of loneliness dissipate quickly when they treat her as part of their family. Everything seems easier and more natural in their life compared to the life she left back home.
Years later, everything comes to a halt when the war ends and Bea is called home, and she makes the trip back across the Atlantic to return to her old life; the memory of her new family never leaving her mind.
This story is told from an 8-person point of view that gives a nice feel in understanding the entire tale.
REVIEW: I found myself not wanting this beautiful, tenderhearted story to end. It’s more than a love story. It’s also a coming of age that’s full of growth, grace, forgiveness and understanding. It’s exquisite from start to finish. This debut novel comes out March 21st!
Happy reading!
AUTHOR: Laura Spence Ash
RATING: 4/5 stars
GENRE: Historical Fiction
PUBLISHER: Macmillan Audio
NARRATOR: Ell Potter
PUB DATE: 3/21/23
THANK YOU @netgalley and @macmillanaudio for my #gifted Advanced Listening Copy!
SYNOPSIS: “I had four parents. I think a little of each of them is in me, in some way or another. It’s a nice thought though, isn’t it? Dead or alive, we carry these people with us.”
In 1940 England, Millie and Reginald Thompson make the difficult decision to send their eleven year old daughter (Beatrix) to America to stay with another family in hopes that she’ll remain safe through the end of the war. Bea meets The Gregory’s (Mr & Mrs. B, and their songs William and Gerald). They welcome her with open arms and her feelings of loneliness dissipate quickly when they treat her as part of their family. Everything seems easier and more natural in their life compared to the life she left back home.
Years later, everything comes to a halt when the war ends and Bea is called home, and she makes the trip back across the Atlantic to return to her old life; the memory of her new family never leaving her mind.
This story is told from an 8-person point of view that gives a nice feel in understanding the entire tale.
REVIEW: I found myself not wanting this beautiful, tenderhearted story to end. It’s more than a love story. It’s also a coming of age that’s full of growth, grace, forgiveness and understanding. It’s exquisite from start to finish. This debut novel comes out March 21st!
Happy reading!
4.5. So beautifully written. Felt very classic. Transitions between characters seamlessly, and makes you care about each one, which is hard to do. Nothing remarkable happens, yet you can’t help but be drawn to this family. Really enjoyed this one.
This was a very nice intimate book. When I saw what the plot was about, my mind immediately went back to my Kit Pearson days.
I enjoyed how short the chapters were, it really helped me breeze right through the book. What I really liked in particular about this book though was that there wasn't a single character with a POV that I disliked. I enjoyed reading about all of them and understanding their motivations.
My favourite character was Millie, maybe because I understood her best. But reading her go from feeling resentment towards the family that housed her daughter to realizing that family genuinely loved her, it was great development. But really, all of the characters were interesting to read about as you observe them growing into adults.
I also liked two more things: how the main characters' perspectives change from what they assume as kids to understanding their parents better when they're adults themselves. It's such a confusing time of history for a certain generation to have had to grow up from, living in other countries with other families while theirs were dealing with bombs back home, and going through this at such a formative age too. I thought the author conveyed that confusion very well.
The second thing I liked was how Beatrix found love and companionship as an adult, after feeling lonely and watching the people in her generation grow up faster than her. It felt very relatable and shows that "traditional" was always something different, even in the mid 20th century.
The book left me feeling oddly warm inside and I highly recommend it!
I enjoyed how short the chapters were, it really helped me breeze right through the book. What I really liked in particular about this book though was that there wasn't a single character with a POV that I disliked. I enjoyed reading about all of them and understanding their motivations.
My favourite character was Millie, maybe because I understood her best. But reading her go from feeling resentment towards the family that housed her daughter to realizing that family genuinely loved her, it was great development. But really, all of the characters were interesting to read about as you observe them growing into adults.
I also liked two more things: how the main characters' perspectives change from what they assume as kids to understanding their parents better when they're adults themselves. It's such a confusing time of history for a certain generation to have had to grow up from, living in other countries with other families while theirs were dealing with bombs back home, and going through this at such a formative age too. I thought the author conveyed that confusion very well.
The second thing I liked was how Beatrix found love and companionship as an adult, after feeling lonely and watching the people in her generation grow up faster than her. It felt very relatable and shows that "traditional" was always something different, even in the mid 20th century.
The book left me feeling oddly warm inside and I highly recommend it!
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No