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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed this non-mystery by Rhys Bowen. The theme of families we choose really resonated, and the female friendships were so well-written.
Highly recommend this new novel.
Highly recommend this new novel.
I loved the story. The main character was very empowered and showed a clear growth through her journey. It was unfortunately really hard to read though because of the repetitive nature of the writing. Rather than saying, "I filled my friends in on everything that just happened", she would retell the story to multiple people and I had to read all of their reactions. While that's an accurate depiction to real life, it is an annoying reality to everyone but the person that's telling the story. You know how sometimes your partner or best friend gets really riled up about something so they tell everyone they meet, but you just happen to be there every single time they tell it so by the end you just want to jump right to the ending and not leave time for comments? That's how reading this book felt at times. Also, the summary described on the Goodreads page? Her finding the old woman's book happens in like the last quarter of the book. As a result, basically the entire book is spoiled by the description to the extreme.
This was pleasant, though the plot had zero surprises.
I thought the characters lacked depth and the plot was fairly predictable.
A decent read that wraps up neatly with a happy ending.
A bittersweet coming of age tale set on the English homefront in the last days of WWI and the flu epidemic following it. This could have done with more pages - more depth on the year, as it were - but doesn't suffer unduly for their absence, and is both beautiful and a strong portrait of time, place, and people in a world on the cusp of great change.
Warm Historic Story of Women
This story follows a young woman as life sends her in unexpected paths. A hint of magic provides some new wind to this story of female friendships.
This story follows a young woman as life sends her in unexpected paths. A hint of magic provides some new wind to this story of female friendships.
I very much enjoyed this book. A historical fiction novel of finding your own way and being true to yourself. I adored the camaraderie and the depth of the relationships established. Well written and beloved characters.
This was a very quick read! I couldn’t put this down. The book follows Emily, a well to do girl who defies her parents and becomes a land girl. The adventures that await her are captivating and draws you in. I learned a lot while reading this book and really enjoyed it. It’s a different side of WWII and one that you don’t hear much of. The major lesson is don’t believe what you always hear.
The Victory Garden takes place starting in the spring of 1918 and follows twenty one year old Emily Bryce. Emily is stuck at home living a sheltered safe life in her wealthy family. Her older brother was killed at the front as was her sweetheart and her parents are determined to protect her at all costs. But Emily is even more determined to do her bit for the war effort. A chance encounter with a dashing pilot at the convalescent home next door will change her life. Soon after she turns 21 she leaves home wanting to be a nurse. Finding that there is no place for her at any hospital, she instead winds up in the Land Army, something I hadn't realized existed in WWI. But of course it would since that war killed more than WWII. She continues to see her beloved Austrailian pilot despite her parents' rigorous objections and cut off from her family they plan to marry and move to Australia when the war is over. But fate has other plans and Emily finds herself alone and expecting. An assignment with the Land Army brings them in contact with a small village where they befriend the townspeople including the elderly lady of the Manor Lady Charlton. As the war starts to come to it's end Emily and several of her fellow land girls return to the village and begin to make a life there. Emily, now assuming the role of war widow, begins to read the journals of the old school mistress, Miss Olgivy who lived in the cottage she now inhabits and begins to take an interest in the herb garden growing outside her door becoming quite famous for her varied concotions. She is alarmed when she notices the almost parallel paths she and Miss Oglivy's lives seem to take especially when the journal entries take a dark turn. I was quite entertained by this story. It was well paced and interesting and frankly left me hoping there would be a sequel. I need to know what happens to them next!