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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
This book was right up my alley! Historical fiction, sister protagonists, and dual perspectives - so many things that I enjoy in a novel.
The relationship between the sisters was written so well and I felt connected to each of them. I've read books before with a subplot of friends or family members that don't get along and I often feel annoyed or bothered that their reconciliation is taking so long, but for this book, I didn't feel that at all. The relationship development between the sisters felt natural and I think that's because there was always an underlying tone of care and love in each one.
The locations that Clara and Madeleine travel to are picturesque and the description of the ships even more so.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend to any historical fiction fan!
The relationship between the sisters was written so well and I felt connected to each of them. I've read books before with a subplot of friends or family members that don't get along and I often feel annoyed or bothered that their reconciliation is taking so long, but for this book, I didn't feel that at all. The relationship development between the sisters felt natural and I think that's because there was always an underlying tone of care and love in each one.
The locations that Clara and Madeleine travel to are picturesque and the description of the ships even more so.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend to any historical fiction fan!
An enjoyable, light story about a family before WWII. I particularly enjoyed the sights they visit on their trip to Europe. The relationship between sisters is also enjoyable to follow. Overall it was a pleasant, well-written book. Part of me wishes there had been a bit more at stake, more loss, especially at the end (did the authors hold back? cop out?) but it was great for our book club and anyone who doesn’t want to read something heavy. I’ve also read Last Christmas in Paris and would rank that higher, but they are good writers and I plan to read more of their work.
Three Words for Goodbye is Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb’s third collaboration (with another forthcoming), and as always when I let books languish for so long on my TBR, I often kick myself for doing so when they end up being so amazing, but given how it slightly parallels the setup of the Amazing Readathon, in addition to fulfilling prompts, it’s also rather serendipitous.
I love how Gaynor and Webb continue to craft their fictional narratives cleverly around real events, from paying homage to Nellie Bly and her voyage alone around the world a few decades prior to the setting of the book, to the Hindenburg disaster to the general tense political climate in Europe a few years pre-World War II, with the rise of fascism.
At the heart of the story, though, is a beautiful narrative of sisterhood and family ties. Clara and Maddie have grown apart due to their differences, to the point of not speaking for a year. But both love their grandmother enough to honor her request to travel to Europe together to deliver letters to people from Violet’s past, with Violet arranging everything, and even leaving them sweet little notes along their journey.
There’s a lot going on, from discovering the secrets from Violet’s past which will shape what they know about her and their family history, and them coming into their own as they take away lessons from unearthing these revelations. Clara is engaged to a wealthy man, but soon finds her enthusiasm for that union tested, while Maddie’s journalistic efforts prosper, although not without it also testing the sisters’ growing bond.
I really loved this book, and I can’t wait for the authors’ next collaboration! I enthusiastically recommend this to readers looking for women-centric historical fiction.
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
medium-paced
fast-paced
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While this book was interesting, a lot of it read like a travelogue. The two sisters seemed very superficial, immature, and predictable.
I really, really enjoyed this European travel adventure two estranged sisters go on at the behest of their grandmother in the spring of 1937. Europe is on the verge of another war but sisters Clara and Madeline can't resist their dying grandmother's wish for them to deliver three letters in three cities (Paris, Venice and Vienna). The two travel by ship, train and finally aboard the infamous Hindenburg zeppelin discovering family secrets along the way.
Madeline is trying to chart her own path as a journalist and artist Clara is chafing at her role as wife to be to her millionaire fiancée. I absolutely loved the nostalgic European travel and the complicated sister relationships. This story hit all the right notes for me and I can't recommend it enough. Also great nods to the amazing Nellie Bly who has been cropping up in a bunch of historical fiction books this year. Excellent on audio, narrated by a full cast. If you enjoy historical fiction with strong women characters this book will be right up your alley!
Favorite quote:
"The real journey, the most important of all, was right here, within the maps and contours of our everyday lives, among the friends and family who travelled along side us. In the end, that was what really mattered. Adventure was everywhere, we just needed the courage to look for it."
Madeline is trying to chart her own path as a journalist and artist Clara is chafing at her role as wife to be to her millionaire fiancée. I absolutely loved the nostalgic European travel and the complicated sister relationships. This story hit all the right notes for me and I can't recommend it enough. Also great nods to the amazing Nellie Bly who has been cropping up in a bunch of historical fiction books this year. Excellent on audio, narrated by a full cast. If you enjoy historical fiction with strong women characters this book will be right up your alley!
Favorite quote:
"The real journey, the most important of all, was right here, within the maps and contours of our everyday lives, among the friends and family who travelled along side us. In the end, that was what really mattered. Adventure was everywhere, we just needed the courage to look for it."