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pam2375's review
4.0
This is a very nice WWII story that is told in dual timelines. We are in London in 1940 and present day America and London.
The story follows Nell, Arthur, baby Alice through the war and later Ellie. They are separated, bombed and in some cases, jailed. Through it all, love never fails.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon UK for this advanced readers copy. This book is scheduled to release in July 2021.
The story follows Nell, Arthur, baby Alice through the war and later Ellie. They are separated, bombed and in some cases, jailed. Through it all, love never fails.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon UK for this advanced readers copy. This book is scheduled to release in July 2021.
trudyd's review against another edition
4.0
Bringing the human touch into a WW2 story has away for grabbing me and not letting go. Is this a true story. I don't know. What I do know it that there is truth imbedded in the story.
The author's brilliance in using the granddaughter of Arthur and Nell to tell a story created a believable tale. Like me, Ellie hasn't been told much of those times. The reader follows along with Ellie as she searches out the truth of Nell's death in the story of The Clockmaker's Wife that takes place early in the war.
After a bomb destroys their home, Nell had returned to the country. Arthur remained in London, continuing his job as one the men responsible for the inner workings of Westminster Clock, better known as Big Ben. When he discovers a plot he knows he must intercede. A strange call to Nell, brings her to London, leaving her daughter with her parents in the country, following in his footsteps. A plot needs to be uncovered.
Daisy Wood did a great job of describing events. I felt the heat. I smelt the dust. I felt the earth rumble. Fear grew as I read page after page of Nell's experience in London as she ran through the darkened streets with only a torch lighting her way.
If you want to learn about the war in Britain grab this book. By pass the boring textbook that forgot that real people, normal people were an important part of the country's success.
The author's brilliance in using the granddaughter of Arthur and Nell to tell a story created a believable tale. Like me, Ellie hasn't been told much of those times. The reader follows along with Ellie as she searches out the truth of Nell's death in the story of The Clockmaker's Wife that takes place early in the war.
After a bomb destroys their home, Nell had returned to the country. Arthur remained in London, continuing his job as one the men responsible for the inner workings of Westminster Clock, better known as Big Ben. When he discovers a plot he knows he must intercede. A strange call to Nell, brings her to London, leaving her daughter with her parents in the country, following in his footsteps. A plot needs to be uncovered.
Daisy Wood did a great job of describing events. I felt the heat. I smelt the dust. I felt the earth rumble. Fear grew as I read page after page of Nell's experience in London as she ran through the darkened streets with only a torch lighting her way.
If you want to learn about the war in Britain grab this book. By pass the boring textbook that forgot that real people, normal people were an important part of the country's success.
kduffy's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
becsbridge's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
3.75
daisey4's review
4.0
There are a few words that could have been left out but at least it was clean. I enjoyed the story although sad for the loss.
dharshanirymond's review against another edition
2.0
2.5/5 ⭐
Thanks to Netgalley & Publisher for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Plot:
The story is about 2 Eleanors, one from 1940s (Nell) and the other her granddaughter from 2021 (Ellie). Ellie is a 38 year old woman without a love story trying to get by with an elderly mother (Alice) who needs care. She'd always felt like her mother never fit in anywhere and goes digging into their family history.
1940s Nell had been happily married to Arthur with a child (Alice) in London but war had split them and put them through great ordeals and she dies a mysterious death. Arthur remarries and Alice does not get along well with the new family. She finds love and moves to America losing all ties with her father.
Now, Ellie goes to London in search of Nell's story and finds some disturbing facts that sets her on a path to finding something huge. In between all this Ellie finds love.
Story:
Having read many WWII stories, I would say this was not heart-wrenching. The idea of a patriot's sacrifice being hidden and unknown even to family is not something new. But still the story could've given it's best.
Characters:
Nell had a good story to tell but didn't have much of a character depth.
Ellie is 38 who's mature about many things judges Nell easily without facts. She decides to go to London on an impulse but doesn't plan on what to do once reaching London. In a way I couldn't connect with either of them. Other characters like Alice, Alice's stepsister and her family, evacuees at Nell's mother's place were all interesting. Ellie's love interest did not bring much to the plot and their relationship escalated too quickly to my liking.
Arthur was the only person I liked most but he didn't contribute much.
Writing:
The book started heavily with bombings and loss but everything mellowed in a few chapters. The ending seemed to be rushed and not covered in both the timelines. Nell takes 5 chapters to get mixed in something and die and Ellie just wraps it up in 1 chapter which felt like everything ended abruptly. The chapters Ellie spent on her love interest could've been replaced with something productive.
Overall:
It was an okay read but not memorable. It's not something that'll come to my mind to recommend anybody.
Thanks to Netgalley & Publisher for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Plot:
The story is about 2 Eleanors, one from 1940s (Nell) and the other her granddaughter from 2021 (Ellie). Ellie is a 38 year old woman without a love story trying to get by with an elderly mother (Alice) who needs care. She'd always felt like her mother never fit in anywhere and goes digging into their family history.
1940s Nell had been happily married to Arthur with a child (Alice) in London but war had split them and put them through great ordeals and she dies a mysterious death. Arthur remarries and Alice does not get along well with the new family. She finds love and moves to America losing all ties with her father.
Now, Ellie goes to London in search of Nell's story and finds some disturbing facts that sets her on a path to finding something huge. In between all this Ellie finds love.
Story:
Having read many WWII stories, I would say this was not heart-wrenching. The idea of a patriot's sacrifice being hidden and unknown even to family is not something new. But still the story could've given it's best.
Characters:
Nell had a good story to tell but didn't have much of a character depth.
Ellie is 38 who's mature about many things judges Nell easily without facts. She decides to go to London on an impulse but doesn't plan on what to do once reaching London. In a way I couldn't connect with either of them. Other characters like Alice, Alice's stepsister and her family, evacuees at Nell's mother's place were all interesting. Ellie's love interest did not bring much to the plot and their relationship escalated too quickly to my liking.
Arthur was the only person I liked most but he didn't contribute much.
Writing:
The book started heavily with bombings and loss but everything mellowed in a few chapters. The ending seemed to be rushed and not covered in both the timelines. Nell takes 5 chapters to get mixed in something and die and Ellie just wraps it up in 1 chapter which felt like everything ended abruptly. The chapters Ellie spent on her love interest could've been replaced with something productive.
Overall:
It was an okay read but not memorable. It's not something that'll come to my mind to recommend anybody.
fawnponzar's review
3.0
Nothing spectacular but still an interesting story and is told well. This was an easy read, but I didn’t find myself aching to return to it.
izzie2024's review
adventurous
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
madi_dube's review
emotional
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5