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bethanllystawel's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-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
3.0
gabie_east's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
nicky___noo's review
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-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
3.5
vahalaemma's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
e_m_r's review
5.0
If you loved Small Pleasures from Clare Chambers, then you’ll adore Alex Hyde’s debut…
I devoured this book in hours thanks to its engaging prose and fully formed characters. Violet, two Violets in fact, who live separate lives during the Second World War. Set during the dying days of the war, this beautiful debut tells the story of loss and motherhood through two very different lenses for each of our Violet’s, with one living in the Welsh Valleys and grappling with the loss of a baby and future procreation, and another who is serving in the war on the frontline, carrying a baby out of wedlock and removed from the identity she sees for herself.
Their stories, both unique and yet the same in many ways, slowly intertwine as the story progresses, as their stories progress, with a finish that is both unexpected but deeply satisfying as an invested reader.
I couldn’t put this book down and when I did, I couldn’t stop thinking about these two women. They are multi-dimensional, complex and rich in detail; I became close to them and invested in them. Hyde writes beautifully, with all of the rage, hope, optimism and defeat you want when digesting the complexity of the female experience. A triumph.
I devoured this book in hours thanks to its engaging prose and fully formed characters. Violet, two Violets in fact, who live separate lives during the Second World War. Set during the dying days of the war, this beautiful debut tells the story of loss and motherhood through two very different lenses for each of our Violet’s, with one living in the Welsh Valleys and grappling with the loss of a baby and future procreation, and another who is serving in the war on the frontline, carrying a baby out of wedlock and removed from the identity she sees for herself.
Their stories, both unique and yet the same in many ways, slowly intertwine as the story progresses, as their stories progress, with a finish that is both unexpected but deeply satisfying as an invested reader.
I couldn’t put this book down and when I did, I couldn’t stop thinking about these two women. They are multi-dimensional, complex and rich in detail; I became close to them and invested in them. Hyde writes beautifully, with all of the rage, hope, optimism and defeat you want when digesting the complexity of the female experience. A triumph.
bobthebookerer's review
4.0
This beautiful and lyrical book is a little gem- two women, both named Violet, both experiencing war and motherhood, albeit quite differently, see their lives run in parallel to each other.
The book speeds along, in tender and rich prose as the two women’s lives unfold alongside the troubles of war and what remains concealed. Something about this book was deeply enchanting, the imagery and language always a delight, and sometimes brutal and shocking in its observations, but always bewitching.
I received an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The book speeds along, in tender and rich prose as the two women’s lives unfold alongside the troubles of war and what remains concealed. Something about this book was deeply enchanting, the imagery and language always a delight, and sometimes brutal and shocking in its observations, but always bewitching.
I received an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
agirlandabook85's review
4.0
Violets tells the story of two Violets. One is coming to terms with the loss of her unborn twins and ability to conceive when her husband is deployed in Burma leaving her alone to find a way to put herself back together.
In contrast, another Violet contemplates the fate she shares with her unborn child. Faced with the stigma of bringing up the child alone out of wedlock an overseas posting in Naples offers a temporary way to avoid her future for as long as she can hide her pregnancy.
Told through dual perspective we travel through the last days of the Second World War with these two women as their lives overlap as we explore the themes of motherhood, love, loss, sacrifice and gender expectations.
Sometimes a book falls into your life just at the moment you need it and Violets was just that for me. I had arranged to buddy read this with @suzie_reads_a_lot last month before my spur of the moment life changing decision to get a dog. Fast forward to the arranged start date and my life was in utter chaos.
Yet Ward’s debut novel inspired by her father’s life managed to bring me surprising and very welcome periods of real calm whilst reading it.
Written in vignettes interwoven with verse the story of the two Violets is laid out in poetic prose that flows with such fluidity you are swept away into the story.
The opening few pages in particular blew me away, it was so vivid and graphic yet told in so few words, it was abstract but yet completely immersive. It was an absolute joy to read and quite a unique reading experience. I am excited to see what this author produces next.
Thank you to @grantabooks for my gifted copy.
Told through dual perspective we travel through the last days of the Second World War with these two women as their lives overlap as we explore the themes of motherhood, love, loss, sacrifice and gender expectations.
Sometimes a book falls into your life just at the moment you need it and Violets was just that for me. I had arranged to buddy read this with @suzie_reads_a_lot last month before my spur of the moment life changing decision to get a dog. Fast forward to the arranged start date and my life was in utter chaos.
Yet Ward’s debut novel inspired by her father’s life managed to bring me surprising and very welcome periods of real calm whilst reading it.
Written in vignettes interwoven with verse the story of the two Violets is laid out in poetic prose that flows with such fluidity you are swept away into the story.
The opening few pages in particular blew me away, it was so vivid and graphic yet told in so few words, it was abstract but yet completely immersive. It was an absolute joy to read and quite a unique reading experience. I am excited to see what this author produces next.
Thank you to @grantabooks for my gifted copy.
helensparrow's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
3.75
fnnbnjmnks's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5