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nicolerose3's review against another edition
2.0
This was one of the most unsatisfying books I've read in a while. I understand the ending was fairly indicative of reality in war time, but it was too abrupt. The beginning was slow, the story in the middle was engaging, and the end was terrible. Ugh. I remember now why I don't many books set in wartime.
kittykornerlibrarian's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't finish it. I thought the author was trying to tell too many stories in the same book, and I ended up not caring about any of them.
greenrain's review against another edition
4.0
I feel that WWI is often glossed over here in the states, but it had such an impact on later world events and the lives of millions of people, particularly in the Commonwealth and rest of Europe, that I feel compelled to learn more and more about it. This novel was wonderful in other ways, as well, tackling the ways in which people grow apart and how we keep the hard truth from those we love in order to protect them. Overall this was a very well written book, and I would recommend it.
vireogirl's review against another edition
4.0
Gah. WWI was terrible. Several angles are shown here, more so than the Maisie Dobbs books.
margaretpinard's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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? No
4.5
That ending!!!! ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜
ms_aprilvincent's review against another edition
4.0
As with most books about war, the resilience of the women stands out. I'm not downplaying the sacrifice of the men who went to war, but their experience has been recorded and reported into the ground.
In this book, we see a well-bred and educated woman fighting to keep her husband's farm working while he is in France. Though she is muddling her way through, she manages, and that is what's so fascinating to me.
We see these stories of women who step up to the plate, who prove their intelligence, their adaptability, and their courage, yet they are pushed back into their gilded ages following the war, told not to worry their pretty little heads, and pandered to and condescended to by the very men who told them it was their duty to take on these roles. It's infuriating.
In this book, we see a well-bred and educated woman fighting to keep her husband's farm working while he is in France. Though she is muddling her way through, she manages, and that is what's so fascinating to me.
We see these stories of women who step up to the plate, who prove their intelligence, their adaptability, and their courage, yet they are pushed back into their gilded ages following the war, told not to worry their pretty little heads, and pandered to and condescended to by the very men who told them it was their duty to take on these roles. It's infuriating.
bibliophile_mama's review against another edition
4.0
Devastating and humbling tale of the Great War. Cooking and eating plays a key in the storytelling that reminds me of Like Water for Chocolate.