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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
A super enjoyable story. I connected less to the present day characters, but still enjoyed it.
When reading the title of this book and getting into the beginning, I had already conjured an idea of what I was expecting the story to be about. The actual book wasn’t quite what I was expecting, but I enjoyed it none the less.
The story is told from two different perspectives decades apart. I found myself so invested in Elsie’s story. I wanted more of it to be honest. The other character, Stevie, was intriguing but I didn’t find myself invested in her story.
The book was still wonderful, but I felt like it would have been better as a story focused on Elsie. By focusing on the two characters, some aspects felt rushed to me.
The story is told from two different perspectives decades apart. I found myself so invested in Elsie’s story. I wanted more of it to be honest. The other character, Stevie, was intriguing but I didn’t find myself invested in her story.
The book was still wonderful, but I felt like it would have been better as a story focused on Elsie. By focusing on the two characters, some aspects felt rushed to me.
It's a great historical fiction read that has split timelines. Both timelines are set in London, one about a field nurse named Elsie who writes letters to the families of wounded soldiers, and Stephanie, previously an art teacher who enters a competition to paint a community mural.
While I loved reading along with both timelines, I found it incredibly slow near the middle of the novel and found myself stopping and starting over a few weeks.
The novel explores themes such as medical decision-making regarding patients and assisted death, love, family, and everything in between.
While I loved reading along with both timelines, I found it incredibly slow near the middle of the novel and found myself stopping and starting over a few weeks.
The novel explores themes such as medical decision-making regarding patients and assisted death, love, family, and everything in between.
Probably one of the easiest 5 stars that I've ever given.
This is a beautiful novel, inspired by a true story told from the point of view of two characters in two timelines. Elsie is a nurse living and working in London during WW2 and Stevie is a carer / artist living in London now.
When nurse Elsie offers to send a reassuring letter to the family of a patient, she has an idea. She begins a book of last letters: messages to be sent on to wounded soldiers’ loved ones should the very worst come to pass, so that no one is left without a final goodbye.
When she discovers a book of wartime letters, Stevie realises the importance of our final words – and uncovers the story of a secret love, a desperate choice, and the unimaginable courage of the woman behind it all…
But when the past and the present meet, what happens and how can the events that occurred during the Blitz have any effect on the lives of the present?
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Netgalley.
This is a beautiful novel, inspired by a true story told from the point of view of two characters in two timelines. Elsie is a nurse living and working in London during WW2 and Stevie is a carer / artist living in London now.
When nurse Elsie offers to send a reassuring letter to the family of a patient, she has an idea. She begins a book of last letters: messages to be sent on to wounded soldiers’ loved ones should the very worst come to pass, so that no one is left without a final goodbye.
When she discovers a book of wartime letters, Stevie realises the importance of our final words – and uncovers the story of a secret love, a desperate choice, and the unimaginable courage of the woman behind it all…
But when the past and the present meet, what happens and how can the events that occurred during the Blitz have any effect on the lives of the present?
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Netgalley.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is another wonderful WWII story (if that is possible). This one is told in dual timelines; present day and 1940. The story is heartbreaking, heartwarming, sweet story with lots of horrors of war mixed in. I really had a hard time putting this book down!
Many thanks to Netgalley and HQ Digital for this advanced readers copy. This book released March 30, 2022.
Many thanks to Netgalley and HQ Digital for this advanced readers copy. This book released March 30, 2022.
If I could only recommend one Historical Fiction that takes place in England this year, The Book of Last Letters would be the one. I was expecting a WW2 historical fiction that would tell me more about what accorded in war torn England. I got so much more. I didn't expect the story to be filled with suspense, but I was happily wrong. I didn't expect it to be blown away by the unexpected twists. The dual time line did an amazing job of tying the past and present together to reveal how the past influences the present.
Elsie was a nurse during WW2 working at South London Hospital. When huts are erected on the site to house injured soldiers. Helping a soldier write home turns into the Book of Last Letters. There were no rules. Messages to family were great. Drawings decorated some of the pages. Jokes filled spaces. Written words told what happened to the injured, what the saw, how they felt. As she collected stories she fell in love with Harry.
Sylvie's life has been chaotic. She has lost everything but her Nan living at Tall Trees, a place that used to be South London Hospital. She even lost her drive to paint until a series of fortunate events. Finn, a historian, is working with in the confines of the hospital researching a book found in the rubble of a basement. Thanks to Finn, I learned so much more about WW2 as he and Sylvie delve into the stories.
Sylvie's love of painting is rekindled after she enters a contest to paint mural illustrating the past influences the present. The Book of Last Letters pays a major part in her design. With the help of the residents of Tall Trees, Sylvie continues to solve the mysteries behind the letters and those that wrote them.
Sylvie might have been able to answer questions with research. But as a reader I got to follow along as Elsie lived out her days during the Blitz. The author had me ducking as bombs dropped. I dusted off my cloths after a direct hit. I sat in the dark and damp Anderson Shelter listening to planes fly overhead. My mind went crazy trying to figure out who Mr. and Mrs. Gold were. If you figure it out, please let me know.
Grab The Book of Last Letters. Experience the war through the eyes of the nurses, soldiers and residents in South London. Understand the past through this book to help understand the present and not to repeat it in the future.
Elsie was a nurse during WW2 working at South London Hospital. When huts are erected on the site to house injured soldiers. Helping a soldier write home turns into the Book of Last Letters. There were no rules. Messages to family were great. Drawings decorated some of the pages. Jokes filled spaces. Written words told what happened to the injured, what the saw, how they felt. As she collected stories she fell in love with Harry.
Sylvie's life has been chaotic. She has lost everything but her Nan living at Tall Trees, a place that used to be South London Hospital. She even lost her drive to paint until a series of fortunate events. Finn, a historian, is working with in the confines of the hospital researching a book found in the rubble of a basement. Thanks to Finn, I learned so much more about WW2 as he and Sylvie delve into the stories.
Sylvie's love of painting is rekindled after she enters a contest to paint mural illustrating the past influences the present. The Book of Last Letters pays a major part in her design. With the help of the residents of Tall Trees, Sylvie continues to solve the mysteries behind the letters and those that wrote them.
Sylvie might have been able to answer questions with research. But as a reader I got to follow along as Elsie lived out her days during the Blitz. The author had me ducking as bombs dropped. I dusted off my cloths after a direct hit. I sat in the dark and damp Anderson Shelter listening to planes fly overhead. My mind went crazy trying to figure out who Mr. and Mrs. Gold were. If you figure it out, please let me know.
Grab The Book of Last Letters. Experience the war through the eyes of the nurses, soldiers and residents in South London. Understand the past through this book to help understand the present and not to repeat it in the future.
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No