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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Um livro que me conquistou do início ao fim!
Adorei! Uma leitura maravilhosa, recheada de emoções, uma mensagem poderosa sobre amor, relações, família e perdão.
Neste livro acompanhamos Elsie durante os anos da II Guerra Mundial, que trabalha como enfermeira e como forma de superar uma perda, ajuda outros a transmitirem uma última mensagem, na época mais negra da Humanidade.
Nos dias atuais, acompanhamos Stephanie, na descoberta por si e na compreensão das suas relações familiares.
Uma leitura envolvente, cativante e muito comovente. Simplesmente maravilhoso! Recomendo muito.
Fiquei fã da autora e quero ler mais livros dela!
!! Foi-me cedida uma cópia avançada deste livro em troca de uma opinião honesta.
Adorei! Uma leitura maravilhosa, recheada de emoções, uma mensagem poderosa sobre amor, relações, família e perdão.
Neste livro acompanhamos Elsie durante os anos da II Guerra Mundial, que trabalha como enfermeira e como forma de superar uma perda, ajuda outros a transmitirem uma última mensagem, na época mais negra da Humanidade.
Nos dias atuais, acompanhamos Stephanie, na descoberta por si e na compreensão das suas relações familiares.
Uma leitura envolvente, cativante e muito comovente. Simplesmente maravilhoso! Recomendo muito.
Fiquei fã da autora e quero ler mais livros dela!
!! Foi-me cedida uma cópia avançada deste livro em troca de uma opinião honesta.
I got this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a beautiful story. Elsie is a nurse during WWII who decides to embark on a project of recording hospital patients' "last letters" in case they pass away. While it starts as something just for the wounded from the war, it expands to include all patients at the hospital, bringing them together in ways big and small. How a book of letters connects us to people even decades later then comes to light with Stephanie, a modern day caregiver in a home that used to be the hospital that Nurse Elsie worked at. Stephanie feels Elsie as a kindred spirit, and embarks on a journey to find out what happened to her as well as others that wrote "last letters" in Elsie's book.
Weaving love stories in with mystery, emotions of course run high-both in the war era and current day. Elsie and Stephanie are determined and beautiful souls who've both been damaged by loss and betrayal, and use that as a springboard to the way they live-and change-their lives. My only wish when it comes to this book and how it was all sewed together at the end is that I wish that we would have known more about Elsie's neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Gold, who helped her escape danger and live her life how it was meant to be lived. There isn't much said about how they were able to do so and I found myself wanting to hear their story.
While this book was beautifully written, my only complaint is the formatting. Maybe it's just me but it drives me nuts when dialogue isn't clearly split up so you can see who says what. When there's a paragraph full of conversation without breaks, sometimes it can be harder to follow. It didn't affect the book a whole lot, and it could just be that that is the way that it's formatted in the Kindle version.
All in all a nice story, with a viewpoint on WWII that I had not considered before despite being an avid reader of all things WWII.
Thanks NetGalley and Kerry Barrett for the read!
This was a beautiful story. Elsie is a nurse during WWII who decides to embark on a project of recording hospital patients' "last letters" in case they pass away. While it starts as something just for the wounded from the war, it expands to include all patients at the hospital, bringing them together in ways big and small. How a book of letters connects us to people even decades later then comes to light with Stephanie, a modern day caregiver in a home that used to be the hospital that Nurse Elsie worked at. Stephanie feels Elsie as a kindred spirit, and embarks on a journey to find out what happened to her as well as others that wrote "last letters" in Elsie's book.
Weaving love stories in with mystery, emotions of course run high-both in the war era and current day. Elsie and Stephanie are determined and beautiful souls who've both been damaged by loss and betrayal, and use that as a springboard to the way they live-and change-their lives. My only wish when it comes to this book and how it was all sewed together at the end is that I wish that we would have known more about Elsie's neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Gold, who helped her escape danger and live her life how it was meant to be lived. There isn't much said about how they were able to do so and I found myself wanting to hear their story.
While this book was beautifully written, my only complaint is the formatting. Maybe it's just me but it drives me nuts when dialogue isn't clearly split up so you can see who says what. When there's a paragraph full of conversation without breaks, sometimes it can be harder to follow. It didn't affect the book a whole lot, and it could just be that that is the way that it's formatted in the Kindle version.
All in all a nice story, with a viewpoint on WWII that I had not considered before despite being an avid reader of all things WWII.
Thanks NetGalley and Kerry Barrett for the read!
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Easily a five-star read! You know what I love more than a book that focuses on seniors? I love books about British seniors even more!! The characters in the present day story were wonderful and made me smile. I liked Stevie a lot with all her flaws and layers. I loved that she worked at a seniors care home and how involved the residents got in her project.
In the story from the past, I really liked Elsie and enjoyed hearing about her experience as a London nurse during the war. As a healthcare worker, I could relate to some of the chaos that the hospital was going through and dodging that creepy guy at work that always seems to pop up! Nelly was such a firecracker! She would've been a great friend to have. And I was so curious about the Golds throughout the book. They could star in a sequel!
Fantastic read, I highly recommend this!
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for this advanced copy.
In the story from the past, I really liked Elsie and enjoyed hearing about her experience as a London nurse during the war. As a healthcare worker, I could relate to some of the chaos that the hospital was going through and dodging that creepy guy at work that always seems to pop up! Nelly was such a firecracker! She would've been a great friend to have. And I was so curious about the Golds throughout the book. They could star in a sequel!
Fantastic read, I highly recommend this!
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for this advanced copy.
Loved this novel! Historical fiction and duel story lines. I was drawn to Elsie’s story of hope, friendship, love, hardship and some twists I didn’t see coming. The connection and need for Stephanie’s storyline was simple and clear. It allowed me to focus on Elsie’s story every other chapter and continue to place the pieces to the puzzle. This book is being released on March 30th, I highly recommend it as a Spring read. Thanks, NetGalley and H.Q. Digital for the e-book inspired on an incredible true story.
Thanks to the publishers for making an e-arc of this book available to me via Netgalley.
In this novel we jump between modern-day London with Stevie, an artist working as a care aid at her Nan's home, and 1940s London with Elsie, a young nurse in the early days of the Blitz. When Stevie meets historian Finn at Tall Trees, her grandmother's care home, she becomes invested in uncovering a story from the past with ties to the present. Barrett's novel switches between the story of Nurse Elsie Watson, who created a scrapbook to help capture the last messages of those in her care during the Blitz, and Stevie.
You can tell Barrett is proud of her craft, researching and writing about WW2 with detail and respect. There's a significant lack of voyeurism which can sometimes accompany 'nostalgia reads' as I call them, which seem to saturate the Historical Fiction genre. But Barrett's novel while in possession of hallmark genre moments, is well written and enjoyable to read.
In this novel we jump between modern-day London with Stevie, an artist working as a care aid at her Nan's home, and 1940s London with Elsie, a young nurse in the early days of the Blitz. When Stevie meets historian Finn at Tall Trees, her grandmother's care home, she becomes invested in uncovering a story from the past with ties to the present. Barrett's novel switches between the story of Nurse Elsie Watson, who created a scrapbook to help capture the last messages of those in her care during the Blitz, and Stevie.
You can tell Barrett is proud of her craft, researching and writing about WW2 with detail and respect. There's a significant lack of voyeurism which can sometimes accompany 'nostalgia reads' as I call them, which seem to saturate the Historical Fiction genre. But Barrett's novel while in possession of hallmark genre moments, is well written and enjoyable to read.
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
"The Book of Last Letters" by Kerry Barrett, is a absolutely stunning novel. It is historical fiction based on a true story about a WW2 nurse that recorded the last letters of gravely injured military personnel for their families. This book will absolutely bring you to tears. It's emotional and heartfelt.
Synopsis
1940- Elsie age-21, is a nurse at "South London District Hospital". She begins sending upbeat letters to the injured victim's families to reassure them their loved one is accounted for and safe. What began as an occasional letter turns into a "last book of letters" as a loving way for the terminal patient's to say goodbye to loved ones. However, one person's dying request could turn into a fight-for-life situation for Elsie. Will Elsie honor the wish?
Present day:
Stephanie (Stevie) and her twin brother Max were raised by their Nan for much of their childhood. Max is now serving time in prison. The twins parted on bad terms. Nan has dementia and lives in the "Tall Trees" residential home. She rarely recognizes Stevie anymore. When Stevie stumbles upon an antique scrap book, she learns to fully embrace the impact of last words and the tremendous courage demonstrated by those that bravely paved the way for us.
"The Book of Last Letters" will be published March 30th.
Standing ovation to Kerry Barrett for this outstanding 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ novel!
Thank you NetGalley and H.Q. Digital, for the honor of reviewing this e-book. I loved every page of it!
Synopsis
1940- Elsie age-21, is a nurse at "South London District Hospital". She begins sending upbeat letters to the injured victim's families to reassure them their loved one is accounted for and safe. What began as an occasional letter turns into a "last book of letters" as a loving way for the terminal patient's to say goodbye to loved ones. However, one person's dying request could turn into a fight-for-life situation for Elsie. Will Elsie honor the wish?
Present day:
Stephanie (Stevie) and her twin brother Max were raised by their Nan for much of their childhood. Max is now serving time in prison. The twins parted on bad terms. Nan has dementia and lives in the "Tall Trees" residential home. She rarely recognizes Stevie anymore. When Stevie stumbles upon an antique scrap book, she learns to fully embrace the impact of last words and the tremendous courage demonstrated by those that bravely paved the way for us.
"The Book of Last Letters" will be published March 30th.
Standing ovation to Kerry Barrett for this outstanding 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ novel!
Thank you NetGalley and H.Q. Digital, for the honor of reviewing this e-book. I loved every page of it!
This is one of the most gorgeous, emotional and sweetest books I have read so far this year! I’m struggling to put into words how much I absolutely adored this. The dual timeline worked seamlessly and I loved both Elsie and Stevie and their own journeys that they go on with The Book of Last Letters. Absolutely stunning and definitely work the read.