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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
Whew. Read this book. That is all.
Everyone brave is forgiven.
Everyone forgiven is brave.
I do love that. This is a story based on a love story, about love and not love, war, race, hatred and its enduring place in the world. I learned things, too, and that is always a good thing, about minstrelry in London, about the Blitz, about Malta, where I always thought of sun and learned about starvation.
Everyone brave is forgiven.
Everyone forgiven is brave.
I do love that. This is a story based on a love story, about love and not love, war, race, hatred and its enduring place in the world. I learned things, too, and that is always a good thing, about minstrelry in London, about the Blitz, about Malta, where I always thought of sun and learned about starvation.
War is hell. No book has ever made that cliche more real than this WWII era story about three Londoners who are drawn into the conflict slowly and completely. In the first quarter of the novel, this looks like a love story involving a lot of dry, witty repartee and colorful personalities. As the war drags on, though, it becomes a love triangle with deeper issues. The depiction of military life in Malta as food grows scarce and working with children in London during the bombings are harrowing. The characters are changed, both diminished and deepened.
2017 Bookshop Santa Cruz Books and Brews Community Read
I had hoped that the focus of those left at home during World War II would provide an interesting read. While portions of it were good - I really enjoyed Alistair's time on Malta - I found it difficult to connect with the other main characters.
I had hoped that the focus of those left at home during World War II would provide an interesting read. While portions of it were good - I really enjoyed Alistair's time on Malta - I found it difficult to connect with the other main characters.
I enjoyed the second half of the book much, much more than the first half. I loved the character of Mary!
Giving perspectives of World War II from the vantage points of both civilians in London enduring countless bombings and the British military stationed in Malta, Everyone Brave is Forgiven is a striking look at the hardships and tragedy endured during the struggle between the Allied and Axis powers. I thought this novel was unusual for two reasons. First, the shocking way it revealed the human elements of this historical conflict. Secondly, I had never read another novel which incorporated the Negro population of London into the storyline. I had great admiration for Mary North for her persistence in giving an education to the underlings of society.
Mary North volunteers her services to the British war effort, and is subsequently assigned to assume a post as a teacher. Much to her surprise, she ie both challenged by and agreeable to the task. Tom Shaw is the "superintendent" of the district of Mary's school and finds himself smitten with her. His roommate, Alistair signs up to serve, leaving Tom to question his reluctance to enlist. Hilda is Mary's best friend and confidante. This cast of characters journeys through a story of love and loss and arrives at an ending where they can clearly see what matters most.
Mary North volunteers her services to the British war effort, and is subsequently assigned to assume a post as a teacher. Much to her surprise, she ie both challenged by and agreeable to the task. Tom Shaw is the "superintendent" of the district of Mary's school and finds himself smitten with her. His roommate, Alistair signs up to serve, leaving Tom to question his reluctance to enlist. Hilda is Mary's best friend and confidante. This cast of characters journeys through a story of love and loss and arrives at an ending where they can clearly see what matters most.
just loved this, not only could i not wait to get back to it but i broke my rule of flipping forward (to make sure someone was still alive, that's how powerful the book was)
informative
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
This was my first Chris Cleave book, and I really enjoyed it. Set (mostly) in London in 1939-1942, it was a fascinating look at the lives of Mary, Hilda, Tom, Alistair, and Zachary, and how World War II changed their lives, beliefs, and lifestyles. The novel is chock-full of truly entertaining dialogue, which kept the book very interesting and moving quickly. I laughed out loud more than once at witty and sarcastic dialogue by the main characters. I loved the humor throughout the novel, especially when it popped up at the most unexpected times in the plot.
I really connected with the subplots concerning race and class, and I was rooting for Mary as she did what she could to rectify the inequities of the culture, even though it required that she live very counter-culturally. I felt moved by the relationships between the characters, and connected with their struggle to make sense of what life had become and what it would be at wars' end.
The ending felt a bit unresolved to me so it was a bit of a let-down, but I understand the reason for it. I definitely prefer when a story line ends in a neat and tidy way, but in context--the middle of WWII--a neat and tidy ending wouldn't feel real. For this reason, I can deal with the ending.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, and had difficulty putting it down. I will definitely be reading more of Chris Cleave in the future.
I received an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really connected with the subplots concerning race and class, and I was rooting for Mary as she did what she could to rectify the inequities of the culture, even though it required that she live very counter-culturally. I felt moved by the relationships between the characters, and connected with their struggle to make sense of what life had become and what it would be at wars' end.
The ending felt a bit unresolved to me so it was a bit of a let-down, but I understand the reason for it. I definitely prefer when a story line ends in a neat and tidy way, but in context--the middle of WWII--a neat and tidy ending wouldn't feel real. For this reason, I can deal with the ending.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, and had difficulty putting it down. I will definitely be reading more of Chris Cleave in the future.
I received an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I felt like this was a different take on World War II. The characters were real and very sarcastic and they made a lot of mistakes. There's a lot about fate in here too.