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backonthealex's review against another edition
2.0
This is the story of a Polish family, Janusz, his wife Silvana and their sone Aurek, torn apart by from each other at the start of World War II. Required by law to join the Polish army, Janusz is on a train that is attacked by the Luftwaffe on his way to join his regiment. He hides, injured, in a ditch, and the train leaves without him. He ends up living alone in a small cabin in the woods, until he is warned that the enemy is approaching and he is not longer safe there. He leaves, and stays in a variety of safe houses until he finally makes it to England.
Silvana and Aurek are living in a apartment in Warsaw until German soldiers are billeted there. One of them rapes Silvana and she takes her son and leaves, heading for a nearby forest where they spend the rest of the war living.
At the end of the war, Silvana and Aurek are located in a refugee camp and travel to England to join Janusz, who has been living there for a number of years now, and needless to say, has cheated on Silvana, not knowing if she were dead or alive.
The story of their wartime experiences and the reuniting in England afterwards is told in alternating chapters, each telling their own story. These are harrowing experiences, yet I never really connected to either character. On the whole, I was very disappointed by this book and although I think the writing was wonderful but the story and characters left a lot to be desired.
Silvana and Aurek are living in a apartment in Warsaw until German soldiers are billeted there. One of them rapes Silvana and she takes her son and leaves, heading for a nearby forest where they spend the rest of the war living.
At the end of the war, Silvana and Aurek are located in a refugee camp and travel to England to join Janusz, who has been living there for a number of years now, and needless to say, has cheated on Silvana, not knowing if she were dead or alive.
The story of their wartime experiences and the reuniting in England afterwards is told in alternating chapters, each telling their own story. These are harrowing experiences, yet I never really connected to either character. On the whole, I was very disappointed by this book and although I think the writing was wonderful but the story and characters left a lot to be desired.
sarah5's review against another edition
4.0
This historical novel focuses on the lives of two Polish immigrants as they attempt to build a new life in England after the Second World War. Janusz, who is a Polish soldier who has made his way to England, finds out that his wife, Silvana and his child, Aurek, have survived the horrors in Warsaw and are in a Red Cross Camp. He reunites with them in England and this tells of their struggles to adapt to each other again and life after the deprivation they have suffered.
I did enjoy this and read it in two sittings. I liked the narrative style which switched from past tense (during the war) to present tense. It portrayed a realistic picture of post-war Britain such as rationing and the daily life. It also illustrated the difficulties immigrants can have in a new country and the prejudices they can be faced with. It was well-written and heartfelt at times, in particular I empathised with young Aurek. However, the main characters, Janusz and Silvana are not always that likable and it emerges they both have secrets to hide which became a little clichéd.
Overall though I would definitely recommend this if you are interested in this period in history or if you are a fan of historical fiction in general.
I did enjoy this and read it in two sittings. I liked the narrative style which switched from past tense (during the war) to present tense. It portrayed a realistic picture of post-war Britain such as rationing and the daily life. It also illustrated the difficulties immigrants can have in a new country and the prejudices they can be faced with. It was well-written and heartfelt at times, in particular I empathised with young Aurek. However, the main characters, Janusz and Silvana are not always that likable and it emerges they both have secrets to hide which became a little clichéd.
Overall though I would definitely recommend this if you are interested in this period in history or if you are a fan of historical fiction in general.
valpogal's review against another edition
4.0
At the beginning, I wasn't sure if I was going to really like this one...it seemed so dark. But war is dark, and horrible, and unimaginable. This is a compelling story of a Polish couple trying to survive during WWII and the story of the same couple trying to put their lives together after the war. It really did grab me. I think the style the author chose of going back and forth, not only between the major characters, but between time periods, threw me a bit at first but ended up being incredibly effective. Had she chosen a straight time line, the story would have lost much of its emotional punch; it would have been focused more on what happened than what happened to the people that these things happened to. This would be a good book club read.
jennifer_carroll's review against another edition
4.0
"What is your occupation? Housewife or housekeeper?" "Survivor."
That is the essence of this 1940s period piece about a Polish family that survived WW2 in very different ways. As they begin a new life together in post-war England, I think the author creates a believable story about a husband and wife trying to overcome the damage of war and failure. Overall, she captures subtle, gradual cracks that lead to an inevitable and necessary crisis.
That is the essence of this 1940s period piece about a Polish family that survived WW2 in very different ways. As they begin a new life together in post-war England, I think the author creates a believable story about a husband and wife trying to overcome the damage of war and failure. Overall, she captures subtle, gradual cracks that lead to an inevitable and necessary crisis.
rickijill's review against another edition
4.0
This week I read 22 Britannia Road by Amanda Hodgkinson. It is about the horrors of World War II and Hitler's invasion of Poland in particular. The plot includes survival, betrayal, and ultimately, hope.
Janusk Nowak is separated from his wife, Silvana, and their baby son, Aurek, as Hitler invades Poland. He is trying to enlist in the Polish Army to fight the Nazis, but an air strike delays him. When it becomes clear that if Janusz remains in Poland he will be killed, he joins Bruno and Franuk in a trek across Europe to join the British Armed Forces.
Meanwhile, Silvana (who is named appropriately) attempts to make it to her village outside of Warsaw. The bus runs out of gas, and the encroaching Soviet and Nazi soldiers force her and Aurek to hide in the forest for years. At the end of the war, they are found by British soldiers who help reunite them with Janusz back in England.
Janusz buys a bungalow in the village of Ipswich on the eastern coast while his family is traveling to meet him. He immediately embraces all things British. He is determined to become the quintessential English family, but what he had not counted on is a wild, feral son and a wife he hardly recognizes. Both Janusz and Silvana have dark secrets from the war and very deep emotional scars.
Although this book is difficult, it is an excellent story. I must admit I was stunned by Silvana's secret which was not revealed until 3/4 through the book. Hodgkinson is an excellent writer, but she uses simile and metaphor extensively. They were VERY GOOD similes and metaphors, so I started looking for them which became distracting. I love the ending; it is brilliant!
Since it's the Christmas season, I am going to *try* to read happy books. Although 22 Britannia Road ends happily, it about killed me getting there!
Janusk Nowak is separated from his wife, Silvana, and their baby son, Aurek, as Hitler invades Poland. He is trying to enlist in the Polish Army to fight the Nazis, but an air strike delays him. When it becomes clear that if Janusz remains in Poland he will be killed, he joins Bruno and Franuk in a trek across Europe to join the British Armed Forces.
Meanwhile, Silvana (who is named appropriately) attempts to make it to her village outside of Warsaw. The bus runs out of gas, and the encroaching Soviet and Nazi soldiers force her and Aurek to hide in the forest for years. At the end of the war, they are found by British soldiers who help reunite them with Janusz back in England.
Janusz buys a bungalow in the village of Ipswich on the eastern coast while his family is traveling to meet him. He immediately embraces all things British. He is determined to become the quintessential English family, but what he had not counted on is a wild, feral son and a wife he hardly recognizes. Both Janusz and Silvana have dark secrets from the war and very deep emotional scars.
Although this book is difficult, it is an excellent story. I must admit I was stunned by Silvana's secret which was not revealed until 3/4 through the book. Hodgkinson is an excellent writer, but she uses simile and metaphor extensively. They were VERY GOOD similes and metaphors, so I started looking for them which became distracting. I love the ending; it is brilliant!
Since it's the Christmas season, I am going to *try* to read happy books. Although 22 Britannia Road ends happily, it about killed me getting there!
thesteinreads's review against another edition
3.0
This book left me quizzical in some parts, appalled in others, and sad all in one! I had a hard time relating to any one character and couldn't even be happy for them in the end. I gave it 3 stars because it did hold my interest, but was truly hoping for a whole different story when I first started reading it!
amysbrittain's review against another edition
4.0
Probably a 3.5, but this one just really hit the spot after being disappointed in several recent reads. Wartime setting, intriguing wartime alternative lives, surprising and realistic character development and relationship evolution. Great read.
cristinavulpe's review against another edition
3.0
I clearly had a love-hate relationship with this book. Not too much to say about it. It oscillated between shocking me out of my mind and lingering around. Some of the characters I simply hated, which I can appreciate, because not many authors can make me hate fictional characters... others I had a sort of sympathy for, but all in all, I think this book could have been written way better.
++ Also, I don't think avoiding the war was a good thing for both main characters. I think at least one of them should have been involved in the military conflict, one way or another. Living in the woods (Silvana) and drinking wine with a hotty in Southern France (Janusz) seems to me lacks a LOT of realism.
Just a general "Meh".
++ Also, I don't think avoiding the war was a good thing for both main characters. I think at least one of them should have been involved in the military conflict, one way or another. Living in the woods (Silvana) and drinking wine with a hotty in Southern France (Janusz) seems to me lacks a LOT of realism.
Just a general "Meh".