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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Superb read! I loved this view of WWII. Emmeline wants to be a war correspondent and accidentally gets hired as a junior typist. While the book is quite funny, it also has some very serious parts as you might expect with the story taking place during WWII. What I loved about the book is that while it has the war scenes you'd expect (the Café Paris scene was devastating) it focuses on Emmy and the mismanagement of her career. Mrs. Bird is a dreadful boss you can't help but laugh at, and Emmy is always getting into trouble. I borrowed the audio version from the library and Anna Popplewell is truly amazing as the narrator!! Definitely worth another read/listen and I'm not one to re-read books!
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
So what might it have been like working for the problems page of a women’s magazine during World War II? Emmy Lake finds out. It’s not an easy job especially as she only sorts letters and types the replies provided by Mrs Bird who disapproves of most of the letters; only the blandest are accepted.
Emmy takes matters into her own hands and it is almost disastrous.
World War II should never be seen as a jolly old time and this book is realistic enough to offer us catastrophe and heart-break.
I’m afraid I wasn’t completely convinced by the characters and I felt that the resolution came a little too easily,
Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable read and it is clear that the author put in a lot of research.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
This is not my normal style of book as I generally read psychological thrillers or murder mysteries. But this was good and I found myself enjoying the history, and smiling at the genuinely funny characters.
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
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:
Yes
For the second time this year, I find myself having read the end of a series first.
I listened to Mrs. Porter Calling yesterday and fell in love with the story, its characters, and the warmth the novel brought me.
While skimming the reviews I discovered it was actually the 3rd in a 3 book series and checked the first two novels out immediately on Libby.
I adore Emmy and her spunky spirit and am about to dive into book two as soon as I stop typing.
I listened to Mrs. Porter Calling yesterday and fell in love with the story, its characters, and the warmth the novel brought me.
While skimming the reviews I discovered it was actually the 3rd in a 3 book series and checked the first two novels out immediately on Libby.
I adore Emmy and her spunky spirit and am about to dive into book two as soon as I stop typing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, War
genre: historical fiction, WWII
In a nutshell: Young, lovable Emmy Lake wants to do her bit for the war effort as a news journalist but ends up writing advice for how to remove stains from tea towels.
Recommendation: It's definitely cute and easy to read. I like it!
I got this because it was on sale, new, and the cover was cute... and the ratings were decent too. I read this to off-set sadness after reading a depressing book and it worked. I laughed out loud a few times. It was pretty cute!
Emmy Lake is trying her best to help out war efforts to bring down that bugger Hitler by volunteering as a telephone operator with the fire brigade. And then she sees a job ad that could make her dream of becoming a lady war correspondent. She quickly realizes her job is as an assistant to Mrs.Bird, a grumpy woman who provides advice to readers of "Woman's Friend," a dying magazine. But the important questions and concerns from writers are seen as "unpleasantness" and are discarded for questions about cleaning and cooking. Emmy decides to take matters into her own hands after reading letters from readers that Mrs.Bird refuses to respond to, about lonely women, broken relationships, and love during the war. Emmy starts responding to letters secretly... what Mrs.Bird doesn't know won't hurt her, right?
I thought this was super cute and I enjoyed it. I finished it pretty quickly. I like how it's jokey and funny but is set during a dark time, in London during WWII, when Germany was bombing England.
I really enjoyed the cast of characters, especially Emmy. She is relatable for sure, and funny and clever and kind and caring... basically all the good things! Mrs. Bird is hilarious in her own way, going around scolding about "UNPLEASANTNESS."
While I enjoyed the book and it was heart-warming, it wouldn't exactly pass as high-class literature that will stay with me forever.
By the end, I just wish we knew a bit more about Mrs.Bird and why she is the way she is, other than the fact she's just old and grumpy!
In a nutshell: Young, lovable Emmy Lake wants to do her bit for the war effort as a news journalist but ends up writing advice for how to remove stains from tea towels.
Recommendation: It's definitely cute and easy to read. I like it!
I got this because it was on sale, new, and the cover was cute... and the ratings were decent too. I read this to off-set sadness after reading a depressing book and it worked. I laughed out loud a few times. It was pretty cute!
Emmy Lake is trying her best to help out war efforts to bring down that bugger Hitler by volunteering as a telephone operator with the fire brigade. And then she sees a job ad that could make her dream of becoming a lady war correspondent. She quickly realizes her job is as an assistant to Mrs.Bird, a grumpy woman who provides advice to readers of "Woman's Friend," a dying magazine. But the important questions and concerns from writers are seen as "unpleasantness" and are discarded for questions about cleaning and cooking. Emmy decides to take matters into her own hands after reading letters from readers that Mrs.Bird refuses to respond to, about lonely women, broken relationships, and love during the war. Emmy starts responding to letters secretly... what Mrs.Bird doesn't know won't hurt her, right?
I thought this was super cute and I enjoyed it. I finished it pretty quickly. I like how it's jokey and funny but is set during a dark time, in London during WWII, when Germany was bombing England.
I really enjoyed the cast of characters, especially Emmy. She is relatable for sure, and funny and clever and kind and caring... basically all the good things! Mrs. Bird is hilarious in her own way, going around scolding about "UNPLEASANTNESS."
While I enjoyed the book and it was heart-warming, it wouldn't exactly pass as high-class literature that will stay with me forever.
By the end, I just wish we knew a bit more about Mrs.Bird and why she is the way she is, other than the fact she's just old and grumpy!