Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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:
Complicated
emotional
medium-paced
Such a sad story via the history of war
medium-paced
I really enjoyed this story. It made me angry and sad and happy. Well written.
On the eve of WWI, with the death of her scholar father, Beatrice must find her way in the world and accepts a position as Latin teacher in Rye, England. Used to traveling across Europe and staying in top-notch hotels, she is reduced to three pair of gloves, a shabby room, and one hot bath weekly. To keep her position she must battle prejudice and ancient class snobbery. Beatrice is intelligent and highly educated. And vastly under valued and unappreciated. Her new world is peopled by two young men, cousins and best friends although opposites, grand dames who rule society, and powerful titled men willing to do anything to protect their "good name".
I was swept into the novel, in love with the Austenesque quips and nods. "A country living room holds no terrors for me," Beatrice remarks. Beatrice has much in common with Fanny in Mansfield Park in her worthiness and powerlessness. A proposal scene matches the ridiculous Mr. Collins or Rev. Elton. True love grows between friends who are perfect equals. It begins a novel of social manners, which I dearly love to read.
Then war breaks out. The horrors of war come to reside in their village. Men are pressured to enlist by white feather-bearing girlfriends, fathers, and career mentors. Grand houses are prepared for hospitals, but only to house convalescents of the best quality. The city provides for Belgium refugees including a professor and his beautiful daughter Celeste, who are much lionized. While Beatrice is socially alienated, Celeste is smothered with dresses and invitations.
The final indignation comes when the publisher refuses to allow Beatrice to write the book about her father's work and gives her manuscript to a male writer. She had hoped to earn a little income from the book and begin a career as a writer.
Although very entertaining, the plot develops slowly as Beatrice endeavors to make it on her own. In the middle the plot leveled off and was not progressing, but part four was a roller coaster ride. The role of women, class prejudice, and the ill conceived idealization of war are addressed. Additionally, darker aspects of life 100 years ago appear when Celeste's victimization in war makes her a social pariah and the deep bound between two college chums brings forced separation, with tragic results.
The world of 1914 is presented in detail and will delight historical fiction fans. Set 100 years after Jane Austen, and 100 before the present day, one can note that class and gender issues have advanced more in the last 100 years than in the previous century. The Great War altered the world irrevocably, for better and worse.
I received a free ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
I was swept into the novel, in love with the Austenesque quips and nods. "A country living room holds no terrors for me," Beatrice remarks. Beatrice has much in common with Fanny in Mansfield Park in her worthiness and powerlessness. A proposal scene matches the ridiculous Mr. Collins or Rev. Elton. True love grows between friends who are perfect equals. It begins a novel of social manners, which I dearly love to read.
Then war breaks out. The horrors of war come to reside in their village. Men are pressured to enlist by white feather-bearing girlfriends, fathers, and career mentors. Grand houses are prepared for hospitals, but only to house convalescents of the best quality. The city provides for Belgium refugees including a professor and his beautiful daughter Celeste, who are much lionized. While Beatrice is socially alienated, Celeste is smothered with dresses and invitations.
The final indignation comes when the publisher refuses to allow Beatrice to write the book about her father's work and gives her manuscript to a male writer. She had hoped to earn a little income from the book and begin a career as a writer.
Although very entertaining, the plot develops slowly as Beatrice endeavors to make it on her own. In the middle the plot leveled off and was not progressing, but part four was a roller coaster ride. The role of women, class prejudice, and the ill conceived idealization of war are addressed. Additionally, darker aspects of life 100 years ago appear when Celeste's victimization in war makes her a social pariah and the deep bound between two college chums brings forced separation, with tragic results.
The world of 1914 is presented in detail and will delight historical fiction fans. Set 100 years after Jane Austen, and 100 before the present day, one can note that class and gender issues have advanced more in the last 100 years than in the previous century. The Great War altered the world irrevocably, for better and worse.
I received a free ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
I liked Summer Before. I cared about the characters and felt/bled for them, and I learned from reading it. But it did not capture me the way that Major Pettigrew did, and I did not have to re-read it immediately like I did Major Pettigrew. I wish I could say otherwise, because Simonson is such a good writer and she clearly did a ton of research to create this entire village of characters navigating the first waves of change that would crash down upon them as a result of The Great War. But all I could think was that so much worse was coming for them, and most of them had no idea of the horrors in store for their nation, the Continent, and the world, in this war or in the next one(s).
This book was an interesting period piece. I found it difficult to lose myself with the book. The writing just did not do it for me. I had difficulty connecting with the characters in the story. If you like historical fiction then this might be the book for you.
I am glad that my Mom shared this book with me; the setting, characters, and themes were fully developed and thoroughly captivating.
I’ve tried to read this book for a month, but have only made it halfway through. I’ve decided to stop torturing myself and move on. Like some others have said, the story isn’t great, there are too many characters (none of whom are particularly interesting), and I could only read about a page before wanting to doze off (literally, it put me to sleep). I rarely abandon a book before the end, but just couldn’t take it anymore.
Terrific story that follows the life of Beatrice as she tries to find her place in pre-WW1 England after the death of her father. A must read for lovers of historical fiction to read an engaging story of the dawning reality of WW1 and it's difficult aftermath.