Reviews

The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan

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missmac_'s review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

book_concierge's review against another edition

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4.0

Digital audiobook performed by Gabrielle Glaster, Laura Kirman, Imogen Wilde, Adjoa Andoh, Tom Clegg, and Mike Grady.
3.5*** (rounded up)

Among the many novels about World War II, this one stands out for its focus on the women left behind. Set in an English village, where most of the men are off to the fight, and the women have stepped up to the task of keeping things going, Ryan gives us a rich cast of characters, some of whom are not what they seem.

It begins when the vicar decides to suspend the choir; after all you can’t have a choir with no male voices. Not so fast! The women decide that they WILL sing and even enter the choir competition, bringing joy and recognition to their village.

But taking charge of the choir is only a small way in which the women of Chilbury rise to the occasion. The novel is told by a series of diary entries and letters. Ryan changes narrators with each chapter, giving the reader different perspectives on what is happening in and around Chilbury. The residents experience intrigue, subterfuge, family drama, young love, criminal activity, death and fierce loyalty. I was engaged and interested from beginning to end, and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with these ladies!

The audiobook is narrated by a cast of talented voice artists. I’m not certain who voiced which character, but they were all marvelous, really bringing the residents of Chilbury to life. A bonus for this listener is the choral music; oh, how I loved hearing snippets of the choir’s performances. On the strength of the audio performance I’m rounding up to 4 stars.

maryquitecontrary_22's review against another edition

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4.0

If you enjoy women's fiction set during World War II, you'll find The Chilbury Ladies' Choir an entertaining read. It's a mix of chick lit and historical fiction, which seems to be a popular combination as of late. Ryan impressed me by making connections among the smallest of details throughout the plot that I thought many writers would not have thought to do. Although I normally have a thing for epistolary novels, I think this one would have been better if it wasn't and was just told in chapters in alternating voices, with a few letters or notices thrown in between for the smaller characters.

alidottie's review against another edition

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4.0

I listened to this book and there were several narrators and I enjoyed that. I will get to discuss this book tonight with my book group and I am interested to hear what they have to say. There were interesting characters and this book is timely right now with women's issues today which quite often keep repeating

rossjenc's review

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

julieclair's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

An uplifting story of group of women coming together to support each other through the dark days of World War II in war-torn Kent, England. Watching these typical, normal village women find their inner strength and grow in independence, while also caring for each other, is so inspiring. Most of the women are flawed, some are not likable, and many of them make mistakes, but they all persevere, doing the best they can in extraordinary circumstances. A very realistic-feeling portrayal of life on the Home Front during the war.