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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
David Baldacci is one talented writer. This novel is like a beautiful tapestry of sorrow and redemption all in one. If I could have taken each of these well developed characters home with me (even some of the questionable ones), I would. That is how convincing his writing is.
At the beginning of the book, Charlie Matters lives with his grandmother and engages in theft to keep them afloat. Molly Wakefield is returning to London from the country now that the worst of the bombing is over. She’s committed to reconnecting with her parents. Ignatius Oliver owns the shop from which Charlie stole becomes friends with both Molly and Charlie.
Not only is this book about friendship, but it is also about survival in the face of devastation and finding a found family in the process. I am so grateful when I read something that sticks with me after I have put it down. I am still mulling over these characters several days later.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
David Baldacci has always been one of my favorite authors, and Strangers in Time was a bit of a departure from his usual style. It was clear that this novel was unique compared to his other works, and I found it to be a refreshing change. I definitely enjoyed it more than my mom, as it’s a slow burn that takes its time to unravel, but I loved the in-depth look at World War II in London. It’s rare that a WWII novel feels truly unique, but Baldacci created a different atmosphere with this one. Amid the destruction, the story of struggle, survival, and found family was incredibly moving. The three main characters would have never crossed paths without the war’s upheaval in their lives.
Charlie, almost fourteen, is barely getting by with his Gran, doing whatever odd jobs he can to survive. His vulnerability and determination really hit me hard. Molly, on the other hand, was sent away for safety before the Blitz, only to return to find her family gone. I admired her resilience—she had the wealth and comfort of her past life stripped away, but she was determined to make things work. And then there’s Ignatius Oliver, with a name straight out of fiction, who runs a bookshop that becomes a safe haven for the children. The oddities they discover in his shop, along with the mysterious men following Molly and the secrets Ignatius seems to harbor, added a thrilling element to the story.
Charlie, almost fourteen, is barely getting by with his Gran, doing whatever odd jobs he can to survive. His vulnerability and determination really hit me hard. Molly, on the other hand, was sent away for safety before the Blitz, only to return to find her family gone. I admired her resilience—she had the wealth and comfort of her past life stripped away, but she was determined to make things work. And then there’s Ignatius Oliver, with a name straight out of fiction, who runs a bookshop that becomes a safe haven for the children. The oddities they discover in his shop, along with the mysterious men following Molly and the secrets Ignatius seems to harbor, added a thrilling element to the story.
slow-paced
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Orphaned, thirteen-year-old Charlie sifts through the rubble of a Blitz-ravaged London, facing peril to find a way for him and his grandmother to survive the war. Molly is a well-to-do young woman returning from years away as an evacuee, only to find that her parents are missing, presumed dead. In peacetime, there is no reason Charlie and Molly's paths would ever cross, but the chaos of wartime brings them together.
Homeless and alone, Charlie and Molly are befriended by mysterious bookstore owner Ignatius Oliver, and a bond is formed that will help all three face the future...
In a change from his usual type of thriller, David Baldacci turns his attention to WWII London, for a stand-alone novel that is a very different sort of beast from the usual fare of this accomplished author. Instead, this is an emotional and sinuous tale that is essentially a character-led piece.
I must admit that I did not really gel with Baldacci's writing style in this novel, and there are elements of the story that I found problematic for a number of reasons, particularly how long it takes for the plot to get going, and the stilted nature of the perspectives of the younger characters (Baldacci writes his adults much better).
However, there are many things about Strangers in Time that do deserve high praise, so let me concentrate on these instead...
- At the heart, and the best thing about this story, is the relationship between Charlie, Molly and Ignatius, which is wreathed in lovely themes about three unlikely characters navigating terrible losses finding solace in each other. You really feel they would not have survived the events of this book on their own, which I very much enjoyed.
- Baldacci makes a good stab at describing the reality of living in war-time London too, taking in a good section of how this environment affects a varied slice of the population through the social differences between his characters. Expect tears from the way he delves into grief, and grinding privations.
- There is an excellent mystery that eventually takes hold, weaving through the character-led framework, which is actually rather exciting once the twists and turns get going.
I am still on the fence about this novel, despite the weight of its good points. I think that it would have been much better if I had come to it via the audio book (which I note has received a lot of praise). It really is a book that you need to feel through the voices of Charlie, Molly and Ignatius, and I struggled with how long it takes then to come alive in text form.
If nicely woven, slow-burn, war-time stories are your bag then I do recommend giving this intriguing stand-alone a shot - especially if you are a Baldacci fan... maybe go the audio route though.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
emotional
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes