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The Evening Chorus
The Evening Chorus | Helen Humphreys
25 posts | 7 read | 2 reading | 25 to read
Shot down on his first RAF mission, James Hunter spends his war in a German prison camp. The other captive soldiers busy themselves planning their escapes, but James dedicates himself to a detailed study of the redstarts nesting just beyond the camp boundaries - a project that gives him something to live for and earns him an unusual ally in the Kommandant in charge of the camp. Rose, James's young wife, is spending her war in a cottage on the lip of Ashdown Forest in Sussex, with her dog Harris for company. She'd hardly known James before he went away and can barely engage with his letters, which talk of nothing but birds. Now she has fallen in love with someone else - Toby, a young pilot home on sick leave. They meet secretly at night. Then James's brusque sister Enid is bombed out of her flat in London and comes to live in Rose's tiny cottage. Little more than strangers, both women are guarded, and Rose tries to conceal her affair from Enid. But later both look back on this strange interlude as one of their happiest. Beautifully written and full of moments of hope, The Evening Chorus is a stirring story about love and the natural world, set against the backdrop of the Second World War.
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review
Clutterbucks_Queen
The Evening Chorus | Helen Humphreys
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Pickpick

There was a few moments when reading this that I didn't feel connected to it.. but then things would change and I ended up being drawn back in.
It is hard to describe exactly how this novel made me feel, but overall I would say it left me with a mixture of emotions and I would recommend this book to anyone that has an interest in stories depicting the lives of people during a war time period.

It was simple, yet intricate!

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saresmoore
The Evening Chorus | Helen Humphreys
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Oh my goodness, what a beautiful, thoughtful, and unexpected parcel from @TrishB ! Thank you, my friend! It brought tears to my eyes when I unwrapped the Helen Humphreys book. I feel truly honored by your gift. ♥️♥️♥️

Elliott has already expressed her admiration for the sticky notes, so I imagine I‘ll be sharing those. 😊 I also love the card and plan to proudly display it.

erzascarletbookgasm Wonderful gifts and that‘s a lovely edition. 💗 5y
saresmoore @erzascarletbookgasm Isn‘t it gorgeous? I‘m a bit overwhelmed! 5y
batsy How lovely! 💕 5y
See All 12 Comments
LeahBergen How sweet!! 💕💕 5y
ephemeralwaltz Gorgeous! 5y
TrishB So glad it arrived safely and just sorry it didn‘t arrive for your actual birthday ❤️ enjoy when you get to it! I think you will 😁 (edited) 5y
saresmoore @TrishB I‘m sure I will love it! Thank you again, Trish! ♥️♥️♥️ 5y
BarbaraBB What a great gift 💕 5y
Centique Oh wow that book is gorgeous @TrishB 💕 Happy belated birthday Sara! (edited) 5y
saresmoore @Centique Thank you and the same to you! 5y
kspenmoll So thoughtful of @TrishB . Love book cover! 5y
Suet624 How lovely! 5y
83 likes2 stack adds12 comments
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TrishB
The Evening Chorus | Helen Humphreys
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Pickpick

Sighs.....beautiful writing. Simple, yet poignant story, linking the wonder of nature to the rhythm of day to day life. I am always in awe of her writing.

saresmoore I love her writing so much! 5y
TrishB @saresmoore it‘s beautiful and sparse, I can read the same sentence several times and still be amazed. 5y
wordzie ❤ The cover 5y
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Melissa_J Have you read The Lost Garden? It‘s my favourite of Humphreys‘ books 5y
Coffeedaily Beautiful cover art. 5y
Reggie Sigh.. nice review. Sigh... stacked. 5y
Tanisha_A Ooh, and the cover! 😍 5y
TrishB @wordzie @Coffeedaily @Tanisha_A it‘s lovely isn‘t it ❤️ 5y
TrishB @Melissa_J that was my first 💕 a total #blameitonlitsy as I‘d never heard of her before. It‘s a wonderful little book. 5y
TrishB @Reggie welcome 😘 5y
Cathythoughts Sounds beautiful... must investigate this writer ♥️👍🏻 5y
TrishB @Cathythoughts this has been my fav so far 5y
Cathythoughts Thankyou. ! Duly noted 👍🏻♥️ 5y
Lindy ❤️Helen Humphreys ❤️ 5y
128 likes10 stack adds14 comments
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TrishB
The Evening Chorus | Helen Humphreys
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Full of wonderful writing as always from Humphreys.

Cathythoughts Great quote ♥️♥️👍🏻 5y
TrishB @Cathythoughts she writes so beautifully. 5y
Aimeesue Thought this was a Doctor Who quote at first. 😄 5y
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Severnmeadows A wonderful quote. 5y
TrishB @Aimeesue 👍🏻😁 5y
TrishB @Severnmeadows it really is 😁 5y
Reggie That‘s nice. 5y
104 likes2 stack adds7 comments
review
Bibliogeekery
The Evening Chorus | Helen Humphreys
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Pickpick

I just finished re-reading this amazing book! A man makes meaning out of his time in a prisoner-of-war camp through studying birds, two women try to survive the war in their own ways. Helen Humphreys' precise lyrical prose and mastery over narrative makes this book a true joy to read!

55 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Bibliogeekery
The Evening Chorus | Helen Humphreys
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Audiobook in my backyard before the clients start for the day 😍📚

arubabookwoman Beautiful bark—what kind of trees are those? 6y
65 likes3 comments
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Bibliogeekery
The Evening Chorus | Helen Humphreys
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2BR02B Lovely! 🌸 6y
Lindy Pretty peonies, gorgeous book. 6y
49 likes3 comments
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Bibliogeekery
The Evening Chorus | Helen Humphreys
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Listening to my audiobook while I wait to vote! So nervous that my province is about to elect our own version of Trump. 😳

kgriffith Our 45 mini-me is getting replaced this November, thank goodness, and hopefully the new ranked-choice voting system will prevent what happened the last two election cycles that put him in the governor‘s mansion to begin with. 6y
tournevis I cautiously optimistic that the high level soap opera of the last two weeks *may* swing the vote to orange. Knocking on all the wooden surfaces I find. 6y
Bibliogeekery @tournevis I *really* hope so 😳🤪🤢 6y
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Read66 Heading out to vote now to try and help prevent that 6y
janeycanuck On the plus side, the senate passed the cannabis bill yesterday so we *may* be able to survive the next four years. 6y
AiBBot Ugh 6y
Bibliogeekery @AiBBot Super Ugh! 💔😳🤢😭 6y
AiBBot Our work continues to support the vulnerable and teach the new generation what true leadership should look like. Game on. 📚 6y
49 likes8 comments
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TrishB
The Evening Chorus | Helen Humphreys
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Today‘s #bookmail.
The 2 Helen Humphreys are hardback and were Q9 used plus postage. They are brand new and look like they‘ve never been read. Bargain ?
My son wants to read the Clinton/Patterson one.

Kalalalatja What a steal! 6y
minkyb Nice! 6y
TrishB @Kalalalatja I know 😁 very pleased! 6y
See All 6 Comments
DeborahSmall Love that bird cover! 6y
LeahBergen Ooo! 👏🏻👏🏻 6y
batsy Lucky finds 💕 6y
92 likes6 comments
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Bibliogeekery
The Evening Chorus | Helen Humphreys
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Suzze That was my mom‘s favorite flower. Mine haven‘t bloomed yet. I don‘t think they get enough sun. 6y
Bibliogeekery @Suzze they are so lovely! Hope yours bloom and you have a nice memory of your mom! 6y
55 likes3 comments
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Bibliogeekery
The Evening Chorus | Helen Humphreys
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Jaimelire Lovely! 6y
DivineDiana So unusual! Beautiful! 6y
Betty Julie sent email to us in #qgp1 asking for your address so that she can send you Luna. 6y
Bibliogeekery @Betty thanks so much for letting me know!! I hadn't checked that account in months! I thought it was linked to my main account but apparently not. Thanks again! 6y
72 likes4 comments
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Bibliogeekery
The Evening Chorus | Helen Humphreys
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callielafleur Ooooo alliums! So pretty! 6y
66 likes1 comment
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Bibliogeekery
The Evening Chorus | Helen Humphreys
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86 likes2 comments
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Bibliogeekery
The Evening Chorus | Helen Humphreys
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Cathythoughts Beautiful 💕 6y
stacybmartin Those are so pretty!! 💜 6y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful 💜 6y
61 likes4 comments
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Bibliogeekery
The Evening Chorus | Helen Humphreys
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Excited to try to audiobook version of this amazing book!

44 likes1 stack add
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Bibliogeekery
The Evening Chorus | Helen Humphreys
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HUGE NEWS in my life: I have been accepted into a six day writing retreat where my instructor will be HELEN HUMPHREYS!!!!! Am I a writer? Only for my own amusement. Am I excited to be taught by one of my most favourite authors? Out of my mind excited! Am I intimidated that I have to produce a writing sample this weekend that Helen Humphreys is going to read? Yup. What have I done?!?!

AmyG Congrats!!! 6y
Tamra 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 6y
Redwritinghood Wow! Congratulations! 6y
See All 18 Comments
batsy Oh my gosh!! That's amazing! Congratulations ❤️ 6y
ephemeralwaltz Congratulations!!!!👏🏼🎉 6y
erzascarletbookgasm 😮 wow! So excited for you! 6y
JoScho That is amazing!! 6y
megt Congratulations! 6y
LeahBergen That‘s fantastic!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 6y
Xeroaa13 Congrats!! 6y
Melissa_J That‘s fabulous! 6y
Eyelit Awesomeness!! 6y
xicanti Congratulations! 6y
Bibliogeekery @Lindy - I feel like you'll understand my excitement about this! 6y
Jas16 Congratulations! 6y
asiriusreader Congrats!! 6y
Lindy That‘s fantastic! Be brave and be authentic and you will be fine. Congratulations! 6y
Bibliogeekery @Lindy thanks, Lindy! I'm so excited and a bit nervous! 6y
73 likes18 comments
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huntersmom1977
The Evening Chorus | Helen Humphreys
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" The miracle of birds is not that they can fly, but that they touch down " ???

Bibliogeekery Such a great book but such a great author! 7y
huntersmom1977 @Bibliogeekery Yes!! I read your comments about her on your entry and can't wait to read her others 7y
7 likes2 comments
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huntersmom1977
The Evening Chorus | Helen Humphreys

" I like the candour of dogs. They're always honest about what they're feeling "

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huntersmom1977
The Evening Chorus | Helen Humphreys
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Pickpick

Set in 1940's wartime, but not a war book. Beautifully written and very engaging. I also learnt about the different species of birds and even a bit about certain plants and herbs

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Bibliogeekery
The Evening Chorus | Helen Humphreys
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Thoroughly enjoyed re-reading this gorgeous book by one of my most cherished authors. #LitsyAtoZ #letterH #queerbooks @BookishMarginalia

readinginthedark I can't believe I've never heard of this; it sounds so good! 7y
Bibliogeekery @readinginthedark it's her second newest book. It's so so good!! 7y
85 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Bibliogeekery
The Evening Chorus | Helen Humphreys
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Gratuitous tropical evening shot! Can't help it - will be back to eternal winter in a few short days!!

Redjewel_7734 Gorgeous! I'm jealous! 7y
Melkyl Lovely! 7y
Jeanette Oh, where is this?! I was in St. Thomas a couple of months ago and am missing it a lot! 7y
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Bibliogeekery @Jeanette Holguin, Cuba!! 7y
Merethebookgal Gorgeous! 7y
Jeanette It's so beautiful! 7y
79 likes6 comments
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Bibliogeekery
The Evening Chorus | Helen Humphreys
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Finished re-reading this gorgeous book aloud to my partner beside the ocean! 😍 (I can't help myself with these photos! I live in Canada where winter is endless!!)🏖️

sherryvdh Looks beautiful! Lucky you! 7y
MyNamesParadise Gorgeous!! Where's the pic taken? 7y
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Gleefulreader I'm loving the pictures! 7y
Tanner Nice! We have rain here in Ontario but I hear more snow is coming tomorrow or Thursday. I'd stay south! 7y
Bibliogeekery @Tanner yikes! I'm back on Saturday. Maybe I could just miss my flight. . . 7y
Tanner @Bibliogeekery Probably a good plan. It's very cold and windy with snow squalls where I am. 🌬 7y
89 likes2 stack adds9 comments
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Lindy
The Evening Chorus | Helen Humphreys
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Helen Humphreys chatted with me while we waited for a book event in 2013, telling about her fascination with a British officer who studied birds while in a WWII German prison camp. I later tracked down & read Buxton's monograph about redstarts. Humphreys' thoughtful, poetic & powerful novel inspired by Buxton's life was published in 2015. #fictionnonfictionpairings

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mllemay
The Evening Chorus | Helen Humphreys
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Pickpick

Finally sat down long enough to finish book 2 of #biblioweekend. I loved it! This is a very unusual World War II novel. It's hard to describe without ruining it...all I'll say is that it's a character study on the impact of war, loneliness, and kindness. If you like slow-going, character-centric stories, you should definitely give this a shot.

Bibliogeekery I'm glad you liked it! 8y
mllemay @Bibliogeekery yes! Will be reading more from her for sure! 8y
Jilanna @mllemay - I really liked Coventry. 8y
mllemay @Jilanna that's good to know! Thanks :) 8y
25 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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mllemay
The Evening Chorus | Helen Humphreys
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Almost done with book 2 of #biblioweekend but I'm keeping the last 70 pages for tomorrow 😴 So happy that there's still two full weekend days to read!

Bibliogeekery Love this book from one of my favourite authors!! #queerbooks 8y
mllemay @Bibliogeekery I picked it totally at random on the "new in" shelf at the library and it's so good! I'm really glad I took it home with me ? 8y
Bibliogeekery Wow! What a great author to randomly stumble across! I love when that happens! 8y
29 likes3 comments