pickA very old book. First published in 1916, this one 1960. It caught my eye because I had to read it in high school and all I can remember is that I hated it. Reading it now I can understand why my teenage self didn‘t like. It is a spy thriller set in WW1 . I‘m glad I reread it. Looking back I realise we had a very British based curriculum.
By the way this old book smells great.😊❤️.
pickIn the early stages of the book I felt that I was in the midst of a very enjoyable and interesting story. The plot was easy to follow, the characters were not overly complicated and having chosen a large print book it was not too difficult to read. As the book progressed I found that there were an abundance of chapters that lacked substance and were less enjoyable than others. The unexpected & shocking revelations at the end was the books saviour
bailedI tried not to, but I‘ll have to bail on this one (gave it 100 pages). Perhaps it‘s the timing. The plot is promising, the characters have potential but the writing feels clichéd and unnatural. It maybe unrelated (or not) but I read two pages of Ann Patchett and I can‘t stop thinking about that book now. #currentlynotreading
Where I talk through the love/hate of Loyal Creatures by Morris Gleitzman
https://www.suzs-space.com/loyal-creatures-morris-gleitzman/
so-soFinished this one up tonight while cooking a pot of Tuscan bean soup. A bit repetitive between all 3 main characters especially at the beginning. Decent historical context which shows the author‘s research. The audiobook narrator was exceptional and really helped make this an enjoyable listen. If I tried to read it I probably would have gotten bogged down. I give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️and would recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
It‘s been a whirlwind week/weekend, but I made time today to finish my #reread of this wonderful book on audio. I had forgotten just how solemn and sad the entire story is. It is truly a novel of WWI on the Canadian home front with all of the stress and grief that includes. Yet, it also has those signature moments of pure beauty and humor that LMM writes so wonderfully. I loved revisiting this story.
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #WWI #audiobook
pickWartime spies were not always men. Women spies, while being highly effective during WWI, faced unique dangers. This dual timeline book tells English spy Eve‘s story from the Great War and American Charlie‘s story looking for her French cousin Rose who went missing during WWII. Scottish Finn, ex-soldier with his own grim past, is their driver through the French countryside piecing together the horrors Eve and Rose faced. The other female spies ⬇️
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread
“No, I don‘t like you and I never will but for all that I‘m going to make a decent, upstanding infant of you. …If I can‘t love you I mean to be proud of you at least.”
Rilla ambitiously takes on the care of an infant—a “war-baby”—in spite of the fact she does NOT like babies.
What did you think of this storyline?
How does Jims contribute to Rilla‘s own growth?
Posting #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead Qs early—I have a very long day tomorrow!
LMM weaves in a number of female characters who contrast with Rilla—in age, in maturity, in personality—and who together offer a full, rich picture of women on the “home front” in WWI.
What did you think of the way women‘s roles were portrayed in the novel?
Which characters besides Rilla were you most drawn to?
Which attitudes toward the war did you most resonate with?
pickI very much enjoyed this historical fiction that takes place during WWI in Oxford. Peggy and her twin Maude live on a houseboat and work in a bookbinders. It‘s from Peggy‘s point of view, and with her we learn about how books were made at the time (are they still? I imagine the process has changed a lot), volunteer in a makeshift hospital for war victims, and attempt to win a college scholarship in a time poor women didn‘t get to go often. ⬇️
