Scan barcode
selket16's review against another edition
4.0
Three people; a recent widow, a poet who can't write anymore and a doctor who's lost his social skills; become friends over the course of a year at the end of the 1940s as they all begin to heal from their pasts. Mixed in are scenes from the past, Annika, the widow's, dead husband always in the mix, ever present in her life.
This is a heartwarming tale of getting on with your life after war. Roy, the poet, and Frank, the doctor, are trying to find themselves while dealing with the guilt of surviving after all the death they saw in the war (WWII).
I don't describe it well, but it's a wonderful story, and, unfortunately, a timeless story. There will always be broken people returning from war and there will always be people having to deal with senseless and unexpected deaths that shouldn't have happened. Annika's husband didn't die in the war, the war had been over for years now. He died in a train accident; he just went to work one day and didn't come back.
This is a heartwarming tale of getting on with your life after war. Roy, the poet, and Frank, the doctor, are trying to find themselves while dealing with the guilt of surviving after all the death they saw in the war (WWII).
I don't describe it well, but it's a wonderful story, and, unfortunately, a timeless story. There will always be broken people returning from war and there will always be people having to deal with senseless and unexpected deaths that shouldn't have happened. Annika's husband didn't die in the war, the war had been over for years now. He died in a train accident; he just went to work one day and didn't come back.
soulkissed2003's review against another edition
4.0
Shortly after World War II, Ani Lachlan's husband, Mac, is killed in a railway accident at work. His death leaves her with their young daughter to raise, and upends her life completely. She soon has to take a job at the local library to make ends meet. She gets to know Roy McKinnon, a local poet who has lost his voice, and Dr. Frank Draper, who saw so much death in the war that he feels helpless.
This novel is a finely written piece on grief, and how we somehow go on living after a hard loss, even when it feels hollow sometimes. It is a sad and heavy story, yet there are glimmers of hope now and again. The pace and tone of the book match up well with what a grieving person would be going through. It also gives a beautiful and vivid description of the shoreline in southeastern Australia, in the coastal town where Ani lives.
I enjoyed the book, and I think the serious subject matter was handled with masterful skill. If you have lost someone precious recently, this might be too close to home for you. My main criticism would be that the book relies heavily on the characters' personal thoughts. There is a lot of rumination going on, which is not necessarily emotionally healthy. I would have preferred a little more dialogue and interaction between the people in the story. But it is a worthy read, and if you're ready to step away from lighter fare for a time, this truly is excellent writing and storytelling.
This book will be released in April, 2016. I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This novel is a finely written piece on grief, and how we somehow go on living after a hard loss, even when it feels hollow sometimes. It is a sad and heavy story, yet there are glimmers of hope now and again. The pace and tone of the book match up well with what a grieving person would be going through. It also gives a beautiful and vivid description of the shoreline in southeastern Australia, in the coastal town where Ani lives.
I enjoyed the book, and I think the serious subject matter was handled with masterful skill. If you have lost someone precious recently, this might be too close to home for you. My main criticism would be that the book relies heavily on the characters' personal thoughts. There is a lot of rumination going on, which is not necessarily emotionally healthy. I would have preferred a little more dialogue and interaction between the people in the story. But it is a worthy read, and if you're ready to step away from lighter fare for a time, this truly is excellent writing and storytelling.
This book will be released in April, 2016. I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
cheekypearson's review against another edition
5.0
This book took me forever to read because it broke my heart. It's a wonderful book. But so so sad.
bristoni74's review against another edition
4.0
What a gorgeous book. This is a story of love, death, and grief post WW2 in a coastal community near Sydney. It is beautifully written and whilst I'm not a fan of poetry, the inclusion of war poet who struggled to write poetry after the war gave me insight into the beauty of poetry that is written from the heart. I also was intrigued by Ani's husband who she loved deeply but he was not really the man she loved but a version he created for her. Beautifully written and highly recommended.
joedeb90's review against another edition
4.0
It is funny how you can read the flap of a book, see what the book is about, and make a judgement about whether or not you will like it. I did not think I would like this book, but the author has a wonderful way with words. Beautiful!
janna128's review against another edition
3.0
This book as admittedly a bit harder to follow than I care to admit. Getting started with it was rough and I had to commit to starting it over before I was actually able to settle in and enjoy it.
emilyexley's review against another edition
2.0
I quite enjoyed the first two-thirds of this book, despite a lack of depth to the plot. Then came a plot point that irritated me so much it ruined the rest of the story for me.