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merrynthomas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: War
augie_'s review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Sexual content, Medical trauma, War, and Injury/Injury detail
bootrat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
lucyatoz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Audrey is engaged to be married and Emma is in a relationship with Sylvia, a fellow First Aid volunteer, which no one knows about, and the sisters have significant turning points in these relationships as the story unfolds. They are both faced with confronting deep questions about who they are and what they want in the mist of the Second World War.
It is a powerful novel about an important period of WWII which the author has taken time to research. The only thing about this book was the annoyance with the spoken dialogue was not placed in quotation marks. Otherwise, a well written piece of storytelling which was powerful and captured the spirit of a community during a time of war.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pregnancy
booksjessreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
There is no doubt that Caldwell has done her research. The intricacies of everyday life were told with such detail, and the descriptions of bombings in Belfast also felt real, as though you had been transported there yourself. The descriptions of casualties and reactions to the bombings were unequivocal, candidly brutal and emanated the shock and disbelief of the Belfast people with accuracy and care. In these sensitive moments, the imagery used was next to none.
However, I did have issues with pacing in this book, coupled with some writing and stylistic choices. The first half of this book was quite slow, and I did have issues finding my way with the characters, their points of view, and their recollection of memories and events. At around the half way mark though, things did really pick up and I would say it was more medium paced. However, this shift in pacing was quite jarring and didn't create a smooth reading experience. Furthermore, the lack of speech marks did not work for this novel. I had got into the swing of it by the end, but it just felt misplaced in this book. For some novels, this works really well. For this one, in my opinion, not so much. And finally, the use of the Belfast dialect was only casually used. This then felt messy and it would have worked better had this been implemented more consistently, or not at all.
Overall though, this was a good read and I would even re-read and recommend this to others. A really great perspective and narrative of the Belfast Blitz as a whole that has been well researched and was insightful.
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit and Medical content
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Abortion
james1star's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Death and War
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Blood, Sexual harassment, and Classism
wordsofclover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Shamefaced I have to admit I didn't know a huge amount about the extent of the bombing on Belfast during WW2, and reading about the horrific impact left behind during this novel was really startling - especially when thinking about the 'relative' peace people were living in just south of the border. I actually really liked the scene set on a train from Dublin as people tried to hide items from customs people, and the absolute waste that was the customs men just throwing items out of the train. From a history aspect, I found it really interesting.
I liked both Audrey and Emma - though I will say I think Audrey was a slightly stronger character for me - Emma felt a little bit meek and pale in comparison, and even when she was with Sylvia, her almost overbearing feelings towards the woman felt a bit immature. I think I enjoyed Audrey's predicament a little bit better - this struggle between the societal norms of marrying and children battling her desire to work and do 'more' with her life. I also really liked the chapters we get from Audrey and Emma's mother Florence - hints at a young love she still remembers - scenes of which were quite aching and moving yet never taking away from the love she had for her husband and almost grown family. I found her a very interesting character, and would actually happily read a prequel novel about her (presumably set during WW1 and her first love Reynard).
While this was well written and taught me a lot I didn't know, I think overall I would have liked maybe a little bit more of everything. Some of the character decisions felt maybe slightly surface level and I would have liked to follow the characters for longer and seen more character growth. It's disappointing that the story fell into the 'kill your gays' trope as well but the story wasn't going to end without at least one tragedy close to home.
Graphic: War
Moderate: Death
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Medical content, and War
what_heather_loves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Belfast, Northern Ireland , April 1941 , which saw the 'Belfast Blitz', as a result of the city's contribution to the Allied war effort (ships, aircraft and munitions) and its poor preparation and defences. Split into three parts, The Dockside Raid, The Easter Raid and The Fire Raid, the author describes the lives of the Bell family and others they meet during this period. Father Philip is a beleaguered doctor; mother Florence (pining for a long-lost love) is a housewife; grown-up daughter's Audrey and Emma are struggling with their romances, against the backdrop of war and; younger son Paul dreams of joining the troops. Four days and nights in their lives are described with such richness and emotion 'It's hard to believe Caldwell didn't live through the Belfast Blitz" (as Tracy Chevalier's epigraph describes). Dread following the first raid, is accompanied by the violence, destruction and loss of wartime life. Whilst the narrative standpoint shifts (and the absence of inverted commas is noticeable) the style and story never loses focus. Incredibly sad, the stoicism of the women, who are the novel's focus, stand out. Gloriously engaging, this piece of historical fiction is impeccably researched whilst the characters' narratives are raw and emotional. A fitting tribute to the Belfasters who lived through this tragic period of the city's history.
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Minor: Animal death, Sexual content, and Pregnancy