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nini_readswithcats's review against another edition
4.0
I picked up this book following a friends recommendation. As i'm normally more of a crime fiction reader usually the more grisly the better I wasn't sure how i would find this. I loved it and manged to read it in two sittings. This was a charming yet touching story. I found myself swept up in the atmosphere from the beginning, from the lucky onion for stew, abominably knitted vests, and Garibaldi biscuits.
I found myself cheering Emmy on in her mission to help people and thought the way the writer manged the idea of the war time spirit with the atrocities that occurred to be both heartwarming and heartbreaking, at times I even shed a tear. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is considering giving it a go you wont be disappointed.
I found myself cheering Emmy on in her mission to help people and thought the way the writer manged the idea of the war time spirit with the atrocities that occurred to be both heartwarming and heartbreaking, at times I even shed a tear. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is considering giving it a go you wont be disappointed.
bevgrey's review against another edition
5.0
This is an utterly charming novel set in WW 2 London. The main character is Miss Emmaline Lake. Emmy lives in a flat she shares with her lifelong best friend Bunty, longs to be a war correspondent, and volunteers at night with the local fire brigade. She manages to break into journalism, although not in the way she had hoped.
There are sweet parts, sad parts, heartbreaking parts, and some funny parts as well. The descriptions of the way people do their best to have normal lives under far from normal circumstances ring true and are impressive.
This is a clean read, suitable for anyone who knows that unmarried women can get pregnant, although none of the characters do.
There are sweet parts, sad parts, heartbreaking parts, and some funny parts as well. The descriptions of the way people do their best to have normal lives under far from normal circumstances ring true and are impressive.
This is a clean read, suitable for anyone who knows that unmarried women can get pregnant, although none of the characters do.
pikusonali's review against another edition
4.0
Reading a good historical novel is like settling down in a cosy armchair with a hot cup of coffee, breathing in the fragrance and getting lost in a world which was real years ago. There is something so undeniably heart-warming about World War stories. The sheer bravery of common people stands out, shining bright like a diamond. So many lovely stories, so many untold ones.
Dear Mrs Bird is one such delightful piece of fiction based on the agony aunt columns that operated during the wars giving advice and support to millions of women in difficult times. It is a story that you will be able to relate to. Warm and funny, sad and sweet, it is a story of friendship and love. But above all, a story of courage. Might even make you shed a tear or two. It's heroine Emmeline Clarke is this remarkable young woman one can identify with. A confused soul who only wants to help but ends up making a mess of things.
Life is like that sometimes. It might seem unforgiving but it blesses us with people who can see our true self beyond our shortcomings. As long as you are strong and brave in the face of adversity, there is nothing, you can't face. If you are a fan of historical fiction, don't miss this one!
Dear Mrs Bird is one such delightful piece of fiction based on the agony aunt columns that operated during the wars giving advice and support to millions of women in difficult times. It is a story that you will be able to relate to. Warm and funny, sad and sweet, it is a story of friendship and love. But above all, a story of courage. Might even make you shed a tear or two. It's heroine Emmeline Clarke is this remarkable young woman one can identify with. A confused soul who only wants to help but ends up making a mess of things.
Life is like that sometimes. It might seem unforgiving but it blesses us with people who can see our true self beyond our shortcomings. As long as you are strong and brave in the face of adversity, there is nothing, you can't face. If you are a fan of historical fiction, don't miss this one!
rosiefpb's review against another edition
3.0
Needed something a bit lighter to read. This did the job (still about the blitz so not actually *that* light, but you know). It was alright. I liked Mr Collins the most I think.
erinkolb's review against another edition
Maybe I'll come back to this, but was not entirely captured by the story. I stopped reading after listening to about 1/2 of it.
acmarinho3's review against another edition
4.0
Não é um livro arrebatador, mas consegue conquistar-nos, pouco a pouco, ao longo da história. Senti que melhorou bastante do meio para o fim, que ganhou outro significado, outra mensagem, e valeu a pena por isso. A protagonista tem uma inocência irreverente e uma irreverência inocente que nos faz gostar dela, que nos faz querer ajudá-la. Quando era mais pequena lembro-me de pegar nas revistas que a minha avó e a minha mãe compravam e de encontrar a secção de ajuda, de pedir conselhos, orientação, mas a verdade é que nunca achei as respostas interessantes: eram "robotizadas", automáticas, neutras, pouco humanas e naturais. Eram a original Sra. Bird. Felizmente, neste livro, existe a versão querida da Sra. Bird, cuja bondade e vontade de ajudar os outros cria empatia e impulsiona uma mudança no leitor para fazer o bem. Um livro algo triste, mas doce, muito doce.
restless's review against another edition
2.0
Not what I expected. Dear Mrs Bird is a slice-of-life narrative set in London during the Blitz, and it's written almost entirely in Keep Calm and Carry On. If you're willing to put up with this kind of capitalisation for 300+ pages, then you will almost certainly enjoy the humour in this book.
Emmeline, the lead, has internalised Keep Calm and Carry On as her personal motto, and her story explores both the psychological costs and very real benefits of this mindset during a harrowing period in our history.
Perhaps unfairly, I am dropping several stars from my rating as I had hoped for more of a focus on Emmy's relationship with Mrs Bird - perhaps something energising, feminist, and redeeming - but unfortunately that didn't happen here. Although being in Emmy's head gave me a whole new understanding of life during the Blitz, double-entendres, and Englishness; her constant self-flagellation Wore Me Out. By extension, Mrs Bird appeared to be more of an afterthought than a main event, which is a pity.
On to book 2.
Postscript: book 2 is very enjoyable and addresses all of my complaints above. I look forward to book 3.
Emmeline, the lead, has internalised Keep Calm and Carry On as her personal motto, and her story explores both the psychological costs and very real benefits of this mindset during a harrowing period in our history.
Perhaps unfairly, I am dropping several stars from my rating as I had hoped for more of a focus on Emmy's relationship with Mrs Bird - perhaps something energising, feminist, and redeeming - but unfortunately that didn't happen here. Although being in Emmy's head gave me a whole new understanding of life during the Blitz, double-entendres, and Englishness; her constant self-flagellation Wore Me Out. By extension, Mrs Bird appeared to be more of an afterthought than a main event, which is a pity.
On to book 2.
Postscript: book 2 is very enjoyable and addresses all of my complaints above. I look forward to book 3.
apierlessbridge's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0