sazzzberry's review against another edition
3.0
I actually enjoyed this book, though I agree with some others that it was rather poorly written in the technical sense. Some of it was trying too hard; the characters were a bit flat; the dialogue lacked sparkle and the story's narrative did not run smoothly.
Having said that, I found it a nice easy read and looked forward to picking it up. I actually think the writer has a lot of talent and imagination and with better editing and more polishing this could have been a very good book! Also, I believe it was originally an eBook which explains this as novels which are physically published have to go through a very rigourous editing process. eBooks are not subjected to that and can be published as it.
Having said that, I found it a nice easy read and looked forward to picking it up. I actually think the writer has a lot of talent and imagination and with better editing and more polishing this could have been a very good book! Also, I believe it was originally an eBook which explains this as novels which are physically published have to go through a very rigourous editing process. eBooks are not subjected to that and can be published as it.
thebooktrail88's review against another edition
4.0
Visit the locations in the book here: Booktrail the letter
1930s, 1970s – Manchester. Two women living decades apart in Manchester are united by one very important letter which was never delivered.
Manchester in the 1940s was not the place where women could go out freely with men and when if your parents didn’t like who you were dating, things could get very messy indeed. Girls were not expected to get pregnant outside of wedlock and men were expected to sign up to the war effort.
Manchester in the 1970s – Turns out history can repeat itself as social boundaries and personal freedom can be just as restrictive as they once were. Abusive marriages or the constraints of a father who ousted you from the family home for bringing shame on the family are both signs that what a person wants and what society sees and expects are not always the same thing.
The detail of the 1970s – evoked via tins of peaches, Carnation cream, and power cuts is crisp and clear. The fate of women in both the 1940s and 1970s are frightening and raw. Emotional on every level and a time to sit and think how times have thankfully changed for the better.
Next time you go inside a charity shop, take time to look in the pockets of a coat because if there’s the chance it sets you off on an adventure like this then count me in! This is one heck of an emotional ride mind. It reminded me of the story of Philomena in some respects with a child born out of wedlock and the resulting torment it brings. Abusive relationships and the feeling that history can put things right – or at least try to, is explored with full effect.
I did find the portrayal of domestic violence hard to read and Chrissie didn’t really have it much better – the abuse she suffered from her father was inexcusable. But this was a different time – still wrong though.
I felt so emotional for the two women. Hated what was happening to them and willed that letter to be found and read out. Oh take tissues with you when you read this, it’s heartbreaking and so sad. There is an event which happens later on to Tina which made me really angry and I had to stop reading such was its powerful effect. Brilliantly portrayed and evoked.
How the two stories wove together was really clever and it was like placing a black and white photo underneath a colour one and seeing the two pictures form a new one. Very, very emotional.
One last thing – I love the fact that a library was at the centre of the story. The author tells us that you can actually get married in this library and when you see it, you know why. Ooh this book has introduced me to the wonder of charity shops and the fact that libraries are even more magical than I thought. And that one short letter can have such a huge impact.
1930s, 1970s – Manchester. Two women living decades apart in Manchester are united by one very important letter which was never delivered.
Manchester in the 1940s was not the place where women could go out freely with men and when if your parents didn’t like who you were dating, things could get very messy indeed. Girls were not expected to get pregnant outside of wedlock and men were expected to sign up to the war effort.
Manchester in the 1970s – Turns out history can repeat itself as social boundaries and personal freedom can be just as restrictive as they once were. Abusive marriages or the constraints of a father who ousted you from the family home for bringing shame on the family are both signs that what a person wants and what society sees and expects are not always the same thing.
The detail of the 1970s – evoked via tins of peaches, Carnation cream, and power cuts is crisp and clear. The fate of women in both the 1940s and 1970s are frightening and raw. Emotional on every level and a time to sit and think how times have thankfully changed for the better.
Next time you go inside a charity shop, take time to look in the pockets of a coat because if there’s the chance it sets you off on an adventure like this then count me in! This is one heck of an emotional ride mind. It reminded me of the story of Philomena in some respects with a child born out of wedlock and the resulting torment it brings. Abusive relationships and the feeling that history can put things right – or at least try to, is explored with full effect.
I did find the portrayal of domestic violence hard to read and Chrissie didn’t really have it much better – the abuse she suffered from her father was inexcusable. But this was a different time – still wrong though.
I felt so emotional for the two women. Hated what was happening to them and willed that letter to be found and read out. Oh take tissues with you when you read this, it’s heartbreaking and so sad. There is an event which happens later on to Tina which made me really angry and I had to stop reading such was its powerful effect. Brilliantly portrayed and evoked.
How the two stories wove together was really clever and it was like placing a black and white photo underneath a colour one and seeing the two pictures form a new one. Very, very emotional.
One last thing – I love the fact that a library was at the centre of the story. The author tells us that you can actually get married in this library and when you see it, you know why. Ooh this book has introduced me to the wonder of charity shops and the fact that libraries are even more magical than I thought. And that one short letter can have such a huge impact.
empress88's review against another edition
5.0
Listened to on audible which was brilliantly done, it had me laughing, crying and punching the air. Ended the book sobbing my heart out whilst driving around the M25. Loved every minute of it.
sarahs_bookish_life's review against another edition
5.0
I actually won a copy of this book in a giveaway on Twitter and I am so glad I did as I don't know when or if I would have come across this wonderful book and the author otherwise.
This truly is a wonderful book, I found it to be very deep and beautifully written and it is one book that I think will stay with me for a long time.
The story starts with Tina who works in a charity shop and comes across a letter dated many years before. Intrigued by the people and the story behind the letter Tina sets out to find the person who the letter was intended for. The story then swaps between present day with Tina and her troublesome marriage and years before where the story of the people behind the letter unfolds.
I loved the characters and even felt sorry for a couple of the unlikeable ones towards the end. I think Tina, Chrissie and Billy especially will stay with me for quite a while yet.
The Letter takes you through a mixture of emotions, it is very much a compelling read that once you've started you will struggle to put down.
Can't recommend highly enough.
This truly is a wonderful book, I found it to be very deep and beautifully written and it is one book that I think will stay with me for a long time.
The story starts with Tina who works in a charity shop and comes across a letter dated many years before. Intrigued by the people and the story behind the letter Tina sets out to find the person who the letter was intended for. The story then swaps between present day with Tina and her troublesome marriage and years before where the story of the people behind the letter unfolds.
I loved the characters and even felt sorry for a couple of the unlikeable ones towards the end. I think Tina, Chrissie and Billy especially will stay with me for quite a while yet.
The Letter takes you through a mixture of emotions, it is very much a compelling read that once you've started you will struggle to put down.
Can't recommend highly enough.
kanavoro's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
It was nice how it was like 2 stories combined but it seemed very much "against all odds"
audreybot07's review against another edition
4.0
Predictable and a little flat, but I had a hard time putting it down.
laurencekaren1's review against another edition
1.0
Oof. Predictable, poorly written, little character development, incomprehensible plot "twists". I'm glad I only paid $2 for it?
cordillia's review against another edition
3.0
טינה קרייג היא אשה צעירה הנשואה לבעל אלכוהוליסט ומכה המתעלל בה. היא מתנדבת בחנות לבגדים משומשים, ומתקשה להקשיב לידידיה המעטים המפצירים בה לעזוב את בעלה ולפתוח בחיים חדשים.
באחד הימים טינה מוצאת מכתב חתום משנת 1939 מגבר לאשה שאהב, ואשר מעולם לא הגיע ליעדו. היא מחליטה להעביר אותו לנמענת על אף השנים הרבות שחלפו, ובעקבות זאת נקלעת להרפתקה שמשנה את חייה. מדובר בז'אנר הסיפור בתוך סיפור, כאשר הסיפור הפנימי הוא סיפורה של כריסי, נערה צעירה מאוהבת הנשלטת על ידי אב רודן וחייה קשים ואומללים לא פחות מאלה של טינה. על אף המוטיבים הטלנובליים, הספר מרתק ונוגע ללב. לא הסגנון החביב עלי בדרך כלל, אבל ספר טיסה מהנה ועבור חובבי הז'אנר בוודאי יהיה יותר מכך.
מכתב שנשכח/קת'רין יוז
באחד הימים טינה מוצאת מכתב חתום משנת 1939 מגבר לאשה שאהב, ואשר מעולם לא הגיע ליעדו. היא מחליטה להעביר אותו לנמענת על אף השנים הרבות שחלפו, ובעקבות זאת נקלעת להרפתקה שמשנה את חייה. מדובר בז'אנר הסיפור בתוך סיפור, כאשר הסיפור הפנימי הוא סיפורה של כריסי, נערה צעירה מאוהבת הנשלטת על ידי אב רודן וחייה קשים ואומללים לא פחות מאלה של טינה. על אף המוטיבים הטלנובליים, הספר מרתק ונוגע ללב. לא הסגנון החביב עלי בדרך כלל, אבל ספר טיסה מהנה ועבור חובבי הז'אנר בוודאי יהיה יותר מכך.
מכתב שנשכח/קת'רין יוז
allison7289's review against another edition
4.0
For a cheapie on Amazon, this was not bad. Not the most brilliantly-written thing, but a good story.