The Greatest Love
A Ration Book Victory by Jean Fullerton is a marvellous historical novel. It is the final book in the East End Ration Book series but can be read as a stand-alone.
The action takes place in 1945 as Britain is nearing the end of the war. This is interspersed with a backwards glance to Ireland in the late nineteenth century as the reader hears about the youth of the Brogan family matriarch. We witness life and light in a young life. It is good to hear of Queenie’s background as it helps us to understand her character, exactly what has shaped her life. She was not born an old matriarch, once she was young with hopes and dreams and loves. Outwardly she looks old, but inwardly her youthful heart and spirit remain.
The whole book is about love. The love for our family members – not necessarily blood related but those whom we love and who love us.
We witness the fierce love that protects and sacrifices in contrast to the ‘love’ that uses a person. We may not always agree with the choices made by the young, but love stands beside them.
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