Tag Archive | Boldwood Books

The Storyteller Of Krakow by Carly Schabowski

Sep20

Of War, Captivity, & A Bear Called Wojtek

The Storyteller Of Krakow by Carly Schabowski is a powerful historical tale that consumed me from the start. It is a blend of fact and fiction, educating the reader as we go.

The tale follows lead character Lena, who is Polish. We follow her through her war – first the Russians over-ran Poland and Lena and her parents ended up in the Gulag. Then Russia swapped sides, freed everyone in the Gulag and recommended that the Poles make their way to Uzbekistan as that was where the Polish army was in exile.

The army included a mascot of an orphaned Syrian brown bear called Wojtek. We see that bond he forms with Lena and how he recues her on more than one occasion. Their bond is beautiful.

Lena’s war sees her travel through Egypt and ends up in the blood-bath of Monte Cassino.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Storyteller Of Krakow. It is told in two time periods – the second World War and 1994 as we drop in on Lena. She is still feisty and out to protect the under-dog.

This tale will educate you as you read. I certainly did not know about the war from the Polish viewpoint. And I did not realise that Wojtek was real. The author tells us that there are statues to Wojtek in Krakow and in Edinburgh as he ended up in Edinburgh Zoo after the war.

I received a free copy. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

JULIA WILSON

Images from Google Images https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=0cdee08023f22ac1&sxsrf=APpeQntrIU7VGcgAbcjf7CMMljTjzOGRlQ:1789902150498&udm=2&fbs=ABfTbFVyMZGZf1hfvX9uKjN_-G8c4u0nXx4bEIpwm1lnNH832VstEKsVDqPorK0Gahnm2no1YAFtlsByIZaJlK7yr6gIShz8_nfnRyCFKBFanfbilRY_0kwdNHtgmcDRLQV2EOTgQQNHPW-40y0BLSqR0sKVQJ9SqohMh3B7F-UdYZ8Eakj42P4nLXxFdbhvy4Un33Fa98qr2pLi-KTIxWjIK9UoYjN6lQ&q=wojtek+the+bear&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjsufOOgf2WAxV8_rsIHU9RGkoQtKgLegQIJhAB&biw=1912&bih=948&dpr=1#sv=CAMSURoyKhBlLXZWWEkxS0tkd3FZVXVNMg52VlhJMUtLZHdxWVV1TToOSHN3VXAxNHZmd1FxUU0gBCoXCgFzEhBlLXZWWEkxS0tkd3FZVXVNGAEwARgHIJbQqY4LSggQARgBIAEoAQ

The Woman With All The Answers by Linda Green

Jul1

Until The Wind Changes

The Woman With All The Answers by Linda Green is a very entertaining contemporary novel that I absolutely loved. I read it in just two sittings.

The plotline is unique and perfectly executed – what happens when Alexa goes rogue and is merely Pauline from Halifax? Surprisingly it seems to have a plausibility to it!

We witness the importance of mothers or mother-like figures in lives. Mothers spend all their time juggling life, and may forget who they once were. “What… happened to the person I used to? Who had a life of her own, dreams for the future, time to do the things she enjoyed doing.” Mothers need to practice self-care.

Within the book we see the sandwich generation, balancing the needs of both elderly parents and also teenage children. The novel is partly seen through the eyes of a mother who falls into this category. The needs of the two generations are similar but different. Both need to be helped through the minefield that is social media, and also outside pressures.

Mistakes are made. Bad choices will have consequences. We need to own them.

Life is full of regrets. We need to forgive the face in the mirror.

External pressures have kept a teen prisoner in her own house, fearful of the outside world. We see the difference an elderly labrador can have on her life. Owning a dog gives her a purpose, and a reason to get out.

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The Orphan’s Mission by Glynis Peters

Apr3

Of Love & War

The Orphan’s Mission by Glynis Peters is a compelling historical novel that consumed me from the start.

The action begins in London before moving briefly to the south coast and then over to mainline Europe during World War II. We follow a teenage orphan whose father was French, and mother was British. Now she has nowhere to call home. She answers the personal call to fight the Nazis from inside France.

We witness the bravery required to sail to Holland, walk several miles to a rendez vous point, and then be parachuted into France.

A small cell of resistance fighters occupies a French farm. They live in plain sight as a family unit – until they realise someone has betrayed them.

We see the wits, bravery and cunning needed to survive the most dangerous of times.

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The Strawberry House by Rachel Burton

Mar3

Of Love & Life, Friends & Family

The Strawberry House by Rachel Burton is a powerful historical novel set over two time periods. It has its’ roots in facts as we hear about William Morris and the pre-Raphaelite artists. The action is set in 1938 and 1952. These alternate.

The summer of 1938 is a defining and devastating summer. Lives would be altered forever. No one would ever be the same again as a tragic accident affects all those involved.

It began as a summer of promise but ended as a summer of tragedy.

It was a summer where new friendships were forged. Lives took new trajectories as characters made decisions about their futures.

Between the two time periods was World War II. Here lives were changed again – sometimes forever lost.

1938 saw women’s lives on the edge of change. Old fashioned paternalistic attitudes had squashed women but with the war, came freedom. A female character believes “If women can crack enemy code…we can do anything we… want.”

In contrast we hear the thoughts of a male character after the war: “Go home… Marry a nice man, have some children, be happy.” “Because that was all women were good for again now that the war was over.” A male dominated society wanted to put women back in a clearly labelled box: ‘family.’

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