Tag Archive | Boldwood Books

The Last Orphan by Carly Schabowski

Nov13

Butterflies

The Last Orphan by Carl Schabowski is a powerful dual timeline novel that consumed me from the start.

The action is set in 1982 and during World War II. Nazi-occupied Europe was a dangerous place to be. We follow a young man and a Jewish boy as together, and with a support network, they try to rescue and hide as many Jewish children as they could. The action is grounded in facts. Their wartime experiences never leave them. They are forever haunted by guilt over what they did and didn’t do.

In 1982 we meet the daughter of the young boy who is also suffering over things she couldn’t change. Alcohol and drug misuse have been her way of coping as she tries to escape her memories. She needs to face the past before substance abuse kills her.

People had different moral codes during World War II. Actions done in order to save the self, would forever haunt a life.

Carl Schabowski has captured the fear of the children and the desperation of the parents with her dialogue and description. There were some hard to read scenes.

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The Old Gals’ Bucket List by Karen King

Oct11

Grab Life By The Horns

The Old Gals’ Bucket List by Karen King is a perfectly charming contemporary novel that I read in just one sitting.

This is a light-hearted and fun read about learning to live again. The leading characters are all about seventy and prove that you are never too old to have fun.

The leading lady had been widowed earlier. Life has been on hold until she bumps into an old friend who is a cancer survivor and determined to now make her life count. “I promised myself that if I survived, I’d live life to the full, no fear, no excuses, I want to make every single day count.” This is a turning point as the pair decide to make a bucket list and then work through it.

As the novel progresses, we see that growing older can still be exciting as the pair grab life by the horns.

We see the ladies get their first tattoo, learn to swim and conquer many fears. “Feel the fear but do it anyway.” Life is for living and new experiences can be fun.

A grown-up son tries to limit his mum, believing she is ready for a retirement home! “I’m ready to live again and you need to step back and let me do that.” Her son’s stance comes from the viewpoint of love.

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The Life She Could Have Lived by Laura Pearson

Sep12

A Sliding Doors Moment

The Life She Could Have Lived by Laura Pearson is a most delightful offering. It is set over a number of years as we follow the life of lead character Anna.

This is a sliding doors novel as we alternate chapters between ‘yes’ and ‘no’ to the question of having a baby. We see the difference that one decision can have to the rest of a life.

Along both paths, there are similarities and differences as Anna meets the same characters but at different points in her life. Different choices produce different outcomes.

In ‘yes,’ was see Anna balancing motherhood and her job. In ‘no’ we see her job taking her further afield before returning home. Which lifestyle do you think is most suited to Anna? You must read the book and decide.

We see the value of a good friendship. It is a friendship that supports through thick and thin, in good times and bad.

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The Girl From The War Room by Catherine Law

Aug22

From Innocence To Experience

The Girl From The War Room by Catherine Law is an epic historical tale that I read in just two sittings.

It is a powerful tale of family; of war; and of love. The novel opens during the 1930’s and finishes in 1948. We ‘experience’ the war through the eyes of the lead character, Cassie. The action is told in the third person.

As the novel opens, Cassie is just fifteen-years-old and in the Devon countryside surrounded by family. As the novel progresses, she moves from innocence to experience.

Families are complicated affairs, often with more going on behind closed doors than we would first imagine. Families love us. Families can be messy but the love shines through.

We see that love comes in many forms – family; friendship; attraction. What is true about real love is that it is sacrificial. This is illustrated in several cases within the novel. People love others enough to let go.

World War II followed quickly on the heels of World War I. Families who had already experienced loss, would soon do so again.

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