Tag Archive | Rachels Random Resources

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.

Continue reading →

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.’

Continue reading →

The Child We Lost by Sheila Norton

Feb24

The Love That Binds

The Child We Lost by Sheila Norton is a beautiful contemporary novel about love and loss, and learning to live again.

The novel is seen through the eyes of a mother, and a grandmother. The chapters alternate between the two and are in the first person. This enables the reader to intimately know the characters.

Having lost her twin (before the novel opened), five-year-old Ruby believes he is alive again as she spots a boy looking just like Josh, walking past her school every Friday. She is convinced he is alive again. We witness the trauma this creates for her extended family as they try to help her deal with her loss.

Understanding of death comes following the death of a pet. Ruby is then surprisingly accepting of death once it is explained to her.

Ruby’s mother seeks the truth as to what Ruby saw. What she uncovers comes as a shock to all.

We see the importance of having a faith. “I sometimes wish I had her faith. It must make things so much more bearable to know that there’s a God looking after us.” Loss without faith, is very bleak indeed. Having spoken to a vicar about loss, Ruby’s mother is told: “I’ll pray for you.”…”Even though I don’t believe?”… “That doesn’t matter because I do.” Prayer is comforting for all, just knowing that someone cares.

Continue reading →

A Body In The Banjo by Elaine Spires

Feb8

A Walk Down Memory Lane

A Body In The Banjo by Elaine Spires is a most entertaining retro crime saga that I thoroughly enjoyed and read in just one sitting.

The story is set in Dagenham in 1958 and is focused on the small group of houses in the banjo. The houses have inter-connecting alleyways – and not much happens that isn’t viewed by at least one nosey neighbour!

One quiet Sunday morning a body is found. The neighbourhood is then awash with police and their questions.

To complement the police, forty-eight-year-old Cissy starts her amateur sleuthing. She reminded me of Miss Marple but a younger version and one who informs the police of her findings and suspicions. She is relentless in her pursuit of answers.

A Body In The Banjo is written in a very personable style. Elaine Spires ‘shows’ us the scene with her descriptions. She has perfectly captured a bygone era where life was simple and neighbours were in and out of each other’s houses and lives. Neighbourhoods gelled together.

Continue reading →