I really loved this and wished it could have been a hundred more pages but I suppose a good place to conclude a book is at a place that leaves the reader wondering and wanting more. Not that there are loose ends here, there aren't. I just wanted to hang around a bit longer in the company of the characters.
Basically the name of this book is the synopsis as well. Seven soldiers who survive the war (WW1) and make a pact on Armistice day; they call themselves "The Seven Club" and reunite each year on November 11th to keep in touch. They're not all likeable personalities but its interesting how circumstances make or break people. The strong don't always spell success and the lowly don't always remain subservient. Time and opportunity make for an ever evolving flow of events, leaving nothing in its path unchanged.Although the novel follows all seven men, the focus is on an ex-officer named Sherring. A man whose only niche seems to be in command and who is not so adept or as satisfied in managing his own affairs.Another fascinating read by Deeping.CONTENT: PGSEX: None shown to reader but talk of infidelity, prostitution.VIOLENCE: NonePROFANITY: Mild (Mostly D's)
This is the kind of book that is hard to put down and when you do, you can't stop thinking about it. The plot is simple. A group of Breton fishermen who get their living off the coasts of Iceland, and their families who are left behind for most of the year waiting, watching...and praying .
Most of the story centers around two characters, young Sylvester who is recruited for the French navy and his cousin of sorts, Yann, a strong, powerful able seaman who, in his late twenties is being pressured to marry. However, Yann argues that the only wife he'll ever have is the sea.The author describes coastal Brittany in such simple but vivid terms that I felt I was there, kicking browned seaweed along the rocky paths and winding my way among stunted trees and bushes bent permanently in blown positions . And the storms at sea....terrifying.Although this is not a very long novel, I felt that the main characters were pretty well developed; there were times I had to choke back the tears when the emotion became too much. Yes, it's a bittersweet story but a very good one.Available for free on Public Domain sitesHighly recommendedCONTENT: PG (for very brief but strong violence and some racially offensive descriptions of the Chinese)
When Spenser Scarsdale, journalist, age 40, returns from the Great War, he finds the world a changed place; sensationalism has taken the place of sentiment and sobriety, class and manners have given way to vulgar "me-ism" and cheap thrills. Scarsdale, a Victorian at heart, can no longer place his finger on the pulse of humanity, and as a consequence his writing becomes unsalable.
We follow Scarsdale from disillusionment to depression to despair until we worry for his very life. But at the very "gates of hell" there is a glimmer of hope, and the love and understanding of one good woman who believes in him...Scarsdale is the Anti-Alpha male. He's shy, self deprecating, unassuming, and gentle. Some readers won't like him. They'll label him "weak", a "pushover", "naiive", "lacking in virility" etc. But honestly, I found him a refreshing (and realistic) change of pace. And yes, while there were times (especially in the first half) where I wanted to shout, " Noooo! You big, galloping nimwit, don't do it!", I have to say by the second half I was gripping the arm chair and rooting for him with tears in my eyes. I wanted so badly for him to succeed and if/ when he did, I didn't want him to change one bit.Lovely story and semi autobiographical.Recommended for lover's of cozy, realistic fiction.CONTENT: GSEX: NonePROFANITY: D'sVIOLENCE: None
Diane Pearson always delivers a riveting and memorable story. Its difficult to give a synopsis of this one because it is largely character, rather than plot, driven.
Many years are covered here and two wars (The Boer War and WW1) but they are only really important in the way that they affect the characters and not for the events themselves. Briefly, The Marigold Field centers around three people: Jonathan Whitman and the two Pritchard sisters, Betsy and Annie. (Along with several minor characters who never seem very minor at the time, including Jonathan's cousin /wife, Myra).Betsy is plain and good, Annie is pretty, selfish and conniving, and Jonathan is a man striving to make his way in an unfair world.There is no part of the novel that lags or tangentizes (I made that up), its absorbing in an almost soap opera kind of way and yet nothing except life really HAPPENS, but still you read on, open mouthed, and feel that it is enough. CONTENT: SEX: Mentioned frankly, fade to black, some suggestive scenes and an attempted rapeVIOLENCE: Brief war imageryPROFANITY: Very mildRecommended Reading Audience: New Adult*Note: "Sarah Whitman" is the sequel to this
I do love Deeping. It's not that he writes earthshaking stories, he doesn't. But he writes about real people with real feelings and you go away feeling at peace and contented.
In Blind Man's Year, we have a wealthy but reclusive authoress living in a remote Suffolk gardener's dream. Due to an unsightly birth mark on one side of her face, she endeavors to soothe her pride by keeping herself to herself and her identity as a famous writer private.But one day when the fog is particularly dense, a small plain crashes near her property. The young pilot battles for his life and survives but is permanently blinded. His condition being so fragile, the doctor advises against moving him and Rosamund nurses him at her home. Romance ensues.What I admire about Deeping is how he doesn't take you to the wedding day and then abandon the reader. Marriage is simply part of the story and we get to experience their lives together after the big day, which is far more interesting. In this case we see Clive's daily struggles and progress as he climbs his way back to independence, how he masters braille, typing, fruit picking etc and overcomes his fear of the unknown. We also watch Rosalind become the confindent woman she never was, with Clive as her friend and support.Seeing how Clive and Rosamund interact, sharing the understanding and succor that each needs, is a guaranteed heart warmer. True companionship at its best.Oh and totally off the point but an interesting tidbit is that in this story we have another Margaret Hayle (like in Gaskill's North and South). CONTENT:SEX: NoneVIOLENCE: NonePROFANITY: MildMY RATING: G- Mild PG
2.5 Stars
Not Deeping's best by any stretch. It starts off pretty interesting, a WW1 vet of 40 (and up and coming engineer/ inventor) sets up home in a quiet village where he sets eyes on a rather Ophelia-type young woman living under the tyrannical shadow of her alcoholic mother. Her life is so miserable she loses the will to live and even contemplates suicide. The man decides to make it his mission to bring happiness to this somewhat limpid creature and that's "The White Gate" in a nutshell.The first half is a solid 3 stars but it dissolved in plot after their marriage and during their honeymoon in France. YAWN.Happily, this is available on public domain and I did not buy it.
Its extremely unusual to read a book about a medical doctor's experiences during WW1, written by a medical doctor who actually served in WW1. It becomes more than just a story, its semi-autobiographical and you can feel the authenticity. Written in the present tense, it reads almost like a diary.
Brent was quite happy doctoring at home. He had no fighting urge to "blast the Hun". As a matter of fact, it was a quarrel he's wasn't sure he even believed in. But as the menfolk started leaving town in khakis, (some never to return) and the remaining villagers began looking askance at him, his medical partner pointed out that if he wanted a practice after the war was over.....Brent signed up; "coerced by a cowardly conscience", as he put it.What follows are the adventures of three years living/ doctoring in the trenches. There were no such things as clinic "bunkers" in some safe spot away from the lines; you went into the trenches and shell holes, dragged the wounded off and tended them as best you could in whatever shelter/ dugout you could find and hope the shells wouldn't blow you all up in the process. (And sometimes they did). It was an eye opener for me as I didn't realize just what kind of dangers the medical officers faced and how differently the war affected people. Some became devil-may-care promiscuous, others went home with severe shell shock, other men (from both sides) lost hope, rebelled against the whole butchery and deserted their posts. And more often than not, you couldn't tell those who were capable by looking at their appearance. The most strapping, confident-looking soldier could become a quivering mass of jelly when the shots started firing. Written in 1936, before WW2 erupted, I couldn't help but wonder what the author felt as he saw the world changing and gearing up yet again...A must read and one of Deeping's best.CONTENT: PGSEX: None shown, but mentioned matter of factlyVIOLENCE: Some war imagery but not too graphicPROFANITY: Frequent sprinkling of "D's" and "H's"
