This beautifully written book, set in Guernsey, across two timelines, 1940 and 2016. I was drawn into this wonderful descriptive story from the start.
In 2016 Lucy is returning to Guernsey after three years, her cousin Dido has died and she is going to help her sister Clara sell Dido’s house. Lucy is intrigued about Dido’s sister Persey, apart from an old photo of the two sisters together and an old letter, there are no other possessions of Persey’s. Lucy starts to look into what happened to Persey.
We go back to 1940 during world war 2 where we meet sisters Dido and Persey. The Germans have arrived on the island and life will never be the same again.
This is such a heart wrenching story of love, loss and survival. The characters are so life like that you cannot help but fall in love with them.
I would definitely recommend this book.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
9780008379063 Many thanks to Net Galley, Avon Books UK, and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
Historical fiction works best for me when there is a dual timeline story and secrets to be unraveled. I had read The Forbidden Promise by Lorna Cook and fell so much in love with it and here again, I am in awe of the author’s writing. Guernsey comes alive with this incredible tale of sisterhood, bravery, and love.
The Girl From The Island talks about the historical NAZI occupation of the Channel Islands, a thought that by itself is so terrifying; Hitler’s army residing so close to Britain for 5 long years. Actual historical events are woven thru the story thereby giving a vivid image of the circumstances endured by the people of Isles living with the Germans for such a long time.
Dido and Persephone in the 1940s and Lucy and Clara in 2016 show the different faces of sisterhood. Lucy and Clara are not having the best of relationships, Clara having issues with Lucy’s no-care, no-responsibility attitude towards life and it becomes evident as the resentments bubble over with a resounding slap. I loved how the author has used Dido’s and Persey’s past to smoothen the bond between Lucy and Clara. Both segments have romance and what an awesome feat by the author to differentiate the changing times. The love that develops between Lucy and Will is a reflection of how we are today, the banter between them cute and open, their approach more friendly and warm. However, Persey and Stefan have hundreds of things playing the villain in their love for each other, the major hurdle that of Stefan being a member of the invading army and Persey refusing to see her childhood friend beneath his uniform. The unacknowledged love is beautifully conveyed by the author that it tugs at a reader’s heart for the miserable time they lived in.
The setting of the story is captivating and Lorna Cook transports the readers to the turbulent times during the war brilliantly. Persey’s love for her sister and her adopted brother Jack forcing her to make some hard choices and even then Dido paying a hard price for going against the rules imposed was heartbreaking.
I am in love with the inhabitants of Deux Tourelles in both the timelines but it would be Dido who would have my heart in this saga of finding strength during adversity.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India, Meduim.com, and Twitter. 9780008379063 Another great read from Cook: well-written and captivating, this was a dual-timeline narrative that was equally interesting and thought-provoking. I knew next to nothing about the occupation of Guernsey during the Second World War and have finished the book feeling far more informed.
Lucy’s relationship with her sister is clearly strained and her return to Guernsey to help organise the estate after her grandmother’s death, leads to some truths being uncovered. Maintaining a distance from her sister, Lucy starts to discover secrets about her grandmother, Dido, and her life during the German occupation of the Second World War. The way that Cook structures the narrative means that present day discoveries are then enveloped into the war narrative as readers uncover the reality about what really happened.
I think this was why I enjoyed the historic narrative so much: it was revealing and provided so many answers. Whilst I have read many war novels in the past, this one was so refreshing because of the different setting. It was a strange war to experience on Guernsey because whilst shots were not necessarily fired, it was a war on civilians through fear, control and propaganda. Even more so, the island became completely isolated from the rest of the world and I found it fascinating how Guernsey clocks were showing German time, wireless radios were confiscated and that the islanders had very little knowledge of how the war was progressing. It must have felt so isolating.
Dido’s character does not dominate this narrative, even though Lucy is exploring her home in the present day. Instead, we follow Persy and how her experience of the war shaped so many futures. I could not have foreseen how Cook would develop the narrative and I found myself truly invested in her story, especially with regards to previous friendships and protecting oneself. The aggressive manner of informants is heavily emphasised in the novel and I was shocked at how much hatred fuelled local civilians; it was like the arrival of the Nazi soldiers revealed the truth about people’s personalities.
This was a clever story and I liked how the Prologue established the importance of letters, which became increasingly significant as the plot progressed. Also, the title was symbolic of Dido, Persy and Lucy, creating a cohesion across the decades. It is Lucy’s discoveries that allow the past tales to be told and I think I appreciated the celebratory tone in the closing chapters because it felt so fitting after such a tense climax.
I really enjoyed this read and Cook’s research makes this a vivid, realistic story. Set in a time of such uncertainty, I think the writer expertly captures the feelings of civilians when the world was at war.
With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 9780008379063
Discover the locations in the novel The Girl from the Island
Transport yourself to Guernsey during wartime...
Lorna Cook has written some of the most interesting books in my opinion. Her story about the Forgotten village which was based on a real place was captivating. So, I was keen to read her latest one, the girl from the island
In Booktrail terms, the setting is one to really get your teeth into, The island is of course, Guernsey, and the author takes us back to the days when the Germans invaded and were billeted in houses around the island. Such a peaceful and harmonious place wrecked by the enemy. Guernsey during this time has been put well and truly on the map. The island is evoked with style, its history and heritage richly explored as well as the strength of its people.
It’s a very personal book as you can imagine how it must have felt having these invaders come into your homes and lives. The fear, anger, disbelief, confusion and all the other emotions come to the fore. Then what would happen if one of them was someone you loved from the past? It’s an emotional read this one, that’s for sure.
The dual timeline, actually is three as the past story flits between the 1930s ad the 1940. Come to the present day and Lucy is the narrator who has come to the island to take care of her sister’s house. She delves into her past and there is another historical thread which adds to this amazingly constructed novel which ties up very nicely at the end, producing a fascinating picture of history, hope and humanity.
Lorna Cook continues to go up in my estimations and I always look forward to her work. I read on kindle and then buy the book in paperback. She’s one of those authors who for me has a guaranteed place on my historical authors to treasure bookshelves.
Highly recommended and that includes her back catalogue too. 9780008379063
Friend or Enemy
A heartbreaking romantic story of sisters. It is a dual time line story set on the isle of Guernsey in the Channel Islands. The story involves the residents of a house called Deux Tourelles.
In 2016 Lucy returns to Guernsey to help her sister sell a home left by a distant cousin Dido. She meets a good looking neighbor Will and together they decide to check out the history of the house and Dido and her sister Persephone. This story is about Lucy and Clara as sisters and about Lucy and Will as good friends. Lucy and Clara work on their relationship as sisters. Lucy and Will research Dido and the history of the residents of Deux Tourelles during the war.
The second storyline is that of Persephone, Dido, their maid's son Jack and a past friend Stefan. All four of the characters were friends in high school. Now it is during the German occupation and one friend Stefan is now a captain in the German Army billeted at Deux Tourelles with the other three. This storyline takes place in the 1940's during WWII. It has excitement, resistance, a spy character and a Jewish girl in hiding. There are many twists and turns in this story and the ending is unexpected.
The story switches between the two storylines. I much preferred the WWII storyline as I often find with the dual time storylines one is preferred over the other. They are both engaging, just one more so than the other. That aside, it was a good read and I enjoyed reading the book. I felt like I was reading two stories with a connection. There was one modern day romance story and one WWII story. When I read it this way I was able to engage equally in both stories.
I did love the historical content and the description of the beaches, the conditions on the Island and how the Islanders handled the occupation. This was most interesting to me.
I did enjoy reading the book and I would recommend it.
Thanks to Lorna Cook, Avon Books, U.K., and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy for an honest review.
9780008379063
A world at war.
One woman will risk everything.
Another will uncover her story.
1940: When the island of Guernsey is invaded by the Nazis, two sisters are determined to rebel in any way they can. But when forced to take in a German soldier, they are shocked to find a familiar face on their doorstep – a childhood friend who has now become their enemy.
2016: Two generations later, Lucy returns to Guernsey after the death of a distant cousin. As she prepares the old family house for sale, Lucy discovers a box of handwritten notes, one word standing out: resistance. Lucy’s search for the author will uncover the story of a forgotten sister who vanished from the island one night, never to be seen again. The Girl From the Island
1940: When the island of Guernsey is invaded by the Nazis, two sisters are determined ro rebel in any way they can. But when they are forced to take in a German soldier, they are shocked to find a familiar face on their doorstep - a childhood friend who has now become their enemy.
2016: Two generatons later, Lucy returns to Guernsey after the death of a distant cousin. As she prepares the family house for sale, Lucy discovers a box of handwritten notes, one word standing out - resistance. Lucy's search for the author uncovers the story of a forgotten sister.
This is a story of trust, relationships and sacrifices. The story has a duel timeline: WWII and 2016. We learn the history behind the occupation of Guernsey during WWII. A stoy of two sisters in the past and two sisters in the present. The characters are well rounded, believable and likeable. At the end of the book, we get a brief history of the occupation of Guernsey and some of the people involved. This is am intriguing read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #AvonBooksUK and the author #LornaCook for my ARC of #TheGirlFromTheisland in exchange for an honest review. 9780008379063 I dithered between 4-5 * here as Lorna Cook has again pulled off a great dual-timeline novel based on fascinating (true) wartime events in Guernsey. I did find it a bit of a slow burner & it took me a little longer to ‘get into’ than her other two books but I love her writing style & once I was in I was hooked!
Once it gathers momentum it really motors along & I became totally caught up in the emotional & dramatic scenes unfolding. I particularly enjoyed the 1940’s sections & how the two timelines are seamlessly connected. The ending is really well executed - & very moving too.
A great read & the author notes too are really illuminating. Thank you Lorna! Hope we don’t have to wait too long for the next one? 9780008379063 It took me a while to get into this book but that’s more of a reflection on me than the book itself. A dual timeline set in Guernsey, about love, loss and survival, both stories intertwining perfectly. 9780008379063 I was lucky to receive an advance copy of this latest novel by Lorna Cook to be released in April. I love her dual timeline stories and this is another fabulous read set on the island Guernsey in the modern day and during the occupation of the second world war. What a location! A place I must visit. The characters shine, the writing is wonderful, highly recommend. 9780008379063 Fabulous book yet again...love her stories....other than the dismaying usage of God's name through swearing , her stories are so intriguing! 9780008379063
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