Publication
London : Hodder & Stoughton, 2010.
Description
Fiction. Romance. Historical Fiction. HTML:From the New York Times bestselling author of Me Before You and One Plus One, a post-WWII story of the war brides who crossed the seas by the thousands to face their unknown futures 1946. World War II has ended and all over the world, young women are beginning to fulfill the promises made to the men they wed in wartime. In Sydney, Australia, four women join 650 other war brides on an extraordinary voyage to England�aboard HMS Victoria, which still carries not just arms and aircraft but a thousand naval officers. Rules are strictly enforced, from the aircraft carrier�s captain down to the lowliest young deckhand. But the men and the brides will find their lives intertwined despite the Navy�s ironclad sanctions. And for Frances Mackenzie, the complicated young woman whose past comes back to haunt her far from home, the journey will change her life in ways she never could have predicted�forever.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member CarrieWuj
I have to wonder if I would've like this as much if I read it instead of listened to it, but I am such a sucker for British (and Australian) accents, that the audio experience tipped it to 5 stars. Also, I love a little untold niche of a bigger story. So here we have WWII -- again. But the unique
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angle on it, which has some historic truth, is the shipload of brides sent from Australia to England after the war -- on a soon-to-be decommissioned aircraft carrier, HMS Victorious. Apparently there were many such boatloads, but most (if not all) were cruise lines with supreme comfort. This was a group of 650 brides, joining the crew of over 1,000 men (none of whom were their husbands!). Moyes takes this fact into her capable hands and spins a glorious fiction of 4 specific women who were bunked together at random. Maggie, a strong, 6 mos. pregnant farm-raised woman, Jeanne, a 16-yr old good-time girl looking for an escape, Avis, a society woman who is less than pleased with her roommates, Frances, a reserved, somewhat mysterious nurse who relishes being useful. Moyes tells each's individual story -- home life, background, how they met their husband, how they ended up on this boat, etc. and she interjects various stories that happen on board -- from the onboard beauty pageant, to some of the sailors side-stories like Marine Nicholl who is posted to guard their cabin, to Captain Highfield's background and how he came to (reluctantly) command this ship. She captures both the feelings, fears, emotional stories of all the women -- (a few were removed from the ship after "Not wanted, don't come" telegrams, for example) to all the inner workings of the ship and its men: their rank, their duties, the pecking order and how many aspects of the day-to-day operations work. There is some humor here because the 2 strands are so diametrically opposed -- women's lingerie hanging out on the guardrails, etc., but also a lot of heartfelt drama and quite a few surprises in the plot. Each chapter begins with a quote from an original source -- newspaper article, journal, diary, ship's log, etc. which grounds the story nicely in history. The story is framed in the present, when an elderly woman catches sight of the Victorious in a scrap-yard in India, while on a trip with her granddaughter. The flashback begins there. This is a romance story, but not a cheesy one -- the characters are quite fleshed out and complicated and for sure you will root for one. A great summer book. Ultimately, I felt manipulated, but I didn't mind, and wanted it to continue beyond the ending. Show Less
LibraryThing member haymaai
I recently borrowed The Ship of Brides from the local library, and I was so excited to read another Jojo Moyes’ novel. However, this story seemed disjointed and lagged in plot development, almost to the point where I nearly considered putting the book down. As I plodded on, I discovered that
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Moyes valiantly described the characters of her story with attentive detail, and I was drawn into the lives of the women and the dilemma they faced, as they traveled aboard the HMS Victoria, a military ship on its final voyage at the end of World War II. The story encompasses historical fiction, as six hundred and fifty women traveled from Australia to England to meet their husbands in England. Moyes accurately depicts the experiences of the women on board, as they endured the long voyage and the inclement conditions, such as seasickness and living in close quarters to each other. The author especially focuses on four main characters. Margaret, who is abundantly pregnant, sneaks her tiny, frail puppy onboard the vessel, hoping to have it accompany her to England. Avice is a self possessed, high society woman, who is a bit snobby to the girls at times. Jean is a chatty, sixteen-year-old young woman who drinks too heavily onboard. And Frances is a reserved military nurse, who keeps to herself, as she hides the secrets from her past. By the story’s end, I was glad that I persevered through the disconnected text, as the story was intriguing and worthy of attention. Show Less
LibraryThing member barbaretta
A fictional account of an actual voyage from Australia to England in 1946 by HMS Victorious, a WW2 aircraft carrier. On this, its last voyage before decommissioning, the role of the Victorious could not have been more different to its one in the war. It was a transport ship for some of the last
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Australian war brides to leave Australia, young women who had married British servicemen serving in Australia during the war, taking them to their husbands and new homes in the UK. The story is woven around four young women from vastly different backgrounds who are brought together through having to share a cabin for the journey. It is an easy read. Jojo Moyes has written it well, achieving a nice balance between the stories of the four young women, other women on the voyage and the officers and sailors whose job was to "look after" them. It is made stronger in that it has a well researched historical base - despite some slip ups - dollars did not become Austrlia's currency until twenty years after the story took place. An interesting fictional insight into a social phenomenon that would probably otherwise be lost, except in diaries and faded albums now tucked away in dusty drawers in cities and towns across the UK. Show Less
LibraryThing member tahcastle
Who knew the British Navy would bring all of those wives from Australia to England on an aircraft carrier. What a great story! Those poor women. Those poor men having to deal with those women. This is a huge book, but I enjoyed the whole thing.
LibraryThing member wrbinpa
The Ship of Brides is a well-researched fictional account of a voyage, carrying amazingly young brides, from Australia to England, on a WWII aircraft carrier, the HMS Victorious. It is the story of new beginnings, with themes of sacrifice, love, loss, and heartache.
Maggie, Avice, Jean, and Frances
Maggie is pregnant and prepares to go to England to be with her husband, Joe. She started having doubts as to whether she should leave her family behind. She didn’t want to think of them on their own, but Maggie was the character who exuded strength and confidence. By the time her baby would be born, Maggie and Joe would have shared only 4 weeks alone together in their married life.
Avice – The war had hastened everything, and Avice’s marriage to Ian took place only 4 months after they first met. Avice came from a well-to-do family, her father owned the biggest radio manufacturer, and she was rather spoiled, accustomed to living a rich lifestyle.
Jean was 16 years old and immature, acting in a disgraceful way. She was not the kind of girl the other brides would normally associate. There was the air of mutual dislike for Jean among the girls – she could be awfully trying. Jean was on her way to England to meet her 19 year-old-husband.
Frances, a nurse, was the character I found to be the most interesting. She was reserved, not sharing her past with any of the girls. She showed little interest in what the girls were doing, and seemed emotionless. There was a bit of mystique about Frances.
Australia – 1946 -There was an air of nervous anticipation as the brides left Australia, perhaps viewing it for the last time. The four brides had very little in common, other than they all wanted the same thing – to reach England and be reunited with their husbands. And the story unfolds as the brides were overcome with a myriad of obstacles and they struggled to cope with the difficult realities of the long voyage.
The author does a marvelous job capturing the mood and living conditions on the ship, and her power with words is incredible! This story has an interesting premise and has the potential to be a really good read. The plot moves rather slowly, but with interesting twists and turns developing along the way. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to stay engaged with the characters and storyline, especially in the middle section. I have mixed feelings about this book – it was an interesting read, but not one I’d enthusiastically recommend. My rating is 3.5 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchanged for an honest review.
Maggie, Avice, Jean, and Frances
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had very little in common, but they all wanted the same thing – to reach England and be reunited with their husbands. The four are among 650 brides who shared the same hopes and fears. They were about to make this arduous journey on an aircraft carrier to a life of uncertainty.Maggie is pregnant and prepares to go to England to be with her husband, Joe. She started having doubts as to whether she should leave her family behind. She didn’t want to think of them on their own, but Maggie was the character who exuded strength and confidence. By the time her baby would be born, Maggie and Joe would have shared only 4 weeks alone together in their married life.
Avice – The war had hastened everything, and Avice’s marriage to Ian took place only 4 months after they first met. Avice came from a well-to-do family, her father owned the biggest radio manufacturer, and she was rather spoiled, accustomed to living a rich lifestyle.
Jean was 16 years old and immature, acting in a disgraceful way. She was not the kind of girl the other brides would normally associate. There was the air of mutual dislike for Jean among the girls – she could be awfully trying. Jean was on her way to England to meet her 19 year-old-husband.
Frances, a nurse, was the character I found to be the most interesting. She was reserved, not sharing her past with any of the girls. She showed little interest in what the girls were doing, and seemed emotionless. There was a bit of mystique about Frances.
Australia – 1946 -There was an air of nervous anticipation as the brides left Australia, perhaps viewing it for the last time. The four brides had very little in common, other than they all wanted the same thing – to reach England and be reunited with their husbands. And the story unfolds as the brides were overcome with a myriad of obstacles and they struggled to cope with the difficult realities of the long voyage.
The author does a marvelous job capturing the mood and living conditions on the ship, and her power with words is incredible! This story has an interesting premise and has the potential to be a really good read. The plot moves rather slowly, but with interesting twists and turns developing along the way. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to stay engaged with the characters and storyline, especially in the middle section. I have mixed feelings about this book – it was an interesting read, but not one I’d enthusiastically recommend. My rating is 3.5 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchanged for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member cjordan916
1946. World War II has ended and all over the world, young women are beginning to fulfill the promises made to the men they wed in wartime.
In Sydney, Australia, four women join 650 other war brides on an extraordinary voyage to England—aboard HMS Victoria, which still carries not just arms and
In Sydney, Australia, four women join 650 other war brides on an extraordinary voyage to England—aboard HMS Victoria, which still carries not just arms and
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aircraft but a thousand naval officers. Rules are strictly enforced, from the aircraft carrier’s captain down to the lowliest young deckhand. But the men and the brides will find their lives intertwined despite the Navy’s ironclad sanctions. And for Frances Mackenzie, the complicated young woman whose past comes back to haunt her far from home, the journey will change her life in ways she never could have predicted—forever. Show Less
LibraryThing member nbmars
This is a wonderful, memorable story and a fascinating glimpse into a part of history of which I was not aware.
In July 1946, the British aircraft carrier HMS Victorious traveled from Sydney to take 655 Australian war brides of British servicemen to Britain where their husbands awaited them. More
Avice is a wealthy society girl, and “desperately disappointed” that her bunk mates have a lower social standing than her own. Maggie is heavily pregnant, and charming. She worries she won’t be a good mother, because her own mother abandoned her. Frances is a nurse, very quiet, and seems to be carrying a secret. And Jean is only sixteen, and probably married too young: she is wild, indiscreet, and not immune to the flirtations of the sailors.
The girls are guarded in the their bunks at night, and Frances becomes friends with the marine, Henry, who stands nightly in front of their door. Henry has received a devastating letter from his wife back home. But neither Frances nor Henry confide their secrets to one another.
As the story progresses, we become familiar with the tensions between everyone cooped up together on the ship. Some of the tension was among the brides, with Moyes especially picking up upon the class snobbery that prevailed at the time. There was also a sexual tension between the brides and the men. Many of these girls hadn’t seen their husbands since the night they wed them - in some cases several years before. And the men of course had been deprived of the company of women for quite some time. There was also tension coming from the husbands back in Britain: upon receiving word that their wives would be coming, some sent telegrams to the ship succinctly advising: “Not Wanted Don’t Come.” A woman about whom the message was directed was dropped off at the next port, where a representative of the Australian government would make arrangements for her to go back home. All the brides dreaded getting the call to the Captain’s office.
The Captain is close to retirement age, and "at sea" about what he is to do next. He is also plagued by a war wound that he dare not admit bothers him, but it has gotten so bad he fears for his survival. And now he has do deal with all these women, with their lingerie hanging to dry on lines around the ship, having to come up with entertainments for them, and the occasional trysting, and so on. Moyes limns him so well you can almost hear his heavy sighing as you read the book.
Although the voyage only lasts less than six weeks, some of the lives of those on board go through radical changes. Matters come to a head for the protagonists just as the ship nears the port of Plymouth.
Evaluation: The characters are so good - I felt sad at the end not to be able to hear more about them, especially Maggie and Frances. Moyes always makes me care about characters and think about them long after I finish a book by her. In addition, another of the ways in which Moyes is so excellent is that she always manages to throw complete surprises into what you assumed was a predictable plot. And finally, the exceptionally skilled way in which Moyes takes readers into that aircraft carrier so that we feel we too are experiencing every aspect of the trip is so rewarding - as Emily Dickens said, “There is no frigate like a book….” What a happy double entendre for this reading experience.
Highly recommended!
In July 1946, the British aircraft carrier HMS Victorious traveled from Sydney to take 655 Australian war brides of British servicemen to Britain where their husbands awaited them. More
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than 1100 men also were on board. These young women had married British servicemen serving in Australia during the war. When the author discovered that her grandmother had actually been one of these brides on the HMS Victorious, she resolved to create a story from it. She envisioned four young women from very different backgrounds who were thrown together in a small cabin for the journey.Avice is a wealthy society girl, and “desperately disappointed” that her bunk mates have a lower social standing than her own. Maggie is heavily pregnant, and charming. She worries she won’t be a good mother, because her own mother abandoned her. Frances is a nurse, very quiet, and seems to be carrying a secret. And Jean is only sixteen, and probably married too young: she is wild, indiscreet, and not immune to the flirtations of the sailors.
The girls are guarded in the their bunks at night, and Frances becomes friends with the marine, Henry, who stands nightly in front of their door. Henry has received a devastating letter from his wife back home. But neither Frances nor Henry confide their secrets to one another.
As the story progresses, we become familiar with the tensions between everyone cooped up together on the ship. Some of the tension was among the brides, with Moyes especially picking up upon the class snobbery that prevailed at the time. There was also a sexual tension between the brides and the men. Many of these girls hadn’t seen their husbands since the night they wed them - in some cases several years before. And the men of course had been deprived of the company of women for quite some time. There was also tension coming from the husbands back in Britain: upon receiving word that their wives would be coming, some sent telegrams to the ship succinctly advising: “Not Wanted Don’t Come.” A woman about whom the message was directed was dropped off at the next port, where a representative of the Australian government would make arrangements for her to go back home. All the brides dreaded getting the call to the Captain’s office.
The Captain is close to retirement age, and "at sea" about what he is to do next. He is also plagued by a war wound that he dare not admit bothers him, but it has gotten so bad he fears for his survival. And now he has do deal with all these women, with their lingerie hanging to dry on lines around the ship, having to come up with entertainments for them, and the occasional trysting, and so on. Moyes limns him so well you can almost hear his heavy sighing as you read the book.
Although the voyage only lasts less than six weeks, some of the lives of those on board go through radical changes. Matters come to a head for the protagonists just as the ship nears the port of Plymouth.
Evaluation: The characters are so good - I felt sad at the end not to be able to hear more about them, especially Maggie and Frances. Moyes always makes me care about characters and think about them long after I finish a book by her. In addition, another of the ways in which Moyes is so excellent is that she always manages to throw complete surprises into what you assumed was a predictable plot. And finally, the exceptionally skilled way in which Moyes takes readers into that aircraft carrier so that we feel we too are experiencing every aspect of the trip is so rewarding - as Emily Dickens said, “There is no frigate like a book….” What a happy double entendre for this reading experience.
Highly recommended!
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LibraryThing member busyreadin
Interesting WWII story about the Australian women who married British soldiers during a the war, and their journey to their new homes.
LibraryThing member Helen.Hunter
This is the only book I have kept for years and years, I love this book. It's an emotional roller coaster of ups and downs, it is a true story about courage and bravery
LibraryThing member mchwest
I love Jojo Moyes and her books. I know I personally always get stuck at a certain part, 1/2 way usually, but I keep reading and they end up so good. This book just dragged for me. I finished it but can't wait to read the next I have in line. I couldn't get excited about the characters like her
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others. Show Less
LibraryThing member brangwinn
Moyes turns her talent to historical fiction. The WWII Australian women who married British GI’s during the war are transported to England vial Bride Ships. Four very different women end up as roommates on an aircraft carrier. This is an enjoyable story about what it was like for the British Navy
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personnel and the 600 brides on board in very close, very supervised quarters. Hum, it made me think those women my mom’s age certainly weren’t always the prime, proper young things they lead their children to believe! As usual, Moyes picked a very interesting subject as the basis of a novel. For some the trip ended in sorrow with telegraphs that read “Not wanted. Go back.” And for others, wives did live happily ever after with their spouse. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookczuk
Interesting piece of history of which I was not aware. After WWII, Australian war brides of British husbands were provided the opportunity to sail to Britain to be with their husbands. A ship filled with 500+ women was bound to be more harrowing than "Here Come The Brides." Jojo Moyes managed to
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convey the story, focusing on four women primarily and several of the crew of the ship. Her author's note alludes to the research she did (indeed, a family member was one of the brides). The book manages to pull together the stories, history, and imagination in a believable mix. There were several twists I didn't see coming, one minor, one major, that kept me reading, and were entirely plausible. Moyes is hit and miss for me, but this one kept me reading. Show Less
LibraryThing member SueinCyprus
The story opens in 2002 with some drama in India. This is not explained until the end - and felt like a ploy to introduce the main part of the book, rather than being entirely necessary.
The rest of the novel takes place in 1946, when a boatload of Australian brides are en route to the UK to be
Different chapters are written from the different perspectives of some of the main characters, giving a good picture of what life would have been like for these courageous women who crossed the world to be with their husbands, some of them uncertain whether they would ever see their home and families again.
I found the book interesting, but as a novel, it didn't really work for me. It was more like a series of anecdotes than a real plot, and I didn’t warm much to any of the characters. The ending was satisfying, and made sense, but didn’t feel like part of the book.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys realistic historical fiction without a strong storyline. It would probably make good holiday reading. The writing is good, and at times I could almost imagine the situations.
The rest of the novel takes place in 1946, when a boatload of Australian brides are en route to the UK to be
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reunited with their husbands. Although the characters are fictional, they are based on real people. At the start of each chapter is a brief quotation written by some of the people involved at the time. The general feel is authentic. Different chapters are written from the different perspectives of some of the main characters, giving a good picture of what life would have been like for these courageous women who crossed the world to be with their husbands, some of them uncertain whether they would ever see their home and families again.
I found the book interesting, but as a novel, it didn't really work for me. It was more like a series of anecdotes than a real plot, and I didn’t warm much to any of the characters. The ending was satisfying, and made sense, but didn’t feel like part of the book.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys realistic historical fiction without a strong storyline. It would probably make good holiday reading. The writing is good, and at times I could almost imagine the situations.
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LibraryThing member Electablue
This was a little slower than the other two books I read by Jojo Moyes, but I enjoyed reading about this nugget of WWII history I had never heard about before.
LibraryThing member Marlene-NL
Wow. Reading the first few chapters I started to worry I bought myself a romance book, well if this is a romance I am going to buy many more!!!
Last night, this book has nearly 500 pages I went to bed and still had more than 200 pages to read. Well I could just not stop reading so I read all of it
Great book, it captivated me.
Last night, this book has nearly 500 pages I went to bed and still had more than 200 pages to read. Well I could just not stop reading so I read all of it
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and now I am sad cause it is finished lol.Great book, it captivated me.
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LibraryThing member SmithSJ01
A slow start that picked up after a few chapters. It dipped again towards the end but overall a good book that was easy to read. Many characters to become involved with. I wasn't quite as interested in the sailors as I was the brides but they were just as big a part of the story so necessary. The
The author acknowledges her sources at the start but I wouldn't know what was historically accurate and what wasn't. An interesting mix of female characters with some unlikely heroines. And as the blurb says "sometimes the journey is more important than the destination".
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prologue felt wasted but is needed in some respects to link in with the epilogue. The author acknowledges her sources at the start but I wouldn't know what was historically accurate and what wasn't. An interesting mix of female characters with some unlikely heroines. And as the blurb says "sometimes the journey is more important than the destination".
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LibraryThing member SarahStenhouse
Great story
LibraryThing member AngelaJMaher
A great story about a group of women in a situation that must have been incredibly alien. Well reserached, and with a strong, varied cast of characters, it brings to life this piece of history, even though it is fiction. The interwoven stories of the characters all remain interesting throughout the
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novel, and there are plenty of unexpected plot twists. Difficult to put down. Show Less
LibraryThing member scot2
Great book. Australian brides who married British servicemen during the war are being shipped to UK to reunite with their husbands. Four very different girls are sharing a cabin; some nice others not so much. Characters very true to life. Not a happy ever after for all of them. I thoroughly enjoyed
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it. Show Less
LibraryThing member MHanover10
Another interesting point of view about war. This time war brides from Australia heading to England. It's all about their time on the ship that lasts for weeks.
LibraryThing member DoingDewey
Although I've read several of Moyes' other books (One Plus One, Silver Bay, and The Girl You Left Behind), this is the first time I've realized what an amazing job she does capturing the feel of different settings. Each of her books as a unique atmosphere, quite unlike any of the others. The four
Despite sharing many of the strong points of Moyes' other books, I felt less connected to the characters in this book than in previous ones. I think this might in part be due to the historical context. I really liked seeing the different social expectations at the time, but the perspectives of the women in the story ended up feeling too different for me to fully relate to them. I also disliked that we focused on the stories of the characters who were the most likeable from a modern perspective. Although I think Moyes was trying to make the point that social expectations during this time period were unfair to women, her treatment of the characters struck me as equally unfair, with the more likeable characters getting far more satisfying endings.
This review first published at Doing Dewey.
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women who feature in this book also have all have very unique personalities and that shows up in Moyes' writing as well. As always, I enjoyed Moyes' writing style. Her writing is plain and straightforward, neither especially literary or unusual, but she's very articulate and knows how to pull me into a story.Despite sharing many of the strong points of Moyes' other books, I felt less connected to the characters in this book than in previous ones. I think this might in part be due to the historical context. I really liked seeing the different social expectations at the time, but the perspectives of the women in the story ended up feeling too different for me to fully relate to them. I also disliked that we focused on the stories of the characters who were the most likeable from a modern perspective. Although I think Moyes was trying to make the point that social expectations during this time period were unfair to women, her treatment of the characters struck me as equally unfair, with the more likeable characters getting far more satisfying endings.
This review first published at Doing Dewey.
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LibraryThing member DoingDewey
Although I've read several of Moyes' other books (One Plus One, Silver Bay, and The Girl You Left Behind), this is the first time I've realized what an amazing job she does capturing the feel of different settings. Each of her books as a unique atmosphere, quite unlike any of the others. The four
Despite sharing many of the strong points of Moyes' other books, I felt less connected to the characters in this book than in previous ones. I think this might in part be due to the historical context. I really liked seeing the different social expectations at the time, but the perspectives of the women in the story ended up feeling too different for me to fully relate to them. I also disliked that we focused on the stories of the characters who were the most likeable from a modern perspective. Although I think Moyes was trying to make the point that social expectations during this time period were unfair to women, her treatment of the characters struck me as equally unfair, with the more likeable characters getting far more satisfying endings.
This review first published at Doing Dewey.
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women who feature in this book also have all have very unique personalities and that shows up in Moyes' writing as well. As always, I enjoyed Moyes' writing style. Her writing is plain and straightforward, neither especially literary or unusual, but she's very articulate and knows how to pull me into a story.Despite sharing many of the strong points of Moyes' other books, I felt less connected to the characters in this book than in previous ones. I think this might in part be due to the historical context. I really liked seeing the different social expectations at the time, but the perspectives of the women in the story ended up feeling too different for me to fully relate to them. I also disliked that we focused on the stories of the characters who were the most likeable from a modern perspective. Although I think Moyes was trying to make the point that social expectations during this time period were unfair to women, her treatment of the characters struck me as equally unfair, with the more likeable characters getting far more satisfying endings.
This review first published at Doing Dewey.
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LibraryThing member DoingDewey
Although I've read several of Moyes' other books (One Plus One, Silver Bay, and The Girl You Left Behind), this is the first time I've realized what an amazing job she does capturing the feel of different settings. Each of her books as a unique atmosphere, quite unlike any of the others. The four
Despite sharing many of the strong points of Moyes' other books, I felt less connected to the characters in this book than in previous ones. I think this might in part be due to the historical context. I really liked seeing the different social expectations at the time, but the perspectives of the women in the story ended up feeling too different for me to fully relate to them. I also disliked that we focused on the stories of the characters who were the most likeable from a modern perspective. Although I think Moyes was trying to make the point that social expectations during this time period were unfair to women, her treatment of the characters struck me as equally unfair, with the more likeable characters getting far more satisfying endings.
This review first published at Doing Dewey.
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women who feature in this book also have all have very unique personalities and that shows up in Moyes' writing as well. As always, I enjoyed Moyes' writing style. Her writing is plain and straightforward, neither especially literary or unusual, but she's very articulate and knows how to pull me into a story.Despite sharing many of the strong points of Moyes' other books, I felt less connected to the characters in this book than in previous ones. I think this might in part be due to the historical context. I really liked seeing the different social expectations at the time, but the perspectives of the women in the story ended up feeling too different for me to fully relate to them. I also disliked that we focused on the stories of the characters who were the most likeable from a modern perspective. Although I think Moyes was trying to make the point that social expectations during this time period were unfair to women, her treatment of the characters struck me as equally unfair, with the more likeable characters getting far more satisfying endings.
This review first published at Doing Dewey.
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LibraryThing member DoingDewey
Although I've read several of Moyes' other books (One Plus One, Silver Bay, and The Girl You Left Behind), this is the first time I've realized what an amazing job she does capturing the feel of different settings. Each of her books as a unique atmosphere, quite unlike any of the others. The four
Despite sharing many of the strong points of Moyes' other books, I felt less connected to the characters in this book than in previous ones. I think this might in part be due to the historical context. I really liked seeing the different social expectations at the time, but the perspectives of the women in the story ended up feeling too different for me to fully relate to them. I also disliked that we focused on the stories of the characters who were the most likeable from a modern perspective. Although I think Moyes was trying to make the point that social expectations during this time period were unfair to women, her treatment of the characters struck me as equally unfair, with the more likeable characters getting far more satisfying endings.
This review first published at Doing Dewey.
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women who feature in this book also have all have very unique personalities and that shows up in Moyes' writing as well. As always, I enjoyed Moyes' writing style. Her writing is plain and straightforward, neither especially literary or unusual, but she's very articulate and knows how to pull me into a story.Despite sharing many of the strong points of Moyes' other books, I felt less connected to the characters in this book than in previous ones. I think this might in part be due to the historical context. I really liked seeing the different social expectations at the time, but the perspectives of the women in the story ended up feeling too different for me to fully relate to them. I also disliked that we focused on the stories of the characters who were the most likeable from a modern perspective. Although I think Moyes was trying to make the point that social expectations during this time period were unfair to women, her treatment of the characters struck me as equally unfair, with the more likeable characters getting far more satisfying endings.
This review first published at Doing Dewey.
Show Less
LibraryThing member DoingDewey
Although I've read several of Moyes' other books (One Plus One, Silver Bay, and The Girl You Left Behind), this is the first time I've realized what an amazing job she does capturing the feel of different settings. Each of her books as a unique atmosphere, quite unlike any of the others. The four
Despite sharing many of the strong points of Moyes' other books, I felt less connected to the characters in this book than in previous ones. I think this might in part be due to the historical context. I really liked seeing the different social expectations at the time, but the perspectives of the women in the story ended up feeling too different for me to fully relate to them. I also disliked that we focused on the stories of the characters who were the most likeable from a modern perspective. Although I think Moyes was trying to make the point that social expectations during this time period were unfair to women, her treatment of the characters struck me as equally unfair, with the more likeable characters getting far more satisfying endings.
This review first published at Doing Dewey.
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women who feature in this book also have all have very unique personalities and that shows up in Moyes' writing as well. As always, I enjoyed Moyes' writing style. Her writing is plain and straightforward, neither especially literary or unusual, but she's very articulate and knows how to pull me into a story.Despite sharing many of the strong points of Moyes' other books, I felt less connected to the characters in this book than in previous ones. I think this might in part be due to the historical context. I really liked seeing the different social expectations at the time, but the perspectives of the women in the story ended up feeling too different for me to fully relate to them. I also disliked that we focused on the stories of the characters who were the most likeable from a modern perspective. Although I think Moyes was trying to make the point that social expectations during this time period were unfair to women, her treatment of the characters struck me as equally unfair, with the more likeable characters getting far more satisfying endings.
This review first published at Doing Dewey.
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Language
Original publication date
2005-06
ISBN
184894747X / 9781848947474
Other editions
The ship of brides by Jojo Moyes (Ebook)
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