Publication
New York : Simon & Schuster, 2016.
Collection
Call number
Fiction C
Physical description
424 p.; 25 cm
Status
Available
Call number
Description
Fiction. Literature. Historical Fiction. HTML:The instant New York Times bestseller from Chris Cleave�??the unforgettable novel about three lives entangled during World War II, told "with dazzling prose, sharp English wit, and compassion...a powerful portrait of war's effects on those who fight and those left behind" (People, Book of the Week). London, 1939. The day war is declared, Mary North leaves finishing school unfinished, goes straight to the War Office, and signs up. Tom Shaw decides to ignore the war�??until he learns his roommate Alistair Heath has unexpectedly enlisted. Then the conflict can no longer be avoided. Young, bright, and brave, Mary is certain she'd be a marvelous spy. When she is�??bewilderingly�??made a teacher, she finds herself defying prejudice to protect the children her country would rather forget. Tom, meanwhile, finds that he will do anything for Mary. And when Mary and Alistair meet, it is love, as well as war, that will test them in ways they could not have imagined, entangling three lives in violence and passion, friendship, and deception, inexorably shaping their hopes and dreams. The three are drawn into a tragic love triangle and�??as war escalates and bombs begin falling�??further into a grim world of survival and desperation. Set in London during the years of 1939�??1942, when citizens had slim hope of survival, much less victory; and on the strategic island of Malta, which was daily devastated by the Axis barrage, Everyone Brave is Forgiven features little-known history and a perfect wartime love story inspired by the real-life love letters between Chris Cleave's grandparents. This dazzling novel dares us to understand that, against the great theater of world events, it is the intimate losses, the small battles, the daily human triumphs… (more)
Subjects
Media reviews
Everyone Brave is Forgiven is a story of the Second World War in all of its nastiness and depravity. Cleave is now working on a sequel, with the same characters, that will take place during the first three years of peace after the war.
Cleave is a powerful writer, leaving readers with vivid and
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uncompromising images and stories. In Little Bee, Incendiary and Gold, he told the truth, unflinchingly. Everyone Brave is Forgiven is the same, and readers won’t soon forget it. Show Less
Throughout the novel, Cleave portrays the visceral experiences of war with skill and empathy, whether it’s Alistair’s repeated near annihilation in Malta or the catastrophic effects of the blitz. There are moments of genuine terror – particularly during Mary and Hilda’s ordeals as ambulance
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drivers attending to London’s bombed-out victims – in which Cleave reveals his talent for pacing and tension. His engagement with themes of racism, class, female empowerment and the emotional dislocations induced by war lend the novel social and historical depth in scenes that are both intricately researched and evocatively conveyed...With Everyone Brave Is Forgiven Cleave cements his reputation as a skilful storyteller, and a sensitive chronicler of the interplay between the political and the personal. Show Less
Chris Cleave’s powerful and moving fourth novel, Everyone Brave is Forgiven, is a period piece that sits alongside the likes of Pat Barker’s Noonday, Andrea Levy’s Small Island and Sarah Waters’ The Night Watch....If I’ve made it sound at all unexpectedly lighthearted, then I’ve done
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some justice to Cleave’s tone. Despite their increasingly straitened and entangled circumstances – and he doesn’t shy away from gory descriptions of death and destruction either – Cleave’s characters hold their upper lips stiff with a brace of humour. Show Less
“Everyone Brave Is Forgiven” is a narrative of redemption. All the same, it leaves the novel with significant problems because it flattens out the conflicts, rendering them more as device or backdrop than transformative experience....This is the difficulty with looking back at such a
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paradigm-shifting event as World War II: 50 million dead, a continent destroyed, and the anxiety of all those years spent in the shadow of devastation, of not knowing what each day might bring. “Everyone Brave Is Forgiven” pays lip service to such issues, but it can’t, or doesn’t want to, deal with the complexities; there is no room for them in the story Cleave aspires to tell. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member jnwelch
“But what good is it to teach a child to count, if you don't show him that he counts for something?”
* * *
“Mary leaned back, exhaled, and watched her smoke rise. 'What sort of man do you want anyway?'
"Tall. Funny. Never came top of his class or pulled the wings off bees."
"Yes, but I mean
Hilda snorted. "(I) just want a tall man and a stiff drink. You could even swap the adjectives.”
This WWII novel is set in London and battle areas, principally Malta (where a grandfather of author Cleave fought). Its five principal characters are Mary, an attractive, broad-minded 18 year old from a wealthy family who volunteers immediately upon war being declared, her close but less prepossessing friend Hilda, who helps Mary but gets annoyed that men always gravitate toward her, teaching administrator Tom who finds a class for Mary to teach, Tom's friend Alistair, an art restorer at the Tate who joins the war as an officer, and Zachary, a young black student of Mary's whom she helps amid the era's racism.
It's an exceptionally well-told story that, among other things, depicts the bombing's effects on the city and its populace vividly and better than any other book I've read on the subject. All the characters go through harrowing experiences of one kind or another. I found the use of the n-word and the racism difficult, but Cleave is making a legitimate point about the state of affairs at the time, and Mary will have none of it, thank goodness. I couldn't stop turning the pages, and the dialogue in particular is top of the line - smart, often surprising, and at times laugh-out-loud witty. Not quite five stars for me, but close.
* * *
“Mary leaned back, exhaled, and watched her smoke rise. 'What sort of man do you want anyway?'
"Tall. Funny. Never came top of his class or pulled the wings off bees."
"Yes, but I mean
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really? When all of this is over, and assuming we win -" ...Hilda snorted. "(I) just want a tall man and a stiff drink. You could even swap the adjectives.”
This WWII novel is set in London and battle areas, principally Malta (where a grandfather of author Cleave fought). Its five principal characters are Mary, an attractive, broad-minded 18 year old from a wealthy family who volunteers immediately upon war being declared, her close but less prepossessing friend Hilda, who helps Mary but gets annoyed that men always gravitate toward her, teaching administrator Tom who finds a class for Mary to teach, Tom's friend Alistair, an art restorer at the Tate who joins the war as an officer, and Zachary, a young black student of Mary's whom she helps amid the era's racism.
It's an exceptionally well-told story that, among other things, depicts the bombing's effects on the city and its populace vividly and better than any other book I've read on the subject. All the characters go through harrowing experiences of one kind or another. I found the use of the n-word and the racism difficult, but Cleave is making a legitimate point about the state of affairs at the time, and Mary will have none of it, thank goodness. I couldn't stop turning the pages, and the dialogue in particular is top of the line - smart, often surprising, and at times laugh-out-loud witty. Not quite five stars for me, but close.
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LibraryThing member vancouverdeb
When World War 11 is announced, Mary North is keen to join the war effort and quits finishing school to do so. Disappointingly to Mary, she is made a school teacher , which seems altogether too tame. However, she soon finds her place. Children who are physically handicapped, difficult to teach or
Tom Shaw and Alistair Heath are roommates sharing a flat in London. Tom chooses not to join the military, and is given a school district in London to run instead. Alistair restores art, but almost immediately signs up for the service. Since Mary is appointed to be a teacher and Tom runs her school district, the two become friends and are attracted to each other.
Alistair quickly finds himself in the heat of the battle in France and later on in the Siege of Malta.
After Mary's teaching is forced to come to an end, she and her close friend Hilda volunteer with the Air Raid Precautions, serving as ambulance drivers / first aid attendants during the bombing in London.
Cleave is wonderful and powerful writer , portraying the horrors and depravity of war with vivid images. Relationships are well and realistically drawn and make up an important part of the story. Despite the savage portrayal of war, Chris Cleve leavens the book with dark humour.
A few quotes :
As Mary begs for her classroom to be re- opened " Then what are we to do with crooked and the coloured and the slow? Are we to let them rot, simply because it is not policy for them to exist?" p 226
As Alistair endeavors to cope with death and near starvation at the battle front , at Christmas time
"The orderlies brought in something that the cook had made of out of breadcrumbs and canned malevolence...." Alistair lifted the corner with his fork .' I don't know whether to put mustard or marmalade on it.'" p 215
In a letter written by Mary " I was brought up to believe that everyone brave was forgiven, but in wartime, courage is cheap and clemency out of season'". p 245
A beautifully written and thought provoking read that is destined to perhaps be my favorite of 2016.
Highly recommended and I am delighted to read that Chris Cleave is planning a sequel in some three years or so.
5 stars.
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from non- Caucasian backgrounds, are sent back from the evacuation to the country to London to be taught, during the London Blitz. Mary becomes their keen advocate and teacher.Tom Shaw and Alistair Heath are roommates sharing a flat in London. Tom chooses not to join the military, and is given a school district in London to run instead. Alistair restores art, but almost immediately signs up for the service. Since Mary is appointed to be a teacher and Tom runs her school district, the two become friends and are attracted to each other.
Alistair quickly finds himself in the heat of the battle in France and later on in the Siege of Malta.
After Mary's teaching is forced to come to an end, she and her close friend Hilda volunteer with the Air Raid Precautions, serving as ambulance drivers / first aid attendants during the bombing in London.
Cleave is wonderful and powerful writer , portraying the horrors and depravity of war with vivid images. Relationships are well and realistically drawn and make up an important part of the story. Despite the savage portrayal of war, Chris Cleve leavens the book with dark humour.
A few quotes :
As Mary begs for her classroom to be re- opened " Then what are we to do with crooked and the coloured and the slow? Are we to let them rot, simply because it is not policy for them to exist?" p 226
As Alistair endeavors to cope with death and near starvation at the battle front , at Christmas time
"The orderlies brought in something that the cook had made of out of breadcrumbs and canned malevolence...." Alistair lifted the corner with his fork .' I don't know whether to put mustard or marmalade on it.'" p 215
In a letter written by Mary " I was brought up to believe that everyone brave was forgiven, but in wartime, courage is cheap and clemency out of season'". p 245
A beautifully written and thought provoking read that is destined to perhaps be my favorite of 2016.
Highly recommended and I am delighted to read that Chris Cleave is planning a sequel in some three years or so.
5 stars.
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LibraryThing member Cariola
I really liked Chris Cleaves's Little Bee and Incendiary, and I quite liked this new novel as well. Cleave seems to have a knack for digging into horrifying situations and the psychology of people who have no choice but to live through them. In Everyone Brave Is Forgiven, he tackles the second
Overall, I liked this book, and there are a number of particularly moving scenes and horrific scenes. (I did not know that the British army on Malta was under siege, for example, and the description of life for the men as supplies dwindled was quite an eye opener.) Cleave goes a little heavy on "smart" conversation, which sometimes makes his characters seem irritatingly artificial; perhaps he means to use this as a cover for their insecurities, but I wish he had used it more sparingly. I felt at times like I was watching one of those horrid late 1930s British films where everyone is so darn phony and you just want to smack them. That's the main reason my rating (3.5) is down a notch from the 4+ average.
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world was, particularly London in the Blitz years. Mary North, a young woman from an upper crust family (her father is an MP) volunteers with the war office as soon as England enters the fray. Her first assignment is as a teacher, and she is particularly drawn to young Zachary, son of an African-American entertainer who emcees the local minstrel show. Almost as soon as she begins, the children are evacuated to the countryside, and Mary applies for a position to teach the few misfit children who remain in the city (some of whom, like Zachary, have been sent back from the country). Here she meets and falls in love with her supervisor, Tom, a decent sort who hasn't yet felt the compulsion to enlist, as his flatmate, Alistair, had done on the first day that England went to war. Everyone seems to believe (or wants to believe) that the war isn't real and that the city will never be bombed. When Alistair returns on leave, Mary and Tom set him up with her friend Hilda, a young woman rather vain of her looks and focused on the exact arrangement of her pompadour. But the bombs do fall, and their world begins to fall apart. The novel traces the effects of the war not only on these four young people (and Zachary) but on society itself. Be prepared for a lot of tragedy, despair, and uncertainty as people drift apart and come together. Yet the novel is not without elements of hope as the characters learn that change, while perhaps inevitable, is not always the same as loss.Overall, I liked this book, and there are a number of particularly moving scenes and horrific scenes. (I did not know that the British army on Malta was under siege, for example, and the description of life for the men as supplies dwindled was quite an eye opener.) Cleave goes a little heavy on "smart" conversation, which sometimes makes his characters seem irritatingly artificial; perhaps he means to use this as a cover for their insecurities, but I wish he had used it more sparingly. I felt at times like I was watching one of those horrid late 1930s British films where everyone is so darn phony and you just want to smack them. That's the main reason my rating (3.5) is down a notch from the 4+ average.
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LibraryThing member thewanderingjew
Everyone Brave is Forgiven, Chris Cleave, author; Luke Thompson, narrator.
I enjoyed this book on several levels. I learned a lot about the English experience during WWII and about the racism that existed there that I had never known before. Through the interaction of several characters that play a
The story is narrated expertly by Luke Thompson using a unique voice for each character which was individually discernible and identifiable. The romantic side of the story may be a bit too obvious, but the details of the war were graphic and descriptive giving the reader a credible picture of life there, at that time. The reader is placed right into the thick of things with bombs falling, soldiers dying and the citizenry suffering the exigencies of war in their own individual ways, according to their circumstances. There were shortages; there was destruction coupled with grave injuries and death, but there was also love and romance, compassion and dedication, all existing in varying degrees side by side, depending on where one lived and the class from which one came.
Mary North marched to the beat of her own drummer, even as an 18 year old teenager. She defied the rules of her upper class hierarchy. She attempted to join the war effort and was given a teaching post, although she had absolutely no experience. She realized that she loved working with the children but was fired because she treated Zachary Lee, a black student, with what was thought of as excessive kindness and concern; she simply treated him as she would treat any of the white students. She was basically disciplined for her compassion and honesty and broad minded acceptance of all people and their equal ability to succeed.
When she met Tom Shaw, who was in charge of hiring, she begged for another position. He was from a different class, but he was smitten by her. Their romance blossomed, and he subsequently created a teaching position for her, even when the budget was tight. Together they helped those young evacuees rejected by the families in the countryside because they were deficient, disabled or black. She introduced her best friend Hilda, not quite as lovely or socially adept as Mary, to Tom’s friend, Alistair Heath. Alistair was an art restorer from the appropriate upper class. When Alistair and Mary met, there was a spark that ignited the chemistry between the two of them instead. Mary resisted it, at first, because she loved Tom, and because Hilda was angry that she was once again attempting to take a beau away from her. Alistair is soon shipped out to Malta where he experiences the brutal hardships of war on that small barren island.
The author made the class consciousness of the Brits extremely transparent using the views of the various characters. Even some of the more broad and open minded upper classes viewed the blacks as “less than”. Those in the lower classes who happened to be white also felt that way. Their ignorance about the color of skin was displayed when one character queried Zachary about how he got his skin color. She wondered if he was burned. She wondered if he was in pain. It seems absurd, but I think that the author must have researched this attitude and is using that reality to enhance his fictional tale about England during WWII, a war that was carried on for several years without the help of America, whose eventual entry signaled a more positive end to the combat. The upper classes were shielded from the actual fog of war by the frivolity of their own lives as they knitted socks for the soldiers but still managed to carry on with their social lives and causes, parties and balls.
During that time in England, white children were being given every advantage over black children, regarding education, safety, food and shelter. Black children were looked down upon, called names and abused by those who thought they were superior to them. The less fortunate were expected to suffer the dangers of the war while those more fortunate were eagerly evacuated. The rescue of white children went smoothly while those deficient or racially unacceptable were rejected and sent back home. Helping blacks was frowned upon by the upper classes and those that did suffered from the tongue lashings and gossip of their peers. Sanctioned injustice was the norm.
Women, at that time, were not independent and were expected to behave properly, not to fraternize with people of color, not to go to places where they congregated and surely not to teach them since it was believed they could not learn. At the same time, the people of color did not want to draw attention to themselves because they did not want to upset the apple cart which allowed them to live in peace in London. It was a fragile situation requiring the walking of a tightrope by all.
The atrocities of war were painted sharply; some images were of cruelties and a kind of violence that I had never dreamed of or heard of before. The brutality of the citizens toward their captured enemy has not often been revealed, rather the enemy’s cruelty has been stressed above all else. Still while the anger of the citizenry may have been justified in such hostile times, their barbaric behavior was not. The author clearly shows the force of a mob mentality out of control. He also highlighted the fact that doing the right thing does not always bring about the right result. When the soldier, Alistair, tried to stop a mob from torturing an injured enemy pilot, he himself was seriously wounded by that same pilot while he was trying to protect and help him.
I loved the part of the book that featured the bantering back and forth in letters and/or dialogue between the characters. The humor lightened the heavy mood of the scenes of war and deprivation in which those in active and inactive combat were equally injured. Some were soon dying and some were starving in London. They were starving and dying on Malta. They were sitting ducks there, suffering their injuries, death, privation and exhaustion without outside help. As the conditions in London worsened and the bombings increased, the experiences of both Londoners and the soldiers on the battlefield were sharply defined by the author. The hazards of war, with the haphazardness of personal survival, had to be faced by each of them in one capacity or another everyday. The disillusionment about the purpose and the end results of the war was also clearly explored and exposed.
I think it was obvious how the book would end from the beginning, partly because of our knowledge of history, but also because of the way the story was rolled out. It was often enhanced with a touch of humor and the information provided was interesting. The romance lightened the subject matter by exposing choices that all readers could identify with and understand. The war united people of different classes and different races, but would it last when the war ended? Would the romances begun survive afterwards in the light of the new day?
The book truly illustrates the effect of war on those fighting it and those observing it, those drawn to nationalism engaging in the fight directly and those drawn to defending their country in more intellectual pursuits. Each of the characters risked their lives in a different way; each faced danger and tried to rise to the occasion when necessary to preserve and protect those less fortunate and those defending them from their enemies. This is a book worth reading for its war perspective and its insight into the way people viewed it and treated each other during that time. It might make the reader wonder if society has changed all that much since then.
I enjoyed this book on several levels. I learned a lot about the English experience during WWII and about the racism that existed there that I had never known before. Through the interaction of several characters that play a
Show More
major part in the story, the war years come to life. It is through the experiences and beliefs of Mary, Tom, Alistair, Zachary, and Hilda, from different walks of life, that the atmosphere in England and the theater of war is made truly visible to the reader.The story is narrated expertly by Luke Thompson using a unique voice for each character which was individually discernible and identifiable. The romantic side of the story may be a bit too obvious, but the details of the war were graphic and descriptive giving the reader a credible picture of life there, at that time. The reader is placed right into the thick of things with bombs falling, soldiers dying and the citizenry suffering the exigencies of war in their own individual ways, according to their circumstances. There were shortages; there was destruction coupled with grave injuries and death, but there was also love and romance, compassion and dedication, all existing in varying degrees side by side, depending on where one lived and the class from which one came.
Mary North marched to the beat of her own drummer, even as an 18 year old teenager. She defied the rules of her upper class hierarchy. She attempted to join the war effort and was given a teaching post, although she had absolutely no experience. She realized that she loved working with the children but was fired because she treated Zachary Lee, a black student, with what was thought of as excessive kindness and concern; she simply treated him as she would treat any of the white students. She was basically disciplined for her compassion and honesty and broad minded acceptance of all people and their equal ability to succeed.
When she met Tom Shaw, who was in charge of hiring, she begged for another position. He was from a different class, but he was smitten by her. Their romance blossomed, and he subsequently created a teaching position for her, even when the budget was tight. Together they helped those young evacuees rejected by the families in the countryside because they were deficient, disabled or black. She introduced her best friend Hilda, not quite as lovely or socially adept as Mary, to Tom’s friend, Alistair Heath. Alistair was an art restorer from the appropriate upper class. When Alistair and Mary met, there was a spark that ignited the chemistry between the two of them instead. Mary resisted it, at first, because she loved Tom, and because Hilda was angry that she was once again attempting to take a beau away from her. Alistair is soon shipped out to Malta where he experiences the brutal hardships of war on that small barren island.
The author made the class consciousness of the Brits extremely transparent using the views of the various characters. Even some of the more broad and open minded upper classes viewed the blacks as “less than”. Those in the lower classes who happened to be white also felt that way. Their ignorance about the color of skin was displayed when one character queried Zachary about how he got his skin color. She wondered if he was burned. She wondered if he was in pain. It seems absurd, but I think that the author must have researched this attitude and is using that reality to enhance his fictional tale about England during WWII, a war that was carried on for several years without the help of America, whose eventual entry signaled a more positive end to the combat. The upper classes were shielded from the actual fog of war by the frivolity of their own lives as they knitted socks for the soldiers but still managed to carry on with their social lives and causes, parties and balls.
During that time in England, white children were being given every advantage over black children, regarding education, safety, food and shelter. Black children were looked down upon, called names and abused by those who thought they were superior to them. The less fortunate were expected to suffer the dangers of the war while those more fortunate were eagerly evacuated. The rescue of white children went smoothly while those deficient or racially unacceptable were rejected and sent back home. Helping blacks was frowned upon by the upper classes and those that did suffered from the tongue lashings and gossip of their peers. Sanctioned injustice was the norm.
Women, at that time, were not independent and were expected to behave properly, not to fraternize with people of color, not to go to places where they congregated and surely not to teach them since it was believed they could not learn. At the same time, the people of color did not want to draw attention to themselves because they did not want to upset the apple cart which allowed them to live in peace in London. It was a fragile situation requiring the walking of a tightrope by all.
The atrocities of war were painted sharply; some images were of cruelties and a kind of violence that I had never dreamed of or heard of before. The brutality of the citizens toward their captured enemy has not often been revealed, rather the enemy’s cruelty has been stressed above all else. Still while the anger of the citizenry may have been justified in such hostile times, their barbaric behavior was not. The author clearly shows the force of a mob mentality out of control. He also highlighted the fact that doing the right thing does not always bring about the right result. When the soldier, Alistair, tried to stop a mob from torturing an injured enemy pilot, he himself was seriously wounded by that same pilot while he was trying to protect and help him.
I loved the part of the book that featured the bantering back and forth in letters and/or dialogue between the characters. The humor lightened the heavy mood of the scenes of war and deprivation in which those in active and inactive combat were equally injured. Some were soon dying and some were starving in London. They were starving and dying on Malta. They were sitting ducks there, suffering their injuries, death, privation and exhaustion without outside help. As the conditions in London worsened and the bombings increased, the experiences of both Londoners and the soldiers on the battlefield were sharply defined by the author. The hazards of war, with the haphazardness of personal survival, had to be faced by each of them in one capacity or another everyday. The disillusionment about the purpose and the end results of the war was also clearly explored and exposed.
I think it was obvious how the book would end from the beginning, partly because of our knowledge of history, but also because of the way the story was rolled out. It was often enhanced with a touch of humor and the information provided was interesting. The romance lightened the subject matter by exposing choices that all readers could identify with and understand. The war united people of different classes and different races, but would it last when the war ended? Would the romances begun survive afterwards in the light of the new day?
The book truly illustrates the effect of war on those fighting it and those observing it, those drawn to nationalism engaging in the fight directly and those drawn to defending their country in more intellectual pursuits. Each of the characters risked their lives in a different way; each faced danger and tried to rise to the occasion when necessary to preserve and protect those less fortunate and those defending them from their enemies. This is a book worth reading for its war perspective and its insight into the way people viewed it and treated each other during that time. It might make the reader wonder if society has changed all that much since then.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Alphawoman
This book is slightly different from the slew of WWII books I have been reading nonstop recently. it's difficult to place a finger on the reason. Prehaps the tone. the characters are unforgettable especially the cast who are in the shadows. Hilda, Zackary and Simonson. And the most endearing of
I earmarked some passages in the story to support my declaration of the power and beauty if the prose but after a time I realized it was too much!
the story is incredibly beautiful, full of touching and poignant writing that left me in tears over and over again.
I was not surprised when reading the Authors notes at the end that the idea came from his grandparents experiences during the war.
this is a wonderful historical novel that deserves all the accolades it is receiving and I shall certainly read more of this author.
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all, Duggan.I earmarked some passages in the story to support my declaration of the power and beauty if the prose but after a time I realized it was too much!
the story is incredibly beautiful, full of touching and poignant writing that left me in tears over and over again.
I was not surprised when reading the Authors notes at the end that the idea came from his grandparents experiences during the war.
this is a wonderful historical novel that deserves all the accolades it is receiving and I shall certainly read more of this author.
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LibraryThing member kalky
I have to confess that I adore Chris Cleave. If he writes a book, I read it. It's that simple.
It's been a while since his last book. GOLD was published in 2012, and I read it the instant it was available, so I started to doubt myself. What if Chris Cleave isn't as good as I remembered?! What if he
Fortunately, the man did not disappoint with his latest effort, EVERYONE BRAVE IS FORGIVEN. The book is set during World War II with much of the action taking place in London and on Malta.
I admit to having a soft spot for historical fiction. I love a good war book. I get sentimental when I read about brave fighters--especially when my oldest son is in the middle of a deployment. That said, what Chris Cleave has written is so gorgeous and so heart-wrenching, I don't have the words to properly describe it. As with Cleave's first book INCENDIARY, EVERYONE BRAVE IS FORGIVEN isn't a book I'll recommend to everyone. However, if you're a fan of beautiful writing, and if you want to have a view of the pain that comes with war that will leave you crying yourself to sleep every night--but written in the loveliest of ways--then be sure to pick up this book.
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for this unbiased review.
It's been a while since his last book. GOLD was published in 2012, and I read it the instant it was available, so I started to doubt myself. What if Chris Cleave isn't as good as I remembered?! What if he
Show More
can't continue to produce books at the level I've come to expect?!Fortunately, the man did not disappoint with his latest effort, EVERYONE BRAVE IS FORGIVEN. The book is set during World War II with much of the action taking place in London and on Malta.
I admit to having a soft spot for historical fiction. I love a good war book. I get sentimental when I read about brave fighters--especially when my oldest son is in the middle of a deployment. That said, what Chris Cleave has written is so gorgeous and so heart-wrenching, I don't have the words to properly describe it. As with Cleave's first book INCENDIARY, EVERYONE BRAVE IS FORGIVEN isn't a book I'll recommend to everyone. However, if you're a fan of beautiful writing, and if you want to have a view of the pain that comes with war that will leave you crying yourself to sleep every night--but written in the loveliest of ways--then be sure to pick up this book.
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for this unbiased review.
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LibraryThing member lostinalibrary
It is 1939 and war has just been declared. Upper class Londoner, Mary immediately rushes to the War Office to sign up to help. At first, she is disappointed to be offered a position as teacher for children evacuated to the countryside. However, she soon becomes attached to her students especially
Tom has plans to sit out the war but, as so many men head off to fight, he gets a position as School Administrator for those children who, for various reasons, either can’t be evacuated or who are returned to London because no one will take them in: the poor, the less attractive (or too attractive), those who are mentally and physically challenged, or non-white. He meets Mary and the two become lovers.
Alistair is Tom’s best friend. He enlists almost immediately. He is sent to France and his life becomes one of long and grueling days of marching and boredom broken occasionally by the horror of enemy airstrikes and hidden land mines. Finally, on leave, he returns home and Tom introduces him to Mary. The two are instantly drawn to each other despite their loyalty to Tom. At the end of his leave, Alistair is assigned to Malta where airstrikes, hunger, rain, mud and the death of close friends are seemingly unending.
Everyone Brave is Forgiven is the latest novel by author Chris Cleave and I have seen it described as an historical romance set in wartime. However, although there are certainly elements of romance here, that is a much too simplistic description of this book and doesn’t do it nearly enough justice. Often novels about war-time England seem to be just longer variations on that famous motivational poster from the British government, now a popular internet meme, Keep Calm and Carry On; the stereotypical British stiff upper lip, the almost immediate return to relative normalcy after an air raid, the kindness and welcoming of evacuated children to the countryside, and the instant romances. But this story transcends that simplistic view of what it means to be both a soldier and a civilian caught in the realities of war. It is more honest, more moving, more emotionally and intellectually challenging.
It focuses on the facts of war that have rarely been expressed in novels except those by once soldiers: the boredom and the fear, the immediacy and unpredictability of death, the horrors of the bombings, the sense of displacement, shock, grief, and sense of guilt of the survivors, and the use of humour to help them carry on. And it shows something I have rarely seen before in a novel: the overt racism that permeated Britain even as they were fighting a brutal war against fascism.
Everyone Brave is Forgiven is a beautifully written book with clever dialogue, memorable characters and stark powerful imagery. It is, at once, heart-warming and heart-rending and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
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10-year-old Zachery, an African American whose father was part of a minstrel show performing in London. Tom has plans to sit out the war but, as so many men head off to fight, he gets a position as School Administrator for those children who, for various reasons, either can’t be evacuated or who are returned to London because no one will take them in: the poor, the less attractive (or too attractive), those who are mentally and physically challenged, or non-white. He meets Mary and the two become lovers.
Alistair is Tom’s best friend. He enlists almost immediately. He is sent to France and his life becomes one of long and grueling days of marching and boredom broken occasionally by the horror of enemy airstrikes and hidden land mines. Finally, on leave, he returns home and Tom introduces him to Mary. The two are instantly drawn to each other despite their loyalty to Tom. At the end of his leave, Alistair is assigned to Malta where airstrikes, hunger, rain, mud and the death of close friends are seemingly unending.
Everyone Brave is Forgiven is the latest novel by author Chris Cleave and I have seen it described as an historical romance set in wartime. However, although there are certainly elements of romance here, that is a much too simplistic description of this book and doesn’t do it nearly enough justice. Often novels about war-time England seem to be just longer variations on that famous motivational poster from the British government, now a popular internet meme, Keep Calm and Carry On; the stereotypical British stiff upper lip, the almost immediate return to relative normalcy after an air raid, the kindness and welcoming of evacuated children to the countryside, and the instant romances. But this story transcends that simplistic view of what it means to be both a soldier and a civilian caught in the realities of war. It is more honest, more moving, more emotionally and intellectually challenging.
It focuses on the facts of war that have rarely been expressed in novels except those by once soldiers: the boredom and the fear, the immediacy and unpredictability of death, the horrors of the bombings, the sense of displacement, shock, grief, and sense of guilt of the survivors, and the use of humour to help them carry on. And it shows something I have rarely seen before in a novel: the overt racism that permeated Britain even as they were fighting a brutal war against fascism.
Everyone Brave is Forgiven is a beautifully written book with clever dialogue, memorable characters and stark powerful imagery. It is, at once, heart-warming and heart-rending and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
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LibraryThing member sleahey
This novel centers around London prior to World War II , and leading up to 1942. The relationships between Mary, her best friend Hilda, Tom, and his best friend Alistair become increasingly complicated as their lives are drastically affected by the war in different ways. The tragedy is often more
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than is predictable, and certainly heart-wrenching. The dialog is almost always extremely clever, in contrast to the dark situations and wartime inhumanity, and seems to try too hard--but then so do the characters. Did people ever really talk that way? Show Less
LibraryThing member susan.h.schofield
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. I wasn't sure what to expect since I have mixed feelings about Chris Cleave - I did not like Little Bee but I liked Gold a lot. Everyone Brave is Forgiven fell somewhere in the middle. As far as WWII fiction goes, it just wasn't up to the standards set
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by The Nightingale or All the Light We Cannot See. While beautifully written, it was difficult to connect with the characters. I didn't think the love story was very plausible and I more enjoyed Mary's story when she was teaching and concerned about the children left behind in London. The book would have been better if it had just focused on that aspect. Unlike other WWII stories I have read, I didn't feel as immersed in the war or feel the pain of the characters. But overall it was a well written and decent book. Show Less
LibraryThing member JanJanFreeman
Mary Thomas is a woman of privilege and defiant of societal norms at a time when World War II had just begun. She is coming into adulthood with a determination to change the world for the better. She went to the war office in an effort to serve her country and instead was sent to teach a school for
Thomas lives with his roommate Alistair, who gets deployed to fight in the war fairly early on in the book. Thomas struggles with falling in love with his employee and the insecurities that arise along with that. He also struggles with a guilt for not fighting in combat in the war like Alistair and many other fellow English men. However, we do see him mature through this plot from an insecure man who relies on his roommate for moral support to proving his strength and becoming a selfless man desperate to try to keep the love of his life, Mary.
Alistair is a very witty soldier who moves up in the ranks of the military yet pines for the days before the military became his life. He struggles physically and mentally in the war, yet his sense of humor and friendliness remain unscathed. He returns from war briefly, only to be sent back out and shipped to Malta for combat. In this military transfer, he agreed to a double date with Thomas and Mary, and Mary's best friend, Hilda. This mingling of main characters sparks further altercations and misunderstandings among all four of these characters that carry on through the end of the book.
Zachary is a young boy who loves school with Miss Mary despite his struggles with reading. His father is a performer and a single father who lives at the theater with Zachary. Zachary's character develops into a strong leader who helps fellow children that have also fallen through the cracks due to the war. He demonstrates a keen sense of responsibility at such a young age and a deep respect for Mary despite their racial differences that society was so offended by at the time.
Chris Cleave masterfully created this story with an inspiration from his grandparents. He creatively showed how war among countries destroys the human race physically, mentally, and emotionally. It is beautifully represented through multiple vehicles such as societal defiance, rifts in friendships and relationships, depression, drug abuse, deforming injuries, and even death. There were parts where the descriptive narration ran a bit long, however, do not mistake it for obnoxious fillers. For those were the parts creating the tension needed to catapult a reader's expectations into situations that challenged these characters to show strength and determination.
This book has different narratives from Tom, Mary, Alistair, and Zachary. For the most part, the narratives interchange by changing each chapter. However, there were some chapters that they interchanged by reacting to a certain situation. For example, Mary's insecurities about her relationship with Tom swayed from her despair to Tom's desperation to maintain their relationship and then back to Mary to continue the narration. Although one could find this to be an unwelcome interruption in narration, another could find it to be crucial to discover what the other character's true thoughts were. Personally, I found it to further provide a realistic and human approach to insecurities which are quite normal in any relationship, particularly romantic ones.
For those who may be offended, there are many points in the book where the N-word is used, as well as cigarette smoking by adults and children, drug abuse, sexually suggested scenes (very mild), and violence (it is a book about war, after all).
Please note: This book was generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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the children not deemed fit for evacuation: the poor, the disabled, and those racially different (The N-word was used quite frequently which some, such as myself, may find offensive). Although this is not the situation that she desired when she signed up for war, still she was determined to do her best and it changed her life. It introduced her to Thomas, her boss and eventual lover, as well as to Zachary, her star pupil and my personal favorite character. Thomas lives with his roommate Alistair, who gets deployed to fight in the war fairly early on in the book. Thomas struggles with falling in love with his employee and the insecurities that arise along with that. He also struggles with a guilt for not fighting in combat in the war like Alistair and many other fellow English men. However, we do see him mature through this plot from an insecure man who relies on his roommate for moral support to proving his strength and becoming a selfless man desperate to try to keep the love of his life, Mary.
Alistair is a very witty soldier who moves up in the ranks of the military yet pines for the days before the military became his life. He struggles physically and mentally in the war, yet his sense of humor and friendliness remain unscathed. He returns from war briefly, only to be sent back out and shipped to Malta for combat. In this military transfer, he agreed to a double date with Thomas and Mary, and Mary's best friend, Hilda. This mingling of main characters sparks further altercations and misunderstandings among all four of these characters that carry on through the end of the book.
Zachary is a young boy who loves school with Miss Mary despite his struggles with reading. His father is a performer and a single father who lives at the theater with Zachary. Zachary's character develops into a strong leader who helps fellow children that have also fallen through the cracks due to the war. He demonstrates a keen sense of responsibility at such a young age and a deep respect for Mary despite their racial differences that society was so offended by at the time.
Chris Cleave masterfully created this story with an inspiration from his grandparents. He creatively showed how war among countries destroys the human race physically, mentally, and emotionally. It is beautifully represented through multiple vehicles such as societal defiance, rifts in friendships and relationships, depression, drug abuse, deforming injuries, and even death. There were parts where the descriptive narration ran a bit long, however, do not mistake it for obnoxious fillers. For those were the parts creating the tension needed to catapult a reader's expectations into situations that challenged these characters to show strength and determination.
This book has different narratives from Tom, Mary, Alistair, and Zachary. For the most part, the narratives interchange by changing each chapter. However, there were some chapters that they interchanged by reacting to a certain situation. For example, Mary's insecurities about her relationship with Tom swayed from her despair to Tom's desperation to maintain their relationship and then back to Mary to continue the narration. Although one could find this to be an unwelcome interruption in narration, another could find it to be crucial to discover what the other character's true thoughts were. Personally, I found it to further provide a realistic and human approach to insecurities which are quite normal in any relationship, particularly romantic ones.
For those who may be offended, there are many points in the book where the N-word is used, as well as cigarette smoking by adults and children, drug abuse, sexually suggested scenes (very mild), and violence (it is a book about war, after all).
Please note: This book was generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member iadam
I received a free advance e-copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is an exceptionally well-written novel. It is obvious that the author has spent a great deal of time in research. This is the coming of age story of a young upper class woman living in London during
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WW II. The prejudice against African Americans is heartbreaking and tragic. The author lets the reader experience the tragedies and horrors of war through the eyes of the British soldier and also of those back home in London. We live through the nightly raids, their relationships, loves, losses, grief, and addiction. The banter and witty exchanges between characters lifted my spirits and made me laugh at times. By the end each character has been changed by the war and must find forgiveness and go on with life. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys WW II fiction. This is a keeper. Show Less
LibraryThing member SheTreadsSoftly
Everyone Brave Is Forgiven by Chris Cleave is a very highly recommended novel set during WWII.
It is 1939 and war has been declared. Privileged young socialite, Mary North leaves her Swiss finishing school and signs up to serve. She is assigned to teach at an elementary school. When her charges are
Tom Shaw's roommate, Alistair Heath, has enlisted. He has experienced the war's brutality personally in France. When he comes home on leave before being assigned to Malta, he goes out on a double date with Tom and Mary, and Mary's friend, Hilda. The attraction between Mary and Alistair is immediate, but both of them resist it. Mary remains loyal to Tom, declaring her love.
As the war progresses, the bombing of London begins and the blitz makes no one safe. Alistair goes to Malta, where he faces even more desperate conditions and dangerous encounters. Mary and Hilda both begin to write to Alistair. They also both step up their efforts to assist during the war and personal losses and stress begins to accumulate. Everyone is tested beyond their limits.
I love the title of this book. As it says, everyone brave is forgiven, should be forgiven, as they all try to do the best they can under horrendous, stressful circumstances. Perhaps they don't always do the most laudable thing, but they are all trying to be brave and should be extended grace to forgive any indiscretions or failings. Everyone Brave Is Forgiven is both heartbreaking and hopeful.
Cleave writes in the beginning note to the reader that this story was inspired by the real-life love letters between his grandparents.
The story itself is perhaps one that could be and has been told many different times and ways. What makes this effort stand out is the sheer quality of the writing - it is incredible. I was pulled into the story immediately based on the excellence of the writing. Cleave does an extraordinary, insightful job creating his characters and exploring their innermost emotions and thoughts as they face forces beyond their control and must find a way to survive them. They are not perfect; they have flaws and shortcomings. They are real people experiencing extreme circumstances. At the same time Cleave perfectly captures and describes the setting and the situations the characters find themselves experiencing.
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Simon & Schuster for review purposes.
It is 1939 and war has been declared. Privileged young socialite, Mary North leaves her Swiss finishing school and signs up to serve. She is assigned to teach at an elementary school. When her charges are
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evacuated to the country, she is at loose ends until she meets Tom Shaw, who runs the school district. Mary and Tom begin dating, and he has her set up a classroom for the few children who are brought back to the city. A child she is especially devoted to is Zachary, a 10 year-old black American. Mary fights prejudice, a continuing theme throughout the novel, and tries to bravely help out the war effort.Tom Shaw's roommate, Alistair Heath, has enlisted. He has experienced the war's brutality personally in France. When he comes home on leave before being assigned to Malta, he goes out on a double date with Tom and Mary, and Mary's friend, Hilda. The attraction between Mary and Alistair is immediate, but both of them resist it. Mary remains loyal to Tom, declaring her love.
As the war progresses, the bombing of London begins and the blitz makes no one safe. Alistair goes to Malta, where he faces even more desperate conditions and dangerous encounters. Mary and Hilda both begin to write to Alistair. They also both step up their efforts to assist during the war and personal losses and stress begins to accumulate. Everyone is tested beyond their limits.
I love the title of this book. As it says, everyone brave is forgiven, should be forgiven, as they all try to do the best they can under horrendous, stressful circumstances. Perhaps they don't always do the most laudable thing, but they are all trying to be brave and should be extended grace to forgive any indiscretions or failings. Everyone Brave Is Forgiven is both heartbreaking and hopeful.
Cleave writes in the beginning note to the reader that this story was inspired by the real-life love letters between his grandparents.
The story itself is perhaps one that could be and has been told many different times and ways. What makes this effort stand out is the sheer quality of the writing - it is incredible. I was pulled into the story immediately based on the excellence of the writing. Cleave does an extraordinary, insightful job creating his characters and exploring their innermost emotions and thoughts as they face forces beyond their control and must find a way to survive them. They are not perfect; they have flaws and shortcomings. They are real people experiencing extreme circumstances. At the same time Cleave perfectly captures and describes the setting and the situations the characters find themselves experiencing.
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Simon & Schuster for review purposes.
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LibraryThing member hjvanderklis
Chris Cleave, a multi-award-winning British author, takes his readers back to World War II, September, 1939 until June, 1942 actually. Just when the war was declared, Mary North, dropped out of school and signed up for the War Office for a teacher assignment. Taking care of negro children in London
Mary meanwhile continued doing whatever she can to safeguard the children en survive during the endless German air bombings on London. The plot's full of fine details and motifs. From a jar of jam to be saved, pieces of art, the peculiar micro world of Malta, social justice, fairness to all, including Germans, the violence and deception. The story concludes with restoration of the love couple and forgiveness needed to get both physical and emotional wounds healed, and start over again.
Everyone Brave is Forgiven has a slow start, but gets better over time, really keeping you locked in in the third part.
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is not what is expected from her. She's left alone with the weak and orphaned ones, whereas other children were evacuated to safer places in the countryside. Mary met Alistair, a former Tate conservator, but even before she really could fall in love and kick off courting, he was conscripted and sent to Malta to protect the island from both German and Italian attackers.Mary meanwhile continued doing whatever she can to safeguard the children en survive during the endless German air bombings on London. The plot's full of fine details and motifs. From a jar of jam to be saved, pieces of art, the peculiar micro world of Malta, social justice, fairness to all, including Germans, the violence and deception. The story concludes with restoration of the love couple and forgiveness needed to get both physical and emotional wounds healed, and start over again.
Everyone Brave is Forgiven has a slow start, but gets better over time, really keeping you locked in in the third part.
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LibraryThing member shazjhb
Excellent book. He does not sugar coat war and writes very well on symptoms of post traumatic stress. Interesting issues about blacks.
LibraryThing member MaggieFlo
This book came highly recommended so I was disappointed in the story.
It's a WWII love story which takes place in London while it is being bombed and on the Island of Malta, while it is being blockaded by the Nazis.
The main character are Mary North, Tom Shaw and his best friend Alistair. Mary, the
What I liked about the story was the dialogue between the characters which was quirky, funny and natural. I liked the characters, the descriptions of war torn London and Malta but I found myself skimming through some of the story.
It's a WWII love story which takes place in London while it is being bombed and on the Island of Malta, while it is being blockaded by the Nazis.
The main character are Mary North, Tom Shaw and his best friend Alistair. Mary, the
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only daughter of wealthy Londoners is an extremely independent 18 year old and signs up to become a teacher at the start of the war. Her supervisor is Tom and they eventually become lovers. Once Mary meets Alistair who is on leave from the battle in France, it is love at first sight. Tom is killed in a bombing and Mary begins to correspond with Alistair in Malta. Tragedy, starvation, drug addiction, self doubt dog the two as they wait for each other during the war. When the reunion finally happens, it is a let down as their expectations for their love to have withstood the separation is tested. The reader is not sure if this is the beginning of their romance or the end as both are unsure of their feelings after so much waiting.What I liked about the story was the dialogue between the characters which was quirky, funny and natural. I liked the characters, the descriptions of war torn London and Malta but I found myself skimming through some of the story.
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LibraryThing member brangwinn
World War II has been the setting for two of my favorite books. All the Light We Cannot See (Doerr) and The Nightingale (Hannah). And now here comes another one, this time set in wartime London. When Mary leaves finishing school, she finds out her volunteer assignment, that of a school teacher in
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London and this leads to love with two men from less wealthy backgrounds. To me the basis of this story, the love letters of the author’s grandparents, makes this story into real historical fiction. Show Less
LibraryThing member pegmcdaniel
Thanks to the publisher, Simon & Schuster, via NetGalley, for the digital ARC. I appreciate it and am happy to review it.
The setting is 1939 in London at the start of World War II, moving on to Malta as the story progresses. It's historical fiction by a very talented author who based part of the
I've heard the expression "war is hell" and this touching novel proves that it's true. From the tragedies of the London Blitz and the air-raid shelters to the Siege of Malta, the horrors of war are evident. Some of it was hard for me to read but, having read numerous other accounts of the war, I know it's what really happened not only in London and Malta, but in other countries as well.
There is not only war in this novel but a tender love story, memorable characters, and side stories that all come together to make this a highly recommended novel. 5 Stars!
The setting is 1939 in London at the start of World War II, moving on to Malta as the story progresses. It's historical fiction by a very talented author who based part of the
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novel on his grandfather's memories from serving in Malta during the war. It's obvious from the detailing that considerable research was done as well.I've heard the expression "war is hell" and this touching novel proves that it's true. From the tragedies of the London Blitz and the air-raid shelters to the Siege of Malta, the horrors of war are evident. Some of it was hard for me to read but, having read numerous other accounts of the war, I know it's what really happened not only in London and Malta, but in other countries as well.
There is not only war in this novel but a tender love story, memorable characters, and side stories that all come together to make this a highly recommended novel. 5 Stars!
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LibraryThing member 2wonderY
Wow! Powerful story and masterfully told. The characters are smart and engaging. And then even more important, Cleave is able to delineate their inner lives, their doubts and confusions. His description of Alistair's military experiences, using them at the same time to expose their flashback
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qualities when he is in other circumstances is brilliant. Show Less
LibraryThing member ecw0647
Let me begin by saying that Cleave is a very good writer. He has a facility with metaphors, similes and images that is quite startling. I just found the plot (was there one?) to be worse than thin. You can read elsewhere what purports to happen, I’ll just note that it follows several characters
Some things just didn’t ring true. The racism experienced by Zachary brought South Carolina to mind, not pre-war England, there just weren’t that many blacks around, let alone American blacks. and I suspect that a black child moved to the country to escape the bombing would have been seen more as a curiosity rather than an object to be bullied.
Note that I was in the distinct minority in our reading club.
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as they experience the first couple years of WW II in Britain and Malta. Some things just didn’t ring true. The racism experienced by Zachary brought South Carolina to mind, not pre-war England, there just weren’t that many blacks around, let alone American blacks. and I suspect that a black child moved to the country to escape the bombing would have been seen more as a curiosity rather than an object to be bullied.
Note that I was in the distinct minority in our reading club.
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LibraryThing member jjaylynny
Whew. Read this book. That is all.
Everyone brave is forgiven.
Everyone forgiven is brave.
I do love that. This is a story based on a love story, about love and not love, war, race, hatred and its enduring place in the world. I learned things, too, and that is always a good thing, about minstrelry in
Everyone brave is forgiven.
Everyone forgiven is brave.
I do love that. This is a story based on a love story, about love and not love, war, race, hatred and its enduring place in the world. I learned things, too, and that is always a good thing, about minstrelry in
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London, about the Blitz, about Malta, where I always thought of sun and learned about starvation. Show Less
LibraryThing member DubaiReader
Evocative of WWII.
I have read all of Chris Cleave's books but I'm afraid this was the one I enjoyed the least. The rest of my book group thoroughly enjoyed it and one member came armed with all the wonderful quotes that had appealed to her, but it didn't excite me.
I have procrastinated with this
We were lucky to meet Chris Cleave at our Literary festival and it was fascinating to hear how he had drawn from his grandfather's experiences during WWII, when he was stationed in Malta, some of which he used in the narrative.
I loved the vibrant character of Mary; she is from a wealthy family but throws herself into the war effort. She had fancied herself as a spy but takes on the role of teacher with enthusiasm. Her students end up being the children rejected from the country evacuations - children with disabilities and colour.
The two other main characters were her boss, Tom, an administrator in education, and his artistic friend, Alistair. Neither of these characters interested me as much as Mary, but both of them play an important part in her life.
There is also a side story around one of Mary's pupils, Zach, a black boy whose father is a minstrel in the Minstrel Show in London. Zach is one of the children rejected from the countryside, probably dyslexic, and Mary develops a special fondness for him.
Judging from the reactions of my friends I would highly recommend this book, don't take any notice of my views, I was definitely in the minority :)
Previously read:
Little Bee (The Other Hand) - 4 stars
Incendiary - 5 stars
Gold - 4 starsI have read all of Chris Cleave's books but I'm afraid this was the one I enjoyed the least. The rest of my book group thoroughly enjoyed it and one member came armed with all the wonderful quotes that had appealed to her, but it didn't excite me.
I have procrastinated with this review because I'm not exactly sure what it was about the book that dropped it to three (and a half) stars. A lot happens, and I'm wondering if I found the transitions a bit chunky. The flow of a book is always very important to me. I also related to some of the characters more than others, which could have affected my response.
We were lucky to meet Chris Cleave at our Literary festival and it was fascinating to hear how he had drawn from his grandfather's experiences during WWII, when he was stationed in Malta, some of which he used in the narrative.
I loved the vibrant character of Mary; she is from a wealthy family but throws herself into the war effort. She had fancied herself as a spy but takes on the role of teacher with enthusiasm. Her students end up being the children rejected from the country evacuations - children with disabilities and colour.
The two other main characters were her boss, Tom, an administrator in education, and his artistic friend, Alistair. Neither of these characters interested me as much as Mary, but both of them play an important part in her life.
There is also a side story around one of Mary's pupils, Zach, a black boy whose father is a minstrel in the Minstrel Show in London. Zach is one of the children rejected from the countryside, probably dyslexic, and Mary develops a special fondness for him.
Judging from the reactions of my friends I would highly recommend this book, don't take any notice of my views, I was definitely in the minority :)
Previously read:
Little Bee (The Other Hand) - 4 stars
Incendiary - 5 stars
Gold - 4 stars
I have read all of Chris Cleave's books but I'm afraid this was the one I enjoyed the least. The rest of my book group thoroughly enjoyed it and one member came armed with all the wonderful quotes that had appealed to her, but it didn't excite me.
I have procrastinated with this
Show More
review because I'm not exactly sure what it was about the book that dropped it to three and a half stars. A lot happens, and I'm wondering if I found the transitions a bit chunky. The flow of a book is always very important to me. I also related to some of the characters more than others, which could have affected my response.We were lucky to meet Chris Cleave at our Literary festival and it was fascinating to hear how he had drawn from his grandfather's experiences during WWII, when he was stationed in Malta, some of which he used in the narrative.
I loved the vibrant character of Mary; she is from a wealthy family but throws herself into the war effort. She had fancied herself as a spy but takes on the role of teacher with enthusiasm. Her students end up being the children rejected from the country evacuations - children with disabilities and colour.
The two other main characters were her boss, Tom, an administrator in education, and his artistic friend, Alistair. Neither of these characters interested me as much as Mary, but both of them play an important part in her life.
There is also a side story around one of Mary's pupils, Zach, a black boy whose father is a minstrel in the Minstrel Show in London. Zach is one of the children rejected from the countryside, probably dyslexic, and Mary develops a special fondness for him.
Judging from the reactions of my friends I would highly recommend this book, don't take any notice of my views, I was definitely in the minority :)
Previously read:
Little Bee (The Other Hand) - 4 stars
Incendiary - 5 stars
Gold - 4 starsI have read all of Chris Cleave's books but I'm afraid this was the one I enjoyed the least. The rest of my book group thoroughly enjoyed it and one member came armed with all the wonderful quotes that had appealed to her, but it didn't excite me.
I have procrastinated with this review because I'm not exactly sure what it was about the book that dropped it to three (and a half) stars. A lot happens, and I'm wondering if I found the transitions a bit chunky. The flow of a book is always very important to me. I also related to some of the characters more than others, which could have affected my response.
We were lucky to meet Chris Cleave at our Literary festival and it was fascinating to hear how he had drawn from his grandfather's experiences during WWII, when he was stationed in Malta, some of which he used in the narrative.
I loved the vibrant character of Mary; she is from a wealthy family but throws herself into the war effort. She had fancied herself as a spy but takes on the role of teacher with enthusiasm. Her students end up being the children rejected from the country evacuations - children with disabilities and colour.
The two other main characters were her boss, Tom, an administrator in education, and his artistic friend, Alistair. Neither of these characters interested me as much as Mary, but both of them play an important part in her life.
There is also a side story around one of Mary's pupils, Zach, a black boy whose father is a minstrel in the Minstrel Show in London. Zach is one of the children rejected from the countryside, probably dyslexic, and Mary develops a special fondness for him.
Judging from the reactions of my friends I would highly recommend this book, don't take any notice of my views, I was definitely in the minority :)
Previously read:
Little Bee (The Other Hand) - 4 stars
Incendiary - 5 stars
Gold - 4 stars
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LibraryThing member mmoj
I received this book from Reading with Robin and Simon & Schuster.
Mary is an idealistic 18 year old girl who believes she has been called to be a teacher merely as subterfuge for the real job the War Office wants her to do which is to be a spy or something equally as exotic & heroic. They surely
I can't say more because if I start I'll not be able to shut up and will give the story away. Let me say instead this is one of the best books I've read. What I love about Chris Cleave's books is he makes me feel what the characters feel and makes me able to hear the characters voices so clearly. In this book I felt my self in London during the bombings, I found myself gripping my seat and holding my breath hoping the bombs weren't going to hit. I laughed, cried and was utterly caught up in Mary's life in London and Alistair's in the war. It was a shock when I quit reading and I was back in my safe, comfortable house. I know this story will stay with me for a long time.
Mary is an idealistic 18 year old girl who believes she has been called to be a teacher merely as subterfuge for the real job the War Office wants her to do which is to be a spy or something equally as exotic & heroic. They surely
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can't mean that she'll be doing something as mundane as teaching. But that is her job. And it's related to her teaching job that she meets two men, Tom and Alistair who are best friends. I can't say more because if I start I'll not be able to shut up and will give the story away. Let me say instead this is one of the best books I've read. What I love about Chris Cleave's books is he makes me feel what the characters feel and makes me able to hear the characters voices so clearly. In this book I felt my self in London during the bombings, I found myself gripping my seat and holding my breath hoping the bombs weren't going to hit. I laughed, cried and was utterly caught up in Mary's life in London and Alistair's in the war. It was a shock when I quit reading and I was back in my safe, comfortable house. I know this story will stay with me for a long time.
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LibraryThing member nicx27
Having been a big fan of Chris Cleave's previous work, particularly the wonderfully moving Incendiary, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book, his new one set during WWII. It tells the story of a young women named Mary North who is desperate to do her bit during the war. She finds herself
The book got off to a slow start for me and had many ups and downs in terms of its appeal. It's billed as a sweeping epic and it does fit the bill but it was a bit dry in places and over-worded and I didn't feel as much for the characters as I would have liked. However, there are some brilliant sections and the quality of the writing is still fantastic. Whilst I liked parts of this book, I didn't enjoy it overall as much as any of his other books, despite a wartime setting which always appeals and interests me. I look forward to seeing what Cleave comes up with next as all of his books are different.
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dropped into the world of teaching which wasn't quite what she was expecting but she does meet Tom Shaw, who decides that fighting isn't for him and also Tom's friend, Alistair who decides the opposite and joins up straightaway. The book got off to a slow start for me and had many ups and downs in terms of its appeal. It's billed as a sweeping epic and it does fit the bill but it was a bit dry in places and over-worded and I didn't feel as much for the characters as I would have liked. However, there are some brilliant sections and the quality of the writing is still fantastic. Whilst I liked parts of this book, I didn't enjoy it overall as much as any of his other books, despite a wartime setting which always appeals and interests me. I look forward to seeing what Cleave comes up with next as all of his books are different.
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LibraryThing member Fliss88
I found the writing of Chris Cleave very moving and unforgettable! He writes with a rare skill that allowed me to easily empathise with his characters, laugh with them, marvel at their courage and yet fear for their lives all at the same time. I found the story compulsive reading and there's one
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passage in the second half of the book that I found so perfectly written, so emotionally charged, I doubt a well directed movie could have added any more suspense to the moment, I had to put the book down and walk away! The historical setting is London during the Blitz and the island of Malta during a two year siege that saw it nearly bombed out of existence. As beautiful as Cleave's writing is, at times he pulled me up, unable to continue reading, with his descriptions of the violence that happened during the war, but here too, his skill as a writer caught me unawares. It was like riding my pushbike around a corner only to discover a huge pothole that I hadn't a hope of missing, leaving me dumped, shaken and a little bruised. As I've said, a rare skill from this author who took my emotions firmly in his hands and ran with them. Show Less
LibraryThing member etxgardener
The British homefront during World War II, has always fascinated me, and this book, based on the author's grandparents' own wartime love story, is an excellent entry into the books written about that time period.
Mary North is a young, upper middle class girl who runs away from her finishing school
Unfortunately, the job Mary is assigned to is that of a school teacher. In that capacity, she meets Tom Shaw, a young man who is trying to avoid military service. Tome and Mary fall into wartime love.
When Tom's friend, Alistair Heath, comes home on leave Mary and time try to set him up with Hilda. However, Mary and Alistair take one look st each other and unwelcome lightning strikes.
How these four people navigate their way through the first three years of the war is a tale of bravery, loyalty and loss that seems very real to the reader. the characters don't always act in the most admirable manner, but it's wartime and as the title says, everyone brave is forgiven.
Mary North is a young, upper middle class girl who runs away from her finishing school
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as soon as war is declared in the hopes of landing a glamorous wartime assignment - preferably as a spy. Her friend, Hilda is also looking for something glamorous to do - preferably in order to meet an interesting man.Unfortunately, the job Mary is assigned to is that of a school teacher. In that capacity, she meets Tom Shaw, a young man who is trying to avoid military service. Tome and Mary fall into wartime love.
When Tom's friend, Alistair Heath, comes home on leave Mary and time try to set him up with Hilda. However, Mary and Alistair take one look st each other and unwelcome lightning strikes.
How these four people navigate their way through the first three years of the war is a tale of bravery, loyalty and loss that seems very real to the reader. the characters don't always act in the most admirable manner, but it's wartime and as the title says, everyone brave is forgiven.
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Awards
Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award (Winner — 2017)
Language
Original publication date
2016-04
ISBN
9781501124372