The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

re-posting review as this book is being released tomorrow!

In 1940, the US had not yet entered the war in Europe. Frankie Bard, the radio gal, reports from London, alongside Edward R Murrow. Among those listening are residents of Franklin, a small town on Cape Cod. Iris is the postmistress in Franklin and takes her job very seriously. Harry is the man she is in love with. Harry thinks that Germany is planning to invade the US and is on the lookout for German U-boats and thinks the flagpole from the post office sets Franklin up to be a target. Will is the local physician and Emma is his new bride.

Frankie feels that the real story is not being reported on; nothing is being said about Jews being forced to leave their homes. Her journalist friend, Harriet, receives letters from Jewish relatives telling her some of what is going on. Then Harriet is killed during one of the bombing raids from the Nazis and Frankie tries to find ways to tell their stories.

Back in Franklin, Will loses a mother during childbirth, and after listening to Frankie on the radio, decides he can be more help working in hospitals in London. Emma thinks he is going out of guilt for something that wasn't his fault, but she lets him go. And doesn't tell him that she is pregnant. Will asks Iris to hold a letter for him, to give to Emma if he is killed, knowing Iris will watch over her.

Several months later, Iris is sorting the mail and does something she considers unthinkable. She opens a letter, reads it, and decides not to send it on.
Back in London, Frankie gets permission to go to France and rides the trains recording the stories of the various people fleeing Germany and France.

Frankie's journey eventually leads her to Franklin, with a letter in her pocket that she has vowed to deliver.

I really enjoyed this novel; it was so beautifully written and very moving. Though the author really focuses on these central characters, she still manages to give a broad perspective of the war.
Frankie meets people on the train but once they get off their stories are left unfinished. But it is more poignant for the fact that the reader knows what happened to many of these people. We feel the fear and uncertainty of Americans worried that their sons will be sent off to war, and their limited knowledge of what is happening to the Jews in Europe.
Her characters are thoughtful and unforgettable and come together in ways that people touched by war and tragedy are bound to. I also enjoyed the addition of Murrow, giving some historical perspective.  Blake's chronicle moves from Franklin to London and the trains of Europe and kept me very engrossed and I strongly recommend it.

I read this book courtesy of B&N's First Look Book Club

my rating 4.5/5

*

Product Details

• Pub. Date: February 09, 2010
• Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
• Format: Hardcover, 336pp

What Are You Reading Monday

A book meme from J.Kaye  Book Blog!
Last Week: 
I finished- Homicide in Hardover by Kate Carlise,  
Bookmarked for Death by Lorna Barrett, and  
Through the Grinder by Cleo Coyle (I was in a cozy mystery mood)

I continued Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova and Last Night in Twisted River by John Irving
I started  If Books Could Kill by Kare Carlisle

I plan to finish up those three this week and start An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England by Brock Clarke

Happy Reading!!

Cozy Mystery Saturday: Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett (Booktown Mysteries)

 

 Tricia Miles is the proprietor of Haven't Got a Clue, one of the many bookstores in Stoneham, New Hampshire.  Doris Gleason is her not so friendly neighbor, who owns The Cookery next door. When Tricia finds her dead body and a rare cookbook stolen, she is the prime suspect. It doesn't help that for some reason the local sheriff, Wendy Adams is determined to pin this murder on Tricia and won't even consider other suspects. That leaves Tricia to clear her own name and start investigating suspects herself, while dealing with the fact the her older sister, Angelica has come for an unexpected visit and wants to make it permanent. Then there is an accident that may not have been an accident. All this in a town that hasn't seen a murder in sisty years.

my review: What could be more fun than a mystery with books?! Murder is Binding is a fun, engaging mystery with colorful characters, enough that I wasn't sure who the killer was. I also liked the idea of a town with so many bookstores as a tourist attraction. I wish I lived there. Angelica is a hoot, she's annoying at times, but protective of Tricia and an amazing cook.
There are lots of references to classic mystery authors. Tricia's cat is named Miss Marple.
This was a quick read, though the ebook formatting was not very good, but that is usually what happens with some of these lighter reads. And there were some delicious sounding recipes at the end.
I look forward to reading the next in the series, Bookmarked For Death.

rating 4/5
reread want to read rest of series first
recommend- for any cozy mystery fans

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Berkley
• (April 1, 2008)

The White Queen by Philippa Gregory

 

Brother turns on brother to win the ultimate prize, the throne of England, in this dazzling account of the wars of the Plantagenets. They are the claimants and kings who ruled England before the Tudors, and now Philippa Gregory brings them to life through the dramatic and intimate stories of the secret players: the indomitable women, starting with Elizabeth Woodville, the White Queen.
The White Queen tells the story of a woman of extraordinary beauty and ambition who, catching the eye of the newly crowned boy king, marries him in secret and ascends to royalty. While Elizabeth rises to the demands of her exalted position and fights for the success of her family, her two sons become central figures in a mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the missing princes in the Tower of London whose fate is still unknown. From her uniquely qualified perspective, Philippa Gregory explores this most famous unsolved mystery of English history, informed by impeccable research and framed by her inimitable storytelling skills. 

my review: I feel bad for The White Queen having to follow my reading of Wolf Hall; that's a hard act to follow and it did not do well.
Though I'm familiar with this part of English history, I had not read anything specifically with this period. I'm not sure what Gregory's intention was but I felt Elizabeth Woodville came off as quite unsympathetic. How easily she switches from a Lancaster to a York and moves her family to prominence, making enemies along the way. She really put her ambitions before her children. And what is with having one son from a first marriage named Richard and then having a son by the king and naming him Richard? Of course I know there were only about 5 names used at that time, but that annoyed me.
Gregory also choose to play up the witchcraft accusations that were levied against Elizabeth by Richard III when declaring her marriage to King Edward invalid. However she did not do this in a very subtle manner and  that was a bit of a turn off for me. And the curse that Elizabeth puts on the killers of the missing princes, covers a couple possible suspects. Did Henry VII have them killed and that is why his oldest son died before ascending to the throne? Or is that why the son of Richard III died, ending his line? It was a bit of a silly way do deal with a fascinating historical mystery.

On the other hand, this was a quick read and rather engaging for some of it's faults. But I don't think I will be reading the second in this saga. It just didn't have enough depth for me.

rating 2.5/5
reread nope
recommend not really

Whip It on DVD

 

I just watched this movie this weekend and loved it! I have been a fan of Ellen Page since I saw her amazing performance in Hard Candy. Of course, I loved her in Juno, too.

She is back with a Drew Barrymore directed film (I LOVE Drew) as Bliss, a small-town Texas girl who's mom, played by Marcia Gay Harden, another fabulous actress, wants Bliss to win beauty pageants. But Bliss goes to see a roller derby competition in Austin and is hooked. She tries out and makes the Hurl Scouts team. Jimmy Fallon is funny as the roller derby MC.

Bliss has to sneak behind her parents back to go to practice and to compete. Meanwhile she falls for a guy in a local band.

Ellen Page is great as Bliss aka Babe Ruthless, a teen who doesn't quite fit in with her other classmates. The scenes where she is practicing in her Barbie skates are hysterical. Drew Barrymore plays one of the skaters and is funny as ever.  Juliette Lewis plays, Iron Maiden, Bliss' biggest competitor.

The best thing is, I finally understand some of the rules of roller derby! I love the names and the violence, it totally rocks! 

I think that if you liked Juno, then you would like this movie. It's offbeat and and touching and funny.

rating 4.5/5

replay yup

recommend absolutely