Review: The Geometry of Holding Hands

Title:The Geometry of Holding Hands 

Author: Alexander McCall Smith

Publisher: 28th July 2020 by Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group Pantheon

Pages: 304 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: contemporary, fiction, philosophy

My Rating: 3.5 cups

Synopsis:

Isabel Dalhousie applies her moral philosopher's mind to wrongdoings in Edinburgh, and will have to call upon her powers of deduction and her unflappable moral code to unravel another social mystery in the new novel from the bestselling author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.

Isabel Dalhousie finds herself entangled in some tricky familial and financial situations that will require all of her kindness, charm and philosophical expertise to navigate.

Just when Isabel and Jamie finally seem to have some time to connect and unwind, a wealthy

Edinburgh resident reaches out to Isabel with an unusual request--he would like her to become

the executor of his large Highland estate. Though Isabel initially demurs, he presses on. He has only a short time to live and, without any direct heirs, is struggling to determine which of his three cousins would be the best caretaker. Should the estate go to the bohemian artist, the savvy city property developer, or the quiet, unassuming bachelor?

And if this weren't enough to keep Isabel occupied, she's also spending more time helping her niece, Cat, at the deli. Cat, perennially unlucky in love, appears to have finally found her match in the leonine Leo. But Isabel is beginning to suspect that Leo might be interested in more than Cat's charms--namely, her access to the family trust. Isabel will need to rely upon her remarkable reserves of intelligence and compassion in order to give all parties exactly what they want and deserve--no more and no less.

My Thoughts

‘The happiness of others was often inexplicable. People got by; people sought different things; they felt their way through the accidental circumstances of their lives. They snatched at small scraps of happiness which, sometimes to the surprise of others, were enough.’

Alexander McCall Smith could write on a serviette and I would pay to read it - it’s pure and it’s simple. I have read some but not all the 'Isabel Dalhousie' series (this volume is number 13) but luckily they can be read as a standalone. These are quick and easy reads that satiate my wish for Alexander’s writing - a quiet, reflective escape to consider life with a cup of tea in hand. For you see, Isabel being the philosopher she is, often finds herself contemplating various everyday ethical issues that, in turn, encourage the reader to do likewise.   

“Things happen,” he said. “We don’t like all of them.” Isabel reflected that sometimes she liked very little of what was happening in the world. “But you have to accept things,” Jamie insisted. He remembered Isabel saying something about the Stoics and acceptance. “Didn’t the Stoics say, ‘Accept what you can’t influence or change’?”

On this occasion her life is increasingly getting busier with two small children and still editor of an Ethics Journal. There are always a couple of issues in each book and it is Isabel’s rumination on each of them that I find so appealing. This is why I love Alexander’s writing - he can take something so simple and ponder the case from all sides - he gives voice, through Isabel’s musings, of wider world issues. Add to this a delightful few days in the celebrated city of Edinburgh and there is much to endear these books. 

‘Perhaps it was only a prolonged education, coupled with the security it brought, that encouraged nuanced thinking. Isabel sometimes wondered whether liberalism was most enthusiastically practised by those who could afford it: you could be generous to others if the likelihood of your ever wanting for anything was remote; you could be kind to asylum seekers if they would never take up resources you would need yourself; you could be tolerant of crime if there was not much of it in your neighbourhood. And so on...’

Much like the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series which I simply adore, The Geometry of Holding Hands has some quirky characters, everyday angst and deliberations to reflect upon over a cup of tea. It’s whimsical and fun, light and easy. Not a bad thing in these uncertain days to lose yourself for a short while.

‘Three figures, in a typical Celtic circle, held hands with one another, arms in a complicated pattern of intermingling. “I love that,” he said. “I think it says everything there is to be said about helping one another and loving one another and being part of . . . well, I suppose being part of something bigger than oneself.” Isabel looked. “The geometry of holding hands,” she said.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: The Bird in the Bamboo Cage

Title: The Bird in the Bamboo Cage

Author: Hazel Gaynor

Publisher: 2nd September 2020 by HarperCollins Australia

Pages: 380 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: women’s fiction, historical fiction, WWII

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

When war imprisons them, only kindness will free them…

China, 1941. Elspeth Kent has fled an unhappy life in England for a teaching post at a missionary school in northern China. But when Japan declares war on the Allies and occupies the school, security and home comforts are replaced by privation, uncertainty and fear.

For ten-year-old Nancy Plummer and her school friends, now separated from their parents indefinitely, Miss Kent’s new Girl Guide patrol provides a precious reminder of home in a land where they are now the enemy.

Elspeth and her fellow teachers, and Nancy and her friends, need courage, friendship and fortitude as they pray for liberation. But worse is to come. Removed from the school, they face even greater uncertainty and danger at a Japanese internment camp, where cruelty and punishment reign. 

Inspired by true events, this is an unforgettable read about a remarkable community faced with unimaginable hardship, and the life-changing bonds formed in a distant corner of a terrible war.

My Thoughts

‘You see, our war wasn’t one of battles and bombs. Ours was a war of everyday struggles; of hope versus despair, of courage against fear, strength over frailty.’

Every now and again a special book comes along that truly moves you and lingers long after the last page is turned. The Bird in the Bamboo Cage is one such book. Hazel has created a tale that transports her readers to living the life of those in the Chefoo Missionary School for foreigners on China’s eastern coast in Shandong during WW2. 

This is an amazing read as it will open your eyes to an aspect of WW2 not often portrayed in literature. As the teachers and students get caught up in the fallout from the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbour, so will you. Hazel explains both the fact and fiction of her story - as some parts are real and some are imagined in her ‘Author’s Note’. It was the inspired by a similar real life experience that, once having come across these voices from the past, they cried out to Hazel to be told. Intertwine the inclusion of Brownies/Girl Guides (something of which I was both a member of and memories came flooding back) and it combines beautifully for a rich and emotional reading experience.

‘I held my breath. What was I thinking, coming out here, putting myself, and others, in danger? This wasn’t a game, or a spy novel. It was real life, and we were only school teachers who didn’t know the first thing about war.’    

The story is told through the alternating voices of Elspeth the teacher and Nancy the student. This way you see these life changing events from both an adult and child perspective - very clever. There is also a range of other critical characters that will engage you as the Japanese military control firstly their school and then send them to an internment camp. These brave adults and children literally leap off the page making the story unforgettable in both the hardships and courage that are displayed on a regular basis. It is clear the detailed research Hazel has undertaken that brings both realism and authenticity to this tale. 

‘As I closed the door and walked to my bedroom, it dawned on me that perhaps this was why I’d come to China; why life had led me here, at this time of war and great uncertainty. I was here to step into the shoes of all the absent parents. I was here to watch over these temporary orphans of war. I was here to become the mother I always hoped I’d be.’

When detention/internment camps are written about, it ordinarily would involve sending English children to the countryside or the Jewish ghettos in Europe. To have this fresh focus of Westerners in China, under Japanese rule, is really so very unique. The children of either diplomats or missionaries bring a whole other perspective with separation issues to name but one. Therefore it is the multiple aspects of setting, story, characterisation and plot that bring heartbreak and loss, lives permanently and forever changed due to the occupation and experiences they endured. 

I admit it, towards the end there was a definite tear in my eye. I encourage you to read this compelling tale that regales the incredible experiences - both frightening and momentous - that will remain in your mind for some time. 

"‘They’ll never forget, Minnie, whether they write it down or not. War and internment are part of their lives now; part of their story, part of who they are.’ I put my pencil down and closed the exercise book. ‘I actually think life is meant to have its share of difficulty and struggle. That’s when we find out who we really are, what we’re really made of, not when everything’s  going along all jolly and straightforward and terribly nice. We come alive in the dramatic bits, don’t we; in the moments that make us gasp and cry.’     

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: The Mystery Woman

Title: The Mystery Woman

Author: Belinda Alexandra

Publisher: 2nd September 2020 by HarperCollins AU

Pages: 420 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: women’s fiction, mystery, historical fiction 

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

In a small town, everyone is watching ... Secrets, scandal and betrayal in 1950s small town Australia: the stunning new novel from bestseller Belinda Alexandra She had thought Shipwreck Bay was simply a remote town where people were bored senseless with their little lives. Now she saw its virtuous facade hid something darker, more sinister.

Rebecca Wood takes the role as postmistress in a sleepy seaside town, desperate for anonymity after a scandal in Sydney. But she is confronted almost at once by a disturbing discovery - her predecessor committed suicide.

To add to her worries, her hopes for a quiet life are soon threatened by the attentions of the dashing local doctor, the unsettling presence of a violent whaling captain and a corrupt shire secretary, as well as the watchful eyes of the town's gossips. Yet in spite of herself she is drawn to the enigmatic resident of the house on the clifftop, rumoured to have been a Nazi spy.

Against the backdrop of the turbulent sea, Rebecca is soon caught up in the dangerous mysteries that lie behind Shipwreck Bay's respectable net curtains.

My Thoughts

In her latest offering, Belinda has stepped away from her sweeping sagas of the past and moved in a new direction. I like it! A definite change in pace and approach, The Mystery Woman had me glued to the pages to the very end. Belinda describes it as a ‘Modern Australian Gothic Romance’ and I have to agree. This had all the necessary elements to make for an atmospheric and suspenseful read. 

‘She was living two parallel lives - one as a postmistress gradually finding her place in the town, and the other as a hunted animal that was about to be devoured by the beast of the press.’ 

This time Belinda takes us to coastal rural Australia of the 1950s. She dives deep into the themes of the social etiquette of the day with a strong female lead trapped in small town life. Can the outcast become the heroine? Viewed with our 21st century eyes, we cannot help but cringe at the domestic expectations clashing against the need for female voices to be heard. Can Rebecca transform herself and start anew or will she forever be trapped in thinking her happiness lies in curtailing her intelligence and aspirations. And at what cost? With strong themes of domestic violence, Belinda takes her readers on an unforgettable journey. With shades of Daphne du Maurier’s 1938 classic Gothic novel, ‘Rebecca’, this 1950’s Rebecca has much to contend with as double standards are running rampant. 

‘It was ironic that she should have been assigned to this coastal town when there were dozens of inland centres equally in need of her services. Perhaps it was fate. Perhaps a divine reminder of mistakes made that could never be forgiven.’

Added to this is a range of secondary characters who, likewise, have their own secrets and mysteries. In some ways, it would appear the whole town has something to hide behind their community/domestic blissful facade. From political corruption, to town gossip, to psychological manipulation, the cast of characters is rich and engaging. You may get a solid idea of how this will all play out, but does this take away from the story? Not in the least, in fact, it will have you scrambling as if watching an old black and white thriller movie with your hand drawn to your face and viewing only through the slight crack in your fingers. 

It would be remiss of me not to mention Belinda’s outstanding incorporation of the whole whale hunting aspect of the story. This is the 1950s when whaling was an important primary industry and cruelty and conservation were yet to be heard, let alone considered above the economic considerations of the day. Belinda seamlessly gives this added dimension to a story already rolling in rich societal commentary.

‘She found herself inches away from the barnacled chin and wide mouth of the creature. It turned slightly, and she and the whale looked into each other’s eyes. It stirred in her a sense of the ancient and the mysterious. Then the whale propelled itself higher. For a brief moment her heart stopped as she feared that the whale was about to upend the boat. But it rolled on its side, missing the boat and smacking the surface of the water with its flipper. Rebecca watched it glide down deeper into the blue, awestruck by its majesty.’

I was completely engaged and totally in love with the new direction Belinda’s writing took. There is so much to consider and reflect upon and as the suspense builds and the mystery unfolds. You too will be swept away to Shipwreck Bay, connecting, supporting and cheering for Rebecca as she seeks to make a stand. 

‘She disappeared somewhere inside herself, wondering what it might have been like to be a normal woman. Not a woman with a past, not a woman who had made terrible decisions, not a woman whose passions were about to destroy her.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: The Little Teashop in Tokyo

Title: The Little Teashop in Tokyo

Author: Julie Caplin

Publisher: 11th June 2020 by HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter

Pages: 400 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: women’s fiction, romance

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

Grab your passport and escape to the land of dazzling skycrapers, steaming bowls of comforting noodles, and a page-turning love story that will make you swoon!

For travel blogger Fiona, Japan has always been top of her bucket list so when she wins an all-expenses paid trip, it looks like her dreams of the Far East are coming true.

Until she arrives in vibrant, neon-drenched Tokyo and comes face-to-face with the man who broke her heart ten years ago, gorgeous photographer Gabe.

Fiona can’t help but remember the heartache of their last meeting but it’s not long before the Japanese art of contentment and a special, traditional tea ceremony work their magic…

Amidst the temples and clouds of soft pink cherry blossoms, Fiona and Gabe start to see life – and each other – differently.

My Thoughts

‘Wabi Sabi,’ murmured Haruka. ‘It is part of Japanese culture. It is an appreciation of things that aren’t perfect or finished, and that is their attraction. It’s accepting the value of things–an old pot, an old person–and understanding that those things have wisdom, that they have seen things.’

This book has a lot going for it - it had me at tea and travel!  There is something for everyone - travel, photography and romance - an all up winning combination. With an inviting cover and all set in Japan - a culture with so much to appreciate - I very much enjoyed this armchair travel.

‘It’s a country of contrasts: flash, modern, innovative, ridiculously neon and technological, all of which resides alongside a deep appreciation and respect for art, culture, and tradition. I’ve never lived anywhere quite like it before.’

Firstly, let’s focus on Japan - the writer has certainly done her homework and during these COVID days, provided her readers with some much wished for armchair travel. The sights, sounds and smells are vibrant and leap off the page. It could have read like a travelogue, but no, I found myself soaking up every detail of both the varied modern and traditional sites in this special destination - not to mention staying in a traditional Japanese tea shop!

‘There was a soothing quiet as all three women savoured their tea, and the comforting warmth of the china clasped between her hands made her feel grounded and somehow connected to the other two women.’

Tied in with this is Julie’s writing. I feel she has truly captured the essence of some special traditions in Japanese culture. The philosophy is cleverly weaved throughout and there are some definite pearls of wisdom for both the reader and the characters alike. Speaking of characters, there are many engaging ones to be found in this tale - from the traditional family to the main British female lead with her journey of discovery - both internal and external. The romance is front and centre, however, I am grateful that this was not the sole focus of this read. 

“... you face things. No matter how difficult, you try. You do new things. You challenge yourself, even though you don’t think of yourself as bold. You are my kintsugi, the golden glue that healed this jaded, cynical idiot and made him believe in love again.”

A final component of this story worth mentioning is the inclusion of photography as both a passionate hobby and serious business. I appreciated the appraisal of light, focus and natural natural moments captured in time. I was definitely Googling some of the locations to try and gain an awareness of where Fiona was trying to stand to take certain photos. 

‘... photography was capturing that one moment in time that might never happen again.’

All up this is a most engaging read on a number of topics. If you find yourself longing for some quality escapism, take the time to spend these couple of weeks in Japan as detailed in The Little Teashop in Tokyo - you won’t be disappointed. 

‘I’ve barely scratched the surface. Every time I talk to Setsuko or Haruka they tell me something fascinating about the philosophy or the culture of the country. There’s so much… it’s an amazing place.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: The Women's Page

Title: The Women's Page

Author: Victoria Purman

Publisher: 2nd September 2020 by Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA

Pages: 352 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: historical fiction, women’s fiction, 

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

From the bestselling author of The Land Girls comes a beautifully realised novel that speaks to the true history and real experiences of post-war Australian women.

Sydney 1945 The war is over, the fight begins.

The war is over and so are the jobs (and freedoms) of tens of thousands of Australian women. The armaments factories are making washing machines instead of bullets and war correspondent Tilly Galloway has hung up her uniform and been forced to work on the women's pages of her newspaper - the only job available to her - where she struggles to write advice on fashion and make-up.

As Sydney swells with returning servicemen and the city bustles back to post-war life, Tilly finds her world is anything but normal. As she desperately waits for word of her prisoner-of-war husband, she begins to research stories about the lives of the underpaid and overworked women who live in her own city. Those whose war service has been overlooked; the freedom and independence of their war lives lost to them.

Meanwhile Tilly's waterside worker father is on strike, and her best friend Mary is struggling to cope with the stranger her own husband has become since being liberated from Changi a broken man. As strikes rip the country apart and the news from abroad causes despair, matters build to a heart-rending crescendo. Tilly realises that for her the war may have ended, but the fight is just beginning... 

My Thoughts

‘Her problem was she’d had a taste of a different life and didn’t want to give it up.’

The Women’s Pages is another winning historical fiction story by Victoria. I read and enjoyed her previous work and therefore understand that Victoria undertakes the kind of research that brings the day to day living of those she is writing about to life. On this occasion it surrounds the role of women towards the end of WWII and immediately afterwards. The war may be over but the real struggle for women is just beginning. 

‘They thought we would all step back into the shadows, where no doubt most of them think we should have always been. But the shadows are full of secrets.’

This tale takes a detailed look at Australian society at this time - what women had been expected to do during the war and how that role changed once the soldiers returned home. Women, who achieved so much in their war effort support, struggled to let go of their new found independence whilst dealing with the men they sent off to war, returning as somewhat strangers. I loved the descriptions of post war Sydney with Victoria undertaking a detailed investigation of the many confrontational issues of the day and a definite social commentary alongside. These women dealt with uncertainty through the war years and now faced the prospect of not only losing their job, but if their men did return the horrendous outfall of PTSD. If they did not return, there was the overwhelming grief. This is a truly interesting period in Australian history and Victoria definitely does it justice. Reading made me reflect on my mother’s stories about her family and this is a book I am sure she would enjoy. 

‘You’ll find plenty to write about on the women’s pages, Tilly. Good stories. Interesting stories.’ ‘Interesting stories?’ she gasped. ‘If they’re that interesting why are they sent to the back of the paper? When was the last time a woman’s story made the front page?’

The only concern is Victoria’s great love of research often involves large information dumps. Sadly, this often takes away from the narrative as momentum is lost in the storytelling for the inclusion of detailed intricacies. Detail on everything from feminism, government, war atrocities, PTSD, housing crisis, wharf front issues, trade unions, communism, returning soldiers, workplace politics, gender pay gaps - the list is quite long. One can only wonder if the book may have been better served with fewer topics that tied in pertinently to key characters. I want more story and less history lesson. 

Overall Victoria has compiled an engaging tale about family life and relationships at this turning point in Australian culture. Dealing with the legacy of the old whilst carving out the new. It valiantly shone the spotlight on the women who fought to break free of a solely domestic role in search of greater independence. 

‘These women had had a taste of independence, of the freedom of their own pay packet and of the kind of camaraderie that comes with growing to know the people you work alongside.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: State Highway One

Title: State Highway One

Author: Sam Coley

Publisher: 2nd September 2020 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 384 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: contemporary

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

This is what I want to do. I want to go home. I want you to come with me.

'I want to go from here . . .'

Finger on Cape Reinga.

'. . . to here.'

Finger at the bottom of Stewart Island, right at the bottom of the map.

It's been years since Alex was in New Zealand, and years since he spent any one-on-one time with his twin sister, Amy. When they lose their parents in a shock accident it seems like the perfect time to reconnect as siblings. To reconnect with this country they call 'home'.

As they journey the length of State Highway One, they will scratch at wounds that have never healed - and Alex will be forced to reckon with what coming home really means.

My Thoughts

I was enticed by this novel for two reasons. Firstly, it takes place in New Zealand and I love that country. So in these days of lockdown, it would be a perfect escape to take a road trip from the top to the bottom of these great islands. Secondly, it was the winner of the Richell Prize for emerging writers and I have respect for what they recognised. In essence this is a journey, a pilgrimage one might say, where the main character reminisces about the past in their search for answers or at least an understanding of what has taken place. 

The main character, Alex, returns home after the tragic death of his estranged parents in a car accident. Finding it difficult to fly back to his workplace in Dubai, he makes the decision to travel with his twin sister, Amy the length of New Zealand. The story follows the State Highway One from NZ northernmost tip to the southernmost locale. 

‘How many kids our age get to do what we get to do, you know? They’re all slamming doors and fighting with their parents, and us? We’re free.’ It never really feels like that to me. I’d rather be fighting with someone who’s actually here.’

The author has written a truly poignant tale - one of reflection, grief and even anger - as Alex embarks on a physical and reflective journey after his loss. Chapters jump about (keep track of the dates) from previous years to the present day. This is a tale of family, identity, loss and regret as the outcome of this pivotal event. Along the way there will be obstacles to overcome, detours and breakdowns (both literal and figurative). A definite plus is the author's knowledge of NZ and the glimpses he gives of tiny towns to sprawling cities. Even the Playlist is a careful selection that I believe is available on Spotify. 

‘Do you really think everything happens for a reason?’ ....  ‘Dunno. But I think you have to tell yourself something.’  The truth is I don’t know what to say in reply. Every word, the start of every sentence trails off in the space between my brain and my teeth, withers and dies on my tongue ...’ 

The ending, well ... I was hoping for something special and Sam delivered. This is a book with a rather remarkable, unique writing style and presentation. At times it is slow, events and characters are frustrating, but overall it is very cleverly written and most worthy of its award. A deeply moving tale about family and dealing with childhood scars and overcoming grief in its many forms. 

‘Back to being me. Back to being the boss of my own life - not this kid in an old car who’s angry and sad all the time. But every time the sun comes up, that’s one more sunrise since I left - since I ran out.  It's one more sunrise since the last time I saw my parents. And every sunrise, the number grows by one. I can’t stop it. I can’t even slow it down. I can’t do anything. I can drive like an idiot, sleep on beaches, fuck strangers, die on the side of a cliff in the middle of the night, but nothing I do is going to change the fact that every day that goes by is another day without them.’

 

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: The Tolstoy Estate

Title: The Tolstoy Estate

Author: Steven Conte

Publisher: 2nd September 2020 by HarperCollins Publishers Australia

Pages: 304 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: historical fiction, WWII

My Rating: 3.5 cups

Synopsis:

From the winner of the inaugural Prime Minister's Literary Award, Steven Conte, comes a powerful, densely rich and deeply affecting novel of love, war and literature

In the first year of the doomed German invasion of Russia in WWII, a German military doctor, Paul Bauer, is assigned to establish a field hospital at Yasnaya Polyana - the former grand estate of Count Leo Tolstoy, the author of the classic War and Peace. There he encounters a hostile aristocratic Russian woman, Katerina Trubetzkaya, a writer who has been left in charge of the estate. But even as a tentative friendship develops between them, Bauer's hostile and arrogant commanding officer, Julius Metz, becomes erratic and unhinged as the war turns against the Germans. Over the course of six weeks, in the terrible winter of 1941, everything starts to unravel...

From the critically acclaimed and award-winning author, Steven Conte, The Tolstoy Estate is ambitious, accomplished and astonishingly good: an engrossing, intense and compelling exploration of the horror and brutality of conflict, and the moral, emotional, physical and intellectual limits that people reach in war time. It is also a poignant, bittersweet love story - and, most movingly, a novel that explores the notion that literature can still be a potent force for good in our world.

My Thoughts

I was instantly attracted to this book for its stunning cover, it being historical fiction and the incorporation of renown literature ie. Tolstoy. This is a very ambitious undertaking and the author does an admirable job in delivering the many finer details of a side of war not often portrayed. Seen through the eyes of a moral forty year old German doctor involved in a very immoral situation, this book is compelling in its exploration of the brutality of war in the harsh Russian winter. 

 “Are you a good man, Paul Bauer?” she said to him as soon as he sat down again. “Is that why you’re here?” He glanced at her sideways to see if she was mocking him. “Because I must say I like you better as a saviour of innocent civilians than as a servant of the German war machine.”  “The men I operate on are people too, you know.” “Just not innocent.”

Conte covers a six week period when the German army occupies the former residence of author Leo Tolsoy. There are many layers to this book. Firstly there is the confronting descriptions of being part of a field hospital and the detailed accounts of the injuries and many deaths. There is also a strong sense of time and place - Russia in winter - the arctic cold is very much a character in itself for this story. Then there is what the author terms his ‘dark version of M.A.S.H’ with the relationships and banter amongst the German officers. There is the romance (not overt) through a love of literature and the incorporation of themes from Tolstoys, ‘War and Peace’ between the good doctor and the Russian woman left in charge of the estate. Overall, this is a detailed and precise focus on one point in time and the lasting impact war can ravage on both person and place. 

‘Six weeks we’ve been here - the same amount of time as Napoleon held Moscow.” “I suppose I should be grateful you haven’t followed his example and burnt the place down.” “Yet,” he warned.’

Interspersed throughout the war narrative, are letters written much later by the survivors, which assists the reader in understanding how this impacted on their lives after this six week period. This book is brutally honest and confronting. It is full of horrors yet moments of love (human) and reverence (literature) for what people cling to as an anchor to see them through such times. Somehow Conte weaves it all together for a complete exploration of German and Soviets during WWII and the physical, social, emotional and intellectual strains during a dark period in history. 

‘War and Peace also had the odd effect of restoring my faith in doing good in the world; because if as Tolstoy argued, we are all specks in a vast world-historical drama, even those of us pretending to be in charge, it followed that everyone’s actions were at least potentially equal, and that a humble person sometimes influences events more profoundly than did generals, emperors and tsars.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.