The Secret Diary by Anna Stuart - ww2/contemporry fiction
Lorna has come to stay with her mother and step father following the sudden
death of her husband Matt. Lorna studied history and when given a room in
the annex that is a 1940’s time warp as far as the furniture and decor goes,
she finds a secret compartment in a dresser. This reveals a diary written by
her step fathers mother Nancy as it was his parents house and his
grandparents beforehand. Nancy tells in the diary of after her serving in the
army, of coming to live in the house and the rather traditional values of her
in-laws and many around her. As far as they were concerned she may
have served in the war but a woman's place is in the home- something
she and her gunner girl friends completely disagree with having done
far more. Nancy thought by being here she would help with the estate
and gamekeeping which she was looking forward to. but her husband's
parents categorically put her in her place- behind the kitchen sink.
Alternate chapters give us Lorna's journey and finding out more
about Nancy, and the others snippets of the diary and life around
Nancy post war. This is a beautifully written and well described book-
one easy to lose yourself in the pages or so I found. Of women
beginning to become who we are today and thankful for those
who trod the path before us. A very enjoyable, interesting read.
Of the war and contemporary life, of tragedy and love and
how you can find inspiration in the most unlikely of places and
situations.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog
------------------------------
Norfolk, 1945: Only a few months ago Nancy Jones was fighting for her country as a gunner girl. Now she’s struggling to adjust to her responsibilities as a gamekeeper’s wife. After a whirlwind romance, Nancy is deeply in love with her handsome husband Joe but there is still so much they don’t know about each other. When a secret from Nancy’s war years threatens to resurface, will the terrible truth about the worst night of her life shatter their new marriage?
Norfolk, 2019: Devastated by the sudden loss of her husband, Lorna Haynes escapes to the beautiful but crumbling Gamekeeper’s Cottage. There, she stumbles upon a locked room. When she enters, it’s like going back in time. A soldier’s uniform hangs on the back of the door, the flowery wallpaper still intact, the spindle of the record player frozen and ready to play. At the back of the room, Lorna discovers a red, leather-bound diary in a hidden compartment of a desk drawer.
As Lorna battles with heartache, she takes comfort in reading the ink-stained words. Turning the pages of the old book, she learns of the incredible bravery of the woman who lived in the house decades before her. And discovers a shocking wartime secret that will change the course of her own life…
Fans of The Nightingale, The Alice Network, and Lilac Girls will love this unforgettable, poignant tale of love, loss and courage during the darkest days of war.
No comments:
Post a Comment