In Memoriam - Alice Winn

[Hallelujah2020]

Highly recommend, in fact I think it might be my book of the year

For a debut novel it’s so well written

So utterly heartbreaking

I've just finished it. Couldn't put it down..the best book I've read in ages

Loved it too.

Also it prompted me to read singled out by Virginia Nicholson - non fiction about "surplus women" after ww2

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I'm looking forward to this.

It's good if your book is recommended. In the future I will soon read your work when I have time.
From mr mine

I'm loving it so far.

Just came on to see if there was a thread.
What a book. My book of the year so far.

I read this last week and am baffled by all of the 5* reviews - to me, it is utterly derivative (Journeys End/Regeneration) but less accomplished and the characters so two dimensional and stereotypical. However, I'm obviously in the minority so must have missed something!

This is pretty much how I felt about it!

Glad it's not just me @exloony! I was starting to wonder what on earth I had missed, but I don't want to read it again to try and find out 😆

I agree totally. Was amazed at the rave reviews.

@Panicmode1 hurrah! I couldn't agree more. I've just finished it and have spent most of the time tutting in outrage at the bits 'lifted' from JE. I know she acknowledges the influence it had on her, but nevertheless....even earwig races!!
I've actually written a list of elements taken from JE in the front of the book (because I'm a saddo)
I've also had to list the anachronistic turns of phrase/Americanisms.
Bloody hell, I need to get a life 🤣
I was so looking forward to reading this and just feel cross and let down.

I'm so pleased I'm not alone @agapanthus1979 and @Curiossir - I really thought I'd entered a parallel universe, because even a good friend of mine, who is an avid and prodigious reader, whose opinions usually align with mine, though it was 'absolutely brilliant'. DH and I read it on holiday last year and were completely baffled by the love for it - I thought it was really average, completely unoriginal and honestly didn't understand the point of it having been published - I really didn't feel it added anything to the WW literature canon!

@Panicmode1 'baffled' is exactly how I feel. I think I've driven my other half bonkers with my constant exasperated comments.
I've had a quick scan of reviews (even by 'reputable' sources) and not a single one mentions any of this. It's like some sort of cult!

Agree. My main issue with it was that at no point did it seem as if they were in love with each other. It was like an informed trait. The main character had so much more chemistry with a) his school bully and b) his friend at the prison camp, and that was the most interesting part of the book to me.

I have just finished it- I loved it. It was beautifully written but at the start I did think that was this just going to be another book about stuck up public school boys. I admit I got a bit confused every now and then which one was who as they kept using their surnames. I was invested all the way through as I was desperate to know the outcome - such a beautiful book and all the 5 star reviews were definitely deserved.