It was the work of a moment; a tiny revenge for a much graver crime. She had never stolen so much as a packet of sweets before. She did not, as a rule, lie, cheat or steal. But this was different.
She wiped a film of sweat from the back of her neck, lifting the damp strands of hair in an effort to cool herself. Her cotton sundress - madras, designed for an Indian climate - clung to her legs, and a blister had formed on her heel from the strap of her sandals. She'd experienced this kind of heat, before, had almost forgotten how it sapped the spirits, how it became an act of will to carry on regardless.
***
War would bring them together.
But would it ultimately tear them apart?
Burma, 1945 - Bea, Plum, Bubbles, Joy and Lucy are five young women looking for adventure, fighting a forgotten war in the jungle attached to the Fourteenth Army. Running a mobile canteen, navigating treacherous roads and dodging hostile gunfire, they soon become embroiled in life-threatening battles of their own - battles that will haunt the women for the rest of their lives.
Oxford, 1976 - At the height of an impossibly hot English summer, a woman slips into a museum and steals several rare Japanese netsuke, including the famed fox-girl. Despite the offer of a considerable reward, these tiny, exquisitely detailed carvings are never seen again.
London and Galway, 1999 - On the eve of the new millennium, Olivia, assistant to an art dealer, meets Beatrix, an elderly widow who wishes to sell her late husband's collection of Japanese art. Concealing her own motives, Olivia travels with Beatrix to a New Year's Eve party, deep in the Irish countryside, where friendships will be tested and secrets kept for more than fifty years are spilled...
***
Not only is this a well written novel but I learnt a lot regarding a point in history that I knew extremely little about. I have previously read novels which were set in Burma during WWII, but this book was different in that it was centred around five women who, in this story made up the WASBIE attachment.
The book is written as a dual narrative, covering their time during the war, and then again at the titular reunion when the women are, somewhat more mature in years. In fact, the book begins with a different time entirely, taking place in 1976, but it is only a brief glimpse we get and is vital to understanding the plot.
The main character, Bea, is delightful, and she was an excellent character throughout both timelines. The author has done a great job of fleshing out all of her characters. The dynamic between them, which differ at both time points in the narrative is excellent.
Also, the character of Olivia, who plays a part in the latter time line is excellent, and she served as a great vehicle in moving the story along. Furthermore, she was a vital and engaging character who I was rooting for all the way.
Atmospherically, the writer descriptions of the settings are tangible. The book is set in the jungles of Burma, and I could feel the heat and humidity that she described. Equally, the modern part of the book is set in a dilapidated old house with its leaking roof and myriad of other faults due to neglect.
Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely, and was reluctant to put it down. I will definitely be including other books by Ms. Nunn to my constantly increasing pile of books I want to read. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.
ISBN: 978 1398701144
Publisher: Orion
Formats: Paperback, e-book and audio
No. of Pages: 384 (paperback)
Katye Nunn has written six works of fiction including, The Botanist’s Daughter, The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant, The Silk House and The Last Reunion, which came out in March 2020 in Australia, and later in the UK.
She grew up in England and the US, and then lived in Sydney, Australia for more than 20 years, working as a book, magazine and web editor and writer. She has more than two decades of publishing experience and is the former editor of Gourmet Traveller Wine magazine.
(author photo and bio information from the author's website.)
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