Corporal Knowles is in full flow this evening, trying to get us to write letters to our loved ones, "just in case the worst happens." He says this with a pursed-lipped smile, embarrassed at having to mention something so inconvenient. Hello and welcome to the Western Front...
***
The Blurb
History and gender are intertwined in this fast-paced arresting account of the First World War and its devastating impact on familial and romantic bonds.
As headstrong as her twin is gentle, Nina has never fit the womanly mould society expects of her. Alfie and Nina Mullins have always relied on their shared world of hope and make-believe for comfort, but as the pressure on Alfie to prove himself at the Front mounts, Nina is presented with more possibility than she had ever imagined and the two are pushed in wildly different directions.
Coming of age as the First World War breaks out, the Mullins twins’ fates are inextricably interlinked with the turmoil of conflict in this fascinating exploration of gender roles and the extremes to which war pushes us.
My Review
I so enjoyed reading this book and it had me gripped from the very beginning.
This is a coming of age story that features main characters, Nina and Alfie who are twins. They have a strong bond and understand one another extremely well. Neither are entirely happy in their own skin. We first meet them as children who are exploring their world, their gender and the expectations that lie ahead of them in life.
In fact, the main focus of the book is upon the expectations that their birth gender attributed to each of the twins. They bravely challenge this and the author does a good job in demonstrating that the roles of men and women were pretty much set in stone during this time period. However, with the role of Suffragists on the horizon, these views are beginning to be challenged.
I have read many books set during World War One but this one has an originality to it that made for fabulous reading. It is beautifully written and was easy to read. The words flowed from the page and I read it in a couple of sittings.
It is well paced for it's genre and the author captured the atmosphere of the trenches extremely well. It is thought provoking and powerful and I was captivated by the bravery of both of the main characters.
It is well worth reading and has much to commend it.
Book Details
ISBN: 978 1915584137
Publisher: Neem Tree Press
Formats: e-book and paperback
No. of Pages: 240 (paperback)
Buy Links
About the Author
Kate was a late developer, attending university to study English and Creative Writing in her late 30s. She was one of the real life 'Ritas' featured on the Radio 4 Woman's Hour Programme commemorating the anniversary of the play, Educating Rita. Kate is a dedicated and licenced mudlark who is never happier than when she is up to her eyes in mud. She has won several literary awards and this year judged the historical fiction and biography category of the prestigious Eyelands International Book Awards.
You can also find Kate at:
(ARC and media courtesy of The Write Reads)
(all opinions are my own)
(bookshop.org affiliated)
No comments:
Post a Comment