1940s Archives - The Quick and the Read

Book Review: ‘Mrs Porter Calling’ by A. J. Pearce

This is the third book in the Emmy Lake series, following on from ‘Dear Mrs Bird’ and ‘Yours Cheerfully’. This is a series that is charming, cheerful and funny – even as the realities of World War II continue to have their impact on the characters’ lives.

Thanks to NetGalley for my opportunity to read this book and apologies for the late review.

In this third look at wartime Pimlico, we rejoin Emmy and her colleagues at the offices of Woman’s Friend, a publication packed with helpful tips on cooking, affordable fashion, and the general art of making do and getting by under rationing. One of the most popular sections is Emmy’s advice column, offering an invaluable lifeline to women trapped by their domestic situations, wartime problems or overwhelming worries. When a new owner takes over the publication (the titular Mrs Porter), Emmy and the team have to fight for the things that make their magazine unique and treasured by its readership.

‘V for Victory’ by Lissa Evans

Happy publication day to this gorgeous historical novel set in London during World War II!

I really loved Lissa Evans’ ‘Crooked Heart’ when I read it, but sadly skipped the second part of the series, ‘Old Baggage’ because I didn’t realise that it was part of the same story. Having now read ‘V for Victory’, I’m definitely going back for the other book!

The story is about Vee, a woman living with a secret, and the evacuee that she looks after, Noel. Vee runs a boarding house in Hampstead which is full of interesting characters who luckily can tutor Noel, now 15 years old. In another part of London, Winnie is a warden helping deal with the aftermath of the bombs destroying the city while burying her own worries about her prisoner of war husband.

It’s really hard to give a plot summary of the book because it’s more a peek into the lives of this diverse cast of characters. As in life, there are good and bad events, but the strength of the book lies more in its warm portrayal of people: Winnie’s colleagues in the warden post, the lodgers at the boarding house, the American GIs…even Winnie’s challenging twin sister are affectionately drawn and have a life of their own.

The settings are also vivid and interesting, from the bombed houses of the city to the images of Brighton’s sea defences.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a hearty slice of historical fiction. It’s not sickly sweet and things don’t always turn out perfectl; instead, it’s authentic and charming and utterly engaging. This is a 4.5 stars from me!

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Header photo with thanks to Edson Rosas for sharing their work on Unsplash.

‘City of Girls’ by Elizabeth Gilbert

I’d never read anything by Elizabeth Gilbert before as her most famous book, ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, doesn’t fit in with my usual genres. However, this one – published in April 2020 – is a lovely piece of historical fiction with a fabulous heroine at its heart.

I was drawn to this book as it promised a fun and light read in the world of New York's theatrical world.  I thought it would be an ideal escapist book for these tricky times. 

The first part of the book absolutely delivers this.  The narrator, Vivian Morris, is upbeat and cheerful in telling the story of her arrival in New York in 1940.  Freshly expelled from her university course for minimal effort, she goes to stay with her Aunt Peg, an eccentric family member who runs a dilapidated theatre.  Vivian soon makes friends with the showgirls and starts living the high life in a city full of men and alcohol, far away from the war raging in Europe.  I loved this bit of the story - the theatre people and Vivian's joie de vivre make for compulsive and upbeat reading.

The tone shifts a bit in the second part of the book as Vivian ages and there is more of a war theme.  I'll admit to not enjoying this bit as much, although it's beautifully written and quite touching.

Overall, this is an evocative and compelling novel with a really unique heroine at its heart.  I'd recommend it wholeheartedly although it didn't quite deliver the consistent high I was looking for.  However, that's just my personal preference for fabulous glitz rather than the sad impact of war.

I received a free copy of the book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Photo by Katherine Barcsay from Burst

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