Janet
3rd May 2007, 22:37
The Soldier’s Return by Melvyn Bragg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/Bagpuss/Bagpuss_Books%202007/008-2007-04-May-TheSoldiersReturn.jpg
Amazon.co.uk (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Soldiers-Return-Melvyn-Bragg/dp/0340751010/ref=sr_1_5/202-2992764-5030225?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178229115&sr=8-5)
The ‘Blurb’
When Sam Richardson returns in 1946 from the “Forgotten War” in Burma to Wigton in Cumbria, he finds the town little changed. But the war has changed him, broadening his horizons as well as leaving him with traumatic memories. In addition, his six-year-old son now barely remembers him and his wife has gained a sense of independence from her wartime jobs. As all three strive to adjust, the bonds of loyalty and love are stretched to breaking point in this taut and profoundly moving novel, which captures what millions experienced in the aftermath of the Second World War.
I think the blurb pretty much says it all. This was my choice for our next bookworms read, and I think it will provoke some interesting conversation.
I wasn’t sure what to expect of Melvyn Bragg. Although I liked the sound of the book, and went as far as to read the first few pages before I went ahead and nominated it to the rest of the group, I was concerned that it might be a bit heavy going, but on the contrary, it was a very easy read. In fact, in some places it reminded me of the Catherine Cookson books that I couldn’t get enough of in my teenage years!
Don’t get me wrong - I did enjoy it, but I somehow expected a bit more substance to it. I did guess the ending, but that was because I knew there were two more books in the sequel, and that they were both set in Cumbria!
I was staggered that it won the ‘WHS Literary Award 2000’. I would have thought there were other, more substantial books, which might have taken that award, but maybe Mr Bragg’s name helped!
All in all, and enjoyable read, but not anything special.
The paperback is 375 pages long and is published by Sceptre. The ISBN number is 978-0340751015.
7/10
(Read May 2007)
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/Bagpuss/Bagpuss_Books%202007/008-2007-04-May-TheSoldiersReturn.jpg
Amazon.co.uk (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Soldiers-Return-Melvyn-Bragg/dp/0340751010/ref=sr_1_5/202-2992764-5030225?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178229115&sr=8-5)
The ‘Blurb’
When Sam Richardson returns in 1946 from the “Forgotten War” in Burma to Wigton in Cumbria, he finds the town little changed. But the war has changed him, broadening his horizons as well as leaving him with traumatic memories. In addition, his six-year-old son now barely remembers him and his wife has gained a sense of independence from her wartime jobs. As all three strive to adjust, the bonds of loyalty and love are stretched to breaking point in this taut and profoundly moving novel, which captures what millions experienced in the aftermath of the Second World War.
I think the blurb pretty much says it all. This was my choice for our next bookworms read, and I think it will provoke some interesting conversation.
I wasn’t sure what to expect of Melvyn Bragg. Although I liked the sound of the book, and went as far as to read the first few pages before I went ahead and nominated it to the rest of the group, I was concerned that it might be a bit heavy going, but on the contrary, it was a very easy read. In fact, in some places it reminded me of the Catherine Cookson books that I couldn’t get enough of in my teenage years!
Don’t get me wrong - I did enjoy it, but I somehow expected a bit more substance to it. I did guess the ending, but that was because I knew there were two more books in the sequel, and that they were both set in Cumbria!
I was staggered that it won the ‘WHS Literary Award 2000’. I would have thought there were other, more substantial books, which might have taken that award, but maybe Mr Bragg’s name helped!
All in all, and enjoyable read, but not anything special.
The paperback is 375 pages long and is published by Sceptre. The ISBN number is 978-0340751015.
7/10
(Read May 2007)