Kate Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Russia, 1854: the Crimean War grinds on, and as the bitter winter draws near, the battlefield hospitals fill with dying men. In defiance of Florence Nightingale, Rosa Barr - young, headstrong and beautiful - travels to Balaklava, determined to save as many of the wounded as she can. For Mariella Lingwood, Rosa's cousin, the war is contained within the pages of her scrapbook, in her London sewing circle, and in the letters she receives from Henry, her fiance, a celebrated surgeon who has also volunteered to work within the shadow of the guns. When Henry falls ill and is sent to recuperate in Italy, Mariella impulsively decides she must go to him. But upon their arrival at his lodgings, she and her maid make a heartbreaking discovery: Rosa has disappeared. Following the trail of her elusive and captivating cousin, Mariella's epic journey takes her from the domestic restraint of Victorian London to the ravaged landscape of the Crimea and the tragic city of Sebastopol. As she ventures deeper into the dark heart of the conflict, Mariella's ordered world begins to crumble and she finds she has much to learn about secrecy, faithfulness and love. This is the first book I have read by Katharine McMahon, and I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story was convincing and engaging. At no point was I bored or struggling to continue. McMahon writes in a wonderful way, with humour, description and character. I easily slipped into the story and felt I was there. The story does jump between different locations and years, but I did not find this troubling, in fact I feel it enhanced the story. It was fascinating to read about how people at home viewed the war, how to them it was only a small part of their lives and how they thought it should go, compared to what was actually happening out there. I didn't have a favourite character, all of them touched me. I did find Mariella a touch selfish though. She managed to make the whole war centre around her, amazing! I was happy with the way most characters developed and how the story ended. I did guess what the ending was going to be, but it was still sad and a satisfying finish. I was left asking a few questions, but overall I really enjoyed this book. 9/10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Jacobs Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Having purchased this from a charity shop I read a few pages then put it down, I expect to pick it up again one day though. I remember it being in the Richard and Judy Book club once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueK Posted November 27, 2008 Share Posted November 27, 2008 I've got this book and it's on my TBR list. It sounds very good so I think I will move it up the list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyD Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 I'm reading this at the moment - it's good. I don't think I've read anything set in this particular period before, so it's really interesting on an 'educational' front as well as engaging me with the plot and characters too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 I'd like to read this but there are no copies in the local library and I'm not sure whether it's worth ordering online? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iagegu Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 I've got this awaiting reading. Hopefully I'll get around to it before too long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate Posted November 28, 2008 Author Share Posted November 28, 2008 I'd like to read this but there are no copies in the local library and I'm not sure whether it's worth ordering online? If the postage isn't too much I could spend this over to you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 (edited) If the postage isn't too much I could spend this over to you? Thanks for the offer but I live in Finland so I guess the postage would be a bit expensive Edit: I just ordered this from play.com and it was quite cheap so problem solved! Edited November 29, 2008 by frankie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 I started to read this last year, but I got about 120 pages in and then put it down and never picked it up again, and I've no idea why. I was interested in the story, and engaged by the characters, and I really can't think why I stopped reading. Having said that, it's been so long since I started it, I'd have to start from the beginning again, and, to be honest, I'm not sure I can be bothered. I may give it another go if I ever deplete my already huge TBR pile! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosegarden Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I felt that this was one of those books that don't look too exciting (the front cover didn't appeal to me at all) and I started reading it with not very high expectations. But, I was very pleasantly surprised, especially when Mariella arrived at the Crimea, I couldn't put it down, I really started to enjoy it. I would put this as one of my all time favourite books now. And I was also fascinated with the references to Florence Nightingale, especially the fact that she only chose the older and plainer women to take with her, in the hope that the wounded soldiers wouldn't fraternise with them! Carole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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