Sign in with Facebook
Diane Barnes's Reviews > Wake
Wake
by
by
The setting is the 5 days before the burial of the unknown warrior in London in 1920, 2 years after the war ends. Hettie is a 19 year old dancer for hire who is hoping the future will find her. Evelyn is a 30 year old whose fiance was killed in the war, and her bitterness is eating her alive. Ada's son was killed in 1917, and she sees his ghost around every corner. Each of these women share a bond that they are not aware of as they try to find some sort of hope and ability to move beyond the grief and despair that has taken over their lives. Just as the body moves from a field in France to a crypt in London, the book tells of their journey from pain to acceptance, and the story of an entire nation that has come together to grieve.
This is a first novel of devastating beauty. The author took me inside the heads of each of these women and let me feel their emotions, along with the experiences and fear and horror of the men on the battlefield. The more I read of The Great War, the more anger I feel for the incredible waste of it all. As one of the characters in this book exclaims: "England didn't win this war, and Germany wouldn't have won it either. War wins, war always wins."
Incredible story, incredible writing, I would give it 6 stars if I could.
This is a first novel of devastating beauty. The author took me inside the heads of each of these women and let me feel their emotions, along with the experiences and fear and horror of the men on the battlefield. The more I read of The Great War, the more anger I feel for the incredible waste of it all. As one of the characters in this book exclaims: "England didn't win this war, and Germany wouldn't have won it either. War wins, war always wins."
Incredible story, incredible writing, I would give it 6 stars if I could.
Sign into Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ to see if any of your friends have read
Wake.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
March 21, 2014
– Shelved as:
to-read
March 21, 2014
– Shelved
March 21, 2014
– Shelved as:
world-war-one
May 7, 2014
–
Started Reading
May 11, 2014
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-7 of 7 (7 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Sue
(new)
-
rated it 5 stars
May 11, 2014 08:57PM
Oh, I'm so glad you enjoyed this too. I really liked all the different points of view, the women, mother's, parents, etc. I have the feeling it reflects reality more than fiction.
reply
|
flag
It was a wonderful read, I couldn't believe how deeply I cared for all of the characters. Like yourself, I kept trying to turn the pages at the end, hoping for more.
And now your review is here...wonderful review, Diane.
WWI and aftermath have an incredible number of fiction novels as their subject matter /base in the last 10 years. Although I thought I had read my full, I always seem to find another one, like this one, that is a first novel or sounds intriguing. This feels like it might be both. Great review!
Thanks, Jeanette. This book really grabs at your soul. Not an easy read at times, but so worth it.
I agree with your assessment that this is a "novel of devastating beauty," Diane. And I think it captures the need that people have to mark loss. It also reminded me of Anne Lamont's statement that "Hope is the cousin to grief, and both take time: you can't short circuit grief, or emptiness.
Heather, I'm so glad you got time to read this one. I knew it would be a 5 star for you.
