This book was okay for a holiday read but I didn't really enjoy it I have to say. It was a bit disappointing but there was always part of me that knew it wouldn't be as good as Bluebirds. Having said that, I really don't think that even if i'd've read this book entirely on it's own without ever having read Bluebirds, I still don't think i would have enjoyed it that much to be honest.
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It's a nice story for sure, don't get me wrong, But the characters weren't brilliant. There was no one character that I really latched on to or took any real interest in. The stories within the story were all okay, chugged along pretty well. But there was no magic moment when i thought "yeah, exactly! What a fab book this is". And I really like it when that happens :)
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As far as the story goes, it's about how a small village in the country is affected when the Americans take over the local air base during WWII. Some of the locals like them, some don't. All the girls love them, all the lads think they joined the war to late etc, etc. Mayhew tried to get into the emotional side of war - what it was like for the yanks to leave their homes and come to fight, how the villagers left behind felt about the war, especially when they had friends or family fighting overseas. I don't feel like Mayhew ever went deep enough into the minds of her characters to get me interested enough to be honest. If writers are going to delve into the human psyche then I like them to get right in there with all the nitty gritty - not just skim the surface. But then if Mayhew had've done this then the whole book may have been a wholly depressing read... so maybe it's a good job she didn't.
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So I'd say, if you have the time then definitely give this book a go. Make up your own mind and see if gets you excited. On the plus side, I am determined to read more of Mayhew's work - I know she's good and I'm sure that there are other works she's done that I'll like as much as Bluebirds (fingers crossed!). Alternatively, the next time I find a book I really really love, maybe I will just have to not read anything else by that author ever again...
