The Postmistress
Author: Sarah Blake
Publication Date: February 2010
Those who carry the truth sometimes bear a terrible weight...
It is 1940. France has fallen. Bombs are dropping on London. And President Roosevelt is promising he won't send our boys to fight in "foreign wars."
But American radio gal Frankie Bard, the first woman to report from the Blitz in London, wants nothing more than to bring the war home. Frankie's radio dispatches crackle across the Atlantic ocean, imploring listeners to pay attention--as the Nazis bomb London nightly, and Jewish refugees stream across Europe. Frankie is convinced that if she can just get the right story, it will wake Americans to action and they will join the fight.
Meanwhile, in Franklin, Massachusetts, a small town on Cape Cod, Iris James hears Frankie's broadcasts and knows that it is only a matter of time before the war arrives on Franklin's shores. In charge of the town's mail, Iris believes that her job is to deliver and keep people's secrets, passing along the news that letters carry. And one secret she keeps are her feelings for Harry Vale, the town mechanic, who inspects the ocean daily, searching in vain for German U-boats he is certain will come. Two single people in midlife, Iris and Harry long ago gave up hope of ever being in love, yet they find themselves unexpectedly drawn toward each other.
Listening to Frankie as well are Will and Emma Fitch, the town's doctor and his new wife, both trying to escape a fragile childhood and forge a brighter future. When Will follow's Frankie's siren call into the war, Emma's worst fears are realized. Promising to return in six months, Will goes to London to offer his help, and the lives of the three women entwine.
Alternating between an America still cocooned in its inability to grasp the danger at hand and a Europe being torn apart by war, The Postmistress gives us two women who find themselves unable to deliver the news, and a third woman desperately waiting for news yet afraid to hear it.
Sarah Blake's The Postmistress shows how we bear the fact that war goes on around us while ordinary lives continue. Filled with stunning parallels to today, it is a remarkable novel.
It is 1940. France has fallen. Bombs are dropping on London. And President Roosevelt is promising he won't send our boys to fight in "foreign wars."
But American radio gal Frankie Bard, the first woman to report from the Blitz in London, wants nothing more than to bring the war home. Frankie's radio dispatches crackle across the Atlantic ocean, imploring listeners to pay attention--as the Nazis bomb London nightly, and Jewish refugees stream across Europe. Frankie is convinced that if she can just get the right story, it will wake Americans to action and they will join the fight.
Meanwhile, in Franklin, Massachusetts, a small town on Cape Cod, Iris James hears Frankie's broadcasts and knows that it is only a matter of time before the war arrives on Franklin's shores. In charge of the town's mail, Iris believes that her job is to deliver and keep people's secrets, passing along the news that letters carry. And one secret she keeps are her feelings for Harry Vale, the town mechanic, who inspects the ocean daily, searching in vain for German U-boats he is certain will come. Two single people in midlife, Iris and Harry long ago gave up hope of ever being in love, yet they find themselves unexpectedly drawn toward each other.
Listening to Frankie as well are Will and Emma Fitch, the town's doctor and his new wife, both trying to escape a fragile childhood and forge a brighter future. When Will follow's Frankie's siren call into the war, Emma's worst fears are realized. Promising to return in six months, Will goes to London to offer his help, and the lives of the three women entwine.
Alternating between an America still cocooned in its inability to grasp the danger at hand and a Europe being torn apart by war, The Postmistress gives us two women who find themselves unable to deliver the news, and a third woman desperately waiting for news yet afraid to hear it.
Sarah Blake's The Postmistress shows how we bear the fact that war goes on around us while ordinary lives continue. Filled with stunning parallels to today, it is a remarkable novel.
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1. Helen -- done
2. Margaret - DNF
3. Laura -done
Tour Participants
1. Helen -- done
2. Margaret - DNF
3. Laura -done
4. JHS - waiting for review
5. Laurie -DNF7. Amy - done
Reviews
NEEDED:
JHS
Reviews
NEEDED:
JHS
21 comments:
I've heard good things about this one. Count me in.
Laurie T readergirls NY
readergirls@gmail.com
I've been wanting to read this one. Is August too far out to schedule?
teresasreadingcorner at gmail dot com
CO
Sign me up!
Laura Lanik
yoteach24 at comcast dot net
MN
JHS
jhsmail at comcast dot net
California
I'd like to join this tour
helen (at) helensbookblog (dot) com
California
I'd love to join this tour.
mbolit.artofreading@gmail.com
MA
Mailed this yesterday. Sorry I didn’t get it out on Saturday. I had to take a sick pup to the vet.
DC 0310 0480 0003 2390 7426
7/24 I received the Postmistress
I finished Postmistress. Here's the link to my review:
http://www.helensbookblog.com/2010/07/review-postmistress-blake.html
I need the name and address of the next Postmistress person so I can mail it on. Thank you!
I mailed the Postmistress today. Here's the DC:
0302 0980 0000 8376 2118
Aug. 4, I received The Postmistress.
I mailed The Postmistress today. DC is 0310 1230 0001 3324 6078.
I received the book yesterday 8/23
I'd love to read this book!
~ Amy
The book is on its way to Janie in California. Here is the DC#
0309 2880 0001 9933 8304
Here is the link to my review of The Postmistress.
http://booksnob-booksnob.blogspot.com/2010/09/postmistress.html
I received this on Wednesday, September 15, 2010.
JHS
Colloquium
jhsmail at comcast dot net
Mailed!
DC#03101230000227400690
JHS
Colloquium
Received Postmistress 10/18.
Mailed 11/2.
DC 0309 3220 0001 4667 0250.
Laurie
My review is posted on my blog!
~ Amy
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