Thursday, April 28, 2016

The Soldier's Wife

Book: The Soldier's Wife
Author: Margaret Leroy


As World War II draws closer and closer to Guernsey, Vivienne de la Mare knows that there will be sacrifices to be made. Not just for herself, but for her two young daughters and for her mother-in-law, for whom she cares while her husband is away fighting. What she does not expect is that she will fall in love with one of the enigmatic German soldiers who take up residence in the house next door to her home. As their relationship intensifies, so do the pressures on Vivienne. Food and resources grow scant, and the restrictions placed upon the residents of the island grow with each passing week. Though Vivienne knows the perils of her love affair with Gunther, she believes that she can keep their relationship and her family safe. But when she becomes aware of the full brutality of the Occupation, she must decide if she is willing to risk her personal happiness for the life of a stranger.-Goodreads


Review: 'The Soldier's Wife' was one of my most anticipated reads this year. While it was beautifully written, I felt the 'story' was lacking. Vivienne's husband is away at war and she decides to stay on the small island of Guernsey with her daughters. German soldiers move in next door and Vivienne embarks on an affair with one of them. I was expecting an intense, forbidden love...in reality they had a conversation (maybe two) and next thing you know they are in bed-in her house. It was just so unlikely this would have been kept secret for any length of time. The ending wasn't a shocking at all and I find it surprising she would have stayed on the island or been accepted by any of the residents. She didn't have much of a spine throughout the book although she did finally come around toward the end. 

Grade: 2/5

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