Books
by Sarah Winman
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A Year of Marvellous Ways |
1947: Marvellous Ways is 89 years old, she sits by the river bank in a Cornish creek, with a telescope searching for someone or something, she knows not what. Drake is a traumatised soldier from WW II on a mission to fulfil a dying man's wishes. Their paths cross in Winman's life-affirming tale as the old woman comes to his aid. Magical - a delicious fairy-tale for grown-ups.
(Jenny Baker - bwl 106 Autumn 2022) |
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Still Life |
A chance meeting during WWII in Florence between a sexagenarian, art historian and a young British soldier has unexpected repercussions for the next forty years. The prose is atmospheric, the dialogue pacy, and the characters full blown. There's art appreciation, history, comedy, the love of family and friends and tragedy too, but overall, it's so uplifting, because no matter what happens we can be grateful there's still life so why not enjoy it. A pandemic panacea!
(Denise Lewis - bwl 103 Winter 2022) |
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Still Life |
A lot of people love this book and I enjoyed it as the story carries you along easily from East London to Florence and back over 50 years. However, for me, a lot of the characters seemed lacking in depth but maybe because there is such a lot going on. I was fond of the hero, Ulysses, and there is a lot of historical ground from the War to almost modern day and the descriptions of Florence and the food kept me going.
(Rebecca Howell - bwl 109 Summer 2023) |
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