Let me start with I’m glad I read this book. Some books are hard to read emotionally. This is one of those books. But reading it gave me some insight into a grandfather I did not know well.
One of the things I remember about my grandfather was hearing his sister say “Roy (my grandfather) was never the same after the war.” My grandfather was in France in 1917. He was a kind, quiet man who was easily over looked when we visited our grandparents. When we visited there were usually as many as 10 or 12 cousins and siblings all under the age of 10 or 12 to play with. He died when I was 12 so I didn’t know him as an adult. This book gave me a brief look into what he may have experienced and it made my heart sad for him and all soldiers who were involved in any war but especially World War I.
It is 1920 the war is over. With the end of the war people begin the long struggle to reconnect with friends and family displaced by the fighting, the bombings, and the troops both foreign and domestic. All wars have a list of MIA personnel. World War I had huge lists of MIA. As a result, wives, siblings, parents, and comrades spent years searching for information about a husband, brother, son, that had vanished without an easily found clue. Soldier records were skimpy or lost in battle. This book is about such a struggle.
The story is about Harry, who may be the one survivor of three brothers if the oldest brother, Francis, is not found living. Harry is searching for information that refutes his memory of Francis being mortally wounded, but there are no records, just guilt, to support or refute that memory. The story is about a woman, Edie, the wife of Francis who received a picture of him in the mail that might prove he is still alive. She carries on the same search as Harry with different memories and different guilt. Their separate searches cross and merge then separate through personal visits and letters sharing remembrances and recollections from before the war and during.
Harry has memories of leaving for war with his two brothers because one brother wants to join up. The three brothers join up together so they can take care of each other. This puts them in the same regiment – good for taking care of each other. His reminiscences take him to the personalities and skills of each brother. His recollections take him to the struggles of the war shared with his brothers. After the war he travels around France and other war areas helping families of war victims document or learn about their fallen family members by taking photographs of graves or places a soldier may have mentioned in a letter.
Edie has memories of living with her mother-in-law, the mother of the three boys and living in the boy’s family home as the wife of Francis after the mother’s death. Her last memory of Francis is of his visit home while on leave.
Harry and Edie share their common memories of childhood as they grow up as close neighbors and family friends. They find the answer to their question by separate routes.
Caroline Scott has written a stirring story that still haunts me, a thoughtful story I am glad I read.
Connie Chambers is a librarian at Sterling Public Library.
"book" - Google News
August 17, 2020 at 05:58AM
https://ift.tt/3aw31lv
“The Poppy Wife” creates emotional connection through haunting tale | Book review - Journal Advocate
"book" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2Yv0xQn
https://ift.tt/2zJxCxA
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "“The Poppy Wife” creates emotional connection through haunting tale | Book review - Journal Advocate"
Post a Comment