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#160 ~ Coventry
During World War II, the city of Coventry was bombed during a long, terrible night of destruction. Coventry, a novel by Helen Humphreys, takes us through that night through the eyes of Harriet, a war widow from World War I and Maeve a single mother of a nearly grown son. That night of bombing wasn’t the first time that Harriet and Mauve’s lives intersect. They meet by chance on Harriet’s bus trip back from sending her husband off to war. They become friends quickly, but circumstances do not bring them back together again until the fateful night of the Coventry Blitz.
The way in which this novel is constructed is near perfect. Through shorter chapters, we get to know Harriet, how she became a widow, her afternoon with Maeve, and why she remained in Coventry after her husband’s death. The night that the city was bombed by the Luftwaffe is all told within a single, long chapter. This structure works extremely well. I felt the suspense and terror of each of the characters during that night, but I kept flipping through looking for the next chapter. It gave me the sensation of “When will this ever end?” It’s not that the story was creeping along. Not at all. I wanted to know when, as a reader, I would finally see the light of a new day. That is exactly what those people must have felt on that long night. That night felt like an eternity for those who lived through it. Controlling the story through the chapter lengths the way that she did, Humphreys created a similar literary experience.
The Remains of Coventry Chapel Today
Coventry created a sense of place well and it evoked the type of fear and pain experienced by those who suffered during the bombing. It is hard to imagine what it would be like if your town was being bombed at night by an enemy focused on your destruction. I especially was horrified by the idea of being separated from my child, near adult or not, on a night where and no one is safe. Imagine every move you make might take you one step closer to your child or just out of his reach forever. On the flip side of that terror, there are your neighbors and other strangers experiencing the same thing. How touching is it to offer someone a drink or some other small comfort in the middle of what can only honestly be described as a nightmare?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Coventry. It gave me a look into a time and place that I wasn’t aware of beforehand. Since reading the novel I’ve done research on that airraid and it’s impact on Coventry, England, and World War II. Humphreys captured the feelings of that night and, through the way that life carried on after that devestating night, how time brings healings and helps us focus on what is important. I would highly recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction, British history, or World War II history.
Many thanks to Erica at W.W. Norton & Company for providing me with the opportunity to read this novel.
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This book is one of the books I’ve read for the 2009 War Through the Generations Reading Challenge. Check out the website for more information on great reads surrounding World War II.
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May 7, 2009 | Filed Under Historical Fiction, War Through the Generations, book review, female author, fiction
Comments
13 Responses to “#160 ~ Coventry”
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Meghan
Posted: May 7th, 2009 at 2:03 pm1Reply to this comment.I really want to read this! It’s quite pricey in the UK though, so it’ll have to wait until I go home. I’ve been to Coventry and its bombed cathedral. It brings home the reality of war, that’s for sure.
Meghan’s last blog post..BTT: Comic Books
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Lezlie
Posted: May 7th, 2009 at 2:05 pm2Reply to this comment.This looks good. I’ll have to keep an eye open for it!
Lezlie
Lezlie’s last blog post..I’m Scared . . .
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Jen - Devourer of Books
Posted: May 7th, 2009 at 3:06 pm3Reply to this comment.Great review! I’ve been interested in this ever since it was an Early Reviewer book, now I definitely want to read it.
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Kathy
Posted: May 7th, 2009 at 4:03 pm4Reply to this comment.I love books like this that make me reflect on life.
Kathy’s last blog post..Follow Me winner
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Sandy
Posted: May 7th, 2009 at 9:15 pm5Reply to this comment.I think I’ve got about fifty books too many on my WWII Reading Challenge list, but this one looks AMAZING. I love the cover, and I love the pictures you’ve included here. I’m writing it down!
Sandy’s last blog post..Fun at Barnes & Noble
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Carrie K.
Posted: May 7th, 2009 at 11:21 pm6Reply to this comment.I am so excited to read this one – great review!
Carrie K.’s last blog post..Book Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
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gwendolyn b.
Posted: May 8th, 2009 at 6:58 pm7Reply to this comment.This book is at the top of my Wish List. Glad to know you liked it so much. I like that you posted those pictures, too.
gwendolyn b.’s last blog post..MAILBOX MONDAY – May 4, 2009
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Marg
Posted: May 8th, 2009 at 7:41 pm8Reply to this comment.I really would like to read this book! I have had it on my wishlist for a while now.
Marg’s last blog post..Teaser Tuesday
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Literate Housewife
Posted: May 8th, 2009 at 8:27 pm9Reply to this comment.I will be interested in what others think about this novel. I have never read anything about bombings like that. Despite 9/11, I have a hard time imagining such a thing. I’m lucky in that. It’s such a great topic for a novel. I would happily read other books about that same night. I can only imagine how many stories there are to tell.
Literate Housewife’s last blog post..Writing The Brothers Boswell ~ A Guest Post by Philip Baruth
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Darlene
Posted: May 9th, 2009 at 4:44 pm10Reply to this comment.Nice review Jennifer. I loved this book. Humphrey’s is a very talented writer and this is one of my favorites.
Darlene’s last blog post..Winner of Mistress of the Sun
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Melissa - Shhh I'm Reading
Posted: May 11th, 2009 at 12:40 pm11Reply to this comment.Great review! I’ve seen this one mentioned a couple of places but it’s definitely going on my WL now.
Melissa – Shhh I’m Reading’s last blog post..Review: The World in Half by Cristina Henriquez
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Anna
Posted: May 15th, 2009 at 1:08 pm12Reply to this comment.I thought this was a great book, too. I’ve added your link to my review here, and I’ll be adding it to War Through the Generations soon.
Anna’s last blog post..Giveaway: THE GIRL WHO STOPPED SWIMMING by Joshilyn Jackson
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Anna
Posted: Sep 29th, 2009 at 1:31 pm13Reply to this comment.Hi Jen! I’ve posted your review here. FINALLY!
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