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celladore_cheaply's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
philippakmoore's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely loved this. Published in 1945, with the events, upheaval and traumas it describes very fresh indeed, Saplings is the story of four children - Laurel, Tony, Kim and Tuesday - and how their affluent family life in Regents Park changes forever with the outbreak of war.
The children are faced with trauma and losses they were entirely unprepared for - and the same can be said of the adults around them who for the most part completely underestimate the psychological effects of the war on them. Some of the adults mean well, others less so. It’s quite devastating.
Reading this book at this point in time - having had life as we know come to an abrupt halt these past few months, with lockdown, shops and places of entertainment closed, being unable to travel and see our families and friends, food shortages, every day fresh worry about what might happen to us and our loved ones - gave me new appreciation for what those who lived through the Second World War must have gone through (and that the whole “blitz spirit” that people are fond of trotting out is an insulting comparison). It made me realise that while we and the children we love may have physically survived the latest health crisis, it has been a disruptive and frightening time for many. I think parents of today are better at considering a child’s perspective on things so we needn’t fear a repeat of Saplings...at least I hope not.
Highly recommended if you’re interested in novels of this period. Disturbing and brutal but it also manages to be beautiful.
The children are faced with trauma and losses they were entirely unprepared for - and the same can be said of the adults around them who for the most part completely underestimate the psychological effects of the war on them. Some of the adults mean well, others less so. It’s quite devastating.
Reading this book at this point in time - having had life as we know come to an abrupt halt these past few months, with lockdown, shops and places of entertainment closed, being unable to travel and see our families and friends, food shortages, every day fresh worry about what might happen to us and our loved ones - gave me new appreciation for what those who lived through the Second World War must have gone through (and that the whole “blitz spirit” that people are fond of trotting out is an insulting comparison). It made me realise that while we and the children we love may have physically survived the latest health crisis, it has been a disruptive and frightening time for many. I think parents of today are better at considering a child’s perspective on things so we needn’t fear a repeat of Saplings...at least I hope not.
Highly recommended if you’re interested in novels of this period. Disturbing and brutal but it also manages to be beautiful.
matpark19's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is a very subtle, layered novel with lots of things to say about raising children, class, trauma, (lack of) communication and sexuality. It's the story of a quintessentially upper-middle class English family and how they are torn apart by the war.
The story has a lot going on under the surface, but in true British fashion the characters don't speak about their feelings and issues are addressed quite obliquely. There are very few honest conversations or moments of cartharsis. Instead, there are plenty of disscussions about train schedules and clothing coupons. I liked that. It felt much more naturalistic to me but I could see how some might find the novel more meandering or unfocused.
I think Streatfield's message is that children suffered from the war directly, but they suffered more as a result of the obliviousness or callousness of the adults around them. Streatfield has a very modern approach to understanding children and the story is full of insight which seems remarkable from a book published in 1945, so close to the end of the war.
The story has a lot going on under the surface, but in true British fashion the characters don't speak about their feelings and issues are addressed quite obliquely. There are very few honest conversations or moments of cartharsis. Instead, there are plenty of disscussions about train schedules and clothing coupons. I liked that. It felt much more naturalistic to me but I could see how some might find the novel more meandering or unfocused.
I think Streatfield's message is that children suffered from the war directly, but they suffered more as a result of the obliviousness or callousness of the adults around them. Streatfield has a very modern approach to understanding children and the story is full of insight which seems remarkable from a book published in 1945, so close to the end of the war.
bekab20's review against another edition
3.0
Complete downer! Not that it's not a good book. But definitely a sharp contrast to her children's books like Ballet Shoes. Such truthful representation of the reality of war on a family, physically and often more importantly, psychologically.
meghan111's review
3.0
Persephone Press republishes forgotten popular classics from women authors, mostly from the early 20th century. It's a neat idea, and the books are put together carefully; they all feature endpapers of forgotten vintage fabric patterns created by women designers.
Saplings by Noel Streatfeild was one of the works republished by Persephone. Streatfeild is famous for [b:Ballet Shoes|10444|Ballet Shoes|Noel Streatfeild|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166205099s/10444.jpg|1505465] and its sequels, children's book originally written in the 1930s. Before she started writing children's books, however, she wrote novels for adults, and Saplings is one of her adult novels. Written in 1945, it deals with the effects of World War II on a nice, middle-class British family with four children. She does an incredible job of documenting the minute-by-minute mood swings that happen among siblings on holiday at the seashore, and in establishing the characters of the four siblings - two boys and two girls - and their parents and extended relatives.
Anyway, they're a nice family, and the war wrecks them, in small ways and large. It's sad when people die, but it's also sad when the small dreams and hopes of children aren't allowed to flourish because of the neglect and sacrifice required by the war. The title of the book reflects the weird tenderness of how children blossom and flourish, and how easy it is for that hopefulness and creativity to be stamped out.
Saplings by Noel Streatfeild was one of the works republished by Persephone. Streatfeild is famous for [b:Ballet Shoes|10444|Ballet Shoes|Noel Streatfeild|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166205099s/10444.jpg|1505465] and its sequels, children's book originally written in the 1930s. Before she started writing children's books, however, she wrote novels for adults, and Saplings is one of her adult novels. Written in 1945, it deals with the effects of World War II on a nice, middle-class British family with four children. She does an incredible job of documenting the minute-by-minute mood swings that happen among siblings on holiday at the seashore, and in establishing the characters of the four siblings - two boys and two girls - and their parents and extended relatives.
Anyway, they're a nice family, and the war wrecks them, in small ways and large. It's sad when people die, but it's also sad when the small dreams and hopes of children aren't allowed to flourish because of the neglect and sacrifice required by the war. The title of the book reflects the weird tenderness of how children blossom and flourish, and how easy it is for that hopefulness and creativity to be stamped out.
gldnhaze's review
4.0
This has been sitting unread on my shelf for such a long time. I really liked it and maybe now was just the right time to read it! It was heart-wrenching at times but I felt like it was important to read it and that Streatfeild really just gets children.
peterp3's review
4.5
I never knew that Noel Streatfeild wrote adult novels. This one portrays a powerful perspective of the psychological impact on mental health of the trauma of war and separation. And also the impact on children of the selfish and/or thoughtless actions of adults, whether or not they were well-meant. There’s the veneer of a ‘happy family’, but it’s so easily broken!
I was fully engaged with the story, much of it related from the children’s perspective. But the ending seemed rushed and incomplete, which was a pity.
I was fully engaged with the story, much of it related from the children’s perspective. But the ending seemed rushed and incomplete, which was a pity.
ddejong's review
4.0
3.5 stars. The good: Streatfeild seems to have an impressively strong grasp on the psyche of children, their rich emotional landscape, and all the ways that adults fail to understand them. I found this aspect of the book compelling. It was also interesting to read a book fully focused on the experiences of a middle class family during the Blitz and particularly the impact on children of the disruption and lack of consistency/security. The bad: This is a dark book, which in and of itself isn’t bad, but I really felt like Streatfeild drove most of her characters off a cliff. The unraveling of their lives felt dogged and in some ways excessive, even in the context of WWII. The book also ended fairly abruptly in a way that didn’t feel especially thoughtful or well-crafted.
coops456's review against another edition
5.0
A very powerful and moving book about the impact of adult behaviour upon four children, set in the context of WWII.
In contrast to another Persephone title, [b:Doreen|2728105|Doreen|Barbara Noble|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1213764270s/2728105.jpg|2753737], the "saplings" here are part of an outwardly happy middle-class family, but as in that book the world of the children is disrupted by war and permanently scarred by the decisions that adults make for them.
I knew Streatfeild only as a children's author and this was a revelation. I shall certainly seek out more of her work.
In contrast to another Persephone title, [b:Doreen|2728105|Doreen|Barbara Noble|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1213764270s/2728105.jpg|2753737], the "saplings" here are part of an outwardly happy middle-class family, but as in that book the world of the children is disrupted by war and permanently scarred by the decisions that adults make for them.
I knew Streatfeild only as a children's author and this was a revelation. I shall certainly seek out more of her work.