Scan barcode
mbenzz's review against another edition
3.0
This book took forever for me to finish. It's a short book, and I usually blow through books that are written entirely in letters, but this just fell flat for me. There wasn't much difference in the voices of Davy and Elspeth, nor was there much feeling.
Yes, they fell in love through their letters, but you don't FEEL their emotions. You don't really get WHY they fell in love...it's like everything is just being told to you, but without the passion.
Overall, not a favorite of mine. The descriptions of Skye were marvelous and really paint a beautiful, vivid picture of what like is like for Elspeth on her island, but the plot was a predictable one. Each character was was a cardboard cutout and did exactly what you expected them to do. No excitement or surprises to be found here.
Yes, they fell in love through their letters, but you don't FEEL their emotions. You don't really get WHY they fell in love...it's like everything is just being told to you, but without the passion.
Overall, not a favorite of mine. The descriptions of Skye were marvelous and really paint a beautiful, vivid picture of what like is like for Elspeth on her island, but the plot was a predictable one. Each character was was a cardboard cutout and did exactly what you expected them to do. No excitement or surprises to be found here.
lacierawlins's review against another edition
I couldn’t handle the affair, no matter how much she tried to justify it.
whatzudoin's review against another edition
1.0
I got a few chapters into this book and I had to put it into my donate pile. I honestly thought this book would be fun and for me. As I was reading seemed monotone. If your characters are from different parts of the world I expect each person to sound different. The whole book is made up of letters and I felt disappointed by the feel they portrayed. It didn't keep my interest.
stephvaughn02's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
beccadavies's review against another edition
4.0
In a word, this book was charming.
The story is set in both WWI and WWII. The start of the story brings us to before WWI begins. Elspeth Dunn is an accomplished poet, living on the Scottish isle of Skye who recieves fan mail from David, a young college boy in America. Over the course of their correspondence, they soon fall in love. The only problem is, Elspeth is married and the war is just starting.
The WWII aspect takes us to Elspeth's daughter and her letters between herself and her solider lover, her estranged uncle, and her mother. It was Elsepth who discovers her mothers secret letters of the past, and helps bring closure to Elspeth and David's story.
The book was written so that the reader was only privy to the letters that the characters wrote eachother throughout the time period.
I wasn't sure if I'd like reading the book through just the letters but I actually thought it was very well done and actually added to the story.
Overall, if your looking for something romantic, something light, something charming then this is the book for you!
The story is set in both WWI and WWII. The start of the story brings us to before WWI begins. Elspeth Dunn is an accomplished poet, living on the Scottish isle of Skye who recieves fan mail from David, a young college boy in America. Over the course of their correspondence, they soon fall in love. The only problem is, Elspeth is married and the war is just starting.
The WWII aspect takes us to Elspeth's daughter and her letters between herself and her solider lover, her estranged uncle, and her mother. It was Elsepth who discovers her mothers secret letters of the past, and helps bring closure to Elspeth and David's story.
The book was written so that the reader was only privy to the letters that the characters wrote eachother throughout the time period.
I wasn't sure if I'd like reading the book through just the letters but I actually thought it was very well done and actually added to the story.
Spoiler
The end was lovely albit a little cheesy. However, for romantics like me, I loved the fact that both David and Elsepth never found anyone else and I think I did a little sigh at the last sceneOverall, if your looking for something romantic, something light, something charming then this is the book for you!
mg_in_md_'s review against another edition
3.0
To be rated/reviewed closer to this month's book club meeting
A pleasant read told via two sets of letters: one set exchanged during WWI and one during WWII. The WWI letters are between a Scottish poetess and her apparent biggest fan, an American. The WWII era letters are generated primarily by the poetess's daughter following her mother's abrupt departure from the Isle of Skye to London for reasons initially unclear to the daughter. During WWI, the poetess and the fan strike up a friendship and eventually develop stronger feelings via their letter-writing. The two eventually lose touch as a result of the war and their respective stubbornness -- a key letter remains unopened and unread. When the letters resurface in the WWII era, the poetess strikes out on a quest to find her lost love...or to at least find out what happened to him. The reader wonders whether the star-crossed lovers will be reunited and, if so, will they be able to pick up where they left off. The plot centers primarily around the relationship between that poetess and the American but also draws in historical aspects to tell the wartime love story.
A pleasant read told via two sets of letters: one set exchanged during WWI and one during WWII. The WWI letters are between a Scottish poetess and her apparent biggest fan, an American. The WWII era letters are generated primarily by the poetess's daughter following her mother's abrupt departure from the Isle of Skye to London for reasons initially unclear to the daughter. During WWI, the poetess and the fan strike up a friendship and eventually develop stronger feelings via their letter-writing. The two eventually lose touch as a result of the war and their respective stubbornness -- a key letter remains unopened and unread. When the letters resurface in the WWII era, the poetess strikes out on a quest to find her lost love...or to at least find out what happened to him. The reader wonders whether the star-crossed lovers will be reunited and, if so, will they be able to pick up where they left off. The plot centers primarily around the relationship between that poetess and the American but also draws in historical aspects to tell the wartime love story.
libbs004's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
5.0
cjgmiranda220's review against another edition
5.0
I listened to this story on audio book download from my public library.
The story takes place during two different time periods, the 1910s and 1940s. It is an epistolary novel that takes place in letters between two different couples during times of war. I love the romance of the letters. Also, the relationships between mothers, daughters, aunts, and friends.
I have a really long commute, and I also listened to the story while doing data entry. I listened to the story in two days, it's was that intriguing. Although, I kind of knew where the story was going, I didn't want to stop listening to it.
Great read and so romantic!
The story takes place during two different time periods, the 1910s and 1940s. It is an epistolary novel that takes place in letters between two different couples during times of war. I love the romance of the letters. Also, the relationships between mothers, daughters, aunts, and friends.
I have a really long commute, and I also listened to the story while doing data entry. I listened to the story in two days, it's was that intriguing. Although, I kind of knew where the story was going, I didn't want to stop listening to it.
Great read and so romantic!
khenn's review against another edition
5.0
A book that is written in back and forth letters that leaves and indelible mark on your soul.
This books was magic and captured me from the first page and I highly recommend it to any and everyone who would like a periodic read with twists, turns, fraught with emotion and hope.
The ending - magic.
This books was magic and captured me from the first page and I highly recommend it to any and everyone who would like a periodic read with twists, turns, fraught with emotion and hope.
The ending - magic.