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kcoppola7's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the characters but there was no blot til the last 20 percent of the book that part was great but should have been a short story!
margreads's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyed this one. There were a couple of times when the main character's insecurities bothered me a bit but otherwise it was a very interesting glimpse into the life of an ambulance officer in the London Blitz.
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2018/06/thank-goodness-for-audiobooks.html
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2018/06/thank-goodness-for-audiobooks.html
tien's review against another edition
5.0
Ever since I fell completely in adoration of Deborrah Burrows' last book, [b:A Time of Secrets|24314578|A Time of Secrets|Deborah Burrows|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1420514797s/24314578.jpg|43893142] a couple of years ago, I’ve been waiting for another book. And while I was waiting, I kinda stalk her on Goodreads and twitter so I knew she’s been traipsing (sorry, researching) all over London when living there. I greeted the cover reveal of Ambulance Girls with a squeal of excitement and I think my heart might have stopped for mo when I received a copy in the mail.
Firstly, I do love this cover and I really like war historical fiction especially when this particular book’s main character was inspired by a real life historical Aussie woman serving in the London Auxiliary Ambulance Station during the Blitz. There were a lot of things I learnt from this novel about women during the Blitz. I guess there have been quite a number of books or even documentaries but the way it was written here made it all the more real to me. It was obvious that a lot of research was done in the writing of this novel and not just about the women or the Blitz as novel itself feels like veritable literary tour of London.
The novel opens with Lily on duty and having to face one of her fears of enclosed spaces. It was a great start to the novel and you’d easily fall in love with Lily. Her other fears though were not as easily conquered… Aside from her courage, empathy, and her wish to do well unto others, she’s also got a great sense of humour. Maybe that’s her Aussie flavoured humour that coloured her interactions with her friends and gave the book a reminiscent air. We follow Lily through her struggles with daily life during the Blitz; the grief of losing a friend and the joy of falling in love. There were some shaky moments where I thought things were just not going to be right with this book but thankfully, all was made quite well! I had to give the book a bit of a hug from relief and an affectionate pat when I finished reading for I was well & truly shaken.
There were a number of characters both likeable and despicable in this book and the variety and dynamics between these characters were really quite interesting. The book is told from Lily’s perspective only so in a way, we miss out on a lot about the other characters as only a few were well developed. However, as this is the first book of a trilogy, I do believe we will get to know some of the others quite well later on (and I look forward to this!). What you cannot mistake in this novel is the author’s views on anti-semitism (ignorant) and Hitler (evil); she’s loud and clear on that front. Hear! Hear! These things can never be stated enough and whilst Hitler is gone, there are still those like him & share his views.
If you loved the show, Call the Midwife, or the books that inspired it, you would love Ambulance Girls. Lily Brennan may not be English but she’s as brave as those midwives in facing uncertainties & adversities of the time. And I dare say that her Australian personality shone through especially against the foil of English reserved façade.
Thanks to Penguin Books Australia for copy of book in exchange of honest review
Firstly, I do love this cover and I really like war historical fiction especially when this particular book’s main character was inspired by a real life historical Aussie woman serving in the London Auxiliary Ambulance Station during the Blitz. There were a lot of things I learnt from this novel about women during the Blitz. I guess there have been quite a number of books or even documentaries but the way it was written here made it all the more real to me. It was obvious that a lot of research was done in the writing of this novel and not just about the women or the Blitz as novel itself feels like veritable literary tour of London.
The novel opens with Lily on duty and having to face one of her fears of enclosed spaces. It was a great start to the novel and you’d easily fall in love with Lily. Her other fears though were not as easily conquered… Aside from her courage, empathy, and her wish to do well unto others, she’s also got a great sense of humour. Maybe that’s her Aussie flavoured humour that coloured her interactions with her friends and gave the book a reminiscent air. We follow Lily through her struggles with daily life during the Blitz; the grief of losing a friend and the joy of falling in love. There were some shaky moments where I thought things were just not going to be right with this book but thankfully, all was made quite well! I had to give the book a bit of a hug from relief and an affectionate pat when I finished reading for I was well & truly shaken.
There were a number of characters both likeable and despicable in this book and the variety and dynamics between these characters were really quite interesting. The book is told from Lily’s perspective only so in a way, we miss out on a lot about the other characters as only a few were well developed. However, as this is the first book of a trilogy, I do believe we will get to know some of the others quite well later on (and I look forward to this!). What you cannot mistake in this novel is the author’s views on anti-semitism (ignorant) and Hitler (evil); she’s loud and clear on that front. Hear! Hear! These things can never be stated enough and whilst Hitler is gone, there are still those like him & share his views.
If you loved the show, Call the Midwife, or the books that inspired it, you would love Ambulance Girls. Lily Brennan may not be English but she’s as brave as those midwives in facing uncertainties & adversities of the time. And I dare say that her Australian personality shone through especially against the foil of English reserved façade.
Thanks to Penguin Books Australia for copy of book in exchange of honest review
emilypaull's review
4.0
This past weekend, I devoured WA author Deborah Burrows's latest book in a couple of sittings. It was delightful to escape into the version of World War Two London that this talented author had created, and follow alongside the eponymous Ambulance Girl of the title. Lily Brennan, a young Australian teacher, has being travelling-- working as a governess in Europe for a wealthy family, learning languages-- but when the Blitz begins, she is a member of the Ambulance service and her job is to go out onto the streets and help those trapped or wounded when the bombs fall. When we first meet Lily, she is crawling through the remains of a bombed out house in order to rescue two children who have been left stranded inside. We quickly learn that Lily is tenacious and a woman of great moral integrity. Lily's partner is David Levy, a young Jewish man whose background causes some unrest among his fellow ambulance station workers. Anti-Semitism is rife, as is an underlying class-based elitism that Lily finds upsetting and outdated. When David doesn't show up for work one day, Lily thinks for certain that something has happened to him-- and that it was no accident.
This was a quick read, and light-hearted, but unlike many books that may be considered similar, it didn't rely on easy coincidences or deus ex machina to advance its plot. The mystery at the heart of the novel was extremely well thought-out and Lily Brennan was a great character to follow along with. Her outsider status as an Australian in Britain provided a lens through which to critique the London attitudes of the time, providing a much more balanced view of Londoners during the Blitz than that which has become so stiflingly common. As for the love story in this book-- well, there had to be one, didn't there! And when a character is as lovely as Lily, you absolutely want her to get her man.
A fabulous weekend read, four out of five stars.
This review was originally posted at www.emilypaull.com
This was a quick read, and light-hearted, but unlike many books that may be considered similar, it didn't rely on easy coincidences or deus ex machina to advance its plot. The mystery at the heart of the novel was extremely well thought-out and Lily Brennan was a great character to follow along with. Her outsider status as an Australian in Britain provided a lens through which to critique the London attitudes of the time, providing a much more balanced view of Londoners during the Blitz than that which has become so stiflingly common. As for the love story in this book-- well, there had to be one, didn't there! And when a character is as lovely as Lily, you absolutely want her to get her man.
A fabulous weekend read, four out of five stars.
This review was originally posted at www.emilypaull.com
margreads's review
4.0
Enjoyed this one. There were a couple of times when the main character's insecurities bothered me a bit but otherwise it was a very interesting glimpse into the life of an ambulance officer in the London Blitz.
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2018/06/thank-goodness-for-audiobooks.html
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2018/06/thank-goodness-for-audiobooks.html
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