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Wine of Honour
Wine of Honour | Barbara Beauchamp
18 posts | 11 read | 14 to read
I wonder how many women today are back in their pre-war ruts. For how many was the war merely a temporary disarrangement and for how many others has it meant complete re-adjustment, an entirely new set of circumstances? This is a stupid thought for me to have when, even in my own case, I don't know the answer. Helen Townsend and neighbour Laura Watson are unlikely friends as a result of serving together in the ATS. Helen is married to the local doctor, but has spent much of the war with her lover Brian, and both men are now due back from active service. Laura, stuck caring for her domineering father, is already missing the freedoms that war offered. They and many others in their village are just beginning to adjust to the unexpected challenges of peace. In Wine of Honour, Barbara Beauchamp seems somehow to have recognized how unique and fleeting were the details of life in the days and weeks just after the end of World War II, and to have set out to carefully document them--with particular focus on the experiences of women. The result is an incomparable, fly-on-the-wall vision of a fascinating time and place.
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review
kwmg40
kwmg40
Wine of Honour | Barbara Beauchamp
post image
Pickpick

I'm glad I discovered this book through #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub. It was a slow start, but I grew increasingly absorbed in the characters' lives as I continued reading. The author provides an insightful look into how people from the different classes of English society dealt with the aftermath of WWII.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks
#192025 #1945 @Librarybelle

Cathythoughts Nice review 👍🏻 2y
batsy Nicely said! It grows on you and is a revealing glimpse of an era. 2y
Librarybelle These books sound so delightful...I've stacked a few from everyone's reviews! 2y
See All 9 Comments
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
CarolynM Lovely review. 2y
jlhammar I agree, it was so interesting to get a closer look at that particular time and place. Glad you enjoyed it! 2y
kwmg40 @Cathythoughts @TheAromaofBooks @CarolynM Thank you! 2y
kwmg40 @batsy @jhammar That was definitely what I liked best about the book -- getting a feel of that time and place. I've read a lot of books set during WWII but not many that have explored the difficulties of adjusting to civilian life afterward. 2y
kwmg40 @Librarybelle I've only just discovered these books myself through the #FurrowedMiddleBrowClub. I especially love the design of the book covers. 2y
39 likes1 stack add9 comments
review
Jess_Read_This
Jess_Read_This
Wine of Honour | Barbara Beauchamp
post image
Pickpick

As @Ruthiella mentioned, it‘s a fast read once picked up! I was absorbed in needing resolutions to each of the characters‘ stories. Angela‘s struggle with trying to help Peter knowing the correct societal norm would be to marry yet she‘s got a brilliant career ahead of her was moving. She‘s lived a life and has one ahead of her. Beauchamp‘s portrayal of the mental and physical results of the war on soldiers along with the impact of their return ⬇️

Jess_Read_This Was raw, insightful, and bleakly honest at times. Both the military serving men and women returned to a life that is both foreign and familiar. It was beautifully written for me. I appreciated the transparency in her writing on infidelity. I also loved how we end the story in the same setting as we began it. Just altered and more the wiser for some of the characters. I loved some get their HEA and we hope for the same for the others. 2y
Jess_Read_This #furrowedmiddlebrowclub #jessreads2023 2y
Jess_Read_This @Ruthiella @LeahBergen @quietjenn @batsy @CarolynM @catebutler @Kimzey @erzascarletbookgasm @elkeOriginal @Cathythoughts @jlhammar @MrsK @willaful @Tamra @PageShifter 2y
See All 20 Comments
Kimzey Great review! 2y
Jess_Read_This Dick‘s struggle with a head injury and how it‘s impacted his ability to regulate emotions really made me sad for his young wife. His anger at the system and inability to hold a job was hard to reading knowing the effect it will have on the future generation. I had my fingers crossed for the entire Cobb family in the end when he‘s back working at the pub. Sadly, I struggled with sympathy for Laura. Did anyone else feel similarly? 2y
Jess_Read_This @Kimzey Thank you! 2y
batsy Lovely review. I didn't quite fully like Laura or Helen, but I felt sympathetic for both. And I kind of wanted Laura to have a happy ending or at least a romance of her own. 2y
Jess_Read_This @batsy Yes! That‘s a good way of putting it. I couldn‘t fully like either either. After about 90 pages, I wanted to tell both of them to just get on with it already. They seemed never fully committed. Maybe that‘s part of the point Beauchamp was trying to make in showing all the varying characters‘ responses to post war life. I wanted Laura to escape that cottage and her father. Find love and just be happy. Instead, she seems to be turning bitter? 2y
Cathythoughts I love your review ❤️. I really enjoyed this one 👍🏻 2y
Ruthiella Great review! I liked that the book had realistic if less than perfect outcomes for most of the characters. But she left it open enough to allow for our imaginations to fill in their futures. 2y
jlhammar Glad you liked it. I appreciated Angela's story line as well. I loved that we got so many different experiences and personalities (even if it did leaving me wanting more in some cases). Fantastic review and lovely photo! 2y
LeahBergen Great review! I was really rooting for Dick to do well at the pub and I felt a bit irritated by Laura‘s limpness. 😆 2y
CarolynM Great review! I think Laura liked being told what to do. In the services the direction was a lot more constructive. I suspect she will be somewhat lost when her father dies. 2y
quietjenn Terrific review and such a pretty picture. I particularly appreciate you calling out Angela's story, as it's the one that has stuck with me the most. 2y
Jess_Read_This @Cathythoughts Thank you! I‘m glad this one got selected for our group read. I very much enjoyed it as well. 2y
Jess_Read_This @Ruthiella Well said! I think what made it impactful on me was the less perfect outcomes since Beauchamp really was speaking to the realistic post war outcomes. Thank you for pointing that out! 2y
Jess_Read_This @CarolynM Thank you! That‘s a good observation about Laura. I‘m glad we discussed her character more because it‘s helped me see her more sympathetically. 2y
Jess_Read_This @LeahBergen Thank you! I was so glad reading that sentence about him being back working in the pub after running out on his wife. Even though he was abrasive and honestly, just awful in scenes, I still felt sympathy because I wasn‘t sure what was due to head injury or not. We never really see how he was as a person pre-war. 2y
Jess_Read_This @quietjenn @jlhammar Angela is the character that resonated with me. She‘s judged by other females in the book, successful professionally, kind, and seems so comfortable in her skin. So when it seems like she pauses in her rhythm and considers Peter as commitment material, it stuck out to me. As if she pauses and considers doing what all the women around her do: get married. That scene in her apt, where Peter sees the photos of her in ⬇️⬇️⬇️ (edited) 2y
Jess_Read_This St Tropez and Singapore (? )with other men in her travels, really stood out to me that she has lived. She‘s been actively building a professional and personal life. And the whole time reading, I was wishing for her not to settle for the drunk who can‘t pay the housekeeper and lies to her face about it. I still felt sympathy for Peter. His brother‘s comment about the Navy and his “homosexual” leaning made me think Peter drinks to cope/forget. 2y
42 likes20 comments
blurb
rubyslippersreads
rubyslippersreads
Wine of Honour | Barbara Beauchamp
post image

I enjoyed this once it got going, although I actually found Helen‘s story the dullest, with the Cobb family the most interesting. I wish Laura had gotten some gumption and re-joined the service. Peter Gurney could have used some gumption too.

The term “Civvy Street” was new to me.

#FurrowedMiddleBrowClub

🔽🔽

rubyslippersreads @quietjenn @Jess_Read_This @Kimzey @erzascarletbookgasm @catebutler @CarolynM @LeahBergen @elkeOriginal @batsy @Tamra @Cathythoughts @jlhammar @willaful @Ruthiella @MrsK @PageShifter (edited) 2y
Ruthiella Oh! I see some promising fan fiction/ sequel where Laura and Peter find love and rejoin the service once her father dies and he gets sober. 😂 (edited) 2y
willaful Ruthiella -- excellent! This story needs more happy endings. 😁 2y
See All 12 Comments
jlhammar Cool graphic! Civvy Street was new to me as well. And I agree about Laura. I‘ll just have to imagine she finds her gumption and happy ending later. 2y
Aimeesue @Ruthiella 🤣🤣🤣 2y
rubyslippersreads @Ruthiella I‘d definitely read that. 😆 2y
batsy @Ruthiella @rubyslippersreads Me, too! The fanfic we need 😆 2y
Cathythoughts Great review 👍🏻😁 2y
rubyslippersreads @Cathythoughts 😘 2y
LeahBergen Civvy Street was new to me, too! And yes, Laura needed a kick in the pants. 😆 2y
Cathythoughts @rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen 🙊😂 ( Laura ! ) 2y
CarolynM I wasn‘t particularly keen on Helen, but I thought the treatment of infidelity was interesting, especially considering the time and the circumstances. I‘m not sure I‘d wish Peter on anyone, even Laura! @Ruthiella Civvy Street is an expression I remember hearing quite a lot once upon a time, but I certainly haven‘t heard it recently. (edited) 2y
46 likes12 comments
blurb
Aimeesue
Aimeesue
Wine of Honour | Barbara Beauchamp
post image

WW2 has ended,and everyone‘s returning home, but neither home nor they themselves remain the same. I have a thing for WW2 British homefront books, so this was a interesting read for me. Being a (now retired) military spouse, I found the discussions of nostalgia & pride in wartime units relatable -there‘s something about surviving a stressful/challenging time together that creates a bond that outsiders just can‘t be part of.
#FurrowedMiddlebrow ⬇️

Aimeesue (2)It was thrilling to see it depicted here, because those of us who went through it in recent times don‘t often see it depicted in fiction.As depicted here, coming out the other side of war zone deployments, family separations, PTSD and re-aclimation to the civilian world can be jarring, and happens in fits and starts, as Beauchamp demonstrated beautifully here. Spot on, so I may even read this one again. (edited) 2y
Aimeesue @catebutler @elkeOriginal @erzascarletbookgasm @quietjenn @CarolynM @Cathythoughts @batsy @Kimzey @Jess_Read_This @LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads @Tamra @Ruthiella (edited) 2y
batsy Great review, and great to see it from your perspective. Yes, I think the reacclimation "in fits and starts" as you say, is the thing that struck me the most reading this. 2y
See All 14 Comments
Aimeesue @batsy I don‘t know how it is when you actually deploy to a war zone together, but being the spouses of the deployed is an incredibly bonding experience these days. Despite all kinds of social differences, the people who supported me while our spouses were deployed together will ALWAYS be my people. (edited) 2y
jlhammar Wonderful review! It felt very authentic to me. Glad it resonated with you. I really appreciated the focus on the challenging adjustment period for the returning men and women and their families. Not something I‘ve read much about. And lovely floral background in your collage! 2y
Ruthiella That‘s so cool that you have this extra lens to read this with. Isn‘t amazing how one can connect across time via books like this? Glad you liked it. (edited) 2y
LeahBergen What a great review! I liked it for the very reasons you did and I‘m not even a military spouse. 😆 It was such an interesting take on the WW2 novel. 2y
Cathythoughts Great review 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻and I love your picture. 2y
Suet624 Hmmm…with your review and the comments of all those who enjoyed the book, it seems I‘ll have to read it! 2y
Aimeesue @jlhammar i just googled "1940s wallpaper" and picked from the prettiest! ? 2y
Aimeesue @Ruthiella It‘s an interesting connection for sure. Probably why I‘m so drawn to British homefront stories - I can really relate. 2y
Aimeesue @LeahBergen I really enjoyed it! 2y
Aimeesue @Cathythoughts Thanks! It‘s a 1940s wallpaper design! 2y
Aimeesue @Suet624 There are some annoying characters and situations for sure, but I really did enjoy these aspects. Hope you enjoy it if you decide to read it! (edited) 2y
33 likes1 stack add14 comments
review
quietjenn
quietjenn
Wine of Honour | Barbara Beauchamp
post image
Pickpick

Using my break to finish up this #furrowedmiddlebrowclub title, which I appreciated more than liked. I found the writing a bit plodding and I didn't really connect with any of the characters. I did like the focus on the demobbed dealing with life on Civvy Street, the contrast between those who served and those on the homefront and that Beauchamp didn't shy away from class issues. I just wish it were a little more heart and a little less head.

quietjenn @batsy @catebutler @Cathythoughts @elkeOriginal @erzascarletbookgasm @Jess_Read_This @jlhammar @Kimzey @LeahBergen @MrsK @Sparklemn @Ruthiella @rubyslippersreads @Tamra @willaful 2y
catebutler I'm finishing up today, and my thoughts and opinions reflect yours. 2y
Ruthiella I agree that none of the characters were particularly sympathetic. Not even Helen. But I did like it for its real time glimpse of the immediate aftermath of WWII for some Britons. 2y
See All 10 Comments
quietjenn @Ruthiella yes, I thought it really worked as a snapshot of this time. 2y
CarolynM Yes, the characters were there as representatives of particular experiences more than fully fleshed out people. Still an enjoyable read for me. 2y
batsy I too found the writing a bit plodding. It did feel like a life-like snapshot into a particular time and place, especially since the characters were not wholly likeable and we could see them from the start with their warts and all 🙂 2y
jlhammar Great to get your thoughts! I hear what you‘re saying about heart vs head and the writing. It really was different (interesting is the word that kept coming to mind), but I quite enjoyed it for what it was. 2y
LeahBergen I found the writing made it initially a bit hard for me to get into to the story but I ended up enjoying it. 2y
Cathythoughts I really enjoyed this book. I felt there was a depth to it. I didn‘t notice the plodding writing 🙈. I enjoyed it for what it was too @jlhammar👍🏻♥️ 2y
Jess_Read_This As a late to reading it group member, I‘ve been loving reading all the different experiences everyone has had reading this book! Great review! 2y
68 likes1 stack add10 comments
review
batsy
batsy
Wine of Honour | Barbara Beauchamp
post image
Pickpick

This was an interesting look at the post-war upheavals & effects on a cast of characters in a British village. It is ironic how something so disruptive to life & wellbeing—war—was the one way for most middle & upper class British women to imagine different possibilities beyond their role at home. Although the writing here didn't quite sparkle, I enjoyed how the book gently looked into all these altered lives. #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

batsy @catebutler @Cathythoughts @elkeOriginal @erzascarletbookgasm @Jess_Read_This @jlhammar @kimzey @LeahBergen @MrsK @quietjenn @Sparklemn @Ruthiella @rubyslippersreads @Tamra @willaful 2y
batsy Thanks again for passing on your extra copy @CarolynM 😘 2y
jlhammar The writing didn‘t quite sparkle for me either (great way to put that!), but I did really enjoy it for what it was, for that fly-on-the-wall experience. Great review! 2y
See All 20 Comments
Tamra My recreational reading is on hold, but what little I did get to didn‘t grab me with a capital G. 2y
batsy @jlhammar Thank you! Yes, it's the kind of narrative that grows on you and by the end it's nice to see how it all sort of ties together. 2y
batsy @Tamra I struggled when I read it in bits at the start but it got better when I finally sat down and polished off most of it. Hope you have more time for fun reading soon 🙂 2y
Ruthiella Great review! I was luckily able to read it in a couple of larger chunks and I agree that helped in my enjoyment of it. 2y
LeahBergen Yes, I found the writing didn‘t immediately grab me either. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2y
CarolynM Great review. Definitely a case of the total being greater than the sum of the parts. And you‘re very welcome😘 2y
erzascarletbookgasm Nice review. Sounds like a very interesting book. 2y
Cathythoughts Nice review! Yes I agree it was an interesting look at these altered lives. 👍🏻 2y
batsy @Ruthiella @CarolynM @Cathythoughts Thank you! 💜 2y
batsy @LeahBergen Glad I'm not the only one! 😁 I think the shift in POV also took some adjusting to at the start. 2y
batsy @erzascarletbookgasm Thanks, Jessie! Will be happy to send it to you so you get a chance to read it, too. It'll be a #furrowedmiddlebrowclub travelling book 🙂 2y
willaful Finished today and it resonated emotionally a lot with me, post-lockdown. Somehow the human experience really doesn't change much. 2y
willaful I thought it was interesting that Helen's narration was in first person present tense. I don't recall ever seeing that in an older book before. 2y
Jess_Read_This Great review! Thanks for setting the expectation that the writing doesn‘t “sparkle” but is still enjoyable. I‘m starting it Saturday and I think I might be bring up the last of the group members in reading it 😂 (edited) 2y
batsy @willaful That's a great point about resonating post-lockdown. There is something about emerging into what should be a new world but with old roles depressingly intact that has parallels to the post-war situation. And yes about Helen's pov; made the book seem very contemporary. 2y
batsy @Jess_Read_This Thank you! As you can see the book has generated some interesting comments and reviews from those who have read it. I hope you enjoy it and I look forward to your thoughts! 2y
willaful @batsy I also related to those missing the war... there was a simplicity about knowing exactly what your priorities were, and a comradeship in the shared experience, at least in the early days. 2y
93 likes2 stack adds20 comments
review
Ruthiella
Ruthiella
Wine of Honour | Barbara Beauchamp
post image
Pickpick

A frank look at life right after WWII in an English village as returning forces and civilian population adjust to life after wartime. Some manage the transition better than others.

It reminded me a little of South Riding by Winifred Holtby (though much shorter) in its intimate look at a large cast of characters ranging across class in a specific location, in this case the village of Kirton.

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

tagged users iconrubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Jess_Read_This, Kimzey, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, CarolynM, LeahBergen, elkeOriginal, batsy, Tamra, Cathythoughts, jlhammar, willaful, MrsK
batsy Love the collage! I loved South Riding a lot and I've been meaning to revisit it. 2y
quietjenn This collage is great! And yes, @batsy I've been meaning to revisit South Riding as well, so let me know if you decide to do so. 2y
Tamra I spy our FurrowedMiddlebrowClub meeting spot! 😉 (edited) 2y
See All 19 Comments
batsy @quietjenn I will! All of my best laid bookish plans fall to the wayside because of distraction, though, so please prompt me if you're ready at some point 😁 2y
quietjenn @batsy I understand completely 😅 And I will. 2y
jlhammar The Cock & Pheasant!! Fantastic collage and lovely review. This book also reminded me of the tv series Home Fires. 2y
Ruthiella @batsy @quietjenn @Tamra @jlhammar I just knew there had to be a real pub with that name. And I was right! 😂 2y
LeahBergen Love the collage! Who‘s eloping out of the Cock and Pheasant? 😆😆 2y
Ruthiella @LeahBergen 🤣 Maybe Daphne and Mr. Price? 😂 2y
LeahBergen 🤣 That Daphne was a bit of a horndog, wasn‘t she? 😆 2y
CarolynM Nice review. The variety of experiences was what made it so interesting for me. @batsy @quietjenn I‘ve not read South Riding but I‘d love to join in if you decide to buddy read. 2y
Ruthiella @CarolynM I think you will like
[tagged book]South Riding
2y
batsy @CarolynM @quietjenn Will remember to tag you when it happens 🙂 2y
quietjenn @batsy @CarolynM yes, definitely! 2y
Cathythoughts Great review! I love your collage 👍🏻❤️ 2y
Ruthiella @Cathythoughts Thanks 😊 2y
PageShifter Sounds awesome 💞 2y
Jess_Read_This Great review and love the collage. I‘m looking forward to diving into this one on Saturday! 2y
Ruthiella @Jess_Read_This Thanks! It was a quick read l found, once I got into it. 2y
80 likes2 stack adds19 comments
review
CarolynM
CarolynM
Wine of Honour | Barbara Beauchamp
post image
Pickpick

We are all familiar with the idea that the commencement of World War II caused massive change for the British which required a lot of adjustment. This book explores the ways the end of the war required just as much adjustment as service personnel settled back into civilian life, those who didn‘t serve made room for them and everyone came to terms with all that had happened while they were separated. 👇
#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

tagged users iconrubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Jess_Read_This, Kimzey, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, LeahBergen, elkeOriginal, Aimeesue, batsy, Tamra, Cathythoughts, jlhammar, Ruthiella
CarolynM I was very interested in the comments about class and how the comparative lack of it in the military made returning to the civilian society difficult. 2y
LeahBergen Great review! Yes, the whole intermingling of the “classes” on their return (especially at the pub) was just so interesting. 2y
Cathythoughts I love your review. Yes , very interesting about class ( lack of ) in the military and returning to civilian society. 2y
See All 9 Comments
batsy Nice review! I'm so close to being done but I'm finding it very interesting precisely because as the description promised: it provides a micro view of society in the post-war upheaval. It's really interesting to see the varied levels of freedoms (or not) amongst women amidst their different occupations/class position. 2y
quietjenn Yes! I'm only a little way through, but the class thing has really struck me in what I have read. 2y
jlhammar Wonderful review. Love your wallpaper! The “fly-on-the-wall” description on the back cover is spot-on. That was just how I felt reading. It makes so much sense that those old class and gender lines would have eroded some over the course of the war. I agree, it was so interesting to see how that played out for these characters in those first months back. 2y
Ruthiella I was surprised that police would accuse Dick of falsely wearing his medals. But OTOH, I know that Black American service men also returned from WWII and met with similar if not worse treatment in the US. 2y
Jess_Read_This You‘ve written such a terrific review! This is going to be my weekend read. I can‘t wait to get into after reading your review! 2y
rubyslippersreads I think some of the readjustments were similar here in the US. My maternal grandmother was a “Rosie the Riveter” during WWII, but of course had to give the job back to a man when the war ended. 2y
70 likes3 stack adds9 comments
review
LeahBergen
LeahBergen
Wine of Honour | Barbara Beauchamp
post image
Pickpick

This 1945 novel is an eye-opening and gossipy peek at a group of demobilized villagers who must return to their old lives in the immediate aftermath of WW2. Wartime love affairs, illegitimate babies, soldier‘s PTSD, and the demise of the country house are all touched upon by an author who had herself just returned from war service. Super interesting!

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

tagged users iconrubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Jess_Read_This, Kimzey, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, CarolynM, elkeOriginal, batsy, Tamra, Cathythoughts, jlhammar, Ruthiella
LeahBergen Oops, @Lizpixie ! I almost forgot to tag you for #BirthdayPixieReadathon. So sorry, no pixies on the cover here! 😆😆 2y
jlhammar Such lovely shelves. Gossipy peek is a perfect description. Great review! 2y
Ruthiella So many illegitimate babies! People would have us believe that things were different then… 2y
See All 24 Comments
sarahbarnes Love the title! 2y
CarolynM Great review. I‘m hoping to finish tomorrow. It‘s so interesting to read about this period in a contemporary work. To take @Ruthiella ‘s point one step further, I‘m getting a feeling from it that is not dissimilar to the current mood in my world of post pandemic restrictions. 2y
erzascarletbookgasm Sounds like I‘m missing a very good read this month. Great review Leah! 2y
batsy Nice review, Leah! I'm about halfway through and I like the description "gossipy peek", as well. It does feel like we're sat at The Cock and Pheasant eavesdropping on the next table ? 2y
Cathythoughts Lovely review! Gossipy peek is right. We‘ll said , that really is part of the charm of the writing. And all your gorgeous books in the picture 🥰 2y
Tamra Gossipy yes! So fun in these period novels. 🤫 2y
Aimeesue Nice review! Starting this one tonight! 2y
LeahBergen @jlhammar There‘s a whole lotta middlebrow on these shelves. 😆 2y
LeahBergen @Ruthiella Exactly! 2y
LeahBergen @sarahbarnes It‘s great, isn‘t it? 2y
LeahBergen @CarolynM There are total similarities! 2y
LeahBergen @erzascarletbookgasm I think you might like this one! 2y
LeahBergen @batsy I loved that pub. 😆 2y
LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! 😘 2y
LeahBergen @Tamra I don‘t mind a wee bit of gossip myself, sometimes. 😆 2y
LeahBergen @Aimeesue I hope you enjoy it, too! 2y
elkeOriginal How many Furrowed Middlebrow do you NOT own? I assume that is a shorter list than ‘own‘ 😉 2y
LeahBergen @elkeOriginal LOL! Well, you made me curious and I had to count. 😆 I think I still need 16 (but the rest of the ones I own aren‘t all Furrowed Middlebrow editions; I have around 18 of the titles in old hardcovers). 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2y
elkeOriginal @LeahBergen Fantastic numbers! The real HCs are such a prize 💕 2y
LeahBergen @elkeOriginal They are, aren‘t they? I always think they “read better” than a new edition. 🤫 2y
Lizpixie 🙌🎉😘 2y
92 likes4 stack adds24 comments
review
jlhammar
jlhammar
Wine of Honour | Barbara Beauchamp
post image
Pickpick

An interesting look at village life, particularly at the challenges facing women, in the immediate aftermath of WWII. The long-awaited peace brought difficult adjustments for many. I appreciated how Beauchamp highlighted several different personalities and situations.

Anyone else find the switch from first-person POV with Helen to third-person for the others to be an unusual choice? I think it ultimately works given how she bookends the story.

tagged users iconrubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Jess_Read_This, Kimzey, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, CarolynM, LeahBergen, elkeOriginal, batsy, Tamra, Cathythoughts, Ruthiella, Sparklemn, willaful, MrsK
jlhammar Some good quips in here as well. “Faithfulness was unfashionable during the war“ was one of my favorites. #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub 2y
Ruthiella Yes, I wondered at that switch in perspective as well. An artistic choice? To make the reader more sympathetic toward Helen? I did like the bookending, however. The end was an interesting echo of the beginning. 2y
batsy I just started today and will come back to this review when I'm done 🙂 2y
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LeahBergen I just finished it and yes… I was wondering about that singular first-person narration, too! And like you and @Ruthiella I ultimately found it worked with the bookending of the first and final chapters. (edited) 2y
LeahBergen And did anyone else think Helen might end up with Brian? I thought there might be more to their relationship as he was SO “two souls meeting” but … nope. 😆😆 I was also hoping for a bit of romance for poor ol‘ Laura (maybe Michael?), especially when she showed up to that boozy cocktail party in a new frock but, once again … nope. 😆 (edited) 2y
Ruthiella Funny enough, I didn‘t consider that! I did did think there might‘ve been a confrontation with her husband at some point or a confession. But nope, neither happened. 2y
jlhammar @LeahBergen @Ruthiella After Helen‘s “I love you, but I‘m no longer in love with you” reply to her husband, I wasn‘t expecting things to end up where they did either! Nice that they found their way back to each other and we got a happy ending of sorts. I, too, was hoping for something more for Laura. I really felt for her. 2y
batsy Great review! Finished last night and was also thinking about the switch in pov but like you said, the bookending of Helen's pov chapters made it quite satisfying. I'm still not sure why it was done—I suppose it was an authorial intention to make Helen the protagonist while also giving the reader an Austen-esque view into the village. 2y
batsy @LeahBergen Me too! I was so hoping that the party would be the start of something for her. Feel like there was a whole missed opportunity with making either one of Michael or Brian more interesting male characters who fell for Laura 🙃 2y
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jlhammar
jlhammar
Wine of Honour | Barbara Beauchamp
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“Group commander! What a lot of nonsense you women got up to during the war. I can‘t think how the army got along at all with a pack of women dressing themselves up as soldiers, strutting about giving orders and poking their noses into a lot of matters that didn‘t concern them”

Laura‘s father is a real piece of work. This part had me fuming 😡

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

tagged users iconrubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Jess_Read_This, Kimzey, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, CarolynM, LeahBergen, elkeOriginal, batsy, Tamra, Cathythoughts, Ruthiella, Sparklemn, willaful, MrsK
Tamra Ya, though I haven‘t gotten very far into the story, I don‘t have a favorable impression of him. 2y
Ruthiella Agree, he‘s an ass. But I suspect his opinion wasn‘t uncommon at the time, unfortunately. 2y
LeahBergen I‘ve only just started reading the book and I can already tell he‘s going to be a piece of work. 🙄 2y
Cathythoughts Yes , Laura definitely has her hands full with him. 2y
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review
Cathythoughts
Cathythoughts
Wine of Honour | Barbara Beauchamp
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Pickpick

‘It nearly broke his Mum‘s heart when he joined up , her having lost her husband in the first war …‘

All the happenings in the village of Kirton as World War Two ended.
Showing the deepest fears and anxieties people had to somehow live through. The uncertainty of life and what would happen next ,Lovely characters
Good laughs along the way too. #FurrowedMiddleBrowClub I wish we could all meet in the Cock and Pheasant Arms to chat about this one

tagged users iconrubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Jess_Read_This, Kimzey, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, CarolynM, LeahBergen, elkeOriginal, Aimeesue, batsy, Tamra, jlhammar, Ruthiella, willaful, MrsK
batsy I wish we could meet at the Cock and Pheasant Arms, too!! 😁❤️ Great review. I've yet to start but based on your review I'm looking forward to it. 2y
Cathythoughts @batsy It‘s very enjoyable 👍🏻❤️ 2y
Aimeesue I‘m looking forward to this one! 2y
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Tamra Me too!! 🍻 2y
erzascarletbookgasm Lovely review! 🍻 2y
jlhammar Wouldn‘t that be lovely? Wonderful review! Look forward to finishing-up this weekend. 2y
quietjenn Yes, to a nice chat at the pub! Nice review 😃 looking forward to devoting some time to this one soon 2y
Ruthiella That would be great to meet up in the pub to discuss in person! I‘ve finished it as well and concur with your review. A really interesting look at how people dealt with transitioning to civilian life, long wished for but harder than anticipated. 2y
LeahBergen What a lovely review! I better get cracking with my reading of it. 😆 2y
LeahBergen And the wine pairing is perfect. 🍷 2y
catebutler Great review Cathy! I‘m in the middle of the novel, and agree wholeheartedly. Love the character studies. 2y
willaful I have to read it on my phone, which my eyes hate, so have been reluctant to start. But I'll try to commit to some time every day. 2y
Cathythoughts @Aimeesue @Tamra @erzascarletbookgasm @jlhammar @quietjenn 👍🏻😁 cheers 🍻 2y
Cathythoughts @Ruthiella I think it was hard at times too. Really made me think about what people went through ❤️💔 2y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen Thanks 🍷 2y
Cathythoughts @catebutler The characters are great ❤️ 2y
Cathythoughts @willaful Mind your eyes. It‘s a good read ❤️❤️❤️ 2y
LeahBergen Oh, just to let you know … I sent you a book from Book Depository that might be arriving next week (three words in the title; first word starts with ‘G‘ 😆😆) and there‘s another little package to follow that I‘ve sent from here. I hope it doesn‘t arrive too late! 😘😘 2y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen Thanks so much Leah. You‘re very good. We are off to France tomorrow but my neighbour is taking in our post.. I‘ll look forward to your parcel .. and first letter ‘G‘ hmmmm, interesting ❤️❤️❤️😘 2y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen We used to do that letter teaser before! That was fun 😂 I‘m glad it‘s making a comeback. I can ponder on G 👍🏻❤️ 2y
LeahBergen Yes, you did the letter teaser thing first! 😆 I loved it. Have a wonderful, WONDERFUL time in France. 😘😘 2y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen Thanks Leah 😘 2y
Jess_Read_This Lovely review! And I‘d love to meet up with you and our bookclub in a pub. That would just be such a treat to meet everyone. I‘ve got this one on order and am looking forward to joining in! 2y
Cathythoughts @Jess_Read_This 🍻I hope you enjoy the book X 2y
CarolynM What a lovely thought, all of us sharing a drink and a laugh together❤️ Well, maybe one day… Great review too. 2y
kspenmoll Wonderful review! 2y
Cathythoughts @kspenmoll Thankyou ! 😘 2y
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blurb
jlhammar
jlhammar
Wine of Honour | Barbara Beauchamp
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I knew that Queen Elizabeth II served in the ATS during WWII, but not much else. Love this recruiting poster. There‘s some interesting history and photos on the National Army Museum site. Also enjoyed this BBC Radio 4 Seriously… episode where a few of the women still alive “tell their extraordinary stories of the Auxiliary Territorial Service and how it changed their lives.” Links to both in comments.

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

tagged users iconrubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Jess_Read_This, Kimzey, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, CarolynM, LeahBergen, elkeOriginal, batsy, Tamra, Cathythoughts, Ruthiella, Sparklemn, willaful, MrsK
jlhammar https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/auxiliary-territorial-service 2y
jlhammar https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0bcvcp1 2y
Cathythoughts Thanks ! I must have a look. I‘m hoping to start just as soon as I finish my present book. 👍🏻❤️ 2y
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LeahBergen Thanks! I‘m saving this for when I start the book! 👏 2y
CarolynM Just getting started. So far so good🙂 2y
Jess_Read_This Thanks for sharing! I have the book on order and will check back into this. I love the artwork on the poster. Just stunning! 2y
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Tamra
Tamra
Wine of Honour | Barbara Beauchamp
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That made me snort & smirk. 😆 #Furrowedmiddlebrowclub

Ruthiella That line caught my eye too! 2y
jlhammar Just read this bit! Oh, the injustice, getting stuck with a Canadian for a daughter-in-law! 😆 2y
Cathythoughts 👍🏻 Well , we couldn‘t be approving of that sort of carry on 😂 2y
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LeahBergen “Even if it was a Dominion”. 😆😆 2y
LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Not with a Canadian! 😆 2y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen Definitely not with a Canadian 😳😂😂 2y
50 likes6 comments
quote
jlhammar
jlhammar
Wine of Honour | Barbara Beauchamp
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“I, Helen Townsend, am going to have tea with Laura Watson.”

So excited to get started! Love this cover. #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub
#FirstLineFridays

JamieArc All these covers…. 😍😍😍 2y
batsy Lovely photo! I hope to get started next week. 2y
Cathythoughts I‘m looking forward to it too 👯‍♀️👍🏻❤️ 2y
LeahBergen I‘m so looking forward to this one, too! 👏 2y
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blurb
Ruthiella
Ruthiella
Wine of Honour | Barbara Beauchamp
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Hey #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub reading friends! It‘s time to read our bimonthly pick for March 2023. As per usual, read and post as you go and we‘ll aim to be finished by the middle of the month, but no worries if you take longer. 😊

All are welcome to join in! If you want to be tagged, let us know. 😄

tagged users iconrubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Jess_Read_This, Kimzey, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, CarolynM, LeahBergen, elkeOriginal, Aimeesue, batsy, Tamra, Cathythoughts, jlhammar, willaful, MrsK
CarolynM I‘m looking forward to this one - even more than usual! 2y
Ruthiella @CarolynM I was so looking forward to it, I accidentally posted about it last month! 😂 @LeahBergen reminded me I was getting ahead of myself and I deleted it. Oops 🙊 2y
CarolynM Jumping the gun there! There‘s nothing wrong with being overexcited about a buddy read🤣 2y
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catebutler Excited to read this! 2y
Aimeesue @Ruthiella Whoops!😂 (edited) 2y
Tamra I‘ve started! Woot 🎉 2y
batsy Yay! 2y
LeahBergen Yay! And thanks for the reminder. I loved your over eager, early post (that‘s totally something I would do 😆😆). 2y
erzascarletbookgasm I‘ll sit out on this month‘s pick. Hope it‘s a good read for everyone. 2y
jlhammar Can‘t wait to get started! 2y
Cathythoughts Thankyou !! I must get my copy off the shelf immediately 👍🏻😁 2y
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batsy
batsy
Wine of Honour | Barbara Beauchamp
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Thank you so much @CarolynM for passing on your extra copy for our upcoming #furrowedmiddlebrowclub and the lovely extras. Your beautiful card and message ❤️ I love the pin and bookmark! You're so thoughtful and it was a treat to get this in the mail 😘

CarolynM That was quick! Hope it‘s a good read😘 2y
Cathythoughts That‘s a perfect present ♥️ So lovely! 2y
batsy @CarolynM Thanks again and I hope we all enjoy it 🙂 2y
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batsy @Cathythoughts Yes! 🥰 2y
GatheringBooks Do i spy a notebook? That looks gorgeous! 2y
batsy @GatheringBooks That's a card! It's such a pretty design 💜 2y
LeahBergen So lovely! 🥰🥰 2y
batsy @LeahBergen It is 💕 2y
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blurb
quietjenn
quietjenn
Wine of Honour | Barbara Beauchamp
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Hello, #furrowedmiddlebrowclub members! We thought it might be nice to get our reading for the year lined up, so everyone can plan (and buy!) accordingly, So, here are my nominations for March!

. Hopefully one of them will strike your fancy!

quietjenn
[tagged book]Miss Carter and the Ifrit
2y
LeahBergen @catebutler @elkeOriginal @erzascarletbookgasm @rubyslippersreads @quietjenn @LeahBergen @CarolynM @Cathythoughts @Ruthiella @batsy @Kimzey @Jess_Read_This It‘s time to vote, everyone! 😊 2y
LeahBergen Well, I really want to read both but I‘ll be fiscally responsible and vote for the one I already own. 😆
[tagged book]Wine of Honour
2y
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quietjenn @LeahBergen thank you! I did tag people and they showed up on the desktop, but didn't save and I didn't realize it. 2y
LeahBergen @quietjenn Oh, no worries! 😄 2y
LeahBergen And I was SO thinking of choosing Miss Carter for one of my own voting choices but I‘m trying to narrow it down to books I own. 😬 2y
quietjenn @LeahBergen I am not always great at the fiscal responsibility, but i often find that to be how I make decisions 🤣 2y
quietjenn @LeahBergen it's hard, although fun hard! And I tend to mostly read these as ebooks, so ownership isn't as much as issue, since those are so cheap (or sometimes free) that i just end up buying them all. There were definitely a few others that were close contenders, which I'm kinda hoping come up in other nominations 🤞 2y
LeahBergen @quietjenn I must say, I love how frequently they give away free e-editions of these books. They‘re such a lovely small press. ❤️ And I have a few others that I‘m hoping come up for the vote soon, too! (edited) 2y
Ruthiella Sorry @LeahBergen if this means you have to buy another book (the horror!😱) but I have to vote for Miss Carter. It just sounds like such fun and will help cheer up the last month of winter.
[tagged book]Miss Carter and the Ifrit
2y
LeahBergen @Ruthiella Umm, PLEASE make me buy another book. I‘ll be buying it anyway. 😆😆 2y
elkeOriginal Miss Carter for me! 2y
Cathythoughts I‘m voting
[tagged book]Wine of Honour
2y
CarolynM I was thinking of suggesting this one, so I‘ll vote for it instead 🙂
[tagged book]Wine of Honour
2y
batsy Ooh, fun choices! I'm going with
[tagged book]Wine of Honour
2y
erzascarletbookgasm This sounds fantastical and fun
[tagged book]Miss Carter and the Ifrit
2y
rubyslippersreads
[tagged book]Wine of Honour
2y
catebutler Love the idea of both of these. My vote is for
[tagged book]Miss Carter and the Ifrit
2y
Kimzey Either would be fine, but I vote for Miss Carter and the Ifrit. 2y
LeahBergen Okay, @Jess_Read_This , you‘re our tiebreaker! What‘s your vote? 2y
Jess_Read_This @LeahBergen I‘m horrified and apologetic! I haven‘t received Litsy notifications for the past two days. I get one today and see I‘ve missed 14 conversations! 😬 I vote for
[tagged book]Wine of Honour
2y
LeahBergen @Jess_Read_This Haha! No apologies needed! Litsy‘s notifications have been glitching for the last couple of days. I figured if I bombarded you with tags , one would eventually get through. 😆 2y
LeahBergen Wine of Honour wins by a nose! @CarolynM and @Cathythoughts , you two can post your suggestions for July and September now. @Ruthiella , I was thinking you might want to wait to see what gets nominated for these two before posting yours for November? 2y
CarolynM @LeahBergen They were going to be my two choices. Lucky me gets two more choices😁 (edited) 2y
Jess_Read_This @LeahBergen it‘s so odd. I‘ve never had issues with notifications. And now I‘m not getting any. Not even that you replied to me 5 min ago! I appreciate the tag bombardment- I think it needs to continue on for me sadly. I‘ll try to reload the app maybe 2y
LeahBergen @CarolynM You do, lucky duck! 🦆 2y
quietjenn @Jess_Read_This @LeahBergen I'm constantly having trouble with tags and notifications, so you are certainly not alone! 2y
LeahBergen @Jess_Read_This It was happening to me a couple of days ago (and might still be, for all I know 😆). Other people on Litsy have been mentioning it, too. 2y
LeahBergen @quietjenn You, too? It‘s annoying! 2y
Ruthiella @LeahBergen Yes, I will wait until @CarolynM and @Cathythoughts post. 👍😊 2y
Jess_Read_This @quietjenn @LeahBergen Thanks for understanding and commiserating! I‘m glad (but also dismayed) it‘s happened to both of you. I like to be able to select when I take a tech break from notifications and not have it forced on me 😂 2y
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