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Belfast, 1941, Luftwaffe's bombarding the city four days in a row. Sisters Audrey and Emma, as well as all the other habitants of the city, just try to survive. An excellent novel indeed.

Ooh.
More prize nominees (Walter Scott).
How many have you read? (2)

https://www.walterscottprize.co.uk/

This is a well told story about 2 sisters who in 1941 Belfast experience 4 terrible days of bombing. The city is destroyed as Emma and Audrey's lives and future are also changed dramatically. I loved this novel which combines the emotional drama of family, love, and loss, with a picture of the horror of the blitz on a city whose story in the time is not much told. It also draws from many 1st hand stories which are tough to read but an excellent bk

A fantastic read about two sisters and their familiy during WWII in Belfast when the city was nearly destroyed by bombs.

Loved this one. An atmospheric look at Belfast, 1941.

She... feels it with a vertiginous rush, this waste, this sheer, unholy waste.

It hasn't surprised her...that the city around her should periodically erupt into barricades and flames, doesn't surprise her that it should be obliterated now from above, because that, sometimes, is how a cold small part of her feels - just take it, take all of it, I want none of it, none of this, because none of it - how can it? - none of it matters.

Mixed feelings on this one, I read widely when it comes to wartime fic and non fic but I don't know what it was about this story, I found the writing a little bland and I found it hard to empathise with the characters.
I didn't particularly like either of the girls, Emma or Audrey but on the other hand as well it was rather a short novel so maybe the characters didn't have all that much time to grow and develop.
I found the situations a bit rushed

The story follows two young girls during the war years in Belfast and the time of the "Belfast blitz."
Emma is rather a free spirit and embarks on an affair with Sylvia which in those days would most certainly be frowned upon.
The other, Audrey is engaged to be married to Richard yet she is wrestling with her conscience as she isn't in love with him.
Both are trying to find a sense of identity and belonging during a very turbulent period.

Had high hopes of this one as I really enjoy wartime novels but it didn't quite live up to my expectations.
At times it seemed rather directionless and the flitting back and forth between characters and situations is always something I struggle with and may also be the same for other readers.
I didn't really bond with any of the characters either.
The sisters Emma and Audrey I found a little cold and emotionless overall.
Not the best in its genre