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#12Booksof2022 July This book! Just scroll through the reviews.I just couldn‘t stop reading it.I had me in its grasp and I wouldn‘t have found it if the
#persephoneclub didn‘t exist.Thanks to them.I read some good books in July , but this was the best!

I wouldn't have found this brilliant book save for #persephoneclub . It's the combination of the history behind the story, that the author created a narrative for an unknown soldier, and the lives of the other characters, mrs Osborne, Horry, and garnet. It would be hard to read Felicity's letter w/o wondering about what might have been and noticing a bit of grit in your eye. There is so much restrained emotion, and lost lives. Loved it.

What beautiful writing in this novel of Willie Maryngton, a man too young for WWI, maybe too old for WWII .Willie dreams of glory on the battlefield, a career Army man who doesn‘t have much luck with the women in his life either.Don‘t want to say much more , just a wonderful read . Of course a Litsy book group put it on my radar! #PersephoneClub

This is page 16 .Willie has such a romantic idea of the war. Reminds me of F.Scott Fitzgerald,he purchased his WWI uniform custom at Brooks Brothers , made it to training camp, the war ended before he could ship out.Despite other writers than were in the war telling how awful it was,still so disappointed he didn‘t go, it haunted him.Robert Hughes art critic felt the Picasso or Miró of Britain died on Flanders fields.So many young Brits lost in WWI

This is a book that would probably never have been on my radar if not for our #PersephoneClub. I loved it, even though it was indeed heartbreaking.

@LeahBergen @CarolynM @sparklemn @quietjenn @elkeoriginal @Cathythoughts

Thank you to the #persephoneclub for introducing me to this lovely little book. I‘ll add my thoughts below with a spoiler tag.

Oh, this short novel (based on true events) hit me right in the “feels”!

It‘s the story of a career soldier, Willie Maryngton, who is devastated to be too young to fight in WW1 and too old for WW2. I shan‘t say anymore as it‘s best to go into this one completely blind but tell me what you thought of it, #PersephoneClub? I loved it!

PS: My Grandad‘s war medals. The 4th one is the Italy Star … and after reading the afterword? 😭

I know most of the #PersephoneClub haven‘t finished reading yet & I don‘t want to give anything away, so I‘ll just say I didn‘t know anything about the story when I chose it and I was quite surprised by it. It‘s a great read - I didn‘t want to put it down last night and then I couldn‘t put it down today until I‘d finished. I loved the afterword too - I think my favourite thing about the whole book was Duff Cooper‘s defence for publishing it.

😂😂😂 But how much do you think actually Duff Cooper believed this (or something like it)?

#PersephoneClub

It‘s now June so that means it‘s time for one of our #PersephoneClub reads!

@CarolynM ‘s pick for us this month is Operation Heartbreak by Duff Cooper. This is a casual buddy read; read and comment on each other‘s posts and reviews as you see them. We usually aim to finish by the middle of the month but that‘s not written in stone. 😉 And anyone is welcome to read along with us, of course!