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Coventry: A Novel
Coventry: A Novel | Helen Humphreys
10 posts | 7 read | 10 to read
On the night of the Luftwaffe's devastating bombing of Coventry, two women traverse the city and transform their hearts. Helen Humphreys draws on history to delve into the lives torn asunder by the German attack of November 14, 1940. Harriet, a widow from World War I, is atop Coventry Cathedral, part of the nightly watch, when first the factories and then the church itself are set on fire. In the ensuing chaos she bonds with a young man, very much like the husband she lost, who relies on her to find the way back to his home where he left his mother. On their journey through a hell of burning shops and collapsed homes, Harriet awakens to emotions she had long put aside. At home, the youth's mother awaits his arrival and rethinks the life that has brought her to this city and her life raising her son alone. Ultimately, together these two women must face a world as immeasurably changed as their own selves.
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TrishB
Coventry | Helen Humphreys
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Pickpick

A lovely, little read this evening. There‘s nothing special about these stories except that the writing is very special. Not sure how to explain that but hopefully you know what I mean.
This author is definitely a #blameitonlitsy as these are not books I would have read previously.

zsuzsanna_reads Interesting - might recommend it to a bookish friend living in Coventry. 6y
saresmoore I know exactly what you mean. I love her writing, not as something to stand in awe of, but something to settle into and appreciate from the inside out. 6y
CoverToCoverGirl I absolutely loved 6y
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LeahBergen I know what you mean. She‘s more like a really tasty reading experience for me rather than a plot-driven page turner. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 6y
erzascarletbookgasm Now I‘m curious to know what you all mean 🤔😁 6y
TrishB @saresmoore @LeahBergen exactly 😘 you really appreciate every word. 6y
TrishB @erzascarletbookgasm gentle, lovely writing. 6y
TrishB @CoverToCoverGirl I have that on the tbr 👍🏻 6y
batsy So true. I agree. She makes space for you to live inside her writing ❤️ (looking forward to reading this one!) 6y
TrishB @batsy enjoy when you get to it 💕 6y
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TrishB
Coventry | Helen Humphreys
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This is a lovely read ❤️

Andrew65 This does say it all. 6y
Rissreads Love this 💚 6y
batsy Oh, I love it ❤️❤️ 6y
99 likes3 comments
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lahousewyfe
Coventry | Helen Humphreys
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Pickpick

This read was so lovely. Sweet and sad with beautiful prose to cushion the horror. I woke when I finished the book. The dream she wove seemed so real.

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ablachly
Coventry | Helen Humphreys
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Pickpick

This little book has the curse of being small enough to have spent months living in the bottom of my purse, just in case I had a moment to finally read it. Luckily it was still there today, when I was faced with a row of magazines!

Coventry follows two people who begin as strangers, over the course of one night in 1940 when a massive bombing raid hits the city. It‘s terrible and hopeful and truly beautifully written.

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LeahBergen
Coventry | Helen Humphreys
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Here are a few of my (newer, non-vintage) finds from yesterday‘s charity book sale. I was pleased to find a couple of Helen Humphreys books! 👍🏻

#BookSalesAreTheBestSales

RebelReader Nice haul! I‘ve picked up The Taster a couple times and put it back. Lucky you got it for a bargain! 🍀🍀 6y
DebinHawaii Nice haul! 📚👍 6y
emilyhaldi How do you always find the prettiest books 😍 6y
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batsy Lovely! I've also been curious about the Rhys book. And more Helen Humphreys 😍😍 6y
erzascarletbookgasm I think you did well! 👍 6y
Sarah83 Great finds 💖 6y
LeahBergen @RebelReader It‘s much easier to take a chance on a book for a $ or two, Isn‘t it? 6y
LeahBergen @emilyhaldi I‘m not averse to rummaging under tables at these sales. 😂😆😂 6y
LeahBergen @batsy I thought I‘d take a chance on it for $2 because, you know, murder on an ocean liner. 😆😆 6y
LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads I can‘t resist a Brontë-inspired novel. ? 6y
Melissa_J Nice haul! 6y
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ablachly
Coventry | Helen Humphreys
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It‘s really spring, maybe, finally! Reading in a rocking chair outside.

SqueakyChu I‘m sitting in a rocking chair outside, too! No book. Only my cell phone tuned in to Litsy! 😃📚 6y
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TheLudicReader
Coventry: A Novel | Helen Humphreys
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Celebrating hitting the 50 book mark at 50 BOOK PLEDGE by hitting the bookstore.

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TheLudicReader
Coventry: A Novel | Helen Humphreys
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Pickpick

"Maybe reading was just a way to make her feel less alone, to keep her company. When you read something you are stopped, the moment is stayed, you can sometimes be there more fully than you can in your real life."
Humphreys captures a moment in time, the bombing of Coventry, by allowing us to follow two women whose lives had intersected years earlier. Her simple prose packs a punch.

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TheLudicReader
Coventry: A Novel | Helen Humphreys
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Helen Humphreys is one of my favourite Canadian writers and Pinot Grigio is my favourite wine. So, a perfect Monday night.

AAdamson Always on the 👀 lookout for good Canadian lit. 8y
TheLudicReader I love her, @AAdamson . However, she tends to write about England and I would start with The Lost Garden, which is a beautiful, beautiful novel. 8y
AAdamson Thanks for the rec. I'll check it out! 🤓 8y
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TheLudicReader
Coventry: A Novel | Helen Humphreys
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I did the dishes, but the cleaning stops there. It's time to read.

LeahBergen Exactly! 8y
LauraBeth 😹😹😹 8y
13 likes2 comments