Firstly, this is the only book in the ration book series that I have read, I did so as I won a copy and when giving it my initial first look review it looks like a nice, light read. I have since given the book to an avid reader of this genre and someone who has read the previous books in the series and I have combined both of our reviews together.
A Ration Book Victory is the last book in a six part series and see’s the culmination of the stories following the Brogan family. This books marks the end of the Second World War and gives readers a chance to look back on members of the family that have been featured in other books. As someone who has not read any of the previous books I did feel that it affected my connection with the characters as lots had already had their stories developed and I had no connection to it. I still enjoyed what I read, (It can be read as a standalone), but I had help understanding some of the stories from my friend who was an avid reader of all of the previous book; for her it was like seeing an old friend again and she loved getting back in the story.
The Brogan family is a large and diverse one which I loved, the book gives us a great look at a multi-generational household which doesn’t necessarily follow what one would assume was the “norm” of the time, there are illegitimate children and interracial relationships which I thought added a really nice aspect to the story.
The main story follows Queenie and it was interesting to see the vast differences between experiences from when Queenie is a young woman, and then the fast forward to 1945, when the world is at odds and there is a lot of uncertainty with who to trust and how to move forward in what feels like new terrain. Life seemed to be a lot simpler for Queenie in her childhood, up until the love of her life was ripped from her, in a way that made him available in many ways, but not in the ways she wanted him to be. It is a tender love story and works well alongside what was happening in the family during the final month of the war and even though the war in Europe ends there is still issues elsewhere and not everyone is yet safe!
The book had a lovely mix of humour, sadness and loving moments and I think this was balanced well through-out, I laughed, shed a tear and get very angry at some characters and their storylines. I overall think it was an enjoyable read, it a well written and balanced book and I am tempted to go back to previous books and start from the beginning with this family.
A Ration Book Victory is the last book in a six part series and see’s the culmination of the stories following the Brogan family. This books marks the end of the Second World War and gives readers a chance to look back on members of the family that have been featured in other books. As someone who has not read any of the previous books I did feel that it affected my connection with the characters as lots had already had their stories developed and I had no connection to it. I still enjoyed what I read, (It can be read as a standalone), but I had help understanding some of the stories from my friend who was an avid reader of all of the previous book; for her it was like seeing an old friend again and she loved getting back in the story.
The Brogan family is a large and diverse one which I loved, the book gives us a great look at a multi-generational household which doesn’t necessarily follow what one would assume was the “norm” of the time, there are illegitimate children and interracial relationships which I thought added a really nice aspect to the story.
The main story follows Queenie and it was interesting to see the vast differences between experiences from when Queenie is a young woman, and then the fast forward to 1945, when the world is at odds and there is a lot of uncertainty with who to trust and how to move forward in what feels like new terrain. Life seemed to be a lot simpler for Queenie in her childhood, up until the love of her life was ripped from her, in a way that made him available in many ways, but not in the ways she wanted him to be. It is a tender love story and works well alongside what was happening in the family during the final month of the war and even though the war in Europe ends there is still issues elsewhere and not everyone is yet safe!
The book had a lovely mix of humour, sadness and loving moments and I think this was balanced well through-out, I laughed, shed a tear and get very angry at some characters and their storylines. I overall think it was an enjoyable read, it a well written and balanced book and I am tempted to go back to previous books and start from the beginning with this family.