Emotional, dramatic and authentic WW2 family saga
Having thoroughly enjoyed two of the previous books in the series, A Ration Book Christmas and A Ration Book Childhood (I've yet to read the first book, A Pocketful of Dreams), it was a pleasure to be reunited with the spirited Brogan family. Although A Ration Book Wedding picks up some of the storylines from the previous book, it can definitely be enjoyed a standalone but there are brief recaps inserted unobtrusively by the author where necessary.
The focus of this book is Francesca, best friend of Mattie, one of the daughters of the Brogan household. Francesca has always nursed a secret passion for Mattie's charming but slightly ne'er do well brother, Charlie, now married to Stella. Formerly the gloriously named Stella Miggles, Stella is, let us say, 'no better than she ought to be' and is harbouring a secret about her singular contribution to the war effort that she hopes won't get back to Charlie. She is also decidedly short on natural motherly affection towards their young son, Patrick.
As certain unsavoury individuals learn to their cost, the Brogans look after their own. Matriarch of the clan, Queenie, is a force to be reckoned with all by herself. I suspect I won't have been the only reader silently mouthing 'Go Queenie!' at one particular point in proceedings.
As with previous books in the series, the atmosphere of wartime London is vividly evoked, from the details of daily life - rationing, the blackout, war work, nights spent in bomb shelters - to the scenes of blitzed streets and bombed out buildings. Even John Lewis Oxford Street doesn't escape the wrath of the Luftwaffe. What sacrilege!
I loved learning facts about wartime Britain such as that Ministry of Food regulations restricted restaurants to offering only two vegetable dishes with a meal. Or that factories were constructed in the tunnels of the Underground.
When Francesca gets a job as a translator at the BBC - much against her father's traditional view - it not only brings her into contact with the dashing Count D'Angelo (more of him later) but provides the opportunity for a fascinating insight into broadcasting operations during the war.
Ah yes, Francesca's choice: dinner at Claridges with Count D'Angelo or a pie and mash supper with Charlie Brogan... And Francesca's not the only one facing difficult decisions. What does Francesca choose? You'll have to read the book to find out.
A Ration Book Wedding is another drama-filled visit to the larger-than-life Brogan family and a vivid insight into daily life for Londoners during World War 2. Love, betrayal, happiness, sorrow - the book has it all.
The focus of this book is Francesca, best friend of Mattie, one of the daughters of the Brogan household. Francesca has always nursed a secret passion for Mattie's charming but slightly ne'er do well brother, Charlie, now married to Stella. Formerly the gloriously named Stella Miggles, Stella is, let us say, 'no better than she ought to be' and is harbouring a secret about her singular contribution to the war effort that she hopes won't get back to Charlie. She is also decidedly short on natural motherly affection towards their young son, Patrick.
As certain unsavoury individuals learn to their cost, the Brogans look after their own. Matriarch of the clan, Queenie, is a force to be reckoned with all by herself. I suspect I won't have been the only reader silently mouthing 'Go Queenie!' at one particular point in proceedings.
As with previous books in the series, the atmosphere of wartime London is vividly evoked, from the details of daily life - rationing, the blackout, war work, nights spent in bomb shelters - to the scenes of blitzed streets and bombed out buildings. Even John Lewis Oxford Street doesn't escape the wrath of the Luftwaffe. What sacrilege!
I loved learning facts about wartime Britain such as that Ministry of Food regulations restricted restaurants to offering only two vegetable dishes with a meal. Or that factories were constructed in the tunnels of the Underground.
When Francesca gets a job as a translator at the BBC - much against her father's traditional view - it not only brings her into contact with the dashing Count D'Angelo (more of him later) but provides the opportunity for a fascinating insight into broadcasting operations during the war.
Ah yes, Francesca's choice: dinner at Claridges with Count D'Angelo or a pie and mash supper with Charlie Brogan... And Francesca's not the only one facing difficult decisions. What does Francesca choose? You'll have to read the book to find out.
A Ration Book Wedding is another drama-filled visit to the larger-than-life Brogan family and a vivid insight into daily life for Londoners during World War 2. Love, betrayal, happiness, sorrow - the book has it all.