I am a big admirer of the “I Used To Know” series of books, many of which are written by Caroline Taggart so I am very familiar with her easily accessible style and her skill in picking out the most engaging parts of her raw material. It was therefore no surprise when her very first paragraph cut to the chase and nailed the modern malaise for Xmas amongst a vast proportion of the population (holidays from work, overindulging on booze and turkey and shops gearing up for the season far too early)!
A brilliant First Impression that zipped along and had me hooked as I learnt things and was forced to really consider the significance of circumstances such as family separation (evacuation or fighting) and recognise the hardship of this dislocation for the families involved as they fretted about their loved ones. I had never really reflected on things like petrol rationing and blackouts whilst others, such as rationing and shortages, were far more well-known. Made up of a mix of data statistics and anecdotes all brought together by Caroline Taggart’s eye for linking to a more modern element (Colin Firth, Dad’s Army etc), the book promises to be widely entertaining.
Some things, however, never change and the Christmas jigsaw puzzle that all the family get involved with is a must in our household! This is a book that I look forward to sharing anecdotes and choice pieces of history with both my parents (who were born just after the war years) and my grandparents (who experienced it first hand) and then in turn to pass it on to the younger members of the family.. A book that is guaranteed to give its readers cause to sit back and appreciate the sacrifices made by a generation and to reflect on everything to be grateful for all these years later facing a very different set of circumstances.
Christmas at War looks like a gem of a book with an educational component written in a spirited and humorous tone that I would genuinely value reading. What promises to make this book even more memorable is the fact that Caroline Taggart interviewed first hand those who stories together make up much of the book adding to its appeal and authenticity.
A brilliant First Impression that zipped along and had me hooked as I learnt things and was forced to really consider the significance of circumstances such as family separation (evacuation or fighting) and recognise the hardship of this dislocation for the families involved as they fretted about their loved ones. I had never really reflected on things like petrol rationing and blackouts whilst others, such as rationing and shortages, were far more well-known. Made up of a mix of data statistics and anecdotes all brought together by Caroline Taggart’s eye for linking to a more modern element (Colin Firth, Dad’s Army etc), the book promises to be widely entertaining.
Some things, however, never change and the Christmas jigsaw puzzle that all the family get involved with is a must in our household! This is a book that I look forward to sharing anecdotes and choice pieces of history with both my parents (who were born just after the war years) and my grandparents (who experienced it first hand) and then in turn to pass it on to the younger members of the family.. A book that is guaranteed to give its readers cause to sit back and appreciate the sacrifices made by a generation and to reflect on everything to be grateful for all these years later facing a very different set of circumstances.
Christmas at War looks like a gem of a book with an educational component written in a spirited and humorous tone that I would genuinely value reading. What promises to make this book even more memorable is the fact that Caroline Taggart interviewed first hand those who stories together make up much of the book adding to its appeal and authenticity.