Spring 1941 . Florence and Philip Bell are the parents in a middle class family living in a comfortable area of Belfast.There are three children, young Paul, and older sisters Emma and Audrey. Audrey is the eldest, approaching her 21st birthday and Emma is 18 . Philip is a doctor, Florence is a mother and housewife, Emma a First Aid volunteer and Audrey works in the Tax Office. Emma and Audrey are the main protagonists of the story.
Northern Ireland is at war and is subject to all the appropriate restrictions , such as rationing but so far has not suffered as much as mainland Britain.
The novel is divided into three sections, each representing a separate air strike and each strike providing progressively more damage and loss of life. As well as physical damage to the city and inhabitants the narrative follows the inner lives of each of the family as they struggle to come to terms with what society expects of them and what they truly desire.
The novel paints a vivid picture of the destruction and devastation caused by war and how unprepared people were for the horror of it all.
An enjoyable and engrossing read , with just one small niggle ——- the occasional use of Belfast dialect seemed clumsy and did not sit well with the rest of the narrative style.
Northern Ireland is at war and is subject to all the appropriate restrictions , such as rationing but so far has not suffered as much as mainland Britain.
The novel is divided into three sections, each representing a separate air strike and each strike providing progressively more damage and loss of life. As well as physical damage to the city and inhabitants the narrative follows the inner lives of each of the family as they struggle to come to terms with what society expects of them and what they truly desire.
The novel paints a vivid picture of the destruction and devastation caused by war and how unprepared people were for the horror of it all.
An enjoyable and engrossing read , with just one small niggle ——- the occasional use of Belfast dialect seemed clumsy and did not sit well with the rest of the narrative style.