Friday, January 4, 2013

Here's the Mail, It Never Fails

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake
I was so excited when I first started hearing the hype about this book. Then I was so excited when I finally purchased it. But then I let it see on my shelf unread for over year. And now that I've finally read it, I'm not sure the wait was worth it.

I wanted to love this book. Even though I didn't know a lot about it going it, I still had a good feeling. And I love the cover. But it just didn't work for me. I didn't really get into this book until about half way through, and looking back I can't believe there were so many pages in the first half when it felt like nothing really happened.

Even so, there were still parts I enjoyed. I really liked Frankie's story of being on the trains in Europe getting the stories of all the Jews who were trying to find safety. But unfortunately that was just a small aspect of the overall story. I did also like the idea of the story of the Iris, the postmistress, although I don't think it was executed well.

This is definitely one where I had high expectations where they were no where near. I think knowing how much I wanted to love this, I'm a little harsher than I would have been otherwise, but it just didn't work for me.

3/5

Today I'm linking up with Blonde Undercover Blonde for Book Club Friday!

5 comments:

  1. I read about that in a magazine recently. Bummer you didn't enjoy it more than a 3/5.

    I am reading the House at Tyneford right now - it's Downton Abbey meets Upstairs Downstairs with some other things and I am loving it - maybe you will too!

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  2. This has been sitting on my shelf for a long time, too! I don't know if I will ever get to it...

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  3. I liked it but didn't love it. I too wish it had been something I liked more.

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  4. That is a bummer that it fell a bit flat for you. I read it last year, and really loved it. I think I gave it 5 stars. It was hard to get into initially, but then I really fell hard for it. I thought it was harrowing reading about her encounter with the Jews on the trains in Europe, and then the bomb shelter experience was crazy, too.

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  5. I was drawn to Frankie's story more than the stories of the other women. I enjoyed the book overall, but like you, I wanted to really love it. I think Frankie's story should have been expanded. She was strong enough to carry the entire book, in my opinion.

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