Caroline Beecham

Esther’s Children weaves a historical novel around a lesser known, real life historical figure in Esther Simpson. Simpson was integral as part for the Society for the Protection of Science and Learning, doing a lot of the groundwork for scholars and scientists in countries at war or at risk of persecution to move of safer environments. Much of her work was done in the 1930s and 1940s as the Nazis increased their strength and it’s this period that the novel focuses on.

Simpson is no stranger to persecution, being Jewish and her parents fleeing Europe for England some years earlier. Esther has a passion, almost a calling, for ensuring that the academics at risk have the references and work they need to emigrate to countries where they can continue their work without fear. It’s on a trip to Austria where she meets the fictional Harry Singer. Both he and his parents are fantastic candidates to be taken under the wing of the Society, but his father holds out. Meanwhile, Austria is becoming more dangerous and Esther and Harry are caught in the crossfire. It’s enough for Harry to relent and begin the process to continue his work in England, but not his parents. Harry and Esther fall in love, but as World War II begins, some in England are getting cold feet about the European refugees in their midst. Harry is sent to an internment camp, and Esther must continue her work under increasingly trying circumstances.

Once again, Caroline Beecham has excelled in her research, bringing Esther, the Society and the treatment of refugees in English internment camps to life. She clearly demonstrates on the page Esther’s dedication to her ‘children’, often at the sake of all else going on. Adding Harry as a character experiencing the interment camps highlights the way the refugees were treated with suspicion and sometimes worse. There is also a lot of detail about classical music, which is Esther and Harry’s release. (I must admit this is not my thing, so I skimmed these sections). While the character of Esther was admirable in her pursuit to offer safety to academic refugees, I must admit that I got a little bored with her focus, important as it was. Harry, perhaps because he was fictional and more liberties could be taken with his character, was much more interesting and daring in his observations and ideas. However, the history was fascinating and I’m glad that I could gain insight into history I may have stayed ignorant of otherwise.

Thank you to Allen & Unwin for the copy of this book. My review is honest.

http://samstillreading.wordpress.com… (mere)

I wasn't sure how to rate this one. I bought it on a whim, thinking it would be a typical British historical/chick-lit type read; the kind I really enjoy once in awhile when I need a break from my regularly scheduled genres.

It's exactly what I expected, except it's written by an Aussie author. Aussie authors and I tend to have an on-again-off-again kind of relationship and my last fling with The Dressmaker left me, frankly, bitter and jaded. So I went into this one feeling defensive and ready for confrontation, which might have coloured my perceptions a little.

This is a lovely story about a woman who applies to run one of the British Restaurants, created during WWII to offer hot, nutritious, and affordable meals to Londoners struggling under food rationing. Maggie's struggle to keep her restaurant going in spite of food shortages and diverted allotments runs parallel to her attempts to help a young boy find his father and her very slowly developing relationship with a Polish refugee.

The author really brought home a tiny glimpse of what life must have been like living in London during the axis air raids of WWII; she didn't shy away from scenes of Maggie and her neighbours huddled underground during a bombing; the alternate neighbourhoods that sprung up in the Underground stations, or the way homes and business disappeared overnight after a bombing raid.

What she didn't get quite right, I don't think, is the gap-tooth style of the narrative overall: unknown quantities of time pass unexpectedly without acknowledgement and relatively significant events are never fleshed out.

From the beginning the reader is told that one of Maggie's brothers died when they were kids. A tragedy; hints that Maggie was involved and that her mother abandoned them in large part because of this tragedy...and then nothing.

Janek belongs to some Polish resistance organisation that may or may not be spying, but has the need to hide mysterious shipments of something at Maggie's restaurant without her knowledge. We never find out if Janek is a bad guy or a good guy, nor whether or not that shipment was ever hidden at the restaurant; the whole thing just gets dismissed near the end with a vague line or two. As Janek is the romantic interest in the book, a reader can't really be blamed for expecting a bit more information about him and his possible shenanigans.

Small things too, like details about the British Restaurant scheme, are never explained. Does Maggie own the restaurant? Is she leasing it from the government? We're told Maggie received grants for renovations and equipment, but then she's put on probation with the possibility of being removed and replaced... so is she an owner or an employee? Information was spotty and vague and at least some of it was central to the plot's crisis.

I don't know if I'm being hypercritical or not, but I can't help but think that even though I enjoyed the story as-is - and I really did - it could have been utterly fabulous with a more insightful editor and some restructuring. There is a lot here that could have been removed and never missed, and plenty that wasn't here, but very much missed.… (mere)

When We Meet Again by Caroline Beecham transports readers back to 1943 in London where Alice Cotton is on the hunt for her missing child. When not working on a special project at Partridge Press, Alice is busy trying to find those who can help her locate her daughter. Theo Bloom is ordered to London by his boss and his fiancée’s father to help the flagging Partridge Press. Alice’s project intrigues him any so does the woman who came up with the idea. Alice has been betrayed by one man and does not wish to trust another. Theo can tell something is bothering Alice. Can he find a way to help her as well as save Partridge Press? When We Meet Again contains good writing, but I find the pacing to be on the slow side. The writing is descriptive which is good and bad. It allows a reader to visualize exactly what the author is describing, but it also slows down the pacing of the story. I wished the author could have found a balance. The character of Alice Cotton is well-developed and realistic. I could understand her being frantic at the loss of her daughter. I did feel she was a tad overly dramatic at times. I thought Theo was another developed character. I liked getting to know him. Ursula, Alice’s co-worker and mentor, is a good woman who tells it like it is. Penny, Alice’s friend, is a good soul. I did not feel we really got to know her well. I thought the author captured World War II in London with the bombings, the feelings, and the shortages. I enjoyed learning more about publishing in London and the paper shortages. I was shocked to learn about baby farming. I cannot imagine learning that your child has been turned over to one of these duplicitous people. When We Meet Again has some interesting parts, but I found the story to be depressing and dull. It needed action, joy, and humor to provide balance. For those who enjoy melodramatic tales, then you should check out When We Meet Again. When We Meet Again is a poignant historical story with a gone girl, baby farm bullies, paper paucities, firm friends, Machiavellian men, and one worried woman.… (mere)

I’m always ready to read fiction set in London during World War II. There was so much going on, and being fiction I have a good chance that my favourite characters will make it through. Finding Eadie takes that up a notch with the setting of a London-based publishing house. It was fascinating to look into what was happening in the industry, from paper shortages to the need for morale-lifting books and books for the troops. (Maybe someone might do the same for healthcare workers during the pandemic? Just a thought.)

The book opens as Alice is preparing to leave her beloved job at Partridge Press. She doesn’t want to leave, but she’s pregnant (and single). Her plan is to go away, have the baby and raise it with her mother. Her colleagues are upset at her decision to ‘help her cousin’ but accepting. There are also some things that Alice could never tell them about the father and the circumstances of her pregnancy. Unfortunately for Alice, things don’t go to plan after the birth thanks to her mother’s intervention. So it’s back to London where she starts a journey to try to find her daughter Eadie. It’s difficult, having nobody but with support from her friends, she finds herself back at Partridge working on the same project, the stories of the women and children during the war. This time Alice adds another secret mission to her research that finds her in very unlikely places. Meanwhile, Theo has come over from the New York office with plans to get the London publisher back to profit. What Theo didn’t expect was to fall in love with London, its people and Partridge. Can he save the publisher and help Alice?

I really enjoyed the publishing and ‘mystery’ aspects of the novel as Alice searches for Eadie. The comparison of life in New York and London during 1942/43 was fascinating, as one struggles under rations and the other is a land of plenty. (It also had me drawing comparisons to the current pandemic, where some places have the freedom to go to the movies or a restaurant and others are strictly at home. At least we have real coffee everywhere this time round). I found Theo’s admiration and feelings for Alice somewhat more difficult to believe as I felt they didn’t have enough interaction for Theo to change his life completely. Also, I didn’t feel that Alice gave him any indications of anything more than friendship as she was too focused on searching for Eadie. I would have liked to have some more exploration of the circumstances of Alice’s pregnancy (it is intimated as not being consensual but never dug into). Other characters keep insisting that Alice sees a doctor on her return to London, but when she does, it’s glossed over. The grittiness of baby farming is also a little too polished for me, after having read some more after the novel piquing my interest.

Nevertheless, Finding Eadie is a light read that is enjoyable with a happily ever after for my favourite characters. The unique aspect of the publishing world makes it worth reading.

Thank you to Allen & Unwin for the copy of this book. My review is honest.

http://samstillreading.wordpress.com… (mere)