Slow start, really irritating characters, but... once the narrative developed, it became an enjoyable, and at times poignant story of frustration and redemption. Riley Purefoy is a working class boy allowed into the upper echelons of the officer class. Severely wounded in the face at Passchendale, he is sent for reconstructive surgery under the knife of the renowned Dr Gillies. Pat Barker's 'Toby's Rooms' deals with very similar subject matter, indeed, Henry Tonks appears in both novels, and perhaps does it better. Nevertheless, Young eventually delivers a story that is well worth pursuing, although there are, apparently plans to develop into some sort of family saga (a la Catherine Cookson? Heaven forfend) and catch up with the characters first encountered here as they learn to live with the trauma and experience of the war. Hmm, not convinced. Compelling account of the experience of WW1. It touches on issues of class and the changing nature of British society at the time, referencing art and music and the changing role for women. One large section explores the realities of war injuries, the development of plastic surgery to reconstruct some of the most horrifically injured. A love story it also explores relationships and the effect that war had in that most personal of arenas. Perhaps a little slow at first, the book did become rapidly compelling.
Do You like book L'inverno Si Era Sbagliato (2011)?
I wanted more out of the ending, but apparently there is a sequel to fix that :)
—emeigs1
Sometimes maudlin, some times slow going, but an OK book about ww1
—peter
Slow starter but well constructed, detailed WW1 story
—mjaka
A epic tale, beautifully told. Heart rending.
—danger_dancer
Couldn't get in to so stopped reading
—lolanunny97
