Emma Trask is the wife of the town’s only doctor, Dr. Fitch. When he attempts to atone for a tragic medical event by volunteering to serve at a military hospital in London, Emma’s world is turned upside down. Before leaving for Europe, Dr. Fitch entrusts Iris with a letter for Emma in the event he never returns home. It will be Iris who will bear responsibility for delivering the news of his death to his young, pregnant wife.
In London, plucky radio correspondent Frankie Bard (who works with Edward R. Murrow) brings the heartrending details of the war to the living rooms of her American listeners. As she travels through Europe, she records the stories of countless displaced Jewish families, capturing the human spirit of so many affected by the war. When Frankie leaves Europe and travels to Franklin, the lives of these three female characters become intertwined.
I received this book for Christmas last year and finally got around to reading it. I’m glad I did (and I think you will be, too!). Sarah Blake has penned an impressive, heartstring-tugging debut novel, full of love, tragedy, hope and sadness. Sure, it’s another novel about WWII, but the approach she takes—focusing on the reporting of the news and its effects—makes the subject matter seem fresh. As I finished the book, it made me reflect on all the positive things I have to be grateful for in my life. Certainly worth adding to your list!
