Two troubled people in a turbulent world.In July 1940, Gwen Collingwood drops her husband at the railway station, knowing she may never see him again. Two days later her humdrum world is torn apart when the sleepy English seaside town where she lives is subjected to the first of many heavy bombing attacks.In Ontario, Canada, Jim Armstrong is debating whether to volunteer. His decision becomes … decision becomes clear when he uncovers the secret his fiancée has been keeping from him. A few weeks later he is on a ship bound for England.
Gwen is forced to confront the truth she has concealed about her past and her own feelings. Jim battles with a bewildering and hostile world far removed from the cosy life of his Canadian farm. War brings horror and loss to each of them – can it also bring change and salvation?
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The Chalky Sea takes you back to the days of the 2nd World War and England’s South East Coast. This is an engaging book with realistic characters. I believed in them and truly cared about that happened to them. A book which has that just one more page factor and will keep you reading long into the night.
This provided me another view of World War II from the viewpoint of an English woman who lived through it. It was compelling and I kept putting it down but picking it up right away because I wanted to read more. The main character was likable, even though she had hang ups and was not perfect. I really love seeing what life was like in that time period from a different side.
bad language
The choices people make due to pressure from others or circumstances in their lives are evident in this story where Jim Armstrong, betrayed by his fiancé and his brother, chooses to join up and is sent to England. He is keen to fight and hopefully die to heal his broken heart but life deals him a different option, to survive in the small town of Aldershot biding his time and being harassed by his former classmate, Tip Howardson. Gwen has her own heartache to deal with but she prefers to keep it hidden and get on with life. This story is detailed with the destruction and death dealt by war but also highlights the tenacity of people affected by it. I enjoyed Clare Flynn’s writing style and I liked how the plot kept unfolding. An interesting look at this period in history.
A World War 11 story that takes place in a small town on the Coast of England that has experienced many bombing attacks. There are unique and descriptive characters in this war story that are well done. This is an excellent portrait of the difficulties of war and a story that will keep your interest to the end.
I loved The Chalky Sea, book 1 in the war-time trilogy and its aftermath, The Canadians, so much that I immediately picked up the sequel, The Alien Corn, then book 3, The Frozen River, both as equally enjoyable and entertaining.
The Chalky Sea begins with high-brow Englishwoman, Gwen bidding her army officer husband goodbye, then joining the WW2 war effort, where she comes to adjust her views on people and life.
Meanwhile, rural Canadian boy, Jim Armstrong, signs up for service after suffering a crushing family betrayal. Shipped to the UK, Jim finds himself helping defend Eastbourne, an English seaside town that is so different from all he knows on his Canadian family farm that he might as well be on a different planet.
Alone in her grand home, Gwen feels more purpose to her life than ever as she begins helping others, firstly taking in a homeless family whose house had been bombed, then Canadian soldiers, one of whom is Jim Armstrong.
As this quiet town comes under the Luftwaffe’s deadly eye, Jim and Gwen’s paths cross in an emotional and dramatic mélange of opposing people and lifestyles.
I love learning about history in good historical fiction books, and The Chalky Sea is a prime example of this. I had no idea that the quiet town of Eastbourne had suffered such heavy bombing during WW2, nor that Canadians soldiers had been shipped over to help the Allies, as volunteers.
I was sad to say goodbye to the characters at the end of The Chalky Sea, then delighted to begin reading about them again in book 2, The Alien Corn.
Great characters historically tight and informative a fun read!
Entertaining read
Nicely written, good communicative language skills
Very nice story of the lives of people during WW II.
Life is hell in a war torn country.
Great read
Interesting historical novel but not realistic.
The story flowed beautifully and the characters were realistic. I could relate to the background on World War II.
Although I was aware of the bombings of England during WWII, I had no idea how dire the situation was. This book was a gem of carefully written and compelling history. The tenseness of the deaths was real but thank goodness the ending was a happy one for the main character.
Great WWII Historical Fiction centered on the southern coast. You read so much about the bombing of London during WWII but other areas along the coast were also heavily bombed. Coastal areas a long the English Channel were evacuated and fortified because a German invasion was expected there. We also see the story of volunteer Canadian troops which do not get much recognition in books either.
Enjoyable read.
Great characters. I learned things I hadn’t realized about Canadas assistance to England in WW2
It was a quick read, but not outstanding in any way. That is, it does not stand out as different or terribly absorbing.
The Characters are nicely developed and the setting make it an interesting read.