THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER“A powerful story that proves how love itself requires courage.” –Delia Owens, author of Where the Crawdads SingSpanning World War II and the sweep of the twentieth century, We Must Be Brave explores the fierce love that we feel for our children and the power of that love to endure. Beyond distance, beyond time, beyond life itself.A woman. A war. The child who … itself.
A woman. A war. The child who changed everything.
December 1940. As German bombs fall on Southampton, England during World War II, the city’s residents flee to the surrounding villages. In Upton village, amid the chaos, newly married Ellen Parr finds a girl asleep, unclaimed at the back of an empty bus. Little Pamela, it seems, is entirely alone.
Ellen has always believed she does not want children, but when she takes Pamela into her home, the child cracks open the past Ellen thought she had escaped and the future she and her husband Selwyn had dreamed for themselves. As the war rages on, love grows where it was least expected, surprising them all. But with the end of the fighting comes the realization that Pamela was never theirs to keep. Spanning the sweep of the twentieth century, We Must Be Brave explores the fierce love that we feel for our children and the power of that love to endure. Beyond distance, beyond time, beyond life itself.
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Takes a topic that could be mawkishly sentimental – an apparently orphaned child, collateral damage from a German bombing raid – and creates a lyrical sharp- edged account of everyday life in wartime English. The pin-sharp detail, the sense of longing for the war to be over, and the diamond bright description of mundane domestic detail and deprivation can’t be bettered. It is literary fiction, and for those used to faster moving narratives, it is a bit slow moving – but I loved it. Beautifully captures profound parental love. I cried bucket loads of tears, but I would hesitate to call it a tear-jerker because it certainly does not milk emotion, simply records grievous loss with intense tenderness.
This was a GREAT story! The setting is England during WWII. The main character discovers a five-year-old girl on a bus filled with people escaping Southampton which is being bombed by the Germans. The little girl doesn’t know where her mother is. What to do? You just have to read this one regarding the relationship between these two characters–the whole book is heartwarming. Much of it is written in flashback so that a better understanding is achieved of the protagonist. Great work!
A beautiful and sorrowful story of love and loss and stolen joy amid the rigors of war, rationing and deprivation—and the very difficult task of surrendering those we’ve grown to love when our sacrifice to care for them is no longer required. This story reminds us that families of origin are not always the family we most need or the family who most needs us. It reminds us that the steps we must take toward healing old wounds can hurt as much as the wounds themselves, but in the end, we count it worth the terrible pain. Beautifully written, this novel is Liardet’s American debut.
Liardet’s writing is art. Her phrasing, word choice, descriptions were so beautiful and creative, yet never got in the way of the story. When I finished We Must Be Brave, i felt like I’d spent time with a great piece of art as well as a good story.
Set in a post London-bombing town outside of London, the world is in chaos. Yet everyone is trying to find the new normal while keeping some of the old. The story is touching and heart wrenching yet ties up with a sweet, realistic bow of happiness. Don’t miss this one!
I wish I could give this book more than five strs! This historical novel was the best I have read for a long time. I could not put it down. I am not very good a writing reviews but felt I had to try to express how much I enjoyed the book. For me this book was an honest look at a difficult time in history and what average people had to endure during war time and their lives after the war ended. The characters were amazing. Ellen, the main character, was truly an example of a strong and independent woman. She faced so many obstacles but yet had the strength to continually move forward. This book also included insights into motherhood, love, family and friendship. I am definitely going to look for more books by this author.
We Must Be Brave by Frances Liardet. Historical fiction. 2019. Putnam. Rave reviews in enticed me to buy this novel at Walmart last week. It was a good read but I certainly was not dazzled as the The Guardian, (UK), said the reader would be. It is set in England from 1932 through 2010, though the novel actually begins in December 1940. It moves smoothly from one time frame to another and is easy to follow. The characters are well developed and very likeable. The English stiff upper lip spirit has been well researched and used through out the novel with great skill. The author takes still another view of how WWII effected the English citizens. Definitely a worthwhile read.
5 Stars. A slow-moving but beautiful story about love for others, especially parents for their children. A tale that highlights kindness, sacrifice, letting go but never forgetting, enduring through loss, finding joy in everyday moments, love with all its joys and sorrows—and all the things that make life worth living. And I did have to keep my tissues handy. Touching and tender.
Great reading
The kind of story that I could read for many hours without interruption. A war time story in England , ending in 2020 with a satisfactory conclusion.
The story was compelling but very difficult to follow in some areas. I think mainly because the language, although English, was often filled with words that had no meaning for me, an American. I kept coming back to the story although I often fell asleep when I was reading it.
It’s just far too long for the value.
A bittersweet World War II story about chosen family, motherhood, and love that spans over time.
I found it very real and heart warming. Everyone watching out for each other in war time and decades later in peace.
This book was terrible. Just could not get into it. Characters were blah blah. I did not finish it. after about 4 chapters just deleted it off my Library. And made note I really disliked the boo.
Very touching book about a fostered child durin WWII. Based in England during the bombing of London by the Germans.
Gives the reader an understanding of the fear of invasion, how the characters coped with rationing, fear of losing those involved in the air war and the young fostered girls loss of family and home.
An enjoyable read. Good characters.
I completely enjoyed this book! Admired the characters; well-written; elicited emotions as I read. Have recommended to friends.
I believe this is written by someone from England, making it difficult for me to read as I couldn’t follow the dialect. I didn’t finish the book
It was dramatic and tragic, which fit with the time period. I did like it, even tho
it seemed like it took forever to read it.
Love may change forms and time but this book years at the heart in reminding us why we never stop seeking it.