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Loading... The Postmistressby Sarah Blake
Set in WWII and tells the story of "the story". A debut novel. Not to great. (  ) Kristelh | Nov 16, 2013 |  This book started out very slow for me and may have become a DNF if I hadn’t been reading it for bookclub, however I was glad I didn’t stop because I did enjoy the second half of the book. I am still trying to figure out why this book wasn’t called The Reporter instead of the Postmistress, I felt she (the postmistress, who actually called herself postmaster) was a small time character and that the major character was Frankie the reporter. I did enjoy the book once Frankie was riding the trains in France before that it was a bit boring. I enjoyed Frankie’s interactions with real life Edward R. Murrow even though the author took some liberties with dates and technology. I also enjoyed the look into life in America, right before we entered the Second World War, especially rural America they are in Maine? Mass.? not sure, but we have all heard the stories about German subs off the coast and I enjoyed the character of Harry because he was so adamant about them being there and his story was good if sad. The actual postmistress who when called that corrected the person and said postmaster (again why is this called the postmistress?) Iris was a very secondary character the synopsis is all about her and so is the title but she is a secondary character and it was only one letter she kept aside and it was far into the book , before she seemed to only be there to talk about sex, and judge people in town. I did enjoy the character of Frankie she was tough yet not, I wonder how many other reporters of this time were censored and not able to tell what was truly going on with the Jews in Germany, France and Russia. Her riding on the train was edge of the seat stuff because of what we as a reader know happened in history and I was very happy she got out of there alive! Doctor Will and his wife had an interesting story too and was one of the saddest stories of them all. Orlagh Cassidy was the narrator for this and I thought she did a great job with all the accents and characters, it has been a long time since I’ve listened to her and forgotten just how good she is and why she is on my favorite narrators list, this book reminded me why! I have to rate this book a 3 because I liked the last half but the first half not so much. 3 stars ( ) susiesharp | Oct 8, 2013 | This book was not as good as I was anticipating. It started out slow but definitely got better. ( ) susan.h.schofield | Oct 7, 2013 | The story of three women during WW II and the intersecting of their lives in Franklin, MA and in Europe. The author did a lot of research which made for interesting reading. The book was not a feel-good book. The ending was depressing but I don't know how I would have written it. Also I was excited to see it took place in Franklin, MA, where I have relatives. The scenery of the description did not meet the Franklin, MA, that I know. At the end the author states that Franklin, MA, was a fictitious place. (  ) LivelyLady | Sep 28, 2013 | Heartbreaking. Beautiful. And heartbreakingly beautiful. I'm just not sure how to adequately describe Sarah Blake's novel, THE POSTMISTRESS. It's a love story. A couple love stories, actually - Will and Emma's and Iris and Harry's. Iris is the title character, a seemingly confirmed spinster on Cape Cod who meets an aging bachelor veteran of WWI. That part of the story I absolutely love. And then there's the young doctor, Will Fitch, and his orphan bride, Emma. I love that part too. And then there's Frankie Bard, the fiercely independent unmarried war correspondent, a woman in a man's world, traveling through occupied 1940-41 Europe and interviewing masses of displaced Jewish refugees. I loved that part too. And I loved how the three seemingly disparate stories all come together for that heartbreaking and beautiful conclusion. One could, I suppose, simply dismiss THE POSTMISTRESS as another WWII love story. But it's a lot more than that. It's a parable for today about the moral implications and responsibilities of war and its awful repercussions. About how we are obligated to "pay attention" to what's happening to the helpless victims of war. And somehow author Sarah Blake manages to say all this, spinning a beautiful love story - two of them: Will and Emma, Harry and Iris - at the same time. This Sarah Blake is a wonderful writer. Did I say I loved this book? Well, I did. Highly recommended to everyone who loves a good story and good writing. (  ) TimBazzett | Sep 15, 2013 |
 Sarah Blake has coaxed forth a book that hits hard and pushes buttons expertly. Not for nothing does its publisher emphasize the resemblance between “The Postmistress” and “The Help,” Kathryn Stockett’s socially conscious pulp best seller. Each of these novels appropriates galvanizing social issues in the service of a well-wrought tear-jerker.
References to this work on external resources.
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In London covering the Blitz with Edward R. Murrow, Frankie Bard meets a Cape Cod doctor in a shelter and promises that she'll deliver a letter for him when she finally returns to the United States. Filled with stunning parallels to today's world, "The Postmistress" is a sweeping novel about the loss of innocence of two extraordinary women--and of two countries torn apart by war.… (more)
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