Archives

Lucky Jack by S. Bavey

Jul23

A Fascinating Account Of A Life

Lucky Jack by S Bavey is a marvellous read. It is the biography of the author’s grandfather who lived a long and eventful life from 1894-2000.

The book is fascinating and absolutely amazing to read of all the events that happened over the course of a very long life – several monarchs, the invention of the car and television, talking pictures, two world wars, walking on the moon.

Lucky Jack is the story of a full life lived well. There were tragedies and there was also some luck involved. We ‘hear’ all the events through Jack’s voice as the book is written in the first person. Jack has a very personable style, making it feel as if we are hearing from a dear friend.

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A Young Girl’s War by Sheila Nelson

Jul6

A Snapshot In Time

A Young Girl’s War by Sheila Nelson is a powerful account of the author’s experience of living in London during World War II.

Sheila Nelson was born in 1931 and has a vivid snapshot of memories of the war as it impacted her childhood.

Evacuated early on to Brighton proved to be a traumatic event. Although safe from any bombs falling, being isolated from her family was awful and Sheila Nelson soon returned home. Incidentally my Dad was also evacuated early on to Llandudno and he hated it, wrote letters home daily and was popped back on a train to Birmingham after just two weeks!

Whilst the author’s family house did not have any direct hits, her road did and therefore her house continually suffered damage such as the glass being blown out and doors being blown off hinges (coincidentally this happened to my Dad’s house too). At one time the family house was uninhabitable and Sheila Nelson’s family sofa surfed between relatives.

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My Father’s Uniform by Jaitsche Wassenaar

Jul6

The Impact Of Choices

My Father’s Uniform by Jaitsche Wassenaar is a powerful account of the daughter of an NSB member living in Holland during World War II.

The young girl is only eight years old in 1944 and is traumatically impacted by the cruelty she receives from her peers as her father is an NSBer. She is tarred by association.

We hear of life on a farm and see the war through the eyes of a child. We witness the cruelty inflicted by her teacher as the choices of adults disrupt young lives.

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A Tailor In Auschwitz by David Van Turnhout and Dirk Verhofstadt

Jul1

A Time Of Great Evil

A Tailor In Auschwitz by David van Turnhout and Dirk Verhofstadt (translated by Kristien De Wulf and Jane Camerea) is a powerful and horrifying account of the plight of the Jewish people during World War II.

The book came about after researching David van Turnhout’s paternal grandfather’s experiences during WWII. Whilst alive, his grandfather spoke very little about his war years.

As we hear the story of his grandfather, this microcosm is part of a much bigger story.

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