They find me in all sorts of places; libraries, bookstores, antique shops, used bookshops, through friends and family, and from you, dear readers, which is how I learned about a tender novel I just finished.
When a book recommendation comes my way, especially through blogs and emails and comments here on the Cutoff, I pen them to paper; on a TBR list, where they sit in patient abeyance for just the right moment to present themselves. Most eventually see the whites of my eyes.
So it was with a recent review of “Letters From Skye,” by Jessica Brockmole, which I read on Cath’s blog over at Read_Warbler. An epistolary novel, “Letters from Skye” spans two world wars.. The letters begin in 1912. Elspeth Dunn, a published writer of poetry, lives on the remote Scottish Isle of Skye. She receives her first fan letter from David Graham, a student from Urbana, Illinois. Elspeth writes back, a long correspondence begins, as does a journey of heart and soul and eventually love in the midst of WWI.
It is not just Elspeth’s and David’s letters that tell this story, however. When bombing rocks Edinburg in WWII, Margaret finds her mother clutching letters from a gaping hole in a wall that a bomb exposes. Margaret sees one letter, addressing Sue, and soon begins an adventure, via letters of her own, as another world war tilts the British Isles. Who is Sue? Where did the letters come from? Why were they hidden in the wall?
Cath’s well written review of the book immediately caught my attention. It was the location of Urbana, Illinois, however, that piqued my curiosity. I mentioned to Cath that I almost went to college there many moons ago – and yes, there really is an Urbana in Illinois. It is, in fact, now a very big and quite prestigious school, the University of Illinois at Champagne/Urbana, with an equally prominent extension in Chicago. In fact, the U 0f I Chicago extension sits on land where I spent the first four years of my life. I digress. It was a bit of fun reading about Davey, as he is quickly addressed by Elspeth, and his antics while in school in Urbana.
It was equally interesting reading about Elspeth’s secluded life in her crofter’s cottage on Skye, awaiting the return of her husband, first from the sea, then from the war. The fact that she has already published poetry while living on a remote island immediately shadows her independent character, even though she has never been on a ferry to cross over to Scotland.
“Letters from Skye” is a sensitive story that opens slowly and reveals more of the characters as the letters crisscross the Atlantic. Reading it brought to mind “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society” as well as “84 Charring Cross Road”. Whether true, as Helene Hannf’s book is, or imagined, as “Letters from Skye” and “The Guernsey Literary . .. ” are, there is something that draws a reader into story telling through letters. At the same time, “Letters from Skye” evokes Hemingway’s “A Farewell to Arms”, for Davey does eventually cross the ocean and becomes an ambulance driver with the American Field Service in France before the United States entered World War I.
While this novel opens slowly, it does so in the most compelling of ways. I was almost as anxious for the next letter to arrive as the characters of the book seemed to be. In fact, there were times I simply put “Letters from Skye” down and walked away for a spell, as if to absorb the anticipation of waiting for the next post. Through what is written, and what is not, there is a palpable sense of time and place, actions and consequences, anxiety and resolve. What surprised me as this epistle came to a close were the tears that welled in my eyes as the last of the letters were read. I had not realized, until almost the very end, how much Brockmole’s characters meant to me.
What a lovely review, Penny! I’m delighted that you enjoyed this book as much as I did. It reminded me of 84 Charing Cross Road too and the Guernsey Literary Potato Peel book. I haven’t read A Farewell to Arms but must at some stage. Thanks for the mention!
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Thank you, Cath, for your kind words and for introducing me to “Letters from Skye” in your own review. It was a wonderful read and surprised me with tears in the end. Hemingway’s writing is often terse and clipped, but, worth the time and “A Farewell to Arms” deals primarily with the ambulance drivers and with love in the time of WWI. You are most welcome. I have many of your books on my TBR list, with quite a few crossed off as read. :I)
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Since I’ve read and enjoyed both 84 Charing Cross Road and the Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Society more than once, I have immediately added this book to my TBR soon list (a different list than my TBR list which is getting too long!). 🙂 Somehow I have managed to have six library books checked out at once or I would have placed it on hold. Thanks for mentioning it!
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Aha! A list within a list, Joyce. Very clever. I may adopt this division of reads myself. Since you are a fan of these two books, I think you will enjoy “Letter from Skye” as well. I”m sitting here, chuckling, for you must sense that I also have a large cache of books from the library at hand – and two audio books, one which is almost completed.
You are welcome. 🙂
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I just recently reread The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. I picked it up kind of by mistake at the library and decided to reread it. It was worth it and nice to see it mentioned in your blog. I still have not read 84 Charing Cross Road, but it is still on my list. Now, I must add Letters from Skye. It sound wonderful. By the way, there is a University of Illinois Extention campus in Springfield too. I am so glad you didn’t go to U of I!!! We would never have met. That would have been tragic!
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Isn’t it wonderful to revisit books like “The Guernsey Literary . . . ” . It is one of my favorites and I’m sure I will be rereading it soon, Janet. I think you would enjoy “Letters from Skye”. I did know the U of I was in Springfield as we’ll, maybe I first heard it from you. It was interesting how, in the book, it is just referred to as Urbana. How it has expanded over the years. When the extension was first in Chicago, it was on Navy Pier.
Thank you, my dear friend. I was thrilled to have been accepted at U of I, but, thought then, still do, that it was too big for me and I KNOW I made the right choice, for I did meet you, a kindred spirit if there ever was one, and you led me to Tom, and we all know the rest of the story. 😉
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I like the sound of this book Penny, and it will go on my list of Penny recommendations. I’m in the mood for a gentle read right now. Thank you.
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This is just the sort of read when one has a cold, Juliet. I wish I could drop it off at your door with some warm broth. Take care and get better.
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Penny, this sounds like such a good book to me! I do the same with my TBR list. I have a crazy habit, though, of often purchasing the books, sometimes used or Kindle version when reduced in price and so that TBR list stares me right in the face in the form of actual books yet unread. And your reviews have been responsible for some of thoe purchases. 🙂 I just read Janet’s reply and your response to it–the conversation put a big smile on my face. 🙂 And I will bookmark my Amazon “wishlist” with this title. They’ll probably come knocking on my door soon to encourage the purchase. Ha!
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I hear you, Debra. I do similar things with my TBR list. At least we are still reading. 🙂 I think you might like this book. I didn’t except to be as moved as I was at the end, but, I was.
Janet and I go way back, but, when we “talk” I always feel 18 years old again. We shared a lot of good times together and then, there is Tom. Yep. Might the right decision on my choice of schools. She was, is, the bestest of friends.:)
Ha! Amazon has already starting with their own booklists, and more. I think I’m on too many lists, though, for my inbox is filling up faster every day.
Cool here and rain. Wish I could send some your way. It has been feeling like fall already, but, we can have some pretty good heat and humidity before the month is through.
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This is now on my list too Penny…I love the sound of it. Thanks.
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It is most enjoyable a read, Janice. Will we ever have time to read all the books on our lists?
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I’m really looking forward to this one, Penny. Thanks for such an enthusiastic endorsement.
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I think you might enjoy it, Andra.
Cool hear today. Almost had frost. I need to dig out my penguin socks, for winter is coming soon.
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Dear Penny, I’ve added it now to my own list of books to read. We are so fortunate that so many fine writers write engrossing story that introduce us to another time and to the heart of being human. Peace.
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We are fortunate, aren’t we? So many books to get lost in, be inspired by, learn.
I’ve just started the audio of Krueger and the story is already engrossing. Tamarack County. Thanks for the suggestion, Dee.
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Dear Penny, and I went to the library website and got on the list for both the Skye book and the 84 Charing Cross one. Thank you. Peace.
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You are welcome, Dee. Enjoy.
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You got me at Urbana, Illinois, where Anton went to college, and 84 Charring Cross Road, a book and movie I really enjoyed! This will go into my Kindle queue! Thanks for this great review Penny. I’m behind in reading your blog but then I have so many books in the Kindle queue this book may take a bit of time to get to!
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I think you will have a little fun “viewing” the U of I pre WWI, Janet. It is what initially caught my attention as well. The characters really “grew” on my much to my surprise. Those Kindle queues get as unwieldily as our book piles do.
I re-read “84 Charing Cross Road” again and again and will watch the movie whenever I hear it is on. I think I really must be a bit of a snoop. 😉
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