The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan was a great way to start my reading year. Although I had read a few novels before this one in 2017, this is my first five-star read. I loved it!
Set in England in 1940 in the village of Chilbury, the story is told in journal entries and letters written by various people who live in the village. When the men leave for the war, the women are left to keep things going at home. At first their choir stops practicing and performing, but soon someone gets the idea to begin a choir composed of only women and the Chilbury Ladies' Choir is born.
Although the focus of the book is not the choir, but the various residents of Chilbury participate in it and find some companionship and purpose in it.
The journal entries and letters share the various goings-on of the residents of the town including a possible baby swap, some black market dealings, an unplanned pregnancy, and bribery. As the story continues these plotlines are developed and kept me reading to find out how they are resolved.
I stayed up late reading this book that reminds me of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, a novel set during World War II on the isle of Guernsey. Fans of that novel will fall in love with this book, as will anyone who enjoys historical fiction, World War II stories, books about small towns, and stories that will make you smile as you turn the last page.
2 comments:
As I was reading your review, I was think of the Guernsey book - and then you mentioned it. I think I'll have to seek this one out. Just the idea that it's written in journal entries and letters is enough for me. LOL
Sounds good. I think I will tell my mom about this book. It sounds like something she would like.
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