January book club - Everyone Brave is Forgiven

Started the book a week ago but finding it difficult to really get into it. Having read other comments I'll carry on and see if it starts to grab my interest more.

agree with others that the racism was difficult to read but i suppose it was what things were like back in those days.

i must admit that it made me realise how lucky these recent generations are as except for a few unlucky ones we have never had to live through the horrific effects of a war and what it does to the people living at that time. this book made it obvious to me what it must have been like.

Was thrilled to receive my copy - enjoying it so far, beautifully written.... trying not to read too fast to enjoy the great prose.

I loved this book too Cari and thought that the characters were so well drawn and very believable. I really cared what happened to them.

The banter between Tom and Mary and Alistair and Simenson was both funny and clever and they all came across as being really good company - had circumstances been different.

The flavour of the times and the difficulties in wartime were well described and I learnt a lot about what Malta had suffered. I knew it was the VC island but had no idea how bad it had been.

I would like to ask Chris Cleve if he has any thought of writing a sequel? The characters are too vibrant to be allowed only the one book!

I'm halfway through the book and loving it The difference between the classes is very interesting. what i did find most interesting was the attitudes of people - the upper and lower classes, the money and poor, and to the poor "niggers" - it was appalling!
I hope the rest of the book is as good and evocative as the beginning.
Thank you gransnet - I now have a new author to read [and to recommend to my book group!]

This is the best book that I have read in a long time. I couldn't wait to get to the end so that I could find out what happened, but when i did it left me wanting to know more.

Throughout the book I felt that I understood how each of the characters were feeling and why they took the actions that they did. I also learnt a lot about certain aspects of the war of which I was unaware.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I recommend it all Gransnetters. Read this book and you will not be disappointed.

I'm glad I waited a few days before reading the final chapters of the book, it helped me appreciate the changes in the characters during the time span of events.

I felt the main characters were depicted so well that I instantly knew them. The way they kept the stiff upper lip that had been cultivated since nursery days and bandied humour about to cover their deep insecurities, grief and inadequacies, yet were able to express compassion, was beautifully handled.

I hadn't previously thought about evacuation or otherwise of children who needed extra help at that time and felt thoroughly ashamed of myself. I admired the resilience of young Zachary and hoped he found a happy future.

I noticed a subtle change in the prose leading up to a calamity. Whether this was intentional or not I don't know but it did make me wonder if authors are affected by the planned demise of a character after they've put the meat on the plot outline.

Overall this was an enjoyable read with interesting characters and an unusual setting. A bit too wordy for me at times but the plot made me think, and I like that in a book.

I'll look everyday for February's from now on! If I remember

Chris Cleave takes the stoism and stiff upper lip of the English people and peppers it with dark humour, sadness and love. A deeply compelling read and beautifully written.
The authors notes at the end where very helpful in understanding the reasons he wrote the novel. Thank you.

Well, what to say about this book..
I have never read any of the author's books before (Sorry Chris !) I don't know why that is.However it made me be able to read with a completely open mind, not having any previous book to compare it with.
At first I found the brittle cut glass accents of Mary and Hilda and then Tom quite irritating and thought they would get on my nerves, but in fact, they were interweaved with such self deprecating humour that I grew to like not only the'Sound' of their voices, but the owners of the voices too.

I liked the dark humour particularly displayed in times of extreme hardship by Alistair and Simenson, the banter between them in times of inexplicable misery had as sparkle all of it's own and it is a credit to the author to be able to do this without it seeming crass.
I struggled a bit with the racism aspects, but I guess that is how it was then and would cause a stir but liked that Mary did as she wanted, defying convention.
Without wanting to giveaway too much of the story, as I'm aware other Gransnetters may not have finished it yet, I'm glad it ended as it did with an amount of uncertainty.I would like to ask Chris if he always had this ending in mind or if the story led him there ? I think it was more satisfying left as it was as life does not fit into neat little boxes where everyone lives happily ever after, I think the book would have lost something if it was such a tidy ending.
I know Chris, that you based it on real events and experiences and I think you did a good service to the memory of the people who served on Malta and the people who tried to be business as usual in England.
I really did enjoy it and think it would make a good film !
Thanks Chris for an intricate read .

Jalima LadyGracie watch for the post from Gransnet outlining the next month's book, complete the entry form with your GN details then keep your fingers crossed in case a copy drops through your letterbox! I believe it's a random draw so not everyone who applies will win a copy.

LadyGracie I have belonged to GN for a while now and still haven't worked it out

It seems to be a well-kept secret

Apparently there wouldn't be one in December but there was Cartes Postale from Greece ...

jacksmum when you find out please let me know - I appear to have missed it again this month!!

Hi i have recently joined "gransnet" and would like to join your book club please, how do i go about joining please?

I too received a copy during the week, thank you. I read a few pages yesterday and about 300 today! Had to put it to one side as I don't want to get to the end yet ...

My copy arrived yesterday. I can't wait to start reading it! Thank you.

My copy arrived today and I can't wait to read it. Thank you!

I still can't understand how to win a book

Book has just arrived. Many thanks.

Afternoon by the fire awaits!

Just opened parcel. Thank you GN. Lovely displacement activity on a frosty day.

Thank you, the book arrived today and I am looking forward to starting it !

Thanks very much. One arrived for me this afternoon too.