While The Blitz kept London on alert, it didn’t break people’s spirits. Life went on despite the war raging all around, and humor and hope helped keep everyone’s chins up.
This is story of one of those people, a woman named Emmy Lake, and an advice column called Dear Mrs. Bird.
Overview
In 1941 London, Emmy Lake dreams of becoming a war correspondent. But when a misunderstanding land her a job as a typist at women’s magazine instead of a newspaper, she finds herself working for editress and advice columnist, Mrs. Bird who refuses to publish anything with “unpleasantness”. When Emmy realizes how many women write in for help and don’t get it, she secretly begins answering herself.
My Thoughts
This book was fantastic! It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed reading a book this much.
Though the story is set during the Blitz, there is such a lightness to the story, but it doesn’t pull any punches on living through a war.
Emmy is such an amazing character. I can tell that Pearce spent a lot of time crafting her into a relatable woman, down to the fact that she can’t always hold her tongue and that she cares a lot about people. Her dialogue more than once made laugh out loud.
The letters Emmy wrote were absolutely perfect. I wish there was more of them in the book! I could read pages more of them without getting bored. (Then again I love reading advice columns to begin with.)
I also loved the way the other characters were written. None of them felt flat or boring. They all had distinct personalities, which is great because there are a lot of characters in this book.
The descriptions of the settings drew me into World War II London with such poise.
I love how Pearce keeps a light tone throughout the book, but still speaks to important issues of the time both with the war and with being a woman.
This is one of my favorite books of the year.
Final Thoughts and Rating
Dear Mrs. Bird is a fun and delightful read. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Would I Recommend This Book: Yes!
Sounds like an interesting read! I will have to add it to my list.