WWII, French village near Normandy, villagers trying to continue their lives while being controlled by German soldiers. Their rations are dwindling, many face starvation but Emma the baker's apprentice finds a way to provide bread to many. She also develops a crafty way of bartering supplies from one person to another, helping many survive. The whole time she's helping others, she never believes the Allied Troops will arrive so when they do, she's still wary.
The author writes well but the story drags on, many characters aren't fully developed, and at times the details of an event or activity are tedious. Overall, an ok read, certainly not one that makes me want to read more of his books.
Interesting phrase: Thus did life and liberty depend upon a distant ruler who did not speak the people's language but felt at ease commanding them in his. The guttural ruled the elegant, the command replaced persuasion, the shout overwhelmed the subtle.
The author writes well but the story drags on, many characters aren't fully developed, and at times the details of an event or activity are tedious. Overall, an ok read, certainly not one that makes me want to read more of his books.
Interesting phrase: Thus did life and liberty depend upon a distant ruler who did not speak the people's language but felt at ease commanding them in his. The guttural ruled the elegant, the command replaced persuasion, the shout overwhelmed the subtle.
Meh, This was a somewhat typical WWll story. A baker's apprentice has to take over after the owner is taken away to the camps.
The girl is brought to the attention of the Kommadant due to her bread making and is ordered to make 12 loafs a day for his men and she then starts adding straw to the bread to make extra loaves to feed those in her village.
Slow going and characters never develop much after the first couple of chapters. I understand that life in war time can be the same day after day and this is just what you are going to read about.
The girl is brought to the attention of the Kommadant due to her bread making and is ordered to make 12 loafs a day for his men and she then starts adding straw to the bread to make extra loaves to feed those in her village.
Slow going and characters never develop much after the first couple of chapters. I understand that life in war time can be the same day after day and this is just what you are going to read about.
Excellent WWII HF set in France. This book told a different side of WWII story. This was really the story of a small farming and fishing village located along the Normandy coast. It was told from the perspective of one woman, Emma, who was tasked with baking bread for the German commandant every morning. But she begins to mix in ground straw to get more loaves which she secretly delivers to those neighbors most in need. Emma shows us how the village members had to live after being conquered by the German army and with the army's presence in their town - the new laws, the violence, the fear - but also how the human spirit strengthens and keeps you going. THey lived this way for a couple of years before the D Day invasion. The last third of the book is actually about the invasion, but from the perspective of the town. While they were beyond happy that the Allies finally came to their help, their town was also bombed, homes lost, people died as a result of the bombs dropped right before the invasion started. Well written and well told story told from a different perspective. Great characters, great story.
