Helpful Score: 3
Letters From Home by Kristina McMorris came at such a perfect time for me. Since I feel I am still in the midst of grieving my grandmother I found myself greedily turning the pages of this book because it, in some strange way, connected me to her youthfulness and her own experiences during World War II since her husband (my grandfather) was sent away before making her his bride.
The story begins as Liz, Julia and Betty attend a USO dance. Liz Stephens, who is engaged to Dalton Harris, meets Morgan McClain at the dance the night before he is to be shipped off to war. Although their brief encounter brings to the surface a sizzling chemistry, it becomes complicated because of a misinterpretation.
Liz becomes entwined deeper in the misinterpretation as she gradually corresponds with McClain, a solider experiencing atrocities of war, who hangs onto hope through the letters he receives from Liz who is technically ghost-writing the letters for Betty. One of the most beautiful parts of this book, I found, is in the exchange of letter writing between Liz and Morgan. They unfold their lives on paper and trust one another in a way unknown to either of them before the letters.
I feel the word misinterpretation is a fitting description for what is happening in the lives of the main and secondary characters such as Julia and Ian, Liz and her father, Liz and Dalton and of course, Betty, too. All of the characters offer the reader tender and vulnerable moments that somehow feel close to home and remind us all, no matter what generation we are born into, of our choices, hurts, circumstances, obligations, dreams, desires and life paths we can choose (or not) to follow. But mostly, the story echoes so strongly how misinterpretations in life can cause us to take roads we might not otherwise.
I love how this wartime story feels credible as readers move around the globe from Chicago to the war-torn European shorelines to barracks in Dutch New Guinea to trenches in Belgium. Readers vividly experience scenes of fear, loss, conflict, violence, regret and love. Every character is easily cared about and the outcomes of their lives weighed on my mind until I could resume reading to discover what would happen. From the first page of the book the suspense morphs into incredible anticipation and the authors words brilliantly convey the integrity, confusion, ethical and honorable mood of the day.
Knowing the main characters were the same age as my own grandparents (two people who meant the world to me and formed me through their unconditional love) I eagerly read this story which helped me to see them again, not as grandparents, but rather as a young couple in love.
The story begins as Liz, Julia and Betty attend a USO dance. Liz Stephens, who is engaged to Dalton Harris, meets Morgan McClain at the dance the night before he is to be shipped off to war. Although their brief encounter brings to the surface a sizzling chemistry, it becomes complicated because of a misinterpretation.
Liz becomes entwined deeper in the misinterpretation as she gradually corresponds with McClain, a solider experiencing atrocities of war, who hangs onto hope through the letters he receives from Liz who is technically ghost-writing the letters for Betty. One of the most beautiful parts of this book, I found, is in the exchange of letter writing between Liz and Morgan. They unfold their lives on paper and trust one another in a way unknown to either of them before the letters.
I feel the word misinterpretation is a fitting description for what is happening in the lives of the main and secondary characters such as Julia and Ian, Liz and her father, Liz and Dalton and of course, Betty, too. All of the characters offer the reader tender and vulnerable moments that somehow feel close to home and remind us all, no matter what generation we are born into, of our choices, hurts, circumstances, obligations, dreams, desires and life paths we can choose (or not) to follow. But mostly, the story echoes so strongly how misinterpretations in life can cause us to take roads we might not otherwise.
I love how this wartime story feels credible as readers move around the globe from Chicago to the war-torn European shorelines to barracks in Dutch New Guinea to trenches in Belgium. Readers vividly experience scenes of fear, loss, conflict, violence, regret and love. Every character is easily cared about and the outcomes of their lives weighed on my mind until I could resume reading to discover what would happen. From the first page of the book the suspense morphs into incredible anticipation and the authors words brilliantly convey the integrity, confusion, ethical and honorable mood of the day.
Knowing the main characters were the same age as my own grandparents (two people who meant the world to me and formed me through their unconditional love) I eagerly read this story which helped me to see them again, not as grandparents, but rather as a young couple in love.
Helpful Score: 1
I really enjoyed reading this novel. It is a story of love, friendship and the choices we make in life. This novel is set during WWII, and follows the lives of three female college-age roommates as they make choices that will effect the rest of their lives. Liz meets a solder at a USO dance who is about to go off to war. She finds herself interested in him, but is dating someone else, so she doesn't persue anything, especially when she sees him dancing with her roommate, Betty. After the dance, the solder writes to Betty from overseas. Because Betty doesn't believe she writes very well, she asks Liz to reply for her. You can just imagine where this is going to lead. This novel definitely kept me turning the pages.
This is one of the best books I've read recently. Set in World War Two, it is wonderfully written. I look forward to reading more by this author.
This book follows three women, who are friends and roommates, through the last year of WWII.
Liz's family owns the house and her roommates are Julia and Betty.
Liz is a college student, studying literature, and has her future mapped out for her, seemingly by her father, with whom she has a strained relationship with. She is dating her high school sweetheart, Dalton, whom her father approves of. She meets Morgan at a USO dance on the eve of his being shipped overseas and an instant attraction if felt between the couple. She misunderstands a situation and heads for home.
Julia is also a college student who becomes engaged to the love of her life, Christian. He informs her he's enlisted in the service and goes off to war.
Betty is the somewhat flighty of the trio, she works as a waitress at a local diner.
Betty meets Morgan, leaving her photo for him and gets his address from a fellow dance attendee. She knows she's a horrible writer and convinces Liz to ghost write a letter to him.
What follows is the interactions of the three roommates and interspersed with letters between Liz and Morgan. The main story circulates around Liz and Morgan. While Liz ultimately becomes engaged to Dalton, she continues to write letters to Morgan as Betty. Her feelings for him deepen but she questions the validity of her feelings because they come about through a handful of letters from someone who does not know who she is.
The story is beautifully written, particularly for a debut novel. Although it left me wanting to see more of Julia and Betty. This book will always have a special place in my heart, because although my own romance with my husband was not conducted during wartime, a huge portion of our courtship was conducted via letters; a form of communication which is a lost art, particularly in this day and age.
Liz's family owns the house and her roommates are Julia and Betty.
Liz is a college student, studying literature, and has her future mapped out for her, seemingly by her father, with whom she has a strained relationship with. She is dating her high school sweetheart, Dalton, whom her father approves of. She meets Morgan at a USO dance on the eve of his being shipped overseas and an instant attraction if felt between the couple. She misunderstands a situation and heads for home.
Julia is also a college student who becomes engaged to the love of her life, Christian. He informs her he's enlisted in the service and goes off to war.
Betty is the somewhat flighty of the trio, she works as a waitress at a local diner.
Betty meets Morgan, leaving her photo for him and gets his address from a fellow dance attendee. She knows she's a horrible writer and convinces Liz to ghost write a letter to him.
What follows is the interactions of the three roommates and interspersed with letters between Liz and Morgan. The main story circulates around Liz and Morgan. While Liz ultimately becomes engaged to Dalton, she continues to write letters to Morgan as Betty. Her feelings for him deepen but she questions the validity of her feelings because they come about through a handful of letters from someone who does not know who she is.
The story is beautifully written, particularly for a debut novel. Although it left me wanting to see more of Julia and Betty. This book will always have a special place in my heart, because although my own romance with my husband was not conducted during wartime, a huge portion of our courtship was conducted via letters; a form of communication which is a lost art, particularly in this day and age.
Excellent love story and war story. Throughly enjoyed it. A good cast of characters and very believable. Good read.. Highly recommend it..
A real love story. Two people who connect at a chance meeting, and through a twist of fate, find themselves sharing their lives. Well-written, with honesty and emotion.
Get your box of tissues ready! This is an awesome book! I loved it from beginning to end. The story is a little more convoluted than the description gave. It's not just a story about Liz and Morgan. Although they are the main characters, Liz's roommates Betty ( the original one supposed to write Morgan) and Julia are very pivotal as well. All of the characters are rich. From the 3 roommates to the Army soldiers to even a couple of older ladies. This is a clean romance. Sex is intimated in one scene but it's very clean. This is a book you'll want to keep, and reread over and over. The history is what I love the most. You can actually imagine being there. It's funny, it's sweet and boy is it a tear jerker! Lol. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
