Monday 8 July 2019

The Ship Of Brides

I haven't been reading all that much since my mum died, I've found it quite hard to concentrate on anything and I believe reading does take a certain amount of focus. Since reading Me Before You back in 2016, I've become a big Jojo Moyes fan, I've read quite a few of her books now, so when I saw The Ship of Brides in a charity shop, I grabbed it. I have to say that my reading mojo was swiftly reestablished as soon as I began reading.


'The year is 1946 and all over the world young women are crossing the seas in their thousands en route to the men they married in wartime, and an unknown future. In Sydney, Australia, four women join 650 other brides and hundreds of naval officers on an extraordinary voyage to England - aboard the Victoria.

Rules of honour, duty and separation are strictly enforced, from the aircraft carrier's captain down to the lowliest young stoker. But the men and the brides will find their lives intertwined in ways the Navy could never have imagined...

And Frances Mackenzie, an enigmatic young bride whose past comes back to haunt her thousands of miles from home - will find that sometimes the journey is more important than the destination.'

This book is based on a true story, that of Jojo Moyes own grandmother, who made this same journey. I didn't know anything about brides, married during wartime, being shipped across oceans to be reunited with their husbands when the war ended so I was really interested in this part of the story. The book follows the fate of four brides, each one of them very different.

One thing I would say is that the very beginning was a little slow and I didn't know where the story was going, but that soon changed.

This is the best book I've read in a long time, I absolutely loved the story and it's so well written. A definite recommendation from me.

36 comments:

  1. You can depend on Jojo Myles for a good read. I am struggling with The Handmaid tale on TV, the story leaves me with the 'that would not be allowed' feeling are each one.

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    1. I've enjoyed every Jojo Moyes book I've read but I think this is one of her best. I haven't read The Handmaid's Tale but I've enjoyed each of the series, though they do make for uncomfortable viewing in parts.

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  2. Thanks for the recommendation x

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    1. I hope you enjoy it if you decide to read it.

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  3. Isn't it funny how we all take different things from the books we read? I read Ship of Brides not long after I read Me Before You and really didn't like it. That could have been because I absolutely loved Me Before You and was thinking that her previous work would be the same and I was disappointed that It wasn't. My reading has slowed up a bit at the moment too, nothing is grabbing by attention.

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    1. We do have different opinions on things but it wouldn't do for us all to like the same things. I still think Me Before You is Jojo Moyes best but I thoroughly enjoyed this. It's not often that I have such a slump in my reading but this book has definitely got me back on track.

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  4. Sounds like something I would enjoy.

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    1. I'm sure you would, I really enjoyed the story.

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  5. I agree about reading needing a certain amount of focus. It's good to see that you found a book which you really liked and would recommend. Happy reading. xx

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    1. I think you only need one good book to get you back on track when your reading mojo has disappeared and this is definitely it for me.

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  6. It's wonderful, when one finds a book, which gets us back into reading!!!!

    I am hoping for that, soon.

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    1. I hope you find something really good, I couldn't put this book down once I got going on it.

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  7. Another book for my library list, thank you. Glad you were able to settle down and enjoy it.

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    1. It felt good to be enjoying reading again, I do feel as though there's something missing in my life when I haven't got a good book on the go.

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  8. Thanks Jo. I do like Jo Jo Moyes books but I haven't read this one. I have read the trilogy of books from Me before you, after You and Still me and loved them all.

    Mx

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    1. Me Before You is my favourite Jojo Moyes book but I absolutely loved this one too. I'd definitely recommmend it.

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  9. This does sound like a good read, I shall keep my eyes peeled!xxx

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  10. Interesting Jo & as I'm Australian I've heard about the reunions, bu didn't know how it all happened & that it had been documented in any way. Thanks & take care.

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    1. This is a work of fiction but the author's grandmother was one of the war brides and made the journey from Australia to the UK. I didn't know anything about these reunions until I read this book.

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  11. I like JoJo Moyes, and this sound slike something I'd enjoy. I'll keep my eye out when charity shopping.
    xx

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    1. I was pleased that I'd picked this up in the charity shop, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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  12. I read this one a few years back and like you thought it took a while to get started, but was glad I persevered with it to the end. An interesting topic.

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    1. I really enjoyed it once I got past that first chapter or two, I couldn't put it down.

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  13. I've not read any books by JoJo Moyes. I'll have to look out for this one, it sounds very good.

    All the best Jan

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    1. I can definitely recommend Jojo Joyes, I've read a few of her books now and enjoyed each one.

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  14. I love book recommendations, thank you. And I've heard so much about Jojo Moyes and never tried one of hers. I'll have to look it up. I am a reader but this summer has not been working for me, I can't seem to get much done, and my pile of books to read hasn't shifted in a while. I'm reading a nice little cozy mystery at the moment, so hopefully I'm getting back into the habit.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. You only need one good book to get you back on track with your reading so hopefully, this mystery is it. There's still some Jojo Moyes books I haven't read so I'm looking out for those.

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  15. This sounds like a really good read, thanks for the recommendation.

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    1. I can thoroughly recommend it, I really enjoyed it.

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  16. I'm trying to read more, with the bookclub that guarantees 1 book a month but sometimes even they can be a struggle. I enjoy listening to audible books whilst working, crafting or jobs at home. I've a few books to collect from the library next week, so that'll be interesting, will I get them read...
    Cx

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    1. I've never tried audio books but I suppose it makes sense to listen to them whilst doing something else, a good way to get through some books if you're busy doing other things.

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  17. I love Jo Jo Moyes so thank you for this suggestion. I have been in a huge reading slump but have been going crazy listening to books in my car as I drive.

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    1. I loved this book, it's definitely got me back into reading again. If you've enjoyed other Jojo Moyes books I'm sure you'll enjoy this one too.

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  18. You know a book is good when it gets your reading mojo back! :)

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