Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Review: The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by:Jennifer Ryan

 The Chilbury Ladies' Choir
About the Book:
"Just because the men have gone to war, why do we have to close the choir? And precisely when we need it most!"

As England enters World War II's dark early days, spirited music professor Primrose Trent, recently arrived to the village of Chilbury, emboldens the women of the town to defy the Vicar's stuffy edict to shutter the church's choir in the absence of men and instead 'carry on singing'. Resurrecting themselves as "The Chilbury Ladies' Choir", the women of this small village soon use their joint song to lift up themselves, and the community, as the war tears through their lives.

Told through letters and journals, The Chilbury Ladies' Choir moves seamlessly from budding romances to village intrigues to heartbreaking matters of life and death. As we come to know the struggles of the charismatic members of this unforgettable outfit -- a timid widow worried over her son at the front; the town beauty drawn to a rakish artist; her younger sister nursing an impossible crush and dabbling in politics she doesn't understand; a young Jewish refugee hiding secrets about her family, and a conniving midwife plotting to outrun her seedy past -- we come to see how the strength each finds in the choir's collective voice reverberates in her individual life.

In turns funny, charming and heart-wrenching, this lovingly executed ensemble novel will charm and inspire, illuminating the true spirit of the women on the home front, in a village of indomitable spirit, at the dawn of a most terrible conflict.


My Review:
  The Chilbury Ladies' Choir reminded me so much of novels written in the 1950's. I loved the nostalgia of this story and the words written about these women. The second World War takes the world by storm as well as the lives of several people in the families of these women. In this story we are ask to follow along as these women cope with the war among their daily lives.

 We watch and see how they react and how it affects each and everyone of their lives and how they respond to it. I loved watching how each lady responds to the controversy surrounding the war and how their lives are changed by it.

 i don't want to give too much away but the stories behind each of the characters was refreshing and it will tug at your heart strings, for sure. The writer does a fantastic job of taking us inside the lives of each character and and convinces us who to root for in the midst of their struggles. It was a great read and I hate that it was over.

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author. All opinions are my own.

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