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There are currently 29 member reviews
for Letters from Skye
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Christopher R. (Brooklyn, NY)
the power of a handwritten letter
I had the pleasure of reading this book as part of Bookbrowse's First Impressions program. I can honestly say I loved it. The synopsis I read before requesting the book did not do it justice. It worked on so many levels. In a way, it is a commentary on the power of the handwritten letter. In an age of emails and texts, where the fastest route to instant gratification is always being sought, we have lost that angst that comes with waiting for a response. This book describes in great detail, those little moments when one struggles with exactly how to phrase what one wants to say and wonders how it will be received. Jessica Brockmole does a terrific job of developing the characters through letters: their idiosyncrasies, their desires, their strengths, and imperfections. There was one particular exchange in the beginning of the book regarding male and female roles that I especially loved. The love story, albeit complicated, feels real throughout. I found myself going through the thought process of the protagonists as the events unfolded. The consequences of the choices they make are widespread, affecting families, friends, and all of this plays out with two wars as the backdrop. I feel so good about the handwritten format after having just finished this book, that I wish it would have been published in handwritten form! I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a rich, believable love story in a historical setting.
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Chris W. (Temple City, CA)
Letters to remember
It was almost impossible to put this book down and, when I had to, I couldn't wait to get back to the letters and to these characters I had come to care about. I wanted to find out the end of their stories, yet I didn't want the book or the letters to end. Several moral issues are raised that could be discussed by book clubs, along with the lasting emotional and physical impact of war on families and friends. This quote had an impact: "You'll never know if you are on the right course for your life until you see the course that has brought you to where you are today." We are also reminded of how powerful "snail mail" letters can be in this new era of communicating via short emails and text messages, abbreviations, and emoticons. I loved this book, definitely recommend it to everybody, and will be giving it to several people for gifts.
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Jean T. (Paducah, KY)
Delightful Letters from Skye
I was extremely fortunate to be able to read this book virtually straight through – as it was I had a hard time finding a stopping point when I needed to break away. It was that compelling. I was interested through the opening pages, but by the end of the second chapter I was fully hooked. The author does an excellent job painting word pictures with only the letters written by the various characters during the first and second world wars. The characters are well developed as they are portrayed through their written words and you come to feel that you know and care about each of them as the book progresses.
This book reminds us of the intimacy and power of the written word to convey the soaring joys and searing pains of our human hearts and lives. I think this would be a great selection for book clubs and generally for those who enjoy literary novels. I should note that although it is a novel about a romance, it's not "chick lit" – my husband enjoyed it as well!
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Joanne V. (Towanda, PA)
A wonderful story done in letters
I loved this book and thank you to BookBrowse for the opportunity to review it. The characters are deftly drawn and I couldn't wait for the each letter. The author did a great job with depicting the time period and you just loved the characters and their interactions. I would recommend this book to everyone and especially to book clubs since I think there is a great deal in this book to discuss. And I loved the ending.
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Ilene R. (Northfield, IL)
A glimpse into wartime love...
I loved Letters from Skye! It spans 50 years through 2 wars. The story is told through letters. Elspeth and David start corresponding when David writes a "fan" letter to Elspeth about her poetry book. I almost felt I was reading real letters! I couldn't put this book down. It's about love, loss and family. When war is added to the mix, the book gets more depth. As a side, the way Elspeth describes her beloved Isle of Skye, Scotland makes me want to book a trip as soon as possible! A great read.
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Kimberly H. (Stamford, CT)
Letters from Skye- made me cry
I loved this book. Done all in letters, a wonderful read - though sad. Slightly sentimental with a backdrop of the challenges of 2 world wars, I would highly recommend for a quick weekend or long airplane flight read.
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Leslie D. (Le Roy, NY)
Exquisite writing in engrossing story
While there will be many comparisons to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, this debut novel stands on its own merit and tells quite a different story. In the letters of a mother and a daughter to their significant others, we see wartime Britain, both for World War I and II. This is a fine example of an author who "shows rather than tells" and who captures an era through the carefully written letters (right down to the endearments that are historically accurate). There is a surprising amount of suspense to the story along with interesting family secrets. Loved it. Great for book discussions and fans of historical fiction like Guernsey or The Aviator's Wife.
