Book Club!

Hey there,

How are things with you?

I am well but not loving these dark mornings already. We stepped into October and the sun got up at 7.01am. Ridiculous. The clocks will go back at the end of the month so we’ll gain some more daylight for a short time and an extra hour in bed. However, I will no doubt have to explain to Little Dude again why this happens. And he will no doubt tell me again how pointless he thinks it is. Something he plans to change when he rules the world so enjoy it while you can.

It’s been a while since I did a book review. I’m behind on my reading challenge on Goodreads but I’m getting back on track so, here’s my take on The Last Reunion by Kayte Nunn.

If, like me, you enjoy historical fiction that teaches you something, this is one for you. The Last Reunion tells the story of women of the Women’s Auxiliary Service (WAS(B)) who served during the Burma Campaign of WW2. It’s a group I’d never heard of before and I love that Nunn has shined a light on those amazing women.

The story opens with the theft of some rare Japanese miniature sculptures. We are then transported between 1945, focusing on a group of friends serving in the WAS(B) and 1999, where we meet Olivia, put-upon assistant to a art dealer. As the story unfolds, jumping between the two timelines, we learn what role the theft plays and how it connects these very different women.

I enjoyed how easily Nun switched between the two timelines, giving such in-depth descriptions especially in the war era chapters. Although I’d worked out the connection early on, the back and forth is very much like a cat-and-mouse game and I just wanted to keep reading to find out the ‘how’ and ‘why’.

Olivia’s growth from a somewhat shy and (sorry, but) weak individual to a bold young woman going for what she wants, was well done and believable. Beatrix is another great character – formidable and not to be messed with but eventually showing her vulnerability and a true understanding of why she’d placed those walls around herself.

There wasn’t much I disliked about this book other than there were a couple of characters that I felt I’d like to know more about. But, just as I was getting used to them, they disappeared. It felt like they could have been left out altogether.

Although the ending was a little obvious to me, I enjoyed it nonetheless. But OM is always moaning about how I’m able to detect who the bad guy is in any movie we watch after the first ten minutes, so that might just be me.

As I’ve said, lovers of historical fiction will enjoy this book as will those who love dual timelines (my faves in one book!). It is a heartfelt read and Nunn has written characters with such depth that I felt connected to them and wanted to know more about them. When a book has me trawling the internet for more information, I’m definitely hooked.

If you’ve read The Last Reunion, I’d love to know what you think!

Speak soon x