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from our review:Goodnight from London is a women’s fiction novel with strong romantic elements set in one of the most interesting periods of recent history. AAR staffers Maggie, Shannon and Keira were all eager to read it and are enthusiastic about sharing their thoughts regarding the book.
MB: I’d read Ms. Robson’s first book Somewhere in France and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was really excited to read this story, especially with its dramatic setting of London during World War Two. What drew you to the story? Were you familiar with Ms. Robson’s work?SD: Jennifer Robson has been on my radar for some time now. I’d heard great things from people whose reading tastes are very similar to my own, so I was eager to give her work a try. I love books set during the Second World War, so Goodnight From London seemed like a great place for me to start.KS: This was my first book by Ms. Robson and I’m already looking forward to her next. After having recently read Rhys Bowen’s In Farleigh Field, I find myself fascinated by accounts of life in England during the Second World War, so Goodnight from London was perfect for me.MB: The characters in the story fit well into the time period but at the same time seemed relatable and likable. I especially appreciated Ruby, who balanced nicely as someone who belonged in her era but was also very forward thinking. What were your thoughts on the characters?SD: I was able to relate to almost all of the characters. Ruby was such a delightful heroine. She had a strong work-ethic and a kind-hearted nature. The supporting characters were so wonderful, just the kind of people I can imagine myself warming up to in real life. The only character I struggled with was Ruby’s antagonist. I don’t want to spoil things by giving away too much about him, but his motivations for hating Ruby seemed weak and came out of left field, but not in a good, twisty way. It felt a little bit like the author needed to pick someone, and just sort of chose him at random and crafted a thin veneer to explain his actions to her readers.KS: I really liked Ruby’s positive attitude and her alertly intelligent outlook on life. She’s compassionate, appreciative of the opportunities she has in life, and very hard working. Ms. Robson has crafted great characters, including the secondary ones, while keeping them firmly rooted to the sensibilities of their era. MB: One aspect of this novel that I found outstanding was its look at journalism. So often you read a story and the career of the hero or heroine is clearly just filler. Here I thought the author completely nailed it. Was there anything about the book you found especially well done?SD: You make a great point about Ruby’s profession being so much more than filler, Maggie. Ms. Robson did such a great job making the journalism a true part of the story. I also loved the way she wrote relationships, especially those between Ruby and her friends. She really captured Ruby’s journey to create a family group of her own that wasn’t based on blood but on choice. Ruby truly embraced war-torn London, and, in a strange way, found it safe and homey despite the constant threats to life and limb. Ms. Robson made all of this seem so fluid and natural.KS: I find stories in which characters have meaningful, fulfilling jobs very attractive. And in Goodnight in London, Ms. Robson has done an excellent exploration of journalism as it was practiced in England in the 1940s. The dangers, the daring, and the finessing of interviewing are superbly depicted. But I also appreciated that while journalism was deeply important to Ruby and her editor, Kaz, they had lives and concerns that were beyond it; they were complex individuals. And the same goes for Ruby’s love interest, Bennett.
MB: I’d read Ms. Robson’s first book Somewhere in France and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was really excited to read this story, especially with its dramatic setting of London during World War Two. What drew you to the story? Were you familiar with Ms. Robson’s work?SD: Jennifer Robson has been on my radar for some time now. I’d heard great things from people whose reading tastes are very similar to my own, so I was eager to give her work a try. I love books set during the Second World War, so Goodnight From London seemed like a great place for me to start.KS: This was my first book by Ms. Robson and I’m already looking forward to her next. After having recently read Rhys Bowen’s In Farleigh Field, I find myself fascinated by accounts of life in England during the Second World War, so Goodnight from London was perfect for me.MB: The characters in the story fit well into the time period but at the same time seemed relatable and likable. I especially appreciated Ruby, who balanced nicely as someone who belonged in her era but was also very forward thinking. What were your thoughts on the characters?SD: I was able to relate to almost all of the characters. Ruby was such a delightful heroine. She had a strong work-ethic and a kind-hearted nature. The supporting characters were so wonderful, just the kind of people I can imagine myself warming up to in real life. The only character I struggled with was Ruby’s antagonist. I don’t want to spoil things by giving away too much about him, but his motivations for hating Ruby seemed weak and came out of left field, but not in a good, twisty way. It felt a little bit like the author needed to pick someone, and just sort of chose him at random and crafted a thin veneer to explain his actions to her readers.KS: I really liked Ruby’s positive attitude and her alertly intelligent outlook on life. She’s compassionate, appreciative of the opportunities she has in life, and very hard working. Ms. Robson has crafted great characters, including the secondary ones, while keeping them firmly rooted to the sensibilities of their era. MB: One aspect of this novel that I found outstanding was its look at journalism. So often you read a story and the career of the hero or heroine is clearly just filler. Here I thought the author completely nailed it. Was there anything about the book you found especially well done?SD: You make a great point about Ruby’s profession being so much more than filler, Maggie. Ms. Robson did such a great job making the journalism a true part of the story. I also loved the way she wrote relationships, especially those between Ruby and her friends. She really captured Ruby’s journey to create a family group of her own that wasn’t based on blood but on choice. Ruby truly embraced war-torn London, and, in a strange way, found it safe and homey despite the constant threats to life and limb. Ms. Robson made all of this seem so fluid and natural.KS: I find stories in which characters have meaningful, fulfilling jobs very attractive. And in Goodnight in London, Ms. Robson has done an excellent exploration of journalism as it was practiced in England in the 1940s. The dangers, the daring, and the finessing of interviewing are superbly depicted. But I also appreciated that while journalism was deeply important to Ruby and her editor, Kaz, they had lives and concerns that were beyond it; they were complex individuals. And the same goes for Ruby’s love interest, Bennett.
Grade: B+
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