I finished another library book recently, “Dream When You’re Feeling Blue” by Elizabeth Berg. Oh my, I have really found an author I love! This was my third book by Berg and I enjoyed it immensely. It took me about 50 pages to “really” get into it, but after I did, it just flew by and I didn’t want it to end. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there’s something about Berg’s writing style that I really love. I still think the first one I read by her, “The Year of Pleasures” is still my favorite, but this one was wonderful too. I was also able to strike a bit of a personal chord with this book.
The book is about an Irish family living in Chicago during World War II. There’s 6 children in all, 3 boys and 3 girls, and the book focuses mainly on the girls. We start off the book with the two oldest girls seeing their boyfriends off at the train station – one headed to Europe to fight the Germans and the other to the Pacific to fight the Japs. We follow their lives and loves, through letters, things happening on the home front, through the girls eyes, mostly. It was a really well written book, and much like “Year of Pleasures”, one that I could sort of relate to. You see, my mom and dad got married in 1946 and I could sort of picture this time period through their eyes. I asked my dad if my mom went to dances and danced with the soldiers (she did) and if she wrote him letters (she did, but not every night like the girls in the book). I just wish my mom were still here for me to ask her more things 🙂
I hated to see this book end, and it did sort of surprise me at the end. It didn’t turn out quite like I had thought it would. It didn’t end badly, but it ended differently than I would have thought. It had me thinking about the ending, and the characters, for quite a while afterwards. In fact, I’m still thinking about them – always the sign of a good book to me. I really wish the book had been longer, I wanted to know more about the characters and see what happened in their lives more. More, more, more… another good sign! I’m definitely going to have to look for other books by Elizabeth Berg at my library. She has not failed me yet 🙂
For the record, I’ve read 42 books so far this year, for a total of 13,019 pages read. I have also read the sixth book in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series lately (“In the Company of Cheerful Ladies”), but I won’t review it. It is just part of a wonderful series that I have already reviewed. I look forward to catching up on it soon, as I have 2 more to be current with that particular series. Up next for me is a book that came to me via two wonderful ladies (thanks, Stacy and Lauren) – “Thorn in my Heart” by Liz Curtis Higgs. I’m really looking forward to it 🙂
Happy Reading!
I’m definitely going to get this one at the library. You know I’ve read the other two that you did, and though I DID like them, it just wasn’t as much as you. I have a feeling this one might be different though. 😉
I was so glad to read this review. I have one of Elizabeth Berg’s books sitting on my TBR shelf — We Are All Welcome Here. Now, I’ll have to decide between that and the final Mitford book as to which to read next. Eeny, meeny, miney, moe . . .
This was a great review! I love this period in history. And I understand how you long to ask your mom questions about it. There are so many things I wish I could still ask my mom. Things about her life and my own, growing up, that I know she alone would remember. I don’t think a person ever gets used to not having their mom.
Thanks for the great review:)
Thanks for the review! I will have to put this on my TBR list. Enjoy Thorn in My Heart!
Sounds like a great book. I may have to check it out!
I’ll have to look for this at the library – I’m always looking for something new to read and I love to read something that is recommended by another avid reader!
Elizabeth Berg is my very favorite female author. I’ve been reading her books for years. This is the only one I have yet to read. I call her books, *feel good books*. Her writing is so down to earth and I just love that quality.
That book and author sounds really great. If I come across a book by her, i will definitely read it.
This one sounds pretty good!
And in the words of a song I listened to recently, “You’re a machine!” (do you know it? I shoulda saved it for a title!)
Geez, girl…that’s like 3 books this week, isn’t it? I’m thoroughly in love with the book I’m reading now and still can’t seem time to get through it. (I know, I know…get off the darn computer, right.)
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