The Soldier's Wife

Jul 13, 2011 Toni rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Lynne, Chrissie,

Shelves: historical-fiction, multi-cultural, travel, war-stories, channel-islands

Loved it! Something about books with an island setting always draw me in. I've become greatly intrigued with The Channel Islands in particular ever since reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. This book only served to reinforce that fascination.

The Soldier's Wife had so much to say - about human dignity and perseverance and the make-do spirit and compassion (and yes, passion too). Sure, the inhabitants of Guernsey Island who survived the Nazi occupation between 1939 to 1945 p...more

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Aug 03, 2011 Meg Ulmes rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved "Potato Peel Society" when I read it a few years ago, so when I saw that this novel was set on Guernsey during WWII I had to read it--and I'm glad that I did. It is a richly written novel with a bit more serious narrative than "Potato." I did not want the book to end and it was worth every page. Well drawn characters, a believable plot and appealing setting description make this a memorable novel.

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Aug 04, 2011 Alison rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: wwii

A quick read, and WWII novels always provide such potential for melodrama. After reading the Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society I enjoyed getting another Guernsey point of view. Vivienne and her daughters were loveable and I enjoyed the suspense of not knowing whether Gunther was good or bad.

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Aug 10, 2011 Debra rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: firstreads-read, won-from-firstreads

Thank you Goodreads for letting me win this book!
I had never heard of Guernsey until I read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society which is a book I love. Like the Potato Peel Pie Society The Soldier's Wife also takes place in Guernsey during the German Occupation in WWII. Vivienne, who is a resident of Guernsey and has a husband who is a soldier fighting for Britain is left to care for her 2 daughters and mother-in-law while he is away. When Germany occupies Guernsey German soldiers...more

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Aug 12, 2011 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads, historical-fiction

Actual Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Level of Recommendation: Recommended
Recommend to: fans of historical fiction

Truthfully, I found it a bit difficult to get into the story in the beginning, but the prose is simple enough that I continued reading. This book was told in first person, but I honestly thought it could have been told in third person without detracting from the story. Many lines seemed like something you would read in a third person perspective novel, but then I'd see "I said" after a line of d...more Actual Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Level of Recommendation: Recommended
Recommend to: fans of historical fiction

Truthfully, I found it a bit difficult to get into the story in the beginning, but the prose is simple enough that I continued reading. This book was told in first person, but I honestly thought it could have been told in third person without detracting from the story. Many lines seemed like something you would read in a third person perspective novel, but then I'd see "I said" after a line of dialogue, reminding me that this book is indeed first person. Furthermore, I felt that the voice behind this point of view was a bit childish for a mother of two. Throughout the book, her children seem much wiser than her, and are much more articulate. The narrator and protagonist, Vivienne de la Mare, had a detached voice throughout the book. This bothered me when I began reading, but it began to make sense when I was just past halfway. Vivienne de la Mare is just a much more reserved character than I am accustomed to seeing in first person narratives, and some readers may feel she is a "doormat" depending on his or her perception.

The story. Ms. Leroy has crafted a beautiful story wrapped around WWII. Though her language and style was very simplistic and straightforward (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), the imagery she captured was beautiful. I never had issues imagining a vivid depiction of the setting in my mind. I had never heard of Guernsey prior to this book, but I almost felt as if I was on the island with Vivienne de la Mare while reading this book. But although Ms. Leroy communicated the story clearly to me, the way it was told, the sentence structures and repetitive phrases she used kind of watered down the grandeur of the story for me. Sometimes the descriptions would feel lifeless, then I'd get to part where the emotional impact just slammed into me without warning, such as when (view spoiler). I really liked how Gunther and Vivienne's love affair felt so real, but didn't need to be the main focus to capture my interest. Their relationship did grow a little anticlimactic in the middle, but the true extent and passion of their love is revealed later on.

Aside from these few small criticisms, The Soldier's Wife was a very poignant read. I now understand all the hype this book has been given by book critics and book clubs. I had some complaints along the way, but I am so glad I finished it because the last chapter made me forgive everything and smile like an idiot. This book really makes you ask some obvious, and not so obvious, questions about your life that many usually never take the time to ponder. The Soldier's Wife is truly worth reading to the last page.

***I got this book from the publisher through a Goodreads First-reads giveaway
**This review can also be found on LibraryThing(less)

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Jul 15, 2011 Barbara rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

I was glad I was on vacation when I started this book because I couldn't put it down. It is beautifully written. The descriptions of the sights and smells of the island make you want to visit, but it is easy to imagine what it is like. It also shows that not all German soldiers are monsters like are portrayed in most. WWII stories. Some are kind people who had normal lives and had no choise about serving. If you enjoyed Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, you'll love this book.

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Dec 22, 2012 Gaile rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: emery-s-2012-challenge-gaile-kenne, wwii, rhfl-2012-challenge

This book contains lovely descriptions of the landscape and the daily life of the main character. I think the author is somewhat slow to get into the story. I was 150 pages in before it really started to take off. It is written in the first person and in the present tense.
Vivienne lives on the island Of Guernsey with her two daughters. Her husband is at war but she has never been in love with him. With the occupation, Guernsey has no little or no access to news of the war. Next door, four Germa...more

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Jun 07, 2013 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Enjoyed this one, although I do think the main character made some questionable choices. Below is a blurb on the book:

As World War II draws closer and closer to Guernsey, Vivienne de la Mare knows that there will be sacrifices to be made. Not just for herself, but for her two young daughters and for her mother-in-law, for whom she cares while her husband is away fighting. What she does not expect is that she will fall in love with one of the enigmatic German soldiers who take up residence in the...more

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Apr 12, 2013 Stacy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

There's an ethereal quality to this story that really pulls you into the lead character's head and makes you see things through her filter. It feels dreamlike or foggy--as you imagine Vivienne must feel her life has become, as she watches Germans bomb and then occupy her small island home and even settle in next door. With her emotionally estranged husband off with the British army, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to one of her new neighbors. It was compelling to watch her try to find some...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Elaine Dowling rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is very much the story of the narrator -- and I didn't like her. It was a slow read, and I almost put it down a couple of times. Some things were very well done, others not so much. The only reason I gave it three stars instead of two is that I think there are parts of the book that will stay with me. After a good night's sleep, it is back down to 2 stars. They can't get food on the island during the occupation (which is well documented), but cigarettes seemed plentiful with no explanation....more

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Nov 18, 2012 Noel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, kindle, lit-and-fiction, wwii

Vivienne de la Mare has stayed in Guernsey while her husband is off fighting the war. She has two daughters, blanche a typical self-centered teenager who is missing out on dances, dating and fashion, and the adorable Millie, who at age six has more sense than most grownups. Vivienne also cares for her mother-in-law who is quickly deteriorating with dementia.

As the Germans establish themselves as an occupying force on the island, and a group of officers moves into the house next door, island lif...more Vivienne de la Mare has stayed in Guernsey while her husband is off fighting the war. She has two daughters, blanche a typical self-centered teenager who is missing out on dances, dating and fashion, and the adorable Millie, who at age six has more sense than most grownups. Vivienne also cares for her mother-in-law who is quickly deteriorating with dementia.

As the Germans establish themselves as an occupying force on the island, and a group of officers moves into the house next door, island life continues with few interruptions and with little knowledge of what is truly occuring on the mainland. Viv works hard to keep her family fed and clothed, her MIL content and her wits about her. She meets some of the German officers next door and falls in love with one of them, Gunther.

This relationship must be kept secret on two fronts: Viv is a married woman, albeit unhappily, and Gunther is fighting for the wrong side of the war. Her values, her trust, her honor are all put on the line, but her feelings for him run deep, her need for a man to hold her and make her feel sane in a time of sheer insanity and vulnerability take over.

This was a theme on the island of Guernsey, which got off relatively easily when compared to other occupied countries. Many people befriended the Germans stationed there, or worked for them and had such mixed feelings of betrayal to their country and yet needed to feed their families. So many people turned a blind eye to the ravages of war, to the small nuances and voices that spoke in whispers of the atrocities occuring around them.

Viv slowly awoke to this, and found her strength and a backbone. Besides the love story, the book deals with matters of conscience, of awareness, of asking and answering the tough questions, of compartmentalizing behaviors. "Let's leave the war outside our bedroom and not think of it while we're together." War makes us do bad things, but I'm basically a good person otherwise..... Powerful questions that are easily answered when one is not in the situation. The brilliance of the book is that the author brings us in, allows us to like Gunther and feel the pain of Viv. (less)

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Oct 03, 2012 Denise Cuenin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I found this book powerful and somewhat dark. Vivienne is an unhappy wife living on the channel island of Guernsey when the British forces abandon them and the Nazi occupying force arrives. She is a dedicated mother, devoted to caring for her two daughters and her ailing mother-in-law who is increasingly confused. She feels isolated from her estranged husband who had carried on an affair for many years before he joined the British forces. She finds herself deeply attracted to a German officer wh...more

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Sep 08, 2012 Michelle Cunningham rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Vivienne lives on Guernsey island with her two daughters and her mother-in-law who has dementia during the World War 2. She makes the decision to stay on the island instead of fleeing to London like many locals have. She has made the decision to stay telling herself everything will be OK.... then the Germans came.

Curfews, food shortages and the impending winter are the least of Vivienne's worries after she starts to have feelings for an officer living next door. Vivienne must decide to either gi...more

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Aug 25, 2012 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: wwii

2.5 stars, but I rounded up because I feel nice today. Also as a sort of atonement for this bit that I just have to get off my chest:

PLEASE DO NOT EVER NAME YOUR ROMANTIC INTEREST GUNTHER. I am a child of the '90s and '00s, when I hear "Gunther," I think this:

.
If you live under a rock and have never seen an episode of the hit sitcom "Friends," that is Gunther, the comically creepy coffee shop worker who is obsessed with Rachel. So yeah. Gunther was supposed to be this intense, attractive, mora...more 2.5 stars, but I rounded up because I feel nice today. Also as a sort of atonement for this bit that I just have to get off my chest:

PLEASE DO NOT EVER NAME YOUR ROMANTIC INTEREST GUNTHER. I am a child of the '90s and '00s, when I hear "Gunther," I think this:

.
If you live under a rock and have never seen an episode of the hit sitcom "Friends," that is Gunther, the comically creepy coffee shop worker who is obsessed with Rachel. So yeah. Gunther was supposed to be this intense, attractive, morally grey complex character, and instead, I couldn't help but picture him as creepy Friends Gunther. But alas. I guess I can't really get mad at the author for that. It did make it hard to take the book seriously, though.

This is like the fifth book I've read like this, where the shy, quiet-yet-somehow-inexplicably-entrancing young woman draws the attention of a gentlemanly-yet-morally-confused and dashing-yet-wounded German soldier/officer. It's not a bad story, but I've grown a bit tired of that sort of plot. While the story was interesting enough to keep me reading, the characters weren't actually that original or well-rendered, and the pacing and focus of the story was inconsistent (the first half is focused a bit too heavily on a romance which is then almost abandoned in the second half to focus on the forced labor workers). The writing itself was decent, though a bit heavy-handed and preachy about the moral complexities of 1930s-1940s Europe. I'm not exactly sorry I read this book, but it made me realize I really need to stop reading these types of books - I've just gone through too many of them at this point. If you really liked this one, I would recommend Sarah's Key, Those Who Save Us, The Things We Cherished, The Postmistress, and The Kommandant's Girl. If you want a book with a similar setting and issues but a fresher take/different approach, take a look at Postcards from No Man's Land, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Gone to Soldiers, or Five Quarters of the Orange. Sorry for the lengthy book list, but I'm always looking for WWII fiction recs, so I like to try and return the favor.

SPOILERS BELOW -
Just one last note - I swear to God, enough with the "cleverly" "disguised" morning sickness written into books like these. If a main character is having illicit sex and then throws up at any point for any purpose in the story, I will immediately assume they are pregnant. I wish authors would stop trying to have a "surprise" pregnancy as like a little plot twist. We all see it coming like a mile off, it has ceased to be a twist (or interesting or original). Just had to get that off my chest. It really bugs me.(less)

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Jul 18, 2012 Lydia Laceby rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

Originally Reviewed at Novel Escapes

I picked up The Soldier’s Wife a few weeks ago after the cover drew me in and the story had me adding to my pile. Having loved The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, I had high hopes for this novel and wasn’t disappointed. The writing itself was stunning as was the depiction of Guernsey and the story stole a bit of my heart. The Soldier’s Wife will definitely sit on my shelf to be reread.

What stood out most for me was how astounded and left in awe...more Originally Reviewed at Novel Escapes

I picked up The Soldier’s Wife a few weeks ago after the cover drew me in and the story had me adding to my pile. Having loved The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, I had high hopes for this novel and wasn’t disappointed. The writing itself was stunning as was the depiction of Guernsey and the story stole a bit of my heart. The Soldier’s Wife will definitely sit on my shelf to be reread.

What stood out most for me was how astounded and left in awe I grew at how Margaret Leroy strung the words of this novel together so poetically and lyrically. This captured my attention even more than the story itself! I reread passages, studied the words and wondered at them the entire way through this novel. It has been a long time since I have read something so stunning and beautiful.

I didn’t become as absorbed by the love story as I would have thought which surprised and saddened me. If I had, this story would have blown me away. Because of their distant and seemingly forced relationship, I grew fascinated instead with the small details about the island and life during occupation. Vivienne’s character drew me in and I loved watching her discover what kind of woman she is and how far she will go to protect and provide for her daughters as well as the compassion and kindness she has for others. Her character felt intensely real to me and I was loath to have her story end.

Vivienne’s two daughters provided an interesting perspective on the occupation. First, I loved the younger daughter who was so spunky and stubborn and boisterous and left me on the edge of my seat wondering what trouble she might fall into. Then there was the young teenage daughter’s story, which I was left wanting more of. Teetering on the verge of adulthood during such a precipitous time when all the men had left and only German soldiers remained, Leroy touched on the issues with her character, but I would have loved more.

I loved the depiction of Guernsey and particularly loved the intricate details about the struggles during occupation from the lack of material for dresses to the food shortages and how they survived by stretching out portions, having to turn into their lands into vegetable gardens and needing to find new foods to enjoy.

I will definitely seek out Margaret Leroy novels in the future, and look at some of her previous works.(less)

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Apr 13, 2012 CookieDemon rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, historical-fiction

(This review also appears on Amazon.co.uk)

I'm not going to summarise the plot of this novel as that has been done more than adequately many times already, but I have to say that whilst I found this book an interesting enough read, for me it just wasn't anywhere near as good as what I had been expecting. I perceived that this would be a book focusing on the impact the German occupation of Guernsey had on the islanders, intermingled with that of a romance between an islander and a German soldier;...more (This review also appears on Amazon.co.uk)

I'm not going to summarise the plot of this novel as that has been done more than adequately many times already, but I have to say that whilst I found this book an interesting enough read, for me it just wasn't anywhere near as good as what I had been expecting. I perceived that this would be a book focusing on the impact the German occupation of Guernsey had on the islanders, intermingled with that of a romance between an islander and a German soldier; instead, I felt that this book read almost in two halves. The first part of the book seemed to really concentrate on the romantic interlude between the two lead protagonists with the war as a backdrop, but not a very detailed one (a lot of important factors are merely skated over). Then, the romantic aspect seemed to peter out somewhat and the second half of the book provided more detail of the impact of war on the islanders with a lot of emotive detail about prisoners of war and the behaviour of the German soldiers. Personally, I would have rather seen one focus or the other if the author was going to plough in a lot of detail- this book to me felt very disjointed and if I'm honest, a bit inconsistent, though I don't think the present tense, first person narrative particularly helped matters either.

I also felt that the author seemed to hint at some aspects of the storyline that never really went anywhere- namely with the lead female protagonists (Vivienne's) nephew and her own liaison with her soldier. Without giving anything away, I was expecting more to happen there and it was a bit of an anti-climax when nothing did. Another factor was the way that initially Vivienne's oldest daughter Blanche was depicted as a bit of a spoilt brat and their relationship wasn't particularly close- again a bit of a storyline that didn't really go anywhere after the first few chapters. A lot more could have been made of the mother/daughter relationship. There was also the introduction of a poison pen letter- again another plot aspect that was never concluded; it just seemed a bit pointless to stick them all in there then never follow them up.

The biggest sticking point for me though in terms of character relationships and developments was that of Vivienne's mother-in-law Evelyn, a character of many dimensions who was suffering from dementia and was pushed into the background a lot and just seemed to be there as a device to illicit empathy for poor housewife Vivienne and as a frail old woman who didn't want any `Huns' in their home. I would really have liked more to have been made of Evelyn within the plot- she didn't seem to have much of a purpose.

And the ending: I have to say that given the whole book was based around the war in Guernsey, to just gloss entirely over the impact that the ending of the war had on the islanders after so many years of occupation was just sloppy. I *detest* books that say merely `one year later...' and simply move on, and this was one of those books. The ending was rushed and a bit shoddy- so much more could have been made of the impact on the Guernsey people and it just wasn't there, which I found incredibly disappointing- and the very final paragraph really made me grit my teeth at how contrived it was. I really doubt I would read anything by this author again in future as a result of this novel.

Like I've said, the book was interesting with a great premise, but I certainly wouldn't recommend it as one of the stronger novels I've read about the German occupation of Guernsey, or WWII as a whole. There are much better books out there, so don't bother with this one. (less)

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Apr 09, 2012 Vanessa Fenn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A novel full of grand passion and intensity, The Soldier's Wife asks "What would you do for your family?" "What should you do for a stranger?" and "What would you do for love?"

As World War II draws closer and closer to Guernsey, Vivienne de la Mare knows that there will be sacrifices to be made. Not just for herself, but for her two young daughters and for her mother-in-law, for whom she cares while her husband is away fighting. What she does not expect is that she will fall in love with one of...more A novel full of grand passion and intensity, The Soldier's Wife asks "What would you do for your family?" "What should you do for a stranger?" and "What would you do for love?"

As World War II draws closer and closer to Guernsey, Vivienne de la Mare knows that there will be sacrifices to be made. Not just for herself, but for her two young daughters and for her mother-in-law, for whom she cares while her husband is away fighting. What she does not expect is that she will fall in love with one of the enigmatic German soldiers who take up residence in the house next door to her home. As their relationship intensifies, so do the pressures on Vivienne. Food and resources grow scant, and the restrictions placed upon the residents of the island grow with each passing week. Though Vivienne knows the perils of her love affair with Gunther, she believes that she can keep their relationship and her family safe. But when she becomes aware of the full brutality of the Occupation, she must decide if she is willing to risk her personal happiness for the life of a stranger.

This was such a good story and was written beautifully! It was full of love- love for family, love for others, love for lovers, and love for yourself. Vivienne was such a strong woman to be able to give all of herself to everyone in need. I was touched by how much she gave up for her family, friends, and complete strangers.

This was very different from other war stories. I appreciated that the author showed that just because someone opposes you, your beliefs, you country, etc.. does not necessarily make you a bad person. Vivienne found herself close to her "enemies", and discovered they, as individuals, were kind, compassionate, loving people too.

My favorite part of the book was the epiglogue, which is very rare for me. Usually the endings of books ruin the whole story for me. Not so with this one, I feel it wrapped up very nicely, without leaving any questions in my mind. I felt at peace at the end, like it was the natural course for the story. Such a good read!(less)

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Mar 29, 2012 Diejai rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nationalsozialismus

GERMAN REVIEW

Ich mag Geschichten über verbotene Lieben und ich lese zur Zeit auch gerne Romane, welche zeitlich zur Zeit des zweiten Weltkriegs angesiedelt sind. Somit war „Für immer, Vivienne“ prädestiniert um von mir gelesen zu werden.

Margaret Leroy nimmt den Leser mit auf die Kanalinsel Guernsey und beschreibt die Landschaft und die Insel so bildgewaltig, dass ich das Gefühl hatte, die Insel zu kennen und zu wissen, wie es dort aussieht. Diese Beschreibungen haben mir unheimlich gut gefallen....more GERMAN REVIEW

Ich mag Geschichten über verbotene Lieben und ich lese zur Zeit auch gerne Romane, welche zeitlich zur Zeit des zweiten Weltkriegs angesiedelt sind. Somit war „Für immer, Vivienne“ prädestiniert um von mir gelesen zu werden.

Margaret Leroy nimmt den Leser mit auf die Kanalinsel Guernsey und beschreibt die Landschaft und die Insel so bildgewaltig, dass ich das Gefühl hatte, die Insel zu kennen und zu wissen, wie es dort aussieht. Diese Beschreibungen haben mir unheimlich gut gefallen. Dank Google habe ich mir inzwischen viele Bilder von der Insel angeschaut und sie passen zu dem Bild, welches ich durch Margaret Leroy von der Insel erhalten habe.

Margaret Leroy schreibt sehr poetisch und stimmungsvoll. Ihre Art, die Dinge nicht beim Namen zu nennen, jedoch trotzdem zu wissen was gemeint ist, hat mir gut gefallen. Das Buch beinhaltet viele schöne Sätze und es hat Spaß gemacht, diese Sätze zu lesen.

Die Protagonistin, Vivienne, ist sehr selbstreflektiert und ihr innerer Kampf um richtig und falsch wird sehr deutlich. Es gefällt mir, dass die Autorin sie nicht einfach nur auf eine rosarote Wolke gesetzt hat, denn das macht die Geschichte für mich authentisch. Im Laufe der Geschichte steht immer wieder die Frage im Raum, ob Liebe falsch sein kann und ob man sich vorschreiben lassen muss, wen man lieben darf. Vivienne findet darauf ihre ganz eigene Haltung und es hat mir gefallen, wie die Autorin sie hat handeln lassen. Doch nicht nur Vivienne hat mir gefallen, auch die anderen Protagonisten fand ich gut dargestellt. Besonders die kleine Millie mit ihrem großen Herzen hat mir beim Lesen viel Freude bereitet.

Während der ganzen Geschichte stehen menschliche und emotionale Dinge im Vordergrund. Die Autorin geht sehr stark auf die Gefühle ihrer Protagonisten ein. Sachliche und politische Fakten hingegen werden nur am Rande erwähnt und auch nur dann, wenn sie Auswirkungen auf den direkten Verlauf der Geschichte haben. Für mich war es neu eine solche Geschichte zu lesen, welche fast nur auf emotionalem beruht. Mir hat dieser Weg der Autorin jedoch gefallen und zusammen mit ihrem poetischen Schreibstil passt dies gut zusammen.

Auch das Ende des Buchs hat mir gefallen, da es so richtig nach meinem Geschmack war.

Fazit:

„Für immer, Vivienne“ besticht neben einer schönen Geschichte durch den stimmungsvollen Schreibstil der Autorin. Während des Lesens konnte ich vollkommen in die Geschichte abtauchen und hatte manchmal das Gefühl, selbst auf der Insel zu sein. Die erzählte Geschichte hat mir gut gefallen und das gelungene Ende schließt die Geschichte gut ab.(less)

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Feb 05, 2012 Jodi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a book that I read on my Kindle. It is not a book that I would normally read. It was about wartime and how things that people thought was important in the time of war dont matter. The woman Vivienne has a husband who cheated on her and then went to fight in the war. She has two young children in the home and a mother in law who is losing her mind. The woman tries to be friendly to all and learn the new rules of wartime. She meets a man and instantly feels a connection. He appears severa...more

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Dec 29, 2011 Deb Carpenter rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Soldier’s Wife by Margaret Leroy

The old saying, “All’s fair in love and war” takes on a new meaning when reading "The Soldier’s Wife" by Margaret Leroy. It is the summer of 1940 and Vivienne’s husband Eugene has gone to London to join the fight, while she remains in Guernsey, a small channel island, with her mother-in-law Evelyn and her daughters Millie and Blanche.

When the soldiers have all left the island, it is clear the island’s occupants must evacuate their homes. Vivienne wavers on wh...more The Soldier’s Wife by Margaret Leroy

The old saying, “All’s fair in love and war” takes on a new meaning when reading "The Soldier’s Wife" by Margaret Leroy. It is the summer of 1940 and Vivienne’s husband Eugene has gone to London to join the fight, while she remains in Guernsey, a small channel island, with her mother-in-law Evelyn and her daughters Millie and Blanche.

When the soldiers have all left the island, it is clear the island’s occupants must evacuate their homes. Vivienne wavers on whether to stay or go, but she decides to take the final boat to London. As they are in line to board the very small boat, Vivienne makes a last minute decision to stay. Her friend Gwen, whose family is also staying, voices Vivienne’s opinion and the book’s main theme when she says, “How can you ever know what the right thing is? How can you ever know?”

The three generations of women stay alone in the house and Vivienne wonders if her impulsive decision will cost them their safety. German soldiers move into the abandoned house next door, and the question of knowing what is the right thing is asked more and more often. When one of the German officers comes to the door to return Millie’s ball that he found in their yard, (“I also have daughters,” he says), Vivienne’s mother-in-law is angry. “You’re a soldier’s wife, Vivienne. You need to show some backbone. If he comes to the door again, don’t you go letting him in.”

But loneliness and unhappy marriages on both sides draws together Mrs. Vivienne de la Mare and German Captain Gunther Lehmann, one of the soldiers from next door. Their love must be kept secret for many reasons, lest they be seen as traitors to not only their spouses but to their countries as well. What can the future hold for these two whose loyalties should remain with their separate allegiances?

Vivienne is a soldier’s wife. Gunther is a soldier for the opposite side. As their love becomes more complicated, and Vivienne begins to feel more like Gunther’s wife than Eugene’s, we find ourselves asking the burning question, “How can you ever know what the right thing is? How can you ever know?” And we know there is no clear answer. Nothing seems fair in this war, and nothing seems fair when it comes to this bittersweet love.

Book Review by Deb Carpenter-Nolting
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Dec 16, 2011 Emily Collins rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Coming back into reality can be horribly startling at times. That's the best way to discern an excellent book from a simply okay book. It's the excellent books that make you forget where you are in time and space, entirely blocking out the clock, one could spend hours reading an excellent book and think it was only minutes. Perhaps, of course, in my particular office this may be a problem, but it's all worth it in the end.
I hadn't, in a very long while, read a book that made me forget myself, be...more Coming back into reality can be horribly startling at times. That's the best way to discern an excellent book from a simply okay book. It's the excellent books that make you forget where you are in time and space, entirely blocking out the clock, one could spend hours reading an excellent book and think it was only minutes. Perhaps, of course, in my particular office this may be a problem, but it's all worth it in the end.
I hadn't, in a very long while, read a book that made me forget myself, become absorbed wholly in the story, the plot of another world beyond my own. It's a wonderful thing when such books are found, they are to be treasured for their wonder and remarkability. I finished The Soldier's Wife today, it was one of few books that I have read that come from the "adult" section of our library. I've been, little by little, trying to transition myself over from the teen section, but it's a scary change, the teen section has been my home for nearly ten years now, I know those shelves like the back of my hand. It was really an especially odd time to choose that book to read because I am trying desperately to finish off a 2011 reading challenge, of which I pledged to read 30 books in one year. I have a number of books from my ever familiar teen section checked out, each of which I could finish in less than a day instead of the three that it took to finish this one. Yet it was apparently a good choice, The Soldier's Wife was much more wonderful than I could have anticipated. I read most of it on our office during breaks between shelving books, and the cliffhangers were horrible when I found that I had to leave again to shelve. But the last section of it, the last bit of that wonderful book, was stunning. The last time I cried over a book was back in July, rereading the Harry Potter series, but this book more than deserved the tears that were shed to it. I cannot spoil it for anyone, that would be more terrible than the worst of crimes. Let me be the one to assure all readers, however, that I, at least, fell in love with this book. There were certain parts that I didn't approve of, which I expected after picking it out of the adult section, and there was one little plot tail at the end that has been a little overdone, at least in what I have read, but overall it was too enthralling, too engaging, to be put down for longer than absolutely necessary. It was after I finally read those last few words and closed the pages that I realized how much I had missed - the calm albeit dreary day had long since turned into a torrential downpour that threatened to break the window above me, and half the people from my office were gone, already having started another cart which I had completely zoned out of. These are the best kinds of books. For a few hours today, I was living on an island occupied by German soldiers during World War II. Those were certainly scary times.(less)

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Jul 24, 2011 Felice rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ever read The Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene? It’s about a Jewish teenager named Patty whose town in Arkansas is to house a German prisoner of war camp. Despite the ill will and fears regarding the German nation, Patty befriends one of the young soldiers in the camp. Her friendship with him is an escape from her hard home life and from loneliness but when their relationship is discovered Patty has to choose between popular opinion, her family and this soldier who means so much to he...more Ever read The Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene? It’s about a Jewish teenager named Patty whose town in Arkansas is to house a German prisoner of war camp. Despite the ill will and fears regarding the German nation, Patty befriends one of the young soldiers in the camp. Her friendship with him is an escape from her hard home life and from loneliness but when their relationship is discovered Patty has to choose between popular opinion, her family and this soldier who means so much to her.

It is a wonderful novel. It made a huge impression on me as a girl and now I think I’ve read the adult version. It is The Soldier’s Wife by Margaret Leroy. The basic bones in German Soldier and Soldier’s Wife are the same: two women involved with the enemy during wartime much decide where their loyalties lie. That is a good start to a drama, right?

The soldier’s wife is Vivienne. She and her young family live in Guernsey. When the war begins Vivienne’s husband is off to fight and she is becomes a single parent and the caretaker to her husband’s mother. Facing the threat of German invasion, many of the inhabitants of the islands send their children away for safety’s sake but Vivienne feels compelled to keep hers with her in the island.

The German Invasion does come and with it a harsh occupation. Normalcy is a thing of the past. Vivienne’s life is quickly taken over by food, fuel and every other thing shortages and the increasingly strict restrictions placed on the citizens of Guernsey by the German soldiers. The kindness of one of the enemy soldiers occupying the house next door is the beginning of Vivienne’s affair or her collaboration depending on how you look at it.

Leroy is most successful and entertaining when writing about the day-to-day workings of Vivienne’s life and Guernsey itself. She paints an evocative portrait of island life and a woman juggling multiple, complex relationships in an extreme situation but never captures the desperation this existence would have to bring on.Historically The Soldier’s Wife is World War 2-lite. The author breezes through all that hard war stuff and fails to take any advantage of some of the real horrors on Guernsey like the use of slave labor.

The heavy concentration on Vivienne's assignations that stay secret for years (Really? On and occupied island?) miss the intensity they could have had if Leroy brought more of the war into the novel. If you know nothing about the German Occupation of the Channel Islands not to worry you will finish The Soldier’s Wife just as knowledge free. It’s too bad. I like the setting and all of the ideas behind this novel but as it turns out The Soldier's Wife is no Summer Of My German Soldier.(less)

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Jul 04, 2011 Erika Robuck rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Set on the English Channel Island of Guernsey during the Nazi occupation of WWII, The Soldier’s Wife is the story of Vivienne de la Mare, her affair with a German soldier, and her relationship with her family and neighbors. When we meet Vivienne she is caring for her mother-in-law and her two daughters while her husband is away fighting for the allied forces in London. From the onset, Vivienne is faced with agonizing decisions; the first of which is whether or not to get on the last boat to Lond...more

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Jun 18, 2011 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My take: I had no idea there were these little cow islands between the British Isles and the continent until I read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society a few years ago. Now I just want to go visit them. But definitely not during a war. Even more definitely not during a time they are occupied by another country working on a little genocide. Just to summarize, there are a few little islands nobody really cared much about that happened to be strategically located between the European...more My take: I had no idea there were these little cow islands between the British Isles and the continent until I read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society a few years ago. Now I just want to go visit them. But definitely not during a war. Even more definitely not during a time they are occupied by another country working on a little genocide. Just to summarize, there are a few little islands nobody really cared much about that happened to be strategically located between the European continent and the British Isles. The Nazis invaded and built an airfield. This made it particularly convenient for bombing London.

The residents of these islands left, for the most part. There were, however, a large portion who didn't believe the war would touch them. The Nazis bombed the crud out of the island to soften them up then peacefully docked their ships, landed their planes and walked right into town, found residences empty, unattended automobiles, etc. and requisitioned them. This is where we find ourselves with Vivienne, a thirty-something mother of two daughters, one a teenager and one a precocious grade schooler. She is also caring for her mother-in-law who seems to be suffering from dementia. Meanwhile, her husband, Eugene, is off fighting the war against the Germans.

Enter the Germans who move in right next door. The rank and file German soldiers, including those with higher rank but not SS, are generally affable to the residents of Guernsey, although there is always the renegade soldier who forgets to be polite and shoots a civilian. Vivienne meets Gunther, a gentle man in his forties. She is lonely and recounts her orphan - like childhood, her hurried wedding to Eugene that she never loved, his probable affair and her continued loneliness. Suddenly, it seems, Vivienne and Gunther are having an affair.

The most difficult conflict Vivienne finds herself with for the bulk of the book is not a moral dilemma of adultery but whether or not she should be, literally, sleeping with the enemy. Vivienne and Gunther find companionship, solace, friendship, and even love through one another yet Vivienne continues her struggles. The real question then is this; Can a person maintain their high moral ground when engaging in behavior that does not agree with their beliefs? Germany is at war with the world (except Italy). The German army is trying to kill Vivienne's husband, in a sense. Yet Vivienne has feelings for a member of the German army.

Meanwhile, other information seeps into Vivienne's consciousness. Of course, there is always a threat of being sent to a prison camp on the mainland or possibly shot, but as a whole, the Germans are fair occupiers. They eat most of the food but it is much more apparent these are men who don't believe in the war as much as those who are actively fighting on the fronts. Yet there are other soldiers referred to as "OT." These may be SS men but they guard the P.O.W.s on the island. It is quickly discovered that there are slave laborers who are being treated as subhumans. It is difficult for the Guernsey islanders to separate the two kinds of soldiers.

The prisoners of war are being worked to death, beat to death, starved to death, or simply give up which is the same as the above. They are skeletons and only shadows of who they once were. They come from Poland and Russia and are being used to fortify the island (as if anybody cares about the islands). In order to not have to feed the prisoners, a blind eye is often turned when they escape at night to forage for food. This often means stealing or going through rubbish. This is where Vivienne crosses paths with a prisoner and learns details she wishes she did not.

It is a beautifully written book that I highly recommend. It is not cut of the same cloth as the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society which is raw but also quirky and, at times, humorous. The Soldier's Wife is much more of an internal struggle which eventually finds its way to her external world, although it is not a story all told in Vivienne's head. Things happen all the time. Vivienne is constantly trying to balance herself precariously on the highwire of mothering her children, caring for her ailing mother-in-law (knowing these three people are completely dependent upon her), being a good neighbor to Angie, a friend who is falling apart, loving her German lover without revealing secrets she may know yet trying to understand the current world where she is existing.

My only dissatisfaction is that I wanted to know Gunther better. Why did she love him? I know he offered her perceived safety and may have interceded on her behalf at times, but I never really knew him. I would also have liked to know more clearly why he and Max ended where they did. Blanche is also remarkably silent except to argue with her sister, Millie, who I absolutely adored, as I did Simon. Blanche would have also been an interesting character to further explore as she is at the cusp of womanhood during the occupation.

On the other hand, I am reasonably certain the author did not reveal as much about Gunther as she could have on purpose. In the end, the questions Vivienne had to ask herself and the conflict she eventually needed resolution would have been the same.

Wonderful book. Recommended for a book club.

Swearing is mild but I do recall one "f" word.
Sex is moderate but not described in detail.
Violence is obviously present as there is a war going on. The book is not riddled with violence but is revealed to Vivienne, shaking her world.(less)

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Jun 09, 2011 Danielle Davis added it · review of another edition

Love and Occupation

The Soldier’s Wife, by Margaret Leroy, tells the story of Vivienne de la Mare, an allied soldier’s wife living on the island of Guernsey during the German occupation of that island. Vivienne cares for her two daughters, Blanch and Millie, as well as her mother-in-law, who suffers from dementia. Deciding to remain on the island when the Germans come to occupy the island proves to be a decision with bittersweet results for Vivienne. German officers take residence next door to he...more

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May 09, 2011 Sally Gawne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Vivienne de la Mare is not your usual protagonist because she is not a hero with preconceived opinions but as a real person that struggles with all the same shadowy doubts that we encounter.
Vivienne de la Mare’s dilemmas start in her spontaneous announcement that she and her daughters are leaving the Island, because the Germans are coming, to her looking at that little ship and turning around in an about face.
The story is about the occupation of Island of Guernsey by the Germans in WWII. It is...more

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Apr 30, 2011 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fic, wwii

3.75 Stars. Vivienne de la Mare lives in an old farmhouse with her two daughters on Guernsey in the Channel Islands during WWII. Her husband is away fighting in the English army, and it quickly becomes apparent to the reader that Vivienne's marriage is a loveless and unhappy one. The island suddenly becomes occupied by German troops, some moving in in the house beside her own. Even though Vivienne tries hard to remain aloof for the sake of loyalty (to her country and husband), she eventually ent...more

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Apr 28, 2011 Jeannie Mancini rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Margaret Leroy’s upcoming summer release of The Soldier’s Wife will surely be one to be read and discussed in many book club groups, as it is a story that offers a lot to contemplate.

Vivienne de la Mare, living on the island of Guernsey in the Channel Islands just off the coast of England, is a housewife raising two young daughters just after WWII breaks out and takes her husband away to war. Not thinking that their island will be affected, the islanders get a rude awakening one day as German p...more Margaret Leroy’s upcoming summer release of The Soldier’s Wife will surely be one to be read and discussed in many book club groups, as it is a story that offers a lot to contemplate.

Vivienne de la Mare, living on the island of Guernsey in the Channel Islands just off the coast of England, is a housewife raising two young daughters just after WWII breaks out and takes her husband away to war. Not thinking that their island will be affected, the islanders get a rude awakening one day as German planes fly over and start dropping bombs. Within days of the attack, the German troops arrive. For the next 5 years they will occupy this quiet island of peaceful innocent farmers and families. Although frightened, Vivienne is more at ease with them taking up residence believing that they at least in this case will avoid attack.

When German soldiers set up house right next door as one of their command quarters, Vivienne and her children know they must be extra careful to adhere to the new rules and curfews since they will be living right under the enemy’s nose. But as fate has it, nothing every goes the way you expect it to. Vivienne soon experiences inner conflict when one of the soldiers named Gunther stops over with gifts of fresh coffee and food to help her and the children now that food is scarce. As fraternizing with the enemy would not be looked upon by the islanders as the thing to do, Vivienne is at a loss of how to handle accepting the many gifts and offerings of assistance that the soldier brings to her door. After refusing his kindness time and time again, she finally admits to herself that not only is she attracted to him but would like to accept his generosity. Her children need to eat.

Gunther and Vivienne now begin a long secret affair, meeting nightly at her house after the girls and stepmother are asleep. The story becomes very reflective and full of introspection when the reader then puts themselves in Gunther and Vivienne’s shoes. Would you risk the danger and consequences of loving the enemy? Would you put your children at risk if you were caught? Would you dare offer food and refuge to prisoners being ill-treated by the Germans when in reality you are sleeping with one? Vivienne embarks on a perilous game of chance as she creeps around both sides of the playing field engaging in a double life, desperately trying to keep both Gunther in her life as well as her family safe.

The writing style in The Soldier’s Wife is accomplished and polished. There were a few typos and strange phrases, but ignoring those little items the author shows talent in her execution. I felt her character development of Vivienne and the girls was also decent. I could feel myself inside the minds of each player, experiencing their daily turmoil and asking myself what I’d do in their shoes. However, on the whole, I can’t say the storyline plot was that riveting. This is a sad tale, a fictional painting of what life was like during the years Europe lived through the German Occupation. The heartaches, the deaths, the food shortages, the fear; were all terrible things to endure. But the story needed a bit more drama, lively action, some intense suspense; anything to add some much needed spice to the pages. Even the love affair between Gunther and Vivienne was very dispassionate and dispirited. When I finished the last page, and closed the cover, I said out loud “ 392 pages of misery and despair!” I didn’t feel good about the story on the whole, or how it ended. There is not one redeeming event in this whole novel that is happy or worked out to some extent right for any of the characters. Readers troop on through one melancholy scene after another. The Soldier’s Wife is a pretty grim tale of woe without a glimpse of sunlight. Yes, times of war were very difficult, and the author did portray the times so that readers ignorant of what happened in Europe during World War II would get a clear picture. But as a novel goes, this book needed a lot more zip and excitement whether good or bad to make it interesting. I think it could have been much better and was close, but didn’t for this reader really make it.
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Oct 22, 2012 Alice rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 4th-tuesday

Author is busy telling us what to think, what moral or world view we should have.

pg 58: I will leave everything as it is. This is th only protest I can make, the only way I can fight this : to live as I have always lived, not to let them change me at all.

pg. 94: referencing the fight with Blanche about going dancing with the German soldiers:
... embracing the restriction ... Yet I know that a cloistered room, however willing entered, will become a prison

pg.161 referencing the story of the hunte...more

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Jul 16, 2011 Emily Crowe rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Margaret Leroy's The Soldier's Wife takes place during the Nazi occupation of the island of Guernsey during WWII, and its third person narrative follows Vivienne de la Mare, a woman who must daily walk the fine edge between patriotism and practicality. After her husband enlists, it falls to her to keep her daughters and her ailing mother-in-law safe in a world that has suddenly become alien to her. When German officers requisition the house next door and turn out to be rather neighborly, Vivienn...more Margaret Leroy's The Soldier's Wife takes place during the Nazi occupation of the island of Guernsey during WWII, and its third person narrative follows Vivienne de la Mare, a woman who must daily walk the fine edge between patriotism and practicality. After her husband enlists, it falls to her to keep her daughters and her ailing mother-in-law safe in a world that has suddenly become alien to her. When German officers requisition the house next door and turn out to be rather neighborly, Vivienne finds herself constantly second-guessing her actions under their scrutiny. Other islanders may be high-minded about fraternization, but Vivienne simply cannot afford those same scruples when her family's well-being is at stake. Only when food from their their own scarce supply goes missing and her younger daughter regales her nightly with tales of the ghost in the barn does Vivienne realize that there is a moral burden unfolding that might become too heavy for her to bear.

What I really liked about The Soldier's Wife is that unlike many wartime settings, it leaves room for people who are neither cowardly nor heroic, but somewhere in between. At first I was a little surprised about the rapport Vivienne develops with some of the German officers, but I think it is perhaps a more realistic presentation than the patriotic resistance narrated in The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society. It demands that readers reflect on what they would or would not do to preserve their family: Would you feed another starving human if it means your children will go without food? Would you risk your home as a safe house? Would you turn away from the torture or murder of a prisoner when interfering means deportment to a work camp? How do you raise your child to be a moral person when you cannot the example you want to, because to do so is to risk your life or your child's?

And there's always the smaller, garden variety dilemma. If the kind German officer across the street gives you medicine to save your daughter, are you morally required to show him gratitude when it's the German occupation that is causing the dire shortage of needful things? If so, how much gratitude? If medicine is okay to accept, what about a loaf of bread? Clothing? More than anything else, I would say that this book demonstrates that for most of us who aren't cut out to play the noble hero, the lines we draw in the sand between what we are and are not capable of doing are ever-shifting under the weight of our complicated humanity. (less)

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