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18th out of 25 books
—
30 voters
Gifts of War
During the Christmas Truce of 1914, Hal Montgomery, a British soldier, is given a photo by a German soldier, Wilhelm Wetzlar, and they make a pact. Hal promises to find his enemy’s English girlfriend, Sam, and let her know her fiancé is alive and thinking of her. Several weeks later, Hal—now injured—is discharged from the army and goes to Stratford on Avon to fulfill his p...more
Hardcover, 464 pages
Published
July 7th 2009
by Nan A. Talese
(first published 2009)
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Opening with the WWI Christmas Truce of 1914, where some of the soldiers on the Western Front unilaterally stopped fighting for a few days, the main character, Hal Montgomery, is given a picture by his German counterpart of himself with a British girlfriend along with instructions to give it to the English girl. Hal sees the girl, falls in love his her, but never delivers the picture. The girl, with an illegitimate half-German child, moves in with Hal while still loving the departed German. The...more
This is set in England during World War I.
As backstory, the Christmas Armistice is when British and German soldiers stopped fighting over Christmas the first year of the war. They sang carols and chatted a little. (This is true.) During the brief armistice, Hal (a British soldier) meets Wilhelm, a German soldier. Wilhelm asks Hal to find his fiancee (British schoolteacher) and tell her that he still loves her. They met and fell in love but were then separated when he had to go off and fight the...more
As backstory, the Christmas Armistice is when British and German soldiers stopped fighting over Christmas the first year of the war. They sang carols and chatted a little. (This is true.) During the brief armistice, Hal (a British soldier) meets Wilhelm, a German soldier. Wilhelm asks Hal to find his fiancee (British schoolteacher) and tell her that he still loves her. They met and fell in love but were then separated when he had to go off and fight the...more
I thought "Gifts of War" was a terrific read. It's a meditation on ethics cleverly disguised as a well written historical page turner! It's like the author figured out a way to hide the vegetables inside the cheesecake.
The opening section of "Gifts" is a powerful description of the supremely ghastly and the miraculous Christmas of 1914 at the front. Here we are introduced to British infantryman Hal Montgomery. Hal has the old school background and is the kind of traditional hero we can respect....more
The opening section of "Gifts" is a powerful description of the supremely ghastly and the miraculous Christmas of 1914 at the front. Here we are introduced to British infantryman Hal Montgomery. Hal has the old school background and is the kind of traditional hero we can respect....more
Marie says...
Since ALA annual has come and gone, it is hard to think back to Midwinter in Denver. It was there that I picked up a galley of Gifts of War, the new novel by historian Mackenzie Ford. I challenge any historical fiction lover to read this blurb and not be intrigued:
During the Christmas Truce of 1914, Hal Montgomery, a British soldier, is given a photo by a German soldier, Wilhelm Wetzlar, and they make a pact. Hal promises to find his enemy’s English girlfriend, Sam, and let her kno...more
Since ALA annual has come and gone, it is hard to think back to Midwinter in Denver. It was there that I picked up a galley of Gifts of War, the new novel by historian Mackenzie Ford. I challenge any historical fiction lover to read this blurb and not be intrigued:
During the Christmas Truce of 1914, Hal Montgomery, a British soldier, is given a photo by a German soldier, Wilhelm Wetzlar, and they make a pact. Hal promises to find his enemy’s English girlfriend, Sam, and let her kno...more
“Waiting is not living,” says, Sam, girlfriend of our narrator Hal in Mackenzie Ford’s debut novel Gifts of War. Sam is referring to waiting for the return of her missing paramour, Wilhem—a German soldier during WWI at a time of obvious anti-German sentiment. Her statement affects Hal differently, for he’s been waiting for Sam to discover the truth about how he manipulated his way into Sam and her young son Will’s life. During the Christmas Truce, an actual event in history where the enlisted re...more
This book is a hard one to review because it is hard to capture exactly what makes it so very good. No question the book is well-written and historically accurate- no a surprise given that the writer is an historian by profession. More importantly, the characters really breathe and live through the pages of the book; once I started reading, I had a hard time putting this book down. Hal and Sam are both sympathetic characters with realistic flaws, working hard to carve out a life in a time of per...more
Synopsis
During the Christmas Truce of 1914, Hal Montgomery, a British soldier, is given a photo by a German soldier, Wilhelm Wetzlar, and they make a pact. Hal promises to find his enemy’s English girlfriend, Samantha, and let her know her fiancé is alive and thinking of her. Several weeks later, Hal—now injured—is discharged from the army and goes to Stratford on Avon to fulfill his promise. But things take an unexpected turn when he meets the woman in the photo and falls in love with her himse...more
During the Christmas Truce of 1914, Hal Montgomery, a British soldier, is given a photo by a German soldier, Wilhelm Wetzlar, and they make a pact. Hal promises to find his enemy’s English girlfriend, Samantha, and let her know her fiancé is alive and thinking of her. Several weeks later, Hal—now injured—is discharged from the army and goes to Stratford on Avon to fulfill his promise. But things take an unexpected turn when he meets the woman in the photo and falls in love with her himse...more
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My first Mackenzie Ford book: I was intrigued by the title and the cover. When I opened it and read the first page I was hooked. This is very good writing and seems to be accurate in setting and events. The story begins at the start of the first world war and ends with the Paris Peace accord. It's a love story and there is more than one triangle. The characters are people you might know; they could live next door they seem so real. Narrated by a young man injured at the Front (and in the front),...more
A book about WWI, circa 1914 - 1918. A tale of love, war, betrayal and of course the hardships of war. The horror of being on the front line during WWI is vivid in this book. The chemical warfare that was introduced as a weapon. A love story; yet much more as well. A novel with spies; intrigue and most of all secrets. I would give this book 3 and a half stars.
"At night, when the shooting stops, and when the sky is clear, I look up and see the stars. The stars are the only things that the war ha...more
"At night, when the shooting stops, and when the sky is clear, I look up and see the stars. The stars are the only things that the war ha...more
Hmmmm...I expected better. It started out interestingly enough - I liked the opener about the Christmas truce. The rest of it was meh. I started out liking Hal at the start of the book; by the end, I thought he seemed kind of manipulative and boring. Sam was a total bore right from the start; I didn't believe her character felt anything like a real woman throughout the entire novel. The historical and intrigue stuff was interesting but felt quite clumsy to me. There was a *SPOILER* minor lesbian...more
Oct 15, 2009
Vivienne
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
incurable romantics
Recommended to Vivienne by:
Elle Magazine
A "relationship" novel more than a romance. Hal is an English 2Lt in the trenches during the famous Christmas Truce. The German officer on the other side of the truce asks a favour of Hal - to find his English girlfriend and give her a photo. Hal finds the girlfriend, Sam, after being invalided home. Love at first sight for Hal, a pleasant convenience for Sam. Hal keeps the photo to himself and waits for his world to crumble when Sam learns the truth. Meanwhile the war rages and fades. There is...more
I read until page 142 and then scanned the rest.
The story about a man who is injured in WWI and returns home to England to woo the girl of one of the enemy is very readable. But this book about war is a little too quiet. The descriptions of war seem serviceable, and the relationships are serviceable, but the story itself just isn't very compelling. (Plus the ending sucked.)
Early in the story, Hal, the protagonist, talks of how well-intentioned folks on the home front shipped crates and crates of...more
The story about a man who is injured in WWI and returns home to England to woo the girl of one of the enemy is very readable. But this book about war is a little too quiet. The descriptions of war seem serviceable, and the relationships are serviceable, but the story itself just isn't very compelling. (Plus the ending sucked.)
Early in the story, Hal, the protagonist, talks of how well-intentioned folks on the home front shipped crates and crates of...more
It should come as no surprise that MacKenzie Ford's "Gifts of War" is well-researched; Ford is an historian writing under a non de plume.
Taking the 1914 Christmas Truce as the jumping-off point, Ford writes about Hal Montgomery, an English soldier. During the Truce, Montgomery meets a German soldier called Wilhelm ... who has a girlfriend back in England. Wilhelm asks Montgomery to look her up and give her his photograph, since he cannot write to her without her being branded a traitor.
Montgomer...more
Taking the 1914 Christmas Truce as the jumping-off point, Ford writes about Hal Montgomery, an English soldier. During the Truce, Montgomery meets a German soldier called Wilhelm ... who has a girlfriend back in England. Wilhelm asks Montgomery to look her up and give her his photograph, since he cannot write to her without her being branded a traitor.
Montgomer...more
Set in the early days of WW I, the book starts off with a favor. It's the famous Christmas Truce of 1914, when soldiers on both sides put down their weapons for a temporary cease-fire. During this time, an English soldier (Hal) meets a German soldier (Wilhelm) and promises to deliver a photograph to Wilhelm's English girlfriend. Just one problem: Hal finds himself falling for the girlfriend himself, when he goes to fulfill his promise.
It states on the back blurb of the book that the author is a...more
It states on the back blurb of the book that the author is a...more
When I first started this book I was distracted by the fact it was written by a historian--who did not want to use his/her real name. It was all very intriguing. Therefore, as I read I felt bogged down by the historical nature of the fiction. I lost the story and often felt the emotional issues (in the beginning) were forced on the reader. By the end of the book (the last section really) I was moved by the self realization made by the main character Henry (Hal). The end changed the whole book fo...more
This was a very gripping book from beginning to end, but I was horribly dissapointed with the ending and did not see it coming. Sam lives with Hal throughout the entire war, he raises her son who knows him as his father, and he provides not only for them but also for Sam's three sisters on and off again. Yet, in the end, he lets her choose between him and Wilhelm (who she hasn't seen for four years) and she chooses Wilhelm? Granted, Hal chose not to tell her about his knowing Wilhelm, but still,...more
This is an interesting look at WWI from a British perspective, especially regarding the analysis of military intelligence. The main character, Hal Montgomery, is an English officer who meets his German counterpart during a Christmas truce. When the German officer asks a favor of Hal, Hal's fate is sealed. During the course of the book, Hal demonstrates his weakness of character. It is difficult to overlook his dishonesty in dealing with his lover and the cavalier way he disregards his pledge of...more
I loved this book - the main character, Hal, was dishonest with a women he was supposed to deliver a message to about a former love. He established a relationship with the woman himself, an unsatisfying, one sided relationship. What Hal did was wrong but I wanted him to be the winner - I couldn't help but like him and admire the way he took care of the woman and her newborn son (the lover's child, not Hal's). This all occurred during WW1 which increased its interest to me. Hal did not survive th...more
During the Christmas truce of 1914 along the western front, British officer, Hal, meets a young German officer, Wilhelm. Wilhelm gives Hal a picture of himself and asks Hal to give it to a girl in England, Sam, who Wilhelm had dated before the war. Wilhelm wanted to let her know he was alright and that he still cared for her. Hal was injured, sent back to England, and after his recovery sets out to fulfill his promise to Wilhelm. Once he meets Sam, however, he falls in love and never lets her kn...more
I would have easily given this book 4 stars if it weren't for one particularly uncomfortable part. I found it interesting how the author gave accounts during the war of those on the Front and compared it to London, which really had minimal lifestyle changes at the time. It was interesting to see what drove the main character the most, guilt or unconditional love, after making a quick decision that was deceiving and therefore affected the lives of those he loved. It was definitely an interesting...more
At the famous 1914 Christmas truce in World War I, British soldier Hal Montgomery meets a German soldier named Wilhelm. Before the war, Wilhelm had lived for a time in England and became engaged to an English schoolteacher. Now, because of the war, he has been unable to get in contact with her and so he gives Hal his picture and asks him to find a way to let her know that he� s okay and that he still loves her. Hal agrees. [return][return]I loved the idea behind the romance in this novel. The co...more
I WANTED to love this book. I EXPECTED to love this book. But, unfortunately, I didn't LOVE this book. I'm not sure that I even liked it that much.
The book began with a great premise-- the Christmas truce of WWI, one of the truly great moments (maybe the only great moment) in that useless war. The main character, Hal, meets his German counterpart, Wilhelm, and promises to take a message to Wilhelm's English girlfriend, Sam. However, instead of delivering the message as promised, Hal falls in lov...more
The book began with a great premise-- the Christmas truce of WWI, one of the truly great moments (maybe the only great moment) in that useless war. The main character, Hal, meets his German counterpart, Wilhelm, and promises to take a message to Wilhelm's English girlfriend, Sam. However, instead of delivering the message as promised, Hal falls in lov...more
Gifts of War begins with the World War I 1914 Christmas Truce (widespread unofficial ceasefires that took place along the Western Front around Christmas of 1914). I did not know this was a true fact until I googled it after finishing the book.
Wilhelm (German) and Hal (British) meet during the truce and have a conversation. In the course of the conversation, Hal makes a promise to Wilhelm, one he does not keep. This failed promise embarks him on a life of deceit. A life he willfully chooses. Here...more
Wilhelm (German) and Hal (British) meet during the truce and have a conversation. In the course of the conversation, Hal makes a promise to Wilhelm, one he does not keep. This failed promise embarks him on a life of deceit. A life he willfully chooses. Here...more
I started reading this before my surgery and finished it up in the week after it. What's funny is even when I couldn't read in the hospital this book stayed on my mind. I don't read much historical fiction, but what little I have read I have enjoyed and it has made me want to delve into this genre even more.
As far as history is concerned I know very little except the highlights after 1900 - I blame this on my schooling and also on my lack of interest. Now I enjoy reading about historical time fr...more
As far as history is concerned I know very little except the highlights after 1900 - I blame this on my schooling and also on my lack of interest. Now I enjoy reading about historical time fr...more
Powerful book for about 2/3 until it degenerates into soap opera melodrama with all the cliches associated (married man with children in love with hero' sister, hero sacrificing for noble reasons, another character caught into the vengeance on the hero since hero did something just to the avenger's sister - really you can watch your favorite soap opera and tick the cliches here...) which is a pity; still worth a read but overall it could have been a great book
During the WWI Christmas truce in 1914, a British soldier is given a photo by a German soldier and the British soldier, Hal, promises to find his enemy's English girlfriend and let her know her fiance is alive and thinking of her. Things change when he meets and falls in love with her himself and never gives her the message. Interesting details of WWI and a great plot. Lags a little in spots, but the ending more than makes up for it. Expect a surprise.
If I could, I would probably rate this a 2 1/2 stars. Its historical detail is its saving grace; the story went on too long and without much conflict (it was definitely an "oatmeal" read) - I skimmed the last 150 pages or so. The only tension in the novel was caused by the secret Henry kept from Sam; the rest of the subplots relied too much on consequence or convenience. I guess I was hoping for more oomph.
This is one of the best books that I have read in a long time. I was enjoying reading this book and then I read the last 25 pages and realized what a great book this was. I would have given it 10 stars if I could have. Truly enjoyed reading a book from a male perspective as most of my choices are from the female perspective. I would definitely read this author again. Fabulous book!!!
Aug 07, 2009
Chris
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommended to Chris by:
Erin
Shelves:
historical-fiction,
2009
I am between 2 & 3 stars on this one. I enjoyed reading about the history of WWI England: the civilian attitudes and atmosphere, medical and military developments, etc. The plot of the book seemed a bit contrived to fit the history. Throughout the book I did not have much sympathy with the main character because I didn't agree with him keeping his secret, but he was redeemed by his decision at the end of the book.
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