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Jan 22, 2011

Susan rated it:

Henrietta Sees It Through is a terrific read. I am partial to novels written in the epistolatory style and this book is a fine example of how well this technique can work. Henrietta’s letters to an old friend paint of picture of British life on the home front during the Second World War. Henrietta is a doctor’s wife in a small town. Her witty letters amuse the reader with tales of family, friends and neighbors and include the author’s charming drawings of their adventures. While always writ More...

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Jan 28, 2011

Cheriejean rated it:

This is my very first "first-reads" book won! I have not received it yet, but I can't wait to get it.
I love "home front" WWII stories! Thanks,Goodreads! I will definitely review it, so the Goodreads team will know I am a good and dependable "first-reads" reviewer.

Jan 21, 2011 Just received this book in the mail today. I will start reading it as soon as I finish the book I am currently in the middle of - which is so good, I cannot put it down to rea More...

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Jan 29, 2011

Kari rated it:

This book originally ran as a magazine series in England during World War II. It is a compilation of letters written by Henrietta, "The Doctor's Wife", to her childhood friend and neighbor, Robert, who is serving on the war front. It focuses on the happenings and the people of the Devonshire village in which they both live, not on the actual battles or events of the wars. It covers the trials and events of the everyday people trying to keep life as normal as possible during the war. More...

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Mar 02, 2011

Jaylia3 rated it:

This is a light-hearted but moving book about life in small town Britain during WWII. The local villagers couldn't fight Hitler directly but they did what good they could by weeding gardens,raising funds, taking in evacuees and generally not letting the war get the best of them. Written as a series of letters from Henrietta, the village doctor's wife, to her childhood friend Robert who is off fighting somewhere, Henrietta Sees it Through is best read only an entry or two at a time. By the final More...

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Apr 05, 2011

R added it

Although I've not read the first collection of Henrietta stories (Henrietta's War: News from the Home Front 1939-1942), I did very much enjoy this one. Joyce Dennys has a very firm grasp on her vignettes and keeps her characters much better grounded than many of the English village stories I've read. Written during World War II, the stories retain both the immediacy of their time and the timeless quality of the better village-type stories. The humor is light, the characterization deft and honest More...

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May 15, 2011

Shannon rated it:

Dennys was frustrated during WWII; frustrated with being "the doctor's wife" rather than her own person, with her role as a housewife, and mostly with being made to feel guilty about not "contributing" more to the war effort because she was an older & provincial woman. She vented these frustrations through her character Henrietta, who writes letters to her childhood friend Robert, away fighting. Henrietta is charming and honest and I adore her. I enjoyed this sequel to " More...

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Jul 05, 2011

Elisha rated it:

I just read this again and feel like it deserves a better review. For some perverse reason I have a much easier time articulating why I didn't like a book. When I love one I just keep spluttering "It's so good! So good! I really loved it!" .... which is obviously lacking in detail.

So, in this book Henrietta continues her letters to her childhood friend, Robert who is fighting in WWII. She writes about their village and what is happening there. Henrietta is SO funny. R More...

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Feb 26, 2011

Valerie rated it:

Written as letters to a friend fighting in Europe during WWII, "Henrietta Sees It Through" follows Henrietta Brown, her family, and friends through the trials and tribulations of wartime England. Such a sweet book, it was slightly reminiscent of P.G. Wodehouse, though Henrietta and her friends are not quite as mischievous as Bertie Wooster and his friends. A very enjoyable read, even if you've not read the first volume (as I hadn't).

Note: I received a copy of this book fr More...

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May 23, 2011

Jamie rated it:

First of all I want to say THANK YOU FIRST READS (!!!!) for sending me a free copy of this book...and sorry it has taken me sooooo long to finish! I wanted to read the first edition of Henrietta stories before starting this one.

This was the brilliant sequel to "Henrietta's War".
It covers the years 1942-1945.
In some ways I think I enjoyed "Henrietta Sees It Through" more than it's predecessor. The main reason for this is that by now I know and love all More...

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Apr 11, 2011

Megan rated it:

What a great book - I was a little concerned when I got it from the First Reads giveaway, since I hadn't read the first volume - but that turned out not to be a problem at all. It took a few pages to figure out the relationships between the characters, but you get caught up quickly. It is wonderful that this publisher is unearthing some of these forgotten mid-20th century books that would otherwise be forgotten - most of what is currently out there from the WWII era, at least on the American sid More...

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Feb 24, 2011

Susanna rated it:

"Henrietta Sees It Through" is the sequel to another book in the Bloomsbury Group series, "Henrietta's War." The two novels, written by Joyce Dennys during the second World War, are actually compilations of "letters" written from Henrietta to her childhood friend, Robert. These letters were published in "Sketch" magazine during the war and were published in book form in the 1980s.

"Henrietta Sees It Through" is a delightful book. Denny More...

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Feb 28, 2011

Kathy rated it:

This book is a sequel to Joyce Dennys Henrietta's War. While Dennys was reserved in the first book, she opens up a bit more to the reality of homefront hardships in Henrietta Sees it Through. The same "letter to a solider abroad" format is used for this second book, with the major theme being the stresses and extreme guilt placed upon the women left behind from the British government.

Dennys gets across the war weariness well, especially in the March 8, 1944 letter where " More...

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Mar 04, 2011

Siria rated it:

This is a compilation of a series of brief, morale-boosting newspaper pieces written during the Second World War. The humour is mild, mid-century and middle class, and though Dennys occasionally does acknowledge the stifling, fearful atmosphere of the times, it's rarely for long. Had the comical aspect of the book more bite, or the characterisation more emotional depth, I think I would have liked this much more. As it is, while I found it an interesting historical artefact, the amiable charm of More...

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Feb 18, 2011

frankenbrary rated it:

At first it was a little difficult to get into this novel without having read the predecessor and therefore not knowing the cast of characters but after awhile you begin to appreciate the vignettes for what they are: enjoyable slices of life from the time period of World War II. I think what I found most interesting and notable was the affect war had on gender roles; there are a number of instances where Dennys subtlety reminds the reader that while women were asked to give of themselves as equa More...

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Mar 08, 2011

Sarah rated it:

This book is a collection of fictional letters Dennys wrote for Sketch, a British magazine. The majority (but certainly not all) are light in tone and are accompanied by simple line drawings. I was worried at first because this is the second book, the first being Henrietta's War, but the episodic nature meant it wasn't a problem. I enjoyed this one so much that I am planning to get a copy of the first.

I agree with other reviewers that if you like the Provincial Lady stories, you will More...

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Jan 24, 2011

Jenny rated it:

Such a little gem. A series of fictional (yet semi-autobiographical) letters from the wife of a doctor in an English village during World War Two. Henrietta weeds in her garden, attends dog shows, takes in evacuees from bombed London, and generally carries on.
The author has a gentle, witty, and very English sense of humor. I loved this book to pieces.

Many thanks to the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this through a First Reads giveaway!

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May 09, 2010

Susan rated it:

As World War II continues, the residents of Henrietta's little Devonshire village face harder challenges, and some tragic losses. They also meet the Americans who are now stationed in their part of England, getting ready for the invasion of France. Petty bickering threatens some friendships, but in the end their inherent goodness and courage give them strength to win through to the end of the war.

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Jan 30, 2011

Angela rated it:

Charming, delightful, and witty. I loved reading Henrietta's account of life during wartime. I was surprised at how many varied subjects she touched on - like isolationist patriotism, feminism, and child-rearing - are still appropriate today. All of these subjects are touched on matter-of-factly in the course of the narrative, not as the end to the writing itself. The personal, after all, is the political.
I can't wait to read more of these reissues by Bloomsbury.

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Feb 14, 2011

Jennifer rated it:

I won this in a Goodreads giveaway, and I saved it to read on a flight. It seemed like it would be perfect vacation reading for me, and it was. Written during WWII, it chronicles village life as seen by married, empty nester Henrietta. Written as a series of letters to a childhood friend and neighbor serving at arms, Henrietta vents the frustrations of war time living, but never wallows in them, always poking fun, but never losing sight of what is important. I can see why these letters were More...

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Feb 22, 2011

Barbara rated it:

Liked it perhaps a bit less than the first one, but still, I think, a wonderful example of this kind of writing.

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Nov 12, 2011

Kate E.A. rated it:

"You women," said Authority, "are the Army that Hitler Forgot."

I agree with other reviewers that Henrietta Sees It Through is even better than Henrietta's War, thanks largely to the fact that it was written from a place deeper into the War. This book is, like its sister, charming, heart-string tugging, vaguely feminist in places, and entirely endearing.

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Jul 10, 2011

Kris rated it:

Just as delightful as the first one.

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Nov 04, 2011

Famillo2001yahoo.com rated it:

.Henrietta Brown is the doctor’s wife in a small English village during WW II. She and her family and friends carry on with their lives and duties during that difficult time. Dennys is a wonderful portrayer of human nature. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the delightful line drawing illustrations that are scattered throughout the book bringing the characters even more to life. Along with her previous book Henrietta’s War, be prepared not to be able to put these wonderful books down. More...

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Feb 16, 2011

Leslie rated it:

I won this book through a Good Reads giveaway and really liked it. It gave a small glimpse of what life was like for the British (in this Devonshire village) during WWII. I was enlightened to quite a bit I hadn't known about WWII. All the characters were well developed and enjoyable. Overall it was a light, quick read and I am glad I won it.

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Feb 24, 2011

Edith rated it:

Won on Goodreads. Got it in the mail today, and I will review it once read.
***
Totally charming! And now I want to read the first book. All the characters were so charming, I like the tone, the humor. A very nice surprise! One of my favorite books I won through Goodreads for sure.
oh just found out that the first book is available in ebook. Will have to buy it at some point.

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Jan 28, 2012

Martha rated it:

I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.

I have enjoyed this book very much. The characters are just delightful and feel like friends. I particularly loved the chapter where Henrietta is asked to donate books for the Red Cross and is then told that they will be made into pulp. The outcome is so funny, but totally understandable for any book lover. It's a good look at life in England during the war.

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Feb 08, 2011

Connie rated it:

I enjoyed reading this book. It's several short stories so it's one of those books you can read in between daily routines.

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Nov 02, 2010

93bcn rated it:

Here's my review of this book.

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Jan 03, 2012

Lisa rated it:

I just won a copy of this book! Thanks so much! I'm looking forward to reading and reviewing it.

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Feb 20, 2012

Margaret rated it:

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