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V for Victory
In this witty, charming follow-up to the acclaimed Crooked Heart, the life of lies a small time scammer and her adopted son have constructed in London becomes endangered during the tumultuous final months of World War II. It's late 1944. Hitler's rockets are raining down on London with vicious regularity and it's the coldest winter in living memory. The Allies are gaining ground, but victory is certainly dragging its feet.
In a large house next to Hampstead Heath, Vee Sedge is barely scraping by with a herd of lodgers to feed and her young charge Noel, almost fifteen now, to clothe and educate. When she witnesses an accident and finds herself in court, the repercussions are both unexpectedly marvelous and potentially disastrous. Because Vee is not actually the person she's pretending to be, and neither is Noel.
Victory is coming. Yet the end of the war won't just mean peace, but discovery . . .
With caustic wit and artful storytelling, Lissa Evans summons a time when the world could finally hope to emerge from the chaos of war. As witty as Old Baggage and poignant as Crooked Heart, V for Victory once again reveals Evans to be one of the most original and entertaining writers at work today.
In a large house next to Hampstead Heath, Vee Sedge is barely scraping by with a herd of lodgers to feed and her young charge Noel, almost fifteen now, to clothe and educate. When she witnesses an accident and finds herself in court, the repercussions are both unexpectedly marvelous and potentially disastrous. Because Vee is not actually the person she's pretending to be, and neither is Noel.
Victory is coming. Yet the end of the war won't just mean peace, but discovery . . .
With caustic wit and artful storytelling, Lissa Evans summons a time when the world could finally hope to emerge from the chaos of war. As witty as Old Baggage and poignant as Crooked Heart, V for Victory once again reveals Evans to be one of the most original and entertaining writers at work today.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published August 27, 2020
124 people are currently reading
2369 people want to read
About the author
Lissa Evans
19 books479 followersAfter a brief career in medicine, and an even briefer one in stand-up, Lissa Evans became a comedy producer, first in radio and then in television. Her first novel, Spencer's List, was published in 2002, and since then she has written three more books for adults (two of them longlisted for the Orange/Baileys Prize) and two for children (the first of them shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal). Her two most recent books for adults were set in London during the Second World War; one of them, 'Their Finest Hour and a Half' has now been made into a film entitled 'Their Finest', starring Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin and Bill Nighy
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 254 reviews
May 14, 2021
I have read and loved two books by Lisa’s Evans, Crooked Heart and Old Baggage, and V for Victory is the stunning follow-up to these two books. You can read it on its own, but it’s so special to read it after the other two because of the richly drawn characters.
Vee and Noel are living in a tumultuous time. London is being bombed repeatedly by Hitler. How do you adapt to that terror? The Allies are closer to victory, but the days are long. Vee believes she only has one life to live no matter what she’s wading through with the war.
Lissa Evans’ writing is as witty and clever as ever. The hope in the air is palpable, even as the terror still has hold. Vee is a genuine character and a complex one at that. V for Victory transports the reader to the time and place of London in 1944 with ease. Overall, I treasured my time spent with this charming, poignant, witty story.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
December 10, 2021
A terrific view of London in the last months of WWII. Was glad to reunite with Vee and young Noel as they try to make slim resources stretch enough to feed their lodgers. Bombs keep raining down, but by now people are used to this and though they care where they fell they also no look over panic and the building once there, now gone has become commonplace. A new threat to the real identity of V and two visitors for Noel, cause a small panic.
Also Winnie, who is a warden and sees all the horrors of the war. Worried about her husband who is in a prisoner of war camp. This is a follow-up to Crooked Heart and though this can be read alone, I think knowing what came before, how Noel and V came together, make this story richer.
Also Winnie, who is a warden and sees all the horrors of the war. Worried about her husband who is in a prisoner of war camp. This is a follow-up to Crooked Heart and though this can be read alone, I think knowing what came before, how Noel and V came together, make this story richer.
April 20, 2021
I read Lissa Evan's Crooked Heart shortly before its release in 2015. It was a five-star book that's remained with me since then: the story of a London orphan, Noel, sent out of the city during the blitz, who finds himself living with a small-time con woman, Vee. I hadn't thought of it as a book that needed a sequel: it was complete in its own right, funny and sad, and hopeful all at once. But when I saw that Evans had a new book coming out, V for Victory, featuring the Vee and Noel, I knew I had to read it.
The central characters from Crooked Heart, relocated to London, are at the heart of this novel, but Evans brings in a broader cast of characters: a female air raid warden whose husband is a prisoner of war, her self-obsessed twin sister, and a cast of characters that populate the boarding house run by Vee (now living under an alias), who also serve as tutors to the perspicacious Noel. The novel starts slowly, giving readers familiar with Crooked Heart a chance to reconnect with Vee and Noel and giving time for them to gradually come to know the new characters. The real action begins at the halfway point and speeds up from there to a swift denoument that feels utterly natural.
If you haven't read Crooked Heart, I would recommend reading it before you begin V for Victory because a) it's such a wonderful novel in its own right and b) it's delightful to return to Vee and Noel as old acquaintances and to understand the origins of their relationship. V for Victory pulls at the heart, but doesn't rend it, and despite myriad small problems it's a happy tale—even when Vee and Noel are most under threat.
Even if you've read a lot of WWII fiction, V for Victory is worth picking up. It shows a more ordinary side of the war than so many novels offer. No sudden and lasting romance, but a gradual discovery of fondness and unsuspected strengths among characters. No beautiful heroine—just a middle aged woman making her way through life by any means she can dream up. No handsome, well-mannered hero—just Noel who is suspicious and reads social situations poorly, but who is an absolute delight in both his intelligence and his internal moral compass.
V for Victory is a don't-wait-to-read-it title, worth picking up at its release (which happens to be 5/11/2021). It's also a book one can return to without growing bored, providing time in good company when a reader needs a novel that refreshes and sustains, rather than something that pushes them to the edge of terror or disaster.
I received a free electronic review copy of V for Victory from the publisher. The opinions are my own.
The central characters from Crooked Heart, relocated to London, are at the heart of this novel, but Evans brings in a broader cast of characters: a female air raid warden whose husband is a prisoner of war, her self-obsessed twin sister, and a cast of characters that populate the boarding house run by Vee (now living under an alias), who also serve as tutors to the perspicacious Noel. The novel starts slowly, giving readers familiar with Crooked Heart a chance to reconnect with Vee and Noel and giving time for them to gradually come to know the new characters. The real action begins at the halfway point and speeds up from there to a swift denoument that feels utterly natural.
If you haven't read Crooked Heart, I would recommend reading it before you begin V for Victory because a) it's such a wonderful novel in its own right and b) it's delightful to return to Vee and Noel as old acquaintances and to understand the origins of their relationship. V for Victory pulls at the heart, but doesn't rend it, and despite myriad small problems it's a happy tale—even when Vee and Noel are most under threat.
Even if you've read a lot of WWII fiction, V for Victory is worth picking up. It shows a more ordinary side of the war than so many novels offer. No sudden and lasting romance, but a gradual discovery of fondness and unsuspected strengths among characters. No beautiful heroine—just a middle aged woman making her way through life by any means she can dream up. No handsome, well-mannered hero—just Noel who is suspicious and reads social situations poorly, but who is an absolute delight in both his intelligence and his internal moral compass.
V for Victory is a don't-wait-to-read-it title, worth picking up at its release (which happens to be 5/11/2021). It's also a book one can return to without growing bored, providing time in good company when a reader needs a novel that refreshes and sustains, rather than something that pushes them to the edge of terror or disaster.
I received a free electronic review copy of V for Victory from the publisher. The opinions are my own.
August 19, 2020
London 1944. In a large house in Hemstead Heath, Vee Sedge is just about scraping by. She takes in lodges so that she can feed, clothe and educate her young charge, Noel. She witnesses a road accident and finds herself in court. But this could be potentially disastrous for Vee and Noel as neither of them are who they say they are.
I read and loved the prequel to this book, Old Baggage but I've still to read Crooked Heart, the other book in this trilogy. This is a character driven story and what a fabulous cast of characters. Some of the characters have been brought back from previous books books. Vee is a good strong woman. The story is beautifully and descriptivley written and the pace flows smoothly. We also learn of the job the wardens had to do during WWII. Noel is an intelligent young man who has a thirst for knowledge. Winnie was my favourite character who now works as a warden. An end of the war story that covers: mistakes, love, loss, happiness, and sadness.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House UK and the author Lisa Evans for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I read and loved the prequel to this book, Old Baggage but I've still to read Crooked Heart, the other book in this trilogy. This is a character driven story and what a fabulous cast of characters. Some of the characters have been brought back from previous books books. Vee is a good strong woman. The story is beautifully and descriptivley written and the pace flows smoothly. We also learn of the job the wardens had to do during WWII. Noel is an intelligent young man who has a thirst for knowledge. Winnie was my favourite character who now works as a warden. An end of the war story that covers: mistakes, love, loss, happiness, and sadness.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House UK and the author Lisa Evans for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 6, 2021
Having heard Lissa Evans on a few episodes of the wonderful Backlisted podcast I was keen to sample one of her books and so it was that I read V for Victory (2020).
Lissa's thorough research shines through in the wonderful sense of time (1944) and place (London) as V-2 rockets fall on the city, something she mentions in her afterword in which cites the books she read and found helpful.
V for Victory has got the lot: credible and convincing period detail; interesting and eclectic characters; and powerful desciptions of life in London in 1944. This is all aligned to an amusing and touching story.
I will now go back and read the two books which precede V for Victory and form part of a loose trilogy (Old Baggage and Crooked Heart).
Lissa Evans, a new favourite author. Hurrah!
4/5
The blurb....
'At once funny and moving: the brisk kindness of the wardens will bring a lump to your throat. I could not have loved it more' Susie Steiner
It’s late 1944. Hitler’s rockets are slamming down on London with vicious regularity and it’s the coldest winter in living memory. Allied victory is on its way, but it’s bloody well dragging its feet.
In a large house next to Hampstead Heath, Vee Sedge is just about scraping by, with a herd of lodgers to feed, and her young charge Noel (almost 15 years old) to clothe and educate. When she witnesses a road accident and finds herself in court, the repercussions are both unexpectedly marvellous and potentially disastrous – disastrous because Vee is not actually the person she’s pretending to be, and neither is Noel.
The end of the war won’t just mean peace, but discovery...
Lissa's thorough research shines through in the wonderful sense of time (1944) and place (London) as V-2 rockets fall on the city, something she mentions in her afterword in which cites the books she read and found helpful.
V for Victory has got the lot: credible and convincing period detail; interesting and eclectic characters; and powerful desciptions of life in London in 1944. This is all aligned to an amusing and touching story.
I will now go back and read the two books which precede V for Victory and form part of a loose trilogy (Old Baggage and Crooked Heart).
Lissa Evans, a new favourite author. Hurrah!
4/5
The blurb....
'At once funny and moving: the brisk kindness of the wardens will bring a lump to your throat. I could not have loved it more' Susie Steiner
It’s late 1944. Hitler’s rockets are slamming down on London with vicious regularity and it’s the coldest winter in living memory. Allied victory is on its way, but it’s bloody well dragging its feet.
In a large house next to Hampstead Heath, Vee Sedge is just about scraping by, with a herd of lodgers to feed, and her young charge Noel (almost 15 years old) to clothe and educate. When she witnesses a road accident and finds herself in court, the repercussions are both unexpectedly marvellous and potentially disastrous – disastrous because Vee is not actually the person she’s pretending to be, and neither is Noel.
The end of the war won’t just mean peace, but discovery...
December 17, 2020
I adore the books I’ve read by Lisa Evans about life on the home front in World War II. I love Vera and Noel and my heart ached for Noel when he met Sim and then what followed.
September 1, 2020
I very much enjoyed Lissa Evans’ Old Baggage when I read it back in 2018 and I’ve had the follow-up book, Crooked Heart, in my TBR pile ever since. Although V For Victory can be enjoyed as a standalone, it continues some of the storylines and features some of the characters from Crooked Heart. So I simply had to squeeze in reading Crooked Heart before starting V For Victory (although I haven’t yet managed to squeeze in writing my review).
The formidable Mattie who played such a starring role in Old Baggage doesn’t make a physical appearance in V For Victory but her influence is still felt through her precocious godson, Noel, and some of the girls who belonged to The Amazons but are now grown up. In particular, air raid warden Winnie Crowther steals many of the scenes in the latter part of the book. She’s a young woman Mattie would be proud of for her bravery and “gumption”. Winnie also represents many of the real life women who stepped in to perform unfamiliar and often dangerous roles during World War 2.
For those who have read Crooked Heart and had their heart stolen by Noel, prepare for a repeat experience. I also enjoyed getting to know the characters living in Green Shutters, the lodging house run by Vee Sedge – with help from Noel and his newfound culinary skills. Never one to miss an opportunity, Vee has enlisted some of the lodgers in tutoring Noel providing him with an eclectic pool of knowledge.
The author’s skill in combining humour, interesting characters and intriguing storylines whilst at the same time presenting a realistic picture of wartime London – “The dismal grind of London life, the V-2s still slamming down, the queues for fuel, the frozen rubble” – is in full evidence in V For Victory. By the end of the book, all the threads have been beautifully woven together to create a moving and satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.
The formidable Mattie who played such a starring role in Old Baggage doesn’t make a physical appearance in V For Victory but her influence is still felt through her precocious godson, Noel, and some of the girls who belonged to The Amazons but are now grown up. In particular, air raid warden Winnie Crowther steals many of the scenes in the latter part of the book. She’s a young woman Mattie would be proud of for her bravery and “gumption”. Winnie also represents many of the real life women who stepped in to perform unfamiliar and often dangerous roles during World War 2.
For those who have read Crooked Heart and had their heart stolen by Noel, prepare for a repeat experience. I also enjoyed getting to know the characters living in Green Shutters, the lodging house run by Vee Sedge – with help from Noel and his newfound culinary skills. Never one to miss an opportunity, Vee has enlisted some of the lodgers in tutoring Noel providing him with an eclectic pool of knowledge.
The author’s skill in combining humour, interesting characters and intriguing storylines whilst at the same time presenting a realistic picture of wartime London – “The dismal grind of London life, the V-2s still slamming down, the queues for fuel, the frozen rubble” – is in full evidence in V For Victory. By the end of the book, all the threads have been beautifully woven together to create a moving and satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.
August 23, 2021
4.5 Stars
It's been a treat to spend more time with Vee and Noel.
It's been a treat to spend more time with Vee and Noel.
August 29, 2022
The follow-up novel to the heartwarming Crooked Heart, V for Victory centers around Vera Sledge, caretaker of sorts of fifteen-year-old Noel Bostock. It’s London, 1944, and the war is winding toward Allied victory, but not before V-2 rockets pelt the city. Vera (“Vee,” as she’s known to Noel), assuming the identity of “Margery Overs,” has opened a boarding house with the funds she and Noel bilked from neighbors four years earlier. She witnesses an accident and is pulled into an inquiry, threatening to end her charade. Noel, a brilliant home-schooled scholar, meets a Warden named Winnie, who has a husband that’s been a POW for the entirety of the war and a sister who’s taken advantage of her position. In the course of the story Noel and Vee meet new people who might just upend their new, tenuous life.
I got hints of Graham Greene here. There were wonderful descriptions of wartime life in London, so detailed and thorough. Everything felt so vivid and tangible that I almost felt like jumping under the table at the approach of a rocket. It’s more than just “history comes alive,” because it felt like history in your lap. I think she really captured this part of the war, what it was really like for Londoners at the time.
Great characters, once again: this time, we’re treated to a host of interesting boarders. There was subtle, English humor here, and once again, warmth and sympathy, especially for Vee. I got hints of students of mine when I read about Noel. I liked the relationship with Mario, the American soldier, and Gerry Jepson, a journalist and boarder. I enjoyed learning about Winnie, and her relationship with her twin, too.
Not as much grifting, though, which was one of the things I adored about the previous novel. The story muddled a bit in the middle, with storylines I wasn’t sure would connect. It made things not as fast-paced or funny for me, and my heartstrings weren’t as taut as before.
Then again, maybe I wasn’t as focused, couldn’t concentrate like I normally could. My poor little girl tested COVID positive on Day 1 of our vacation, and my wife, two days later. I spent the week masked, gloved, Lysol-ed, desperate to avoid having two parents sick at the same time, praying I could stay upright long enough to take Rosie for just one, maybe two days of fun. Turns out I made it to her second day out of isolation, and I nearly cried at the gates, of all places, of a water park (following strict CDC guidelines on social distancing in swimming facilities). I succumbed thereafter, just as I started this book. So, I began reading with my head in a little fog. I’m not ashamed to say I’d taken a break to watch crappy / not so crappy movies I’d seen repeatedly. Tough to zero in on inspiring words when battling fever; I’m sure you can sympathize.
Thus, let’s give this a thumbs-up. A strong example of historical fiction, and a lovely story about some very interesting characters. Enjoy!
I got hints of Graham Greene here. There were wonderful descriptions of wartime life in London, so detailed and thorough. Everything felt so vivid and tangible that I almost felt like jumping under the table at the approach of a rocket. It’s more than just “history comes alive,” because it felt like history in your lap. I think she really captured this part of the war, what it was really like for Londoners at the time.
Great characters, once again: this time, we’re treated to a host of interesting boarders. There was subtle, English humor here, and once again, warmth and sympathy, especially for Vee. I got hints of students of mine when I read about Noel. I liked the relationship with Mario, the American soldier, and Gerry Jepson, a journalist and boarder. I enjoyed learning about Winnie, and her relationship with her twin, too.
Not as much grifting, though, which was one of the things I adored about the previous novel. The story muddled a bit in the middle, with storylines I wasn’t sure would connect. It made things not as fast-paced or funny for me, and my heartstrings weren’t as taut as before.
Then again, maybe I wasn’t as focused, couldn’t concentrate like I normally could. My poor little girl tested COVID positive on Day 1 of our vacation, and my wife, two days later. I spent the week masked, gloved, Lysol-ed, desperate to avoid having two parents sick at the same time, praying I could stay upright long enough to take Rosie for just one, maybe two days of fun. Turns out I made it to her second day out of isolation, and I nearly cried at the gates, of all places, of a water park (following strict CDC guidelines on social distancing in swimming facilities). I succumbed thereafter, just as I started this book. So, I began reading with my head in a little fog. I’m not ashamed to say I’d taken a break to watch crappy / not so crappy movies I’d seen repeatedly. Tough to zero in on inspiring words when battling fever; I’m sure you can sympathize.
Thus, let’s give this a thumbs-up. A strong example of historical fiction, and a lovely story about some very interesting characters. Enjoy!
August 29, 2020
This was another fabulous read from one of my favourite historical fiction author’s. I’ve been a huge fan of this series so I was very excited to read this book and find out what was going to happen next.
The thing that most made this book for me was the absolutely fabulous characters that the author has created. I quickly warmed to them and they started to feel like old friends by the end of the book. Vee and Noel were a fantastic duo and I really enjoyed getting to know them. Vee is such a strong, kind women and Noel such a strong, intelligent young man that they were easy to like and support.
The book focuses on what life was like towards the end of the war when there was still a lot of danger but maybe a glimpse of hope that everything would end soon. It was incredibly interesting to see what day to day life was like and to learn, through Winnie, what the role of a warden entailed. I thought this was really vividly described and helped me picture the scene and the characters in my mind. I often felt like I was inside the book, living everything alongside the characters.
Overall I thought this was a beautifully written, absorbing book which held my attention the whole way through. It isn’t a fast paced book but this gives the reader plenty of opportunities to savour the interesting plot and to get to know the characters. It’s a lovely story which accurately portrays what life was like during the war, with some quite dark humour at times as people try to deal with an impossible situation. I can’t wait to read more from this series.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Transworld for my copy of this book via Netgalley. This is surely a must read if you are a fan of historical fiction!
The thing that most made this book for me was the absolutely fabulous characters that the author has created. I quickly warmed to them and they started to feel like old friends by the end of the book. Vee and Noel were a fantastic duo and I really enjoyed getting to know them. Vee is such a strong, kind women and Noel such a strong, intelligent young man that they were easy to like and support.
The book focuses on what life was like towards the end of the war when there was still a lot of danger but maybe a glimpse of hope that everything would end soon. It was incredibly interesting to see what day to day life was like and to learn, through Winnie, what the role of a warden entailed. I thought this was really vividly described and helped me picture the scene and the characters in my mind. I often felt like I was inside the book, living everything alongside the characters.
Overall I thought this was a beautifully written, absorbing book which held my attention the whole way through. It isn’t a fast paced book but this gives the reader plenty of opportunities to savour the interesting plot and to get to know the characters. It’s a lovely story which accurately portrays what life was like during the war, with some quite dark humour at times as people try to deal with an impossible situation. I can’t wait to read more from this series.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Transworld for my copy of this book via Netgalley. This is surely a must read if you are a fan of historical fiction!
September 21, 2020
These books are wonderful and V for Victory is every bit as fabulous as the preceding two. Do read those first. Beautiful writing, delightful characters - full of warmth. But also frightening as the V2 rockets fall silently on London. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
August 26, 2020
These days I rarely take on review requests, but for this book I made an exception. I loved the first in the series Crooked Heart, and have only recently finished Old Baggage. Consequently I was delighted to be approached by the publishers and offered V for Victory ahead of publication.
Meeting Vee and Noel again, was wonderful. When we left them they were getting by as best they could, constantly wary of their deception being uncovered. Here, in the war torn Hampstead Heath of 1944, their back story is more established and Vee aka Margery Overs is running Green Shutters as a lodging house. It’s a move that gives her an aura of respectability and provides a ready made group of academically minded tutors for her ‘nephew’ Noel.
The book is very character driven, from the growth in confidence and blossoming of Vee and Noel, to the various lodgers and unexpected visitors, through to the re-emergence, of well loved characters (both real and remembered) from the preceding books.
Noel in particular, is a fabulous character, wise beyond his years, very sensible, literal, vocal and highly intelligent (he had Mattie as his role model!) but also thoughtful, kind, caring and always mildly anxious. The book sees him coming of age as he discovers that relationships can change, new ones can be forged and people are not always what they seem. His ability to forge a bond with those he meets results in a budding friendship with Winnie a local ARP warden. Another warm and wonderful character, made all the more important as she had been one of the happy band of Amazons in her youth – the group formed by Mattie (Noel’s deceased godmother). She becomes a gateway to Noel’s past with her memories of Mattie and also to the present via Ivy. That latter is a story you really do need to discover for yourself.
The character constantly lurking in the background is London itself. The author paints a very realistic picture of the chaos and loss wrought by the constant bombing raids, along with the stoic and heartbreaking work undertaken by the wardens, and the resilience of the community. It’s a well researched and evocative portrayal of life on the Home Front.
If you enjoy great storytelling, memorable characters and historical accuracy then this is one for you. While it can be read as a standalone, you’d be missing a trick not to read the preceding titles first. In fact I envy you, getting to read them for the first time. Lissa Evans writes with heart, and the joy of her books is that they are by turn comic, evocative and heartbreaking. She writes with an authenticity that envelops you into whatever scene she is describing so that you feel you’re there. V for Victory was no exception, it was full of Lissa’s warmth, wit and wisdom. There’s certainly scope for more to be written, so I’d like to think that this may not be the last we see of a growing cast of characters.
Meeting Vee and Noel again, was wonderful. When we left them they were getting by as best they could, constantly wary of their deception being uncovered. Here, in the war torn Hampstead Heath of 1944, their back story is more established and Vee aka Margery Overs is running Green Shutters as a lodging house. It’s a move that gives her an aura of respectability and provides a ready made group of academically minded tutors for her ‘nephew’ Noel.
The book is very character driven, from the growth in confidence and blossoming of Vee and Noel, to the various lodgers and unexpected visitors, through to the re-emergence, of well loved characters (both real and remembered) from the preceding books.
Noel in particular, is a fabulous character, wise beyond his years, very sensible, literal, vocal and highly intelligent (he had Mattie as his role model!) but also thoughtful, kind, caring and always mildly anxious. The book sees him coming of age as he discovers that relationships can change, new ones can be forged and people are not always what they seem. His ability to forge a bond with those he meets results in a budding friendship with Winnie a local ARP warden. Another warm and wonderful character, made all the more important as she had been one of the happy band of Amazons in her youth – the group formed by Mattie (Noel’s deceased godmother). She becomes a gateway to Noel’s past with her memories of Mattie and also to the present via Ivy. That latter is a story you really do need to discover for yourself.
The character constantly lurking in the background is London itself. The author paints a very realistic picture of the chaos and loss wrought by the constant bombing raids, along with the stoic and heartbreaking work undertaken by the wardens, and the resilience of the community. It’s a well researched and evocative portrayal of life on the Home Front.
If you enjoy great storytelling, memorable characters and historical accuracy then this is one for you. While it can be read as a standalone, you’d be missing a trick not to read the preceding titles first. In fact I envy you, getting to read them for the first time. Lissa Evans writes with heart, and the joy of her books is that they are by turn comic, evocative and heartbreaking. She writes with an authenticity that envelops you into whatever scene she is describing so that you feel you’re there. V for Victory was no exception, it was full of Lissa’s warmth, wit and wisdom. There’s certainly scope for more to be written, so I’d like to think that this may not be the last we see of a growing cast of characters.
May 13, 2021
I've always hoped Lissa Evans that would write a follow to the absolutely wonderful Crooked Heart. And she has! V for Victory has just released.
I fell in love with Vee and Noel in the previous book. Vee, aka Mar, has left the scamming behind and instead runs a lodging house, giving Noel a stable home. Their lives are as good as they can be, given the times. But when Vee is called as a witness to an accident, their carefully constructed life may come crumbling down.
Evans has created such tangible characters in Vee and Noel. I like them both very much, but I must admit that my heart belongs to Noel. He's clever and kind, a teenager now, but inside he's still the boy without parents. That need to know propels one of the plot lines in this latest. There are other characters, each with their own plotlines as well - Winnie the local air raid warden, her twin sister turned author, and the myriad lodgers. And slowly but surely, the disparate threads start to weave themselves together. The wartime setting is also a character in Crooked Heart. The rationing, the attitudes, the bombings and more all shape, direct and change the course of each and every character.
Now, yes, there are sad situations, but.....Evans has a wickedly dark sense of humour that's quite appealing. Her sly wit is visible in a description, a look or a snippet of dialogue, or a passage from a book.
I love books that speak to the human condition - life, love, death and everything that comes in between. Even more poignant in wartimes. Evans easily captures all of the above.
V for Victory is heartwarming, heartbreaking and so very good. Heartily recommended!
I fell in love with Vee and Noel in the previous book. Vee, aka Mar, has left the scamming behind and instead runs a lodging house, giving Noel a stable home. Their lives are as good as they can be, given the times. But when Vee is called as a witness to an accident, their carefully constructed life may come crumbling down.
Evans has created such tangible characters in Vee and Noel. I like them both very much, but I must admit that my heart belongs to Noel. He's clever and kind, a teenager now, but inside he's still the boy without parents. That need to know propels one of the plot lines in this latest. There are other characters, each with their own plotlines as well - Winnie the local air raid warden, her twin sister turned author, and the myriad lodgers. And slowly but surely, the disparate threads start to weave themselves together. The wartime setting is also a character in Crooked Heart. The rationing, the attitudes, the bombings and more all shape, direct and change the course of each and every character.
Now, yes, there are sad situations, but.....Evans has a wickedly dark sense of humour that's quite appealing. Her sly wit is visible in a description, a look or a snippet of dialogue, or a passage from a book.
I love books that speak to the human condition - life, love, death and everything that comes in between. Even more poignant in wartimes. Evans easily captures all of the above.
V for Victory is heartwarming, heartbreaking and so very good. Heartily recommended!
July 16, 2022
Just a nice book, not much happens but sometimes you just want a nice wee book to read.
I think the best part is getting a good insight into the bombings in and around London during WW2.
I think the best part is getting a good insight into the bombings in and around London during WW2.
January 23, 2021
For my full review: https://girlwithherheadinabook.co.uk/...
Lissa Evans is fast becoming one my favourite authors and V for Victory only served to confirm this opinion. I've found her writing to be a true tonic for the pandemic. Evans has a rare gift for providing messages of hope and perseverance parcelled up in novels that are deft in both their description and how they dodge sentimentality. It was a delight to return to the house next to Hampstead Heath and check in on how its occupants are getting on.
Four years after Crooked Heart and a good decade or so after Old Baggage, the year is 1944 and Noel and Vee are trying to avoid the V2s and scrape a living from keeping lodgers. Vee is still posing as Noel's Aunt Margery but after witnessing a road accident and being summoned to court, the game just might be up. The end of the war may be in sight but victory feels a long way away.
If Old Baggage was more companion to Crooked Heart than sequel, V for Victory unites the two stories. The characters of Heart are now living in the house which was so much the focus of Baggage. Mattie may be no longer physically present but even the reader can feel she is still very much there in spirit. Indeed, there are traces of sadness throughout the book for those absent friends from previous books. When a certain someone does make a reappearance, I got genuinely teary. But again, this is not a sad book. It is full of love. It's about finding people who will love you fiercely and never give up. And reading this final chapter to the tale conjures up the same feeling of satisfaction as when one slots the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle into place.
One of the many things that I have loved about this series (trilogy? neither seem quite the right term) is the focus it gives to the female experience. Vee is not a typical heroine - she is prickly, sneaky and difficult. But she is also lonely in her role as guardian, still hoping for romance and lost trying to find it. A more heavy-handed writer would have sent Vee into the arms of a dashing hero but the love story here is between Vee and Noel, this makeshift mother and son. Noel's muted - almost stoic - longing for parents has been a theme across the books. Four year-old Noel peered at Mattie in suspicion as he was dropped off on her doorstep. The eleven year-old we met in Heart was shellshocked without her. One of the most subtle moments within Victory comes when the reader realises at last that Noel has found what he was looking for. But the tears came again as Evans makes clear that whether they be living, dead or far away, all three of Noel's mothers have loved him very much.
As a writer, Evans tends to be light on the plot. She gets away with it because her characterisation is so strong. Every member of her cast feels memorable from the various lodgers to the ghastly guests at the literary party. A particularly welcome returning character was Winnie, erstwhile member of Mattie's doomed Amazons. All these years later, Winnie is working as an Air Raid Warden and trying to hold on to the memory of the man she married after a whirlwind romance but who has spent the last four years as a prisoner of war. She meets Noel on a bomb site and old memories are revived.
But more than that, Evans captures the particular type of heroism required to slog it through the daily grind of total war. The coronavirus pandemic is not the same as the war, no matter what certain factions would have us believe. But there are echoes which are similar. Every single one of the characters have their burdens to bear but they all persevere, with one notable exception. Discussing this disappointing specimen, a female character explains to Noel that the man had expected that life would be easy and that he had not known what to do when it was not. Talking about everyday heroism has become so meaningless after almost a year of lockdown but V for Victory made me remember again the grace required to keep on swimming when the storm is at its wildest.
It is easy to dismiss Victory as a mere domestic comedy but there is much more going on here. Over all three books, Evans' characters have wrestled quietly with morality. When Noel first met Vee in Crooked Heart, she was a petty criminal. Mattie spends most of Old Baggage trying to square her morals with her ability to exist in the world. Now in Victory, the central pair are perpetuating a fraud as Vee impersonates Margery Overs. But they are both still two people trying to do the right thing. And schisms occur when Noel and Vee's moral codes diverge. In a book filled with fantastic moments, I loved the scene when the guilt-stricken Vee is consoled that she has made her choices to protect Noel and her conscience can rest easy. Again, Evans grants her characters grace.
After three books, the house in Hampstead feels wonderfully familiar. Since the long ago days when it provided sanctuary for suffragettes, it has been a place of safety and refuge. I loved how Victory made it feel as if those who had passed through its doors were still present. Florrie's photograph is still in the house. Noel imagines Ida scrubbing the floors and realises that they have probably used the same potato peeler. Someone looks at Noel and remarks that he is very like Mattie. These characters feel like old friends. I would love to think that one day we will see them again. Noel has the makings of a fine young man, gifted in all subjects and a whizz in the kitchen to boot. Seeing him sweetly befuzzled by his letter from the lovely Genevieve Lumb from next door though reminds us that he still has lots of growing up to be done and many adventures ahead. But I think that he may have just walked off into the sunset and that is fine too.
V for Victory is a quiet novel but so full of wit and wisdom that it feels like a true literary hug. Best enjoyed by fans of the earlier books, it is comfort reading of the highest quality.
Lissa Evans is fast becoming one my favourite authors and V for Victory only served to confirm this opinion. I've found her writing to be a true tonic for the pandemic. Evans has a rare gift for providing messages of hope and perseverance parcelled up in novels that are deft in both their description and how they dodge sentimentality. It was a delight to return to the house next to Hampstead Heath and check in on how its occupants are getting on.
Four years after Crooked Heart and a good decade or so after Old Baggage, the year is 1944 and Noel and Vee are trying to avoid the V2s and scrape a living from keeping lodgers. Vee is still posing as Noel's Aunt Margery but after witnessing a road accident and being summoned to court, the game just might be up. The end of the war may be in sight but victory feels a long way away.
If Old Baggage was more companion to Crooked Heart than sequel, V for Victory unites the two stories. The characters of Heart are now living in the house which was so much the focus of Baggage. Mattie may be no longer physically present but even the reader can feel she is still very much there in spirit. Indeed, there are traces of sadness throughout the book for those absent friends from previous books. When a certain someone does make a reappearance, I got genuinely teary. But again, this is not a sad book. It is full of love. It's about finding people who will love you fiercely and never give up. And reading this final chapter to the tale conjures up the same feeling of satisfaction as when one slots the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle into place.
One of the many things that I have loved about this series (trilogy? neither seem quite the right term) is the focus it gives to the female experience. Vee is not a typical heroine - she is prickly, sneaky and difficult. But she is also lonely in her role as guardian, still hoping for romance and lost trying to find it. A more heavy-handed writer would have sent Vee into the arms of a dashing hero but the love story here is between Vee and Noel, this makeshift mother and son. Noel's muted - almost stoic - longing for parents has been a theme across the books. Four year-old Noel peered at Mattie in suspicion as he was dropped off on her doorstep. The eleven year-old we met in Heart was shellshocked without her. One of the most subtle moments within Victory comes when the reader realises at last that Noel has found what he was looking for. But the tears came again as Evans makes clear that whether they be living, dead or far away, all three of Noel's mothers have loved him very much.
As a writer, Evans tends to be light on the plot. She gets away with it because her characterisation is so strong. Every member of her cast feels memorable from the various lodgers to the ghastly guests at the literary party. A particularly welcome returning character was Winnie, erstwhile member of Mattie's doomed Amazons. All these years later, Winnie is working as an Air Raid Warden and trying to hold on to the memory of the man she married after a whirlwind romance but who has spent the last four years as a prisoner of war. She meets Noel on a bomb site and old memories are revived.
But more than that, Evans captures the particular type of heroism required to slog it through the daily grind of total war. The coronavirus pandemic is not the same as the war, no matter what certain factions would have us believe. But there are echoes which are similar. Every single one of the characters have their burdens to bear but they all persevere, with one notable exception. Discussing this disappointing specimen, a female character explains to Noel that the man had expected that life would be easy and that he had not known what to do when it was not. Talking about everyday heroism has become so meaningless after almost a year of lockdown but V for Victory made me remember again the grace required to keep on swimming when the storm is at its wildest.
It is easy to dismiss Victory as a mere domestic comedy but there is much more going on here. Over all three books, Evans' characters have wrestled quietly with morality. When Noel first met Vee in Crooked Heart, she was a petty criminal. Mattie spends most of Old Baggage trying to square her morals with her ability to exist in the world. Now in Victory, the central pair are perpetuating a fraud as Vee impersonates Margery Overs. But they are both still two people trying to do the right thing. And schisms occur when Noel and Vee's moral codes diverge. In a book filled with fantastic moments, I loved the scene when the guilt-stricken Vee is consoled that she has made her choices to protect Noel and her conscience can rest easy. Again, Evans grants her characters grace.
After three books, the house in Hampstead feels wonderfully familiar. Since the long ago days when it provided sanctuary for suffragettes, it has been a place of safety and refuge. I loved how Victory made it feel as if those who had passed through its doors were still present. Florrie's photograph is still in the house. Noel imagines Ida scrubbing the floors and realises that they have probably used the same potato peeler. Someone looks at Noel and remarks that he is very like Mattie. These characters feel like old friends. I would love to think that one day we will see them again. Noel has the makings of a fine young man, gifted in all subjects and a whizz in the kitchen to boot. Seeing him sweetly befuzzled by his letter from the lovely Genevieve Lumb from next door though reminds us that he still has lots of growing up to be done and many adventures ahead. But I think that he may have just walked off into the sunset and that is fine too.
V for Victory is a quiet novel but so full of wit and wisdom that it feels like a true literary hug. Best enjoyed by fans of the earlier books, it is comfort reading of the highest quality.
August 25, 2020
The story begins in a bombed out London in 1944. The dreaded V2 rockets are destroying wherever they fall at great speed from the sky, with no warning. Silent killers leaving death and destruction.
Green Shutters in Hampstead is home to Vee Sedge, Noel Bostock, her young charge who is nearly 15 and a few lodgers of various occupations. There is a lot of making do going on, with the lodgers providing some tutoring for Noel in return for a reduction in their rent. Noel doesn’t go to school however he is one of those who have an old head on young shoulders. He has also taken over the responsibility of cooking for them all, something which Vee is happy for him to do!
As far as everybody else is concerned, Vee is known as Mrs Margery Overs. The reasons why, we discover later on. Noel also has a complicated past, some of which it seems was covered in a previous book – this is one time where I wished I had read the others.
ARP Winnie Crowther is a senior warden at Warden’s Post 9 – where she and her colleagues are the ones dealing with the aftermath of the bombings, attempting to locate people, checking damaged buildings and generally directing operations following a bombing hit. She has a POW husband that she barely knows; they were together for such a short period of time that she struggles to remember what he looks like however he constantly writes to her letters full of the minutae of domestic fantasy that they may never get to share. As if that wasn’t enough she has a twin sister who uses her for her own ends.
I hadn’t realised that V for Victory was the third book in a series when I started reading this and although it can be read on its own, personally I would have had more understanding of the characters and their situation if I had read the previous two beforehand. Backstory is given to an extent but there were times when I felt a little left behind with the characters and their history.
Having said that, this was a thoroughly enjoyable story set during the time leading up to the end of the war. There is no one big plotline to follow but lots of smaller strands which show off the excellent characterisations and storytelling, which include Vee witnessing a road accident leading to unexpected friendships and a slightly more sinister occurrence of which I will say no more.
The research with regard to historical detail comes through clearly and the dialogue brings the characters to life; the writing is both poignant and humorous – the latter especially where Vee is involved. She is quite a character and although she has clearly looked after Noel, (although at times it does seem like the other way around!) she doesn’t come over as a natural Mother Earth person. If an opportunity comes her way, she will take it.
Looking through my booklist I see that I do actually have the two previous books, Crooked Heart and Old Baggage. I now have the perfect excuse to catch up and spend more time with Vee and Noel.
Green Shutters in Hampstead is home to Vee Sedge, Noel Bostock, her young charge who is nearly 15 and a few lodgers of various occupations. There is a lot of making do going on, with the lodgers providing some tutoring for Noel in return for a reduction in their rent. Noel doesn’t go to school however he is one of those who have an old head on young shoulders. He has also taken over the responsibility of cooking for them all, something which Vee is happy for him to do!
As far as everybody else is concerned, Vee is known as Mrs Margery Overs. The reasons why, we discover later on. Noel also has a complicated past, some of which it seems was covered in a previous book – this is one time where I wished I had read the others.
ARP Winnie Crowther is a senior warden at Warden’s Post 9 – where she and her colleagues are the ones dealing with the aftermath of the bombings, attempting to locate people, checking damaged buildings and generally directing operations following a bombing hit. She has a POW husband that she barely knows; they were together for such a short period of time that she struggles to remember what he looks like however he constantly writes to her letters full of the minutae of domestic fantasy that they may never get to share. As if that wasn’t enough she has a twin sister who uses her for her own ends.
I hadn’t realised that V for Victory was the third book in a series when I started reading this and although it can be read on its own, personally I would have had more understanding of the characters and their situation if I had read the previous two beforehand. Backstory is given to an extent but there were times when I felt a little left behind with the characters and their history.
Having said that, this was a thoroughly enjoyable story set during the time leading up to the end of the war. There is no one big plotline to follow but lots of smaller strands which show off the excellent characterisations and storytelling, which include Vee witnessing a road accident leading to unexpected friendships and a slightly more sinister occurrence of which I will say no more.
The research with regard to historical detail comes through clearly and the dialogue brings the characters to life; the writing is both poignant and humorous – the latter especially where Vee is involved. She is quite a character and although she has clearly looked after Noel, (although at times it does seem like the other way around!) she doesn’t come over as a natural Mother Earth person. If an opportunity comes her way, she will take it.
Looking through my booklist I see that I do actually have the two previous books, Crooked Heart and Old Baggage. I now have the perfect excuse to catch up and spend more time with Vee and Noel.
July 10, 2022
“Wartime is a time of "make-do". Mend and reuse older clothes, plant that Victory Garden to get vegetables, scam your neighbors, donate scrap to be used to make airplanes, etc. Hold it, "scam your neighbors"? How does THAT make the list? Well, read Lissa Evans' charming novel, "Crooked Heart", and you'll find out.”
The paragraph above was the first paragraph of my review of British author Lissa Evans’s novel, “Crooked Hearts”. The book was a wonderful picture of 1939 England, right after war had been declared on September 3rd. The government, frightened by predicted bombings by the Germans, made arrangements to send the children of London to safety elsewhere in England. The children, usually sent in school groups, were “adopted” by people living in small towns or suburbs, who were paid by the British government to look after the children. “Paid by the government”, is the important fact here.
One of the children sent was 9 year old Noel Bostock. A brilliant child, he marched to his own drummer. His parents were not around and he was raised by his great-aunt, a suffragette. She died right before the war began, and after living with an aunt and uncle, he found himself on the train and soon to be in the clutches of Vee Sedge, a small-time con artist. The previous book tells the story of how little boy and middle aged lady made a life together.
In “V for Victory “, the two have moved back to London and Vee is the proprietor of a boarding house in Hampstead. The tenants are a varied lot, and pitch in together to teach now 14 year old Noel various school subjects. It’s winter, 1944-45, and London is under bombardment by the German V1 and V2 rockets which do particularly nasty damage to the areas the fall into. The people of London are sick of the war, the losses accrued, the deprivations, and the dullness and dismalness of daily life.
In “V for Victory”, Lissa Evans writes a story of people dealing with the war. She introduces new characters like Winifred Bright, an air raid warden and her fellow wardens, who clean up after the bombings. Vee gets a boyfriend, from the US, and begins to have a little fun. (The saying that the “Yanks are over paid, over sexed, and over here” comes to mind here). This book is so good and is a perfect sequel to “Crooked Hearts”. I only wish I had known about it last year when it was published.
The paragraph above was the first paragraph of my review of British author Lissa Evans’s novel, “Crooked Hearts”. The book was a wonderful picture of 1939 England, right after war had been declared on September 3rd. The government, frightened by predicted bombings by the Germans, made arrangements to send the children of London to safety elsewhere in England. The children, usually sent in school groups, were “adopted” by people living in small towns or suburbs, who were paid by the British government to look after the children. “Paid by the government”, is the important fact here.
One of the children sent was 9 year old Noel Bostock. A brilliant child, he marched to his own drummer. His parents were not around and he was raised by his great-aunt, a suffragette. She died right before the war began, and after living with an aunt and uncle, he found himself on the train and soon to be in the clutches of Vee Sedge, a small-time con artist. The previous book tells the story of how little boy and middle aged lady made a life together.
In “V for Victory “, the two have moved back to London and Vee is the proprietor of a boarding house in Hampstead. The tenants are a varied lot, and pitch in together to teach now 14 year old Noel various school subjects. It’s winter, 1944-45, and London is under bombardment by the German V1 and V2 rockets which do particularly nasty damage to the areas the fall into. The people of London are sick of the war, the losses accrued, the deprivations, and the dullness and dismalness of daily life.
In “V for Victory”, Lissa Evans writes a story of people dealing with the war. She introduces new characters like Winifred Bright, an air raid warden and her fellow wardens, who clean up after the bombings. Vee gets a boyfriend, from the US, and begins to have a little fun. (The saying that the “Yanks are over paid, over sexed, and over here” comes to mind here). This book is so good and is a perfect sequel to “Crooked Hearts”. I only wish I had known about it last year when it was published.
June 3, 2022
Adored it.
April 13, 2021
This had the potential to be a really good book, however the story didn’t come together until the last 20%.
I did enjoy reading about some of the war times and seeing a glimpse into war time England, even though fictional.
I did enjoy reading about some of the war times and seeing a glimpse into war time England, even though fictional.
November 24, 2024
The further adventures of Noel and Vee as they survive the last months of the war in London. Noel is a lovely young man and Vee, from her hardscrabble background, has morphed into a respectable middle class landlady. Many charming and poignant moments, but never cloying or coy.
September 27, 2021
Very enjoyable read. Recommended to anyone who has already read Lisa Evans' "Crooked Heart"... more on the story of Noël during WWII.
August 30, 2020
I adored Lissa Evans' Crooked Heart and Old Baggage, so I jumped at the chance to be on the blog tour for V for Victory and I was not disappointed. What I really love about Evans' novels is the way her descriptions of people and scenes, a well as her characters' observations, absolutely shine out of the page. She has a brilliant, clever and witty turn of phrase that I just can't get enough of.
V for Victory picks up four years after the events of Crooked Heart. Noel is now an awkward teenager of fourteen, still living in his late godmother Mattie's house with Vee, who's less fly-by-night than she used to be, but continuing to use a false name and paranoid that someone will find out she's not actually Mrs Margery Overs. It's evident that they've really come to care for one another over the years, but in some ways, Noel is more like a parent to Vee than the other way round.
This comes out not only in his precocious maturity, fierce intellect and role as household cook, but also the way he coaches and supports her when she has to give a witness statement in court, and how he worries when she gets stuck in Brighton overnight when a jaunt with larger-than-life American Corporal O'Mahoney descends into chaos. While Noel's concerns that Vee might have been killed are understandable given the historical context, you can't help but be tickled by his imaginings of what a Methodist funeral might involve!
By filling Vee and Noel's house with lodgers (who double as home tutors), Evans brings in some memorable new characters, each with their own particular quirks and backstories, such as exacting Dr Parry-Jones, who doesn't understand jokes, and tiresome Mr Reddish, who recites poetry at every opportunity. Even though she's been dead a few years, Mattie - whose life we read about in Old Baggage - retains a presence in the memories of Noel and air raid warden Winnie, a former member of the girls' club Mattie founded.
Winnie's story brings additional comedy; I loved her POW husband Emlyn's letters, which reveal an increasing obsession with home and garden design, and her weary exchanges with her glamorous twin sister Avril, who has written a racy novel based on Winnie's job. However, Winnie's experiences also illuminate the more ambivalent feelings people could have about the war coming to an end. She's been very successful and useful as a warden, and is unsure what her purpose in life could be once she's no longer needed. She also feels as though she barely knows Emlyn, who was captured four years ago, soon after their short courtship and quick marriage.
In fact, virtually everyone has something to worry or be sad about, quite aside from the war itself, grumbling on in the background. Vee is never completely able to relax and have fun because she's worried her true identity will be exposed. Lodger Mr Jepson still suffers the after-effects of the First World War, where he lost an ear, and has a disastrous failed marriage behind him. People die, or lose everything in the air raids, having made it through so much of the war in one piece. Without giving too much away, Noel learns more about his past, resulting in heartache for both himself and Vee.
The world of V for Victory is one where things often feel untethered, scary and tragic, but the characters take care of one another, form new relationships, repair existing ones, and manage to keep going. There's humour to be found in virtually every situation, no matter how dire, and on the whole, the end of the war brings hope (however tentative).
V for Victory is a funny and bittersweet read about everyday life towards the end of the Second World War.
V for Victory picks up four years after the events of Crooked Heart. Noel is now an awkward teenager of fourteen, still living in his late godmother Mattie's house with Vee, who's less fly-by-night than she used to be, but continuing to use a false name and paranoid that someone will find out she's not actually Mrs Margery Overs. It's evident that they've really come to care for one another over the years, but in some ways, Noel is more like a parent to Vee than the other way round.
This comes out not only in his precocious maturity, fierce intellect and role as household cook, but also the way he coaches and supports her when she has to give a witness statement in court, and how he worries when she gets stuck in Brighton overnight when a jaunt with larger-than-life American Corporal O'Mahoney descends into chaos. While Noel's concerns that Vee might have been killed are understandable given the historical context, you can't help but be tickled by his imaginings of what a Methodist funeral might involve!
By filling Vee and Noel's house with lodgers (who double as home tutors), Evans brings in some memorable new characters, each with their own particular quirks and backstories, such as exacting Dr Parry-Jones, who doesn't understand jokes, and tiresome Mr Reddish, who recites poetry at every opportunity. Even though she's been dead a few years, Mattie - whose life we read about in Old Baggage - retains a presence in the memories of Noel and air raid warden Winnie, a former member of the girls' club Mattie founded.
Winnie's story brings additional comedy; I loved her POW husband Emlyn's letters, which reveal an increasing obsession with home and garden design, and her weary exchanges with her glamorous twin sister Avril, who has written a racy novel based on Winnie's job. However, Winnie's experiences also illuminate the more ambivalent feelings people could have about the war coming to an end. She's been very successful and useful as a warden, and is unsure what her purpose in life could be once she's no longer needed. She also feels as though she barely knows Emlyn, who was captured four years ago, soon after their short courtship and quick marriage.
In fact, virtually everyone has something to worry or be sad about, quite aside from the war itself, grumbling on in the background. Vee is never completely able to relax and have fun because she's worried her true identity will be exposed. Lodger Mr Jepson still suffers the after-effects of the First World War, where he lost an ear, and has a disastrous failed marriage behind him. People die, or lose everything in the air raids, having made it through so much of the war in one piece. Without giving too much away, Noel learns more about his past, resulting in heartache for both himself and Vee.
The world of V for Victory is one where things often feel untethered, scary and tragic, but the characters take care of one another, form new relationships, repair existing ones, and manage to keep going. There's humour to be found in virtually every situation, no matter how dire, and on the whole, the end of the war brings hope (however tentative).
V for Victory is a funny and bittersweet read about everyday life towards the end of the Second World War.
January 1, 2021
V for Victory is the third book, and I assume final, in the Old Baggage series by Lissa Evans. You don't have to read them in order, but it would help with the back story. I absolutely loved the first in the series, Old Baggage, the second (Crooked Heart) was a bit more average, but this third had me gripped again.
In this story Noel and Vee are back living in Mattie's house in Hampstead Heath, and it's the twilight of the WW2 years. Vee and Noel take in boarders to help pay their way and they scrape by. There are wonderful characters, and villians and heroes. As with Old Baggage I would describe it as a "jolly hockey sticks" type of book as it rollicks along, sometimes sad but often very funny.
I realised from reading the prologue that Lissa Evans had written the book that the film Our Finest was based on. The book was called Our Finest Hour and a Half. I remember this film was in a similar vein to this series in that it took a serious subject and gave an everyday down-to-earth and often humorous approach to it. I'll have to put that on my "to read" list now.
A solid 4.5 stars, which I will round up!
In this story Noel and Vee are back living in Mattie's house in Hampstead Heath, and it's the twilight of the WW2 years. Vee and Noel take in boarders to help pay their way and they scrape by. There are wonderful characters, and villians and heroes. As with Old Baggage I would describe it as a "jolly hockey sticks" type of book as it rollicks along, sometimes sad but often very funny.
I realised from reading the prologue that Lissa Evans had written the book that the film Our Finest was based on. The book was called Our Finest Hour and a Half. I remember this film was in a similar vein to this series in that it took a serious subject and gave an everyday down-to-earth and often humorous approach to it. I'll have to put that on my "to read" list now.
A solid 4.5 stars, which I will round up!
February 13, 2021
I read this straight after ‘Crooked heart’ from which it follows on. Noel, the precocious evacuee is 15, the end of WW2 is nigh, and he and his unlikely guardian have a real bond, after their difficulties with each other in the first volume. I enjoyed this less, I have to say: a bit too much family saga, too many characters and stories going on for my liking. It is brilliantly evocative on London during the blitz though - the constant anxiety and unspoken fear; the sound of bombers overhead and explosions horribly nearby, and the grim determination to ignore the rubble and chaos and grief are fantastically well-done, without being overdone. I found the narrative over-laden and baggy though, although to be fair, life got in the way of reading this, I found it hard to focus on reading for Other Reasons, and at any other time might have thought it was wonderful. The evocation of bombing raids on London and their aftermath has stayed with me though.
July 11, 2021
What a treat! Laughter and tears and some tension in one place that forced me to stop reading for a bit. Descriptions of a London bomb blast and the work of the local air warden were especially involving. Very fond of these characters. Hope Evans plans to share more about their future lives in additional books.
June 9, 2022
I enjoyed this third book in the trilogy. Annoyingly, I've read the first and last in the series and can't quite decide whether to go back to middle one, as I now know what happens to them in the end. Well written, researched and very atmospheric.
September 6, 2020
4.95🌟
Just perfect. Not quite as perfect as Old Baggage but pretty damn close. Please (fingers crossed) let us readers hear more from these wonderfully heart warming characters.
Just perfect. Not quite as perfect as Old Baggage but pretty damn close. Please (fingers crossed) let us readers hear more from these wonderfully heart warming characters.
July 21, 2021
I feel like I am saying goodbye to two friends, I am going to miss Vee and Noel.
January 31, 2022
The further adventures of Noel and Vee, set during the last months of WW2. Wonderful unconventional characters.
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