The Women's Pages in Aussie Readers

Aug 26, 2020 Brenda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: net-galley, aussie-authors, sent-by-publisher, 2020-release, reviewing-by-request, read-on-kindle, arc, historical-fiction, own-read

Tilly Galloway’s job as a war correspondent at the Sydney paper had kept her busy while the war was on; her constant worry about her husband Archie kept her awake at nights. She knew he was a prisoner of war with the Japanese but the one letter she’d received had said he was well. Tilly and her best friend Mary – also working at the paper – lived together while they both waited for their husbands to return from the war. When Mary’s husband Bert finally arrived at their door, the elation and exci ...more

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Sep 01, 2020 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: aussie-author, arc-are, netgalley-reviews

The Women’s Pages is another captivating novel of historical fiction from best-selling author, Victoria Purman.

Set in Sydney, Australia as World War II draws to a close, Tilly Galloway is an official Women’s War Correspondent for The Daily Herald, and though she has found it frustrating that as a woman she has been restricted to reporting from the home front, she loves her job. While the end of the war is cause for celebration, for Tilly the occasion is bittersweet when her boss insists she retu The Women’s Pages is another captivating novel of historical fiction from best-selling author, Victoria Purman.

Set in Sydney, Australia as World War II draws to a close, Tilly Galloway is an official Women’s War Correspondent for The Daily Herald, and though she has found it frustrating that as a woman she has been restricted to reporting from the home front, she loves her job. While the end of the war is cause for celebration, for Tilly the occasion is bittersweet when her boss insists she returns to writing for the women’s pages to make way for returning serviceman, and prepare for her own husband’s homecoming.

Seamlessly merging historical facts with fiction, Purman’s focus is on exploring the post war experiences of women in this enjoyable, moving, and interesting novel. Though the end of the war brings relief, it also creates new challenges for Australian women.

Many women suddenly find their working life abruptly altered or terminated to benefit returned serviceman, and struggle with the loss of their independence. Tilly acknowledges she is lucky to still be employed, but disappointed to be reassigned to cover gossip and social events, especially when she feels strongly that there are issues women are facing which are more urgent and meaningful to report on.

Other women expect to settle back into a life of domesticity with their demobbed husbands only to discover, as does Tilly’s best friend, Mary, that their men are virtual strangers, struggling with physical injuries or mental health issues from their wartime experiences. Few men returned unchanged from the war, and women bore the brunt of the aftermath with no, or little guidance, and Purman portrays these challenges with clear-eyed compassion.

Some women, like Tilly, and her sister, Martha, discover after years of waiting, that that their husbands may not be returning at all. Tilly is increasingly anxious as there is no word of her husband, who is a Japanese prisoner of war. Martha’s husband survived the war, but has deserted her, leaving her to raise their three sons on her own without any financial support.

These are just a few of the issues for women Purman explores in The Women’s Pages, she also touches on the government’s failure to adequately provide for war widows and their now fatherless children, the prevalence of sexual harassment in the workplace, and the divide between the experiences of working class and upper class women. Through the members of Tilly’s family, Purman also highlights the postwar Union struggle for fair wages and working conditions, particularly on the waterfront, and its effect on women, like Tilly’s mum.

Heartfelt and poignant, with appealing characters, The Women’s Pages is an excellent read which presents an engaging story that also illuminates the real history of post-war Australian women ...more

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Oct 15, 2020 Rhoda rated it really liked it

Thank you to @harlequinaus for sending me a copy of this book to review!

In Sydney in 1945 the war is finally over. Tilly and her housemate Mary have been patiently waiting for their husbands to return, even though neither have heard from them in quite some time. Tilly is working as a journalist for a newspaper and with the lack of men available, has been able to get a ‘real’ position with the newspaper, as opposed to what is normally available for women journalists - who are relegated to report ...more

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Aug 10, 2020 Helen rated it it was amazing

This books starts on VP day in Sydney the end of the war in the pacific and the Sydney streets come alive with rejoicing, happiness and tears of joy, the men will be coming home those that survived but a lot of them will be different to what they were. Tilly Galloway is a journalist working for a Sydney newspaper and she has been covering the war but that is all about to change for Tilly.

Tilly has been put back on the women’s pages at the paper because the men are back and she really struggles w ...more

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Aug 28, 2020 Janine rated it really liked it

Shelves: net-galley, for-review

This novel encapsulates the era towards the end and post WWII in Australia. Tilly lives in Sydney and her husband Archie is at war. They had a very short lived marriage before he had to leave. She manages to gain employment at a Sydney newspaper as the chief editor's secretary but secretly has desires to do much more than that. Her sister is also on her own with 3 children to support and her parents live near the docks where her father is a waterside worker.

I remember my mother telling me about This novel encapsulates the era towards the end and post WWII in Australia. Tilly lives in Sydney and her husband Archie is at war. They had a very short lived marriage before he had to leave. She manages to gain employment at a Sydney newspaper as the chief editor's secretary but secretly has desires to do much more than that. Her sister is also on her own with 3 children to support and her parents live near the docks where her father is a waterside worker.

I remember my mother telling me about the war days and Victoria described it so accurately and brilliantly. About the war rations with butter, unpicking jumpers and re-knitting them, the early days of unions, long working hours and of course her stories of when the 'yanks' came to town with high levels of testosterone and cash to splash. It was an interesting era and had its high points - dancing at the Trocadero to meet people and its low points - terrible working conditions and pay. And of course writing to their loved ones and sending cakes and socks and jumpers for them, hanging out for a return letter.

Tilly finally gets her chance to be a real reporter writing about life after the war and speaks from experience of living with her friend whose husband has just come back and harbours many demons because of the treatment he received while in the service.

She still holds out hope that Archie will return home but in the meantime strikes up a friendship with a fellow reporter Cooper. Victoria also wrote about the early days of women's articles in the newspaper which consisted of recipes, gossip, fashion and advice columns - all of which the male reporters scoffed at as being frivolous and held no respect for women journalists - I think that women may still suffer from this to an extent today.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and it painted a picture of an era which is part of Australia's history and made me think how lucky we are today to live in a country that is not at war and be grateful for how we live now compared to our ancestors. With thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. ...more

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