22 Britannia Rd by Amanda Hodgkinson read by Robin Sachs - 4 stars

[Barbara M]

Audio Edition very well narrated by Robin Sachs.

22 Britainna Rd is the address of the house in Ipswich that Janusz found for his wife and son. Janusz fought with the British in World War II with others from Poland. There he learned English and English ways. His wife and son were caught unawares when Germany overran Warsaw but they escaped and lived in the forest until the end of the war. That’s all Janusz knows about them after being apart for six years. He found them through what seems to have been a refugee program. Silvana and their son Aurek faced many hardships that are revealed through flashbacks. Janusz’s story is also told alongside Silvana’s in chapters that alternate with their lives in England. We learn their stories but, unfortunately, they don’t share them with each other. They struggle to recapture the love they felt when they met and married (also told in a flashback). They are determined and respect each other.

The flashbacks are handled well. The reader knows the whole story will come out. You hope they will find each other again. I wanted to tell them to communicate with each other, to get rid of the nightmares by sharing. These are two likeable characters. Silvana, in particular, has so much to overcome. She has to learn the language and the customs of the English. She has good neighbors and friends who try to help. Aurek has so much to learn, he spent all but a few months of his life in the forest. He calls Janusz “the enemy” in his mind whenever we hear his part of the story. Silvana loves Aurek with all her heart, Janusz has to learn to love his 8 year old son since child he knew was just an infant.

A memorable and insightful story with excellent characterizations.

[Book Concierge]

I really liked this as well.