It is difficult to write a review without dealing with the plot. The theme of the book is very interesting, considering the present (Jan 2024) turmoil in the middle east and the flaring of long held hatreds between Muslims, Jews and Christians. So I found the idea intriguing.

This is a book about the choices we make in life and what if we made another choice.

The author gives choices to Marie Curie (nee Marya Sklodowska) as her given name in Poland in the first chapter in 1934 and alternates to her younger self Marya whilst growing up in Poland in 1891 and how each choice she took could change her from an ordinary individual to the famous female scientist of her time.

In the midst of WWII, an English musician, Norah Chambers, places her eight-year-old daughter Sally on a ship leaving Singapore, desperate to keep her safe as the island falls to the Japanese Army.

Australian nurse Nesta James has enlisted to tend to Allied troops. But as Japanese troops overrun the island she joins the terrified cargo of people, including the heartbroken Norah, crammed aboard the Vyner Brooke merchant ship.

A suspenseful and moving saga about family secrets, hidden trauma, and the overriding power of forgiveness, set during the war and in present-day Việtnam.

In 1969, sisters Trang and Quỳnh, desperate to help their parents pay off debts, leave their rural village and become “bar girls” in Sài Gòn, drinking, flirting (and more) with American GIs in return for money.

This heartbreaking memoir from a Holocaust survivor reveals the terrible realities of life in Auschwitz and other concentration camps. 15-year-old Henry was assigned to back-breaking labour in the Auschwitz horse-breeding stables.

Three Sisters is a remarkable novel based on the true story of three Slovakian Jewish sisters, who endured the worst of humanity to forge new and hopeful lives on the other side. It will break your heart, but leave you amazed and uplifted by the courage and fierce love of three sisters, whose promise to each other kept them alive in a place without hope. Two of the sisters are alive in Israel today, surrounded by friends and family.

I picked this one because I have previously enjoyed all of Tracy Rees’ books.

Set in late 1800s London and told from the perspective of 4 or 5 different women’s perspectives.

Mabs is from a very poor family of 7 children and her mother died very recently. Her farther spiralled into depressiong and hasn’t worked in some time so she is trying to bring in the money they need to survive. 

Set in the years between WW1 and WW2 Violet Speedwell has left home at the age of 35. Leaving her mother who has turned sour (with grief) after her son was killed in the war and her husband had recently passed away. Violet has also suffered loss as her fiancée was also killed in WW1.

I have never considered myself to be a fan of historical fiction, but then I haven't actually read one!

Author Stephanie Parkyn is no stranger to Waipā audiences, having Cambridge Library as one of the stops on her book launch for Josephine's Garden. We were unable to have an audience for Stephanie's latest book, so in preparation for our interview, I set about to read The Freedom of Birds.

This book tells the servant’s side of events to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. It has some scandal and twists that I really enjoyed.

The story centres around Sarah, a house maid that was taken in from the workhouse as a child by Mrs Hill (cook and housekeeper of the Bennet Family). Her days are spent in hard slog washing, cleaning, heavy lifting and all around drudgery a very stark contrast to the Bennet sisters who practiced their needlework or as in Mary’s case reading Fordyce's sermons.

This is an historical fiction novel set in London and Australia from the 1940s to the 1960s.

It has been inspired by true events with a mother and son torn apart by the war.

An historical fiction based in Victorian London in 1850.
The story starts an art exhibition which is being built in Hyde Park.

The setting is Austria in 1933. Hedy Kiesler is a stunning theatre actress. Based on the true story of Hedy Lamarr.