The Lumberjills
The Lumberjills Stronger Together - A novel (Paperback)
The Lumberjills Stronger Together - A novel (Paperback)
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When war breaks out, three spirited women must set aside their differences to help Britain win the war. Fighting from the forests, they find new depths of courage, strength and love. But when war threatens everything – would you risk your life to save a friend?
When feisty, bohemian Keeva signs up for war work in the forest, she's already learnt the hard way that people can't be trusted. For Rosie, a factory girl from London's East End, the forest is an escape – but she can't stop her big mouth getting her into trouble. And Beatrice, a wealthy debutante, wants to use her brain, not ruin her fine hands felling trees. Meanwhile, Lady Denman, director of the Women's Land Army, battles with bureaucrats in Whitehall to defend the Lumberjills.
As these strong women struggle to survive in a tough men's world, it seems they really may succeed in their dangerous war work – when a terrible disaster strikes and threatens everything they have achieved.
The Lumberjills Stronger Together is inspired by the incredible and heroic true stories of the Women's Timber Corps, a branch of the Women's Land Army. Author Joanna Foat researched and interviewed sixty women who served as Lumberjills in World War II. These first-hand accounts, and her own passion for adventure in wild landscapes, bring a rugged authenticity to this emotionally rousing novel of female courage, strength and determination.
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I really loved this story - it had grit and humor and relatable and interesting characters. I often read 'happy ending' type fiction and this book was a welcome change - made me think and feel and really want to know more about the women. It is also a monument to those women who defied what was expected of them, faced horrendous misogyny and did it anyway and proved their worth. I cannot wait for the next installment!
This is a charming book that left me looking forward to the next installment. I loved the way each lumberjill's story unfolded, while keeping focus on Keeva. The book has been brilliantly researched, with period details being handled with particular subtlety. Adding to the book's charm is the author's gentle evocation of nature which clearly arises from real life felt experience. A lovely book. Highly recommended!
I bought this book after attending a talk by the author. Loved the story & highly recommend the author as a speaker. Her Lumberjills presentation was so interesting. Hoping to see her Lady Denman presentation in the future.
If you know nothing about the lumberjills' work during WW2 then this novel will give you an education. Joanna Foat has written another, factual, book (which I have in my TBR pile) and I dare say that will be a better one so far as I'm concerned. She spent a huge amount of time interviewing surviving lumberjills and many more folk should know what these stalwart ladies did for the war effort. That said, this novel does give a good insight into the misogyny and condensation they had to endure. There is a fictional group of women brought to life in the novel from very disparate backgrounds, some of whom were very annoying! However, an easy read and a good introduction to this interesting subject.
Read it quite fast as couldn't put it down and with me being dyslexic, it's hard for me to read quick. But loved the kindle dyslexic font change and was easier for me to focus and really fall in love with the characters.