The Wind off the Sea : A Novel of the Women Who Prevailed After World War II

Rating:
Summary: Good follow-up book, but not as good as the first book
Review: "Wind off the Sea" by Charlotte Bingham tells the story of the women Bexham, who after serving during the Second World War, once again find themshelves at home taking care of their husbands and children. But time are still hard, but American Waldo Astley comes to town, he brings with him change for the better.
"Wind off the Sea" is the follow-up to "The Chestnut Tree" while I enjoyed the book. The four main character didn't have much interaction with each other and to me its seem to lack the charm of the first book. But, Overall I did enjoy the book and can't wait to read "Moon at Midnight" the third book in this series.

Rating:
Summary: terrific historical tale
Review: In 1947 England, the euphoria of the victory remains, but is somewhat muted by an icy winter. The bitter cold could be handled better by women if industry had not set them aside so that the men can gain employment. After all they did on the home front to insure victory; many women resent the loss of the jobs they held during the war years.

The women of Bexham suffer from a lack of necessities to survive the tundra like weather, but the loss of their jobs hurts as much as the lack of heating fuel and food. When American Waldo Astley arrives at the Sussex fishing village he finds a high degree of frustration and resentment. He provides a fresh outlook as he encourages the women that they have come a long way and should not quietly return to the hearth and stove. The Bexham females have a rallying cry as Waldo brings with him the wind of change from across the Atlantic.

This terrific historical tale provides an insightful look at the beginning of the baby boom years, but from the unique perspective of women suffering from a variety of depressing things in the midst of the post war euphoria. The Bexham females struggle with shortages during a brutal winter, have personnel woes that run the gamut from a miscarriage to not knowing your husband, and a deep resentment of being sent back to cook and clean. Historical fiction fans will find Charlotte Bingham's tale an astute entertaining glimpse at the era that pioneered the next generation of women to rise in the workplace.

Harriet Klausner