What readers think of Everyone Brave is Forgiven, plus links to write your own review.

I had to plan on when to read this book, as I wanted to be uninterrupted and if I became tearful, it was ok. Such a grand book. So much to visualize on how people survived this war. Outstanding but painful. Educational and honest. A book I won't forget....ever.

This novel takes place on 2 fronts of world was 2---London and Malta. The description of the destruction done by the Blitz to places and to the people is heartbreaking. The sacrifices of the soldiers on Malta made me cry.

The characters are complex. Most I wanted the best for but with tension of both class struggle and racial intolerance displayed in the story some characters were hateful.

The story is complex. It is a war story and a love story. I thought it was beautifully written. I don't reread books often but I plan to reread this novel.

EVERYONE BRAVE IS FORGIVEN is about bravery. Most of the book takes place in England at the start of World War II and before the United States joins them.

Mary wants to join the war effort right away so is assigned teaching duties. Later she joins her friend Hilda as an ambulance driver. London is a dangerous place to live, and they choose to volunteer for even greater danger.

At first I found these chapters to be too young adultish, especially those about Mary's romance with Tom, a school administrator. But the chapters about Tom's roommate, Alistair, after he joins the army are excellent. These kept me going for about 100 pages, until I loved it all. (That is in spite of Mary's strange family. They are very rich. Mary's father never appears. Her mother seems untouched by the war. Neither parent seems to care much about Mary. Sometimes she lives with them, sometimes not. That doesn't seem to concern them, even when she is only 18.)

EVERYONE BRAVE IS FORGIVEN shows us the hardships of the beginning of World War II not only to the English military but also to English citizens. What a relief it is to them when the US arrives.

Since this was our Book Club selection, I plodded through two hundred fifty pages but could bear no more.Thereafter, I simply skimmed a bit here and there to get the gist.The characters lacked depth and the dialogue seemed unrealistic, a parody of British stiff upper lip.

After enjoying Little Bee so much this effort was a real disappointment!