Sarah Blake (1) (1960–)

I really enjoyed The Postmistress by Sarah Blake. Set in 1940-41 in WWII-ravaged Europe and also a small town on Cape Cod that has yet to feel the effects of the war, The Postmistress tells the story of three different women. Blake does a lovely job of transitioning and even overlapping the voices, creating a superior story that draws the reader in. I did find this technique a bit confusing in the beginning; there are times when the voice changes from paragraph-to-paragraph. However, once I got to know these women, the effect was brilliant! I was captivated by each woman's story, however it was Frankie Bard whom I adored. For me, The Postmistress was the kind of book that I enjoyed while I was reading, and I thought about when I wasn't. Ms. Blake does a wonderful job of introducing these three distinct characters, and then following the train of events that eventually brings them all together. Absorbing throughout, with a good dose of historical fiction (one of my favorite genres), and satisfying to the end. Highly recommend.… (more)

I think my expectations were a little high. I generally like stories set during WWII but I can't tell if I wasn't giving this book my full attention or if it was just a little slow all on its own. I wasn't as fond of the characters as I expected either. By contrast, I loved the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society and The Postmistress didn't measure up in my mind. If anyone else reads it, I'll be curious to see what you think. I don't mean to totally pan it (even if it sounds like I am). It was ok...and maybe you'll like it more than I did.… (more)

This is very much a muted book where stories are interwoven to create a neat, soft story with a lot of emotional depth. While it requires sustained attention to carry the reader through the slow rhythm, she is rewarded for her patience in uncovering heart-felt stories and reflections.
Only the ending was, to my eyes, superfluous and I'm not sure how I feel about the focus on the postmistress although the symbolism she brings is certainly interesting.

A unique and emotionally charged look at WWII.… (more)