The Chilbury Ladies Choir
by
Jennifer Ryan
The book describes a period during the Second World War, from 26th March to 6th September 1940 when the effects of the war were beginning to bite.
The authoress introduced the main characters through their diaries or letters. While this method gave a close up of events from each person’s point of view, it resulted in the characters being slightly two dimensional and their opinions a bit predictable. Saying that, they are endearing.
Over the six months covered in the book, each person developed in response to the difficulties they faced. There was a strong sense of community and family. The reader warmed to the two main Choir members, Mrs Tilling and Kitty, and it is mainly through their contribution that the sense of duty and strength in the face of adversity threaded its way throughout the narrative.
The ending was a happy one, and that rather let down the book. The story was complicated and believable to a point, but it was hard to swallow that everyone’s future definitely had a silver lining.
Jacqui Cousins