First Impressions

[MamaShepp]

When a book cover is as beautiful as this one is, it sets a high standard right off the bat.  The writing does not disappoint.  Blake writes so beautifully that she pulls you in right away to see what the next wonderful turn of phrase she has written.  That alone could pull a reader along a good ways but the story is so unique and the characters so rich that I could not put this down.

[RNData_GK]

I had to re-read the first few pages, perhaps it was due to the number of characters being introduced in the beginning of the story. However, once I got used to the rhythm and Sarah's writing style, I got comfortable and started enjoying the story. As another reader here (Lynda) pointed out, Sarah's abrupt change of scenes took some getting used to.

It was amazing how the characters unfolded in the first couple of chapters, and I was hooked! These characters, particularly Emma, Iris, and Frankie, were easy to relate to. I felt as if I knew them personally. I especially liked the small town feel of Franklin, Massachusetts. It was interesting to read about the intrigue brought on by hiring an unmarried woman for the postmistress position.

[petitefleur]

As an New Englander, this book makes me look at my surroundings as if I were transported back in time.  This story is so wonderfully descriptive.  At times It feels like reading poetry.  The writing flows so well and draws you right in.  I am deeply impressed.

[ktmorrow]

This book was not at all what i expected when I signed up for it, it was much better!  The story was wonderfully written and engaging.

[CKindianCB]

I also agree with many of you the cover on the book is beautiful.  War is not one of my favorite subjects. I really like Sarah Blake's writing style.  I am having a little trouble with the flow of the story.  As you are reading you can almost feel the reality of bombs gone off, not a very pleasant feeling.

[blkeyesuzi]

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Fozzie wrote:

I don’t trust Iris.  The first full paragraph on page 14 left me with a bad taste in my mouth.  Iris jumped to conclusions about a woman she didn’t know on the bus.  Yes, we all judge people and make conclusions when we don’t even know them, but Iris seemed overly judgmental in this case.

I think the way the transitions between scenes and main characters are handled is superb.  For example, on page 14, we had Iris looking at the girl reading on the bus.  Then, so smoothly, the next section started with the line the girl on the bus, Emma, was reading in Anna Karenina.  It happened again on page 23.  Will shut off the radio as the radio personality was signing off and then, immediately, we read Frankie’s comments about what she thought about how she sounded while signing off for the night.  The transitions occur at the exact moment that the characters lives intersect.  I like that.

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I liked those transitions, too.  Those transitions were very well done and helped me move easily from scene to scene with ease.   I also liked the use of Anna Karenina -- using a classic novel within a novel gave life to the moment and its characters. 

[blkeyesuzi]

I had to stop reading posts, as I haven't finished this section's reading yet and I've run into a few spoilers (for me), so I'm going to just mention my first impression of this novel really quick. 

I adore novels regarding this era. Historical fiction is by far among my favorite type of novels.  The Postmistress captures the era beautifully and the characters are very real and likeable.  I want to know more about them.  The only thing I can say at this early point in my reading is that the writing gets a little "pushed" at times, as if the author tries too hard to paint the picture for me.  It's somewhat 'poetic' for my taste at times, when perhaps it could have been a little simpler.  As I said, this is my very early impression of the novel and from what I've read of other posts, my impression is likely to change soon. 

Now...to get back to reading!

[Sarah79]

I love this book. I didn't stick to the reading schedule at all (don't worry, no spoilers) because I simply could not put it down. I enjoy the writing style, it seemed to make me more intrigued that each characters story lead into the next. Now that the discussion has started, I will gleefully read it all over again.

One other thing, it had me in tears very shortly into the book. A great sign of a wonderful story to me.

[januttall]

This First Looker got to page 60 and just couldn't stop!  I'll be reading this one straight through (I'm on the home stretch right now), but promise not to post any spoilers.

Needless to say, I am really enjoying the way Ms. Blake has developed the characters, weaving their lives together in a way  that brings this era to life for me.  This is going to be a great discussion!

Julie

[floreader]

Here are my first impressions.  While the book is well-written, I found the first few chapters a little bland.  Then the story picked up and I couldn't put the book down.  The story becomes very absorbing and the sections that take place in London are very realistic.  You feel like you are right there.

The title of the book is the Postmistress, but Iris is always referred to in the book as the Postmaster, never the Postmistress.  I thought it was unrealistic that a woman would hold such a prestigious Federal job in 1940.  In that time period, women weren't hired for those types of jobs.  They became teachers, secretaries, bookkeepers, etc.  In a small town,  I think there would even be less of a chance that a woman would be appointed Postmaster, since there would be less jobs available for the men in a small town. 

[bookowlie]

The book is much better than I expected it to be.  Based on the title "The Postmistress" and the cover design, I had expected it to be a "fluff", romantic, non-literary story, a beach read.  The book is nothing like this at all.  It is a well-written, absorbing story.  I personally think the title was chose to market the book to a wider audience.

I love the author's writing style.  I really felt like I was right there, whether it was in the small Cape Cod town of Franklin or London during the Blitz.

[bookowlie]

I agree with you, BookBobBP, that the transitions were a little choppy.  It took me a little while to get into the rhythm of the

writing.

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BookBobBP wrote:

I am really enjoy the story.  At first I found it kind of choppy because I did not get the transitions.  Once I figured out the Author was using the Radio to do the transition I was totally into it. I thought it was a great idea radio was what connected the three main characters.  I am really enjoying the story of these three women during a war I think each of them is giving a very unique look and view point on it.

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[nfam]

I'm enjoying the Postmistress. The war does come alive. I find the sections on the blitz in London very emotional. The characters in Massachusetts are a little harder to get in tune with. However, this may change as I read more.

[slrihm]

This is my first time reading a pre-published book so I sort of wondered how much of an 'editor' I was wanting to be.  I found myself being more critical of some elements of writing and typos, etc. than I might have been if I'd checked it out from the library or bought it.

I like historical fiction and think how the characters in Franklin are linked to Frankie's stories is handled nicely.

I'm aware of the prominence of the women characters and like her portrayal of them.  I find myself shaking my head a bit at Iris...her 'certificate' is an early quirkiness.

The account of the bomb blast Frankie experienced was chilling.  Her radio description of the shelter that seemed to be the final thing Will needed to hear before deciding to go also very good.

I'm thinking as I write, so I'm not sure I believe this, but I wonder about so much foreshadowing; does the reader really need the prelude?  It seems like a have a huge piece of the puzzle before I even get going.  I've figured out parts of the story before they happen...I just have to read for details.

Just a thought.  I'm enjoying the writing and the story....

(should we offer grammatical suggestions?)

[slrihm]

I agree.  I was drawn into the young dr. deliverying his first solo baby and it was a powerful punch the way Maggie died; very tragic.

[barb1207]

This is my first time with the club, so bear with me. I found the book hard to get involved in - at first. However, after continuing on, I found that I was caught up in it, and anxious to see what unfolded next. Her descriptions are so detailed, almost elegant.

I'm looking forward to reading on, and eagerly anticipate next months selection!

Barb

[jbnie]

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PaulH wrote:

Hi All,

We'll have more questions up later today, but I'm wondering what your first impressions of The Postmistress are? Can you relate to the characters and the story?

Remember some of us are keeping to the schedule, so watch those spoilers.

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My first impression of the book started with the cover, I love the cover and hope that it does not get changed in the final printing. This book grabbed me and never let go. The descriptions on page 37 of the bombing were so real that I had to stop  reading and assure myself that it was not happening her and now ! The way Sarah Blake  writes is magical. I could  not stop reading, I found myself in the book on both continents and when the book ended, I wanted more. This is a  book that I will re read and keep on my bookshelf, it is too wonderful to ever let go !

[MsReaderCP]

The  prelude/intro pulled me into the story right away.  The discussion t the table about how lives could be affected by just the non-delivery of a letter was a perfect opening.  It made me think of all the different scenarios and which ones and how many are going to be in this book?  And what would make a postmistress just NOT deliver a letter or two or three?  How many?  Does she not want people to get drafted?  Does she not want people to get the bad news that their loved ones have died?  Or is it something more selfish?  One can only keep reading and find out!!

So I do keep reading and a woman and getting an exam to get a certificate to show that she is "intact"!  Who did that during that time?  (If ever, but certainly not then.)  Is she getting married and wants to present that to him?  I have to now find this out?  This Sarah Blake is very original and her phrasing, as already mentioned by many people, is beautiful.

As to the characters:  Iris is so different from me that I wonder can there be anyone like that out there, but she is my favorite character so far.  I relate to Frankie in her desire for a story; I love the way her radio stories are about people and emotions more than facts.  I relate to Emma with her young love and  her optimism for her future and that all the badness in the world won't touch her.  (Of course to see where she is I had to grow older and realize that none of us live in a bubble.)I want to see what happens to all of them.  There is no chance that I will not finish this book, and the same chance that I will finish it on the schedule the provided.

[pen21]

I am just getting started.

I will say the book cover really caught my attention.

Without knowing more about the book, I think it is one people will pick up and give a look at the description.

So many books have boring covers, your eyes just slide right over them.

I like when there is attention given to the cover.

pen21

[januttall]

There's been a lot of mention about the transitions in The Postmistress.  I have to admit, I never really noticed the "abrupt" format that many seem to have struggled with initially.  I think that's because I was so completely drawn in to the story at an early stage of the book that I attributed that to "setting the stage".  All of the characters in the storyline are on edge to a degree, due to the war.  For some (particularly those who are in London) that means making an abrupt transition on a regular basis. 

I guess we'll have to wait until Ms. Blake joins us to find out whether this format was intentional.

Julie