When they had married, it had been in the midst of a war that seemed never-ending. She had accepted Raymond’s ring without considering the fact that one day it would mean following him halfway across the world. But now, as she waited for her orders to join him in America, she began to question what she had done.
(from GI Brides, page 174)
Quick summary: GI Brides profiles just four of the more than 70,000 British women who married American soldiers during World War II and followed them to the United States, including author Nuala Calvi’s grandmother, Margaret. Based on interviews with the women, the book goes into detail about each of their lives during the war, how they met their GI husbands, and what life was like for them in a new country as they raised their families.
Why I wanted to read it: I had no idea there were so many war brides, and I was curious about how these women fared after leaving their homes and families to start anew in a strange country.
What I liked: GI Brides reads like a novel, which makes it very easy to get absorbed in the stories of these women. Duncan Barrett and Nuala Calvi obviously did a lot of research, and they present the stories of Sylvia, Rae, Margaret, and Lyn in such a way that I cared about them and felt like they were old friends. Pictures are included so readers can put faces to the names, and I found myself flipping to them many times while I read.
What I disliked: The chapters alternate among the women, and at first that made it difficult for me to keep track of their stories, especially if I put the book down for a day or two before coming back to it. That didn’t keep me from loving the book, though.
Final thoughts: Sylvia, Rae, Margaret, and Lyn came from different backgrounds, but they had a lot in common. These women each found a way to do their part for the war effort, whether volunteering at a Red Cross club like Sylvia or joining the Auxiliary Territorial Service like Rae. Despite each of them finding love or at least some semblance of happiness with their American soldiers, these women experienced many challenges and hardships. Most importantly, these women were strong, adventurous, and able to overcome the various obstacles thrown in their paths. GI Brides is a fascinating book about just a few of the many women brave enough to cross an ocean — on their own — for a chance at love, with no guarantees that it would work out or that they would ever see their families again.
Thanks to TLC Book Tours for having me on the tour for GI Brides. To follow the tour, click here.
Disclosure: I received GI Brides from William Morrow for review.
© 2014 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.
[…] Wednesday, October 8th: Diary of an Eccentric […]
LikeLike
I love that there are pictures included! Stories like this remind me of my Gram coming over from England in 1946 to marry my Grandpa. I can’t wait to read this book myself!
Thanks for being a part of the tour Anna.
LikeLike
My pleasure! The website for the book has more pictures and stories of other GI brides. I haven’t had time to do more than peruse the site, but I definitely want to read the other stories posted there at some point.
LikeLike
What interesting stories these must have been! I have a hard time wrapping my head around all the things these women must have dealt with in coming to a foreign country at that time.
LikeLike
Yes, they were much braver than I would have been. Their stories were fascinating, and I couldn’t help but admire their strength and courage.
LikeLike
That is A LOT of war brides
LikeLike
Yes! It’s hard to wrap your head around that number.
LikeLike
Hopping over from the Nonfiction Reading Challenge….
I had no idea that there were that many! This sounds like something I would enjoy.
LikeLike
I thought it was fantastic. Hope you get a chance to read it.
LikeLike
I really enjoyed this as well. I did have a hard time following the women at first, but I quickly got to know them over time.
LikeLike
Yes, it got easier about halfway through. If I would’ve had the time to read it straight through, I probably wouldn’t have had trouble. It was a minor quibble, really.
LikeLike
That is a lot of adventure for a lot of women. Sounds such a good read.
LikeLike
Yes, they really went through a lot. I was alternately happy for them and heartbroken.
LikeLike