After the war, they wrote and promised and prayed. After the war we’ll do this or that or another thing. After the war we’ll be together. After the war we’ll be happy. After the war we’ll be safe. In all their dreaming of after the war, they never dreamed there is no after to war.
(from Next to Love, page 291 in the ARC; finished version may be different)
Ellen Feldman’s Next to Love is one of those novels that hooked me from the first page, and I knew right away I was going to love it. Feldman takes on so much in so few pages, telling the story of three women over a span of two decades beginning with their men leaving to fight in World War II.
Babe works for Western Union in a job she will have to give up when the veterans return. She is struck with fear every time a telegram comes in, as her husband, Claude, is fighting in Europe. She is good at her job and feels the weight of responsibility to get the messages just right because most are notifications of the death of a husband, son, father, or brother. Babe lives in suburban Massachusetts near her two best friends, Millie, whose husband, Peter, is off fighting and will miss the birth of their son, and Grace, whose husband, Charlie, left her and their baby daughter behind to join his friends in the National Guard.
While Feldman shows how hard it was for women to keep living when their boyfriends and husbands were off killing and dying, Next to Love focuses primarily on what happens after the war. Many of the young men who went off to fight never came home, and their wives were forced to pick up the pieces of their lives and figure out how to move on. And those who did come home were forever changed by the horrors of war. For some, transitioning to civilian life was nearly impossible, and they were hit hard by nightmares or unable to carry on the path they would have taken had there been no war.
I don’t want to say too much about Babe, Millie, and Grace because part of the enjoyment of reading this novel is not knowing exactly where life will take them in the years after the war and going through the motions with them. All three experience their share of happiness and heartache, and they make horrible decisions while doing the best they can. At times they were hard to like, but I felt like I could understand their actions based on their wartime experiences.
Next to Love is first and foremost a story of the homefront during WWII. Feldman beautifully captures the ups and downs of marriage, parenthood, and friendship in lives changed forever by the war, and she does a wonderful job portraying the grief endured by women whose husbands were casualties of war and those whose husbands came home as shells of the men they married. And on top of all that, she manages to follow these women over 20 years and touches upon the Korean War, Civil Rights, antisemitism, the disillusionment of suburban housewives during the 1950s, the impact of the G.I. Bill on residential development, and technological advancements. Feldman casually yet carefully inserts these into the story to mark the passage of time and the evolution of the characters.
In Next to Love, Feldman transported me back to the WWII era with vivid descriptions of everyday life in a small town. I was surprised by how much I came to care for the characters and wanted to hug them as they kept their hurts deep inside and moved forward because they had no choice. Next to Love is ambitious, but Feldman pulls it off with just the right amount of drama and emotion, making the stories of these women feel real.
Courtesy of the publisher, I have one copy of Next to Love to offer my readers. To enter, simply leave a comment with your e-mail address and recommend a good book about the homefront during wartime if you’ve read one. Because the publisher is shipping the book, this giveaway is open to readers with addresses in the U.S. and Canada only. You have until Sunday, June 26, 2011, at 11:59 pm EST to enter.
**Please note that this giveaway is now closed**
Thanks to TLC Book Tours for allowing me to participate in the blog tour for Next to Love. To follow the tour, click here.
Disclosure: I received a copy of Next to Love from Spiegel & Grau/Random House for review purposes. I am an IndieBound affiliate and an Amazon associate.
© 2011 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.
This sounds really good! Luckily my library has it, so I will be adding it to my TBR list!
No entry to the contest for me!
LikeLike
Hope you can get a copy from the library soon, but if not, it’s definitely worth the wait.
LikeLike
Anna, no need to enter me in this giveaway at this time, but I will post this in my blog’s sidebar. Wonderful review! 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, Suko! You know I always appreciate it. 🙂
LikeLike
Don’t count me in as I am overseas but it sounds such a good read – what fear for Babe to live in constantly – that must have been so stressful.
LikeLike
All of the women had to deal with the constant fear, but it must’ve been so hard for Babe to hear the telegram machine start up and know that it could be delivering her the bad news.
LikeLike
I have not read many books like this one. Truth be told I only remember one book that ever dealt with that men felt when they got home
LikeLike
I don’t think I’ve read too many homefront stories either. The Postmistress is the only one that comes to mind. Most of the novels I read about WWII take place in Europe. Oh, wait! On Folly Beach by Karen White deals with the homefront, too. 🙂 Now once I post my reply, I’m sure to think of more!
LikeLike
What a fantastic idea for a story. I’d really love to see how the war impacted these women and their families and how they moved on. I’d also like to see how the author weaves in the other elements you mention –civil rights, Korean War, etc. That must have been a tough task.
Thanks for the giveaway! I’ll post the giveaway in my sidebar for you.
LikeLike
Thanks, Serena, and you’re always welcome to borrow my copy. I think Feldman weaved in the other events in a way that also furthered the characters’ evolution. I think she did a great job with that.
LikeLike
I’m hooked! Wonderful review, Anna. Thanks for the chance to win. My email is HoffmanLiterary [at] insightbb [dot] com
LikeLike
Thanks, Beth!
LikeLike
I have this one preordered for Sparky, my Kindle, and can’t WAIT to read it! I have enjoyed other books by this author, and this one sounds like it covers much of the terrain of the twentieth century, with all the issues some of us have lived through. Did I say I can’t wait???
LikeLike
So let me guess, you’re really looking forward to it, right? 😛 Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!
LikeLike
Most often when we talk of war, we only see the devastation it leaves on the war field. Not the emotional devastation of the spouses of the fighters. Their fears and anxieties are bottled up and shown as bravery. Thanks for this review Anna.
LikeLike
Thanks, Nana. It’s so true. A lot of times we think about the soldiers and not the people they leave behind.
LikeLike
This sounds REALLY good, and I have not even heard of it before reading your review! I would love an opportunity to win a copy. My e-mail is swdarguschATyahooDOTcom.
LikeLike
I’m so glad I took part in the tour because I probably wouldn’t have heard of the book otherwise.
LikeLike
You’ve made this sound fabulous! I just got it last week and now I’m excited about it!
LikeLike
I’ll keep an eye out for your review!
LikeLike
A beautiful novel which would be memorable. A story that resounds with me. Having read many books from this era and about this subject I never tire of learning about new releases. I read Letters From Home which was lovely. Many thanks.
LikeLike
I’ve heard good things about Letters From Home. Thanks for the recommendation.
LikeLike
Every time I come to your blog I have more books to add to my wishlist! This one sounds superb!
LikeLike
Thanks! I don’t want to be the only one overrun by books. 😉
LikeLike
what a great excerpt you selected! just reading those lines made me want to read the whole book. thanks for the great review!!
LikeLike
While I read, I’m always looking for that one quote to pull for the review. I was worried that I wouldn’t find the “perfect” one…and then I hit that line. Loved it!
LikeLike
When a book has the ability to capture you within the first few pages I know I must read it!!!
Would love to win that copy!! stacijoreads@gmail.com
LikeLike
I think this is one that you would enjoy!
LikeLike
I would love an opportunity to win this book, I’ve been reading more books recently from this era. One of my favorites has been ‘The Postmistress’, I really enjoyed it.
LikeLike
I liked The Postmistress, too!
LikeLike
I’m reviewing this book in Aug for its tour, and now that I’ve read your review I’m more than anxious to read it. Sounds so thought-provoking.
No need to enter me in the giveaway.
LikeLike
I’m looking forward to your review!
LikeLike
Eee, so glad you loved this novel — it really was quite amazing and beautiful. I totally agree with you on wanting to hug the characters — I was caught up in their stories and their hopes, pains, fears, experiences…it was really such a fabulous novel.
LikeLike
At first I was afraid it would be too much of a romance, but I’m so glad that my fears were cast aside right away. Glad you loved it, too.
LikeLike
this sound like a good one. i like the small town setting.
vvb32 at yahoo.com
LikeLike
Hope you enjoy it!
LikeLike
Anna, I’m excited that you loved this book. I didn’t read your entire review because I will be reviewing this book in July and don’t want to know the story too much before I read it. I was hoping it was good and now I know I have a real treat of a book waiting for me!
Thank you…..I’ll be back!
LikeLike
Looking forward to reading your thoughts on it!
LikeLike
This sounds like such a good book. A book that comes to mind about the aftermath of war and its impact on relationship is 22 Britannia Road by Amanda Hodgkinson. I haven’t read it yet and it is on my to-be read list. I have heard great things about it.
LikeLike
I definitely want to read 22 Britannia Road. I’ve heard so many good things about it.
LikeLike
I picked this up from the author and BEA and it was the book I most wanted to read when I got home. I LOVED it. So glad to see that you did as well.
Thanks for being on the tour Anna.
LikeLike
I hope you’ll be posting your thoughts!
LikeLike
I would love to read this! I have not read too many but do have a few on my tbr pile. One that comes to mind is the Postmistress. Thanks for the giveaway!
Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com
LikeLike
The Postmistress was one I enjoyed. Thanks for stopping by!
LikeLike
What a fantastic review! I love how you became wrapped in the characters’ lives especially seeing as it all takes place during WW II.
Wishing all the readers good luck in this giveaway.
LikeLike
Well, you know how much I love WWII novels…
LikeLike
I must get a copy of this one! It sounds like a great read. I have so many books that I want to read this instant…
LikeLike
Me, too! I’m having such a hard time picking a few to bring on vacation!
LikeLike
I loved Feldman’s book, SCOTTSBORO, and so I’ve been looking forward to reading NEXT TO LOVE. She is a sensitive and evocative author. Thanks so much for the chance to win a copy! (Fingers and toes crossed!)
LikeLike
I want to read The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank, but I will check out Scottsboro, too. Thanks for the recommendation!
LikeLike
[…] Tuesday, June 14th: Diary of an Eccentric […]
LikeLike
would love to read this novel…thanks for the chance 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for stopping by Karen!
LikeLike
[…] Tuesday, June 14th: Diary of an Eccentric […]
LikeLike
I would love to win a copy of this book! It sounds like a great book! I cannot think of any good books to recommend from the WWII time period.
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
LikeLike
Hi Nancye! There were a few good homefront books mentioned in the comments. Thanks for stopping by!
LikeLike
This giveaway is now closed. The winner has been chosen by Randomizer.org and e-mailed, and will be announced shortly.
LikeLike
[…] Tuesday, June 14th: Diary of an Eccentric […]
LikeLike
[…] 6: Unabridged Chick June 8: Reviews from the Heart June 14: Diary of an Eccentric June 16: Deb’s Book Bag June 17: Books Like Breathing June 23: Life in Review June 27: Girls Gone […]
LikeLike
[…] 6th: Unabridged Chick Wednesday, June 8th: Reviews from the Heart Tuesday, June 14th: Diary of an Eccentric Thursday, June 16th: Deb’s Book Bag Friday, June 17th: Books Like Breathing Thursday, […]
LikeLike
[…] TLC Book Tour Reviews: Unabridged Chick | Reviews from the Heart | Diary of an Eccentric | Deb’s Book Bag | Books Like Breathing | Life in Review | Girls Gone […]
LikeLike
I am reading this book right now. It was just a lucky fluke that I picked it up. From the title, I thought it was a “romance” which I don’t read, but when I peeked inside and found out it took place during WW2, I knew I wanted to read it. I am totally hooked on this book and will be looking for other books by the same author. Wonderful story.
LikeLike
Hi Anne! I almost didn’t read this book, too, because I thought it was going to be a romance. I’m so glad I didn’t judge the book by it’s title, which is explained in a quote at the beginning of the book. Hope you love it as much as I did!
LikeLike
[…] 18. The Sea and Poison by Shusaku Endo 19. When We Danced on Water by Evan Fallenberg (WWII) 20. Next to Love by Ellen Feldman (WWII) 21. War & Watermelon by Rich Wallace (Vietnam War) 22. Between Shades […]
LikeLike
[…] Next to Love by Ellen Feldman — A novel that drives home the point that soldiers aren’t the only ones traumatized by war. […]
LikeLike