historical fiction,World War I,England,1914-1918,romance,military hospital,war injuries

This story never really went anywhere. At the abrupt ending I was left feeling like I could've just read the synopsis on the book jacket and been done with it. The story was told from the perspectives of several different characters, none of which were very interesting or well-developed. Aside from knowing that Catherine was a widow and that she was sad I never got to know her and couldn't identify with her much at all. It would've been nice to hear Julian's perspective. In summary, the premise of this book could've made for a great story, but overall it was quite disappointing.

I did not like this book. I finished it but would not recommend it to others!

Really 2 1/2 stars...beautifully written portrayal of individuals mourning so much during the First World War. An interesting view of surgery at that time. But it was difficult to sympathize with the characters and not vey enjoyable. But better than The Fig Eater.

A very interesting concept for a book but it felt like nothing really ever happened in it. Characters were very flat, no real dimension to them and the book just ended. I was hoping for more after reading the jacket but really didn't get it.

Had loved The Fig Eater, this was disappointing.

A really peculiar but fascinating book.

http://www.bookpage.com/0612bp/jody_s...

I remember liking this book when I read it. It's somewhat similar to Atonement, set in the same period. But months later, I barely remember the story -- which I think is most telling about a book.

I'm kind of stalling on this book. The storyline isn't particularly good, but it's well written at least. Maybe it will pick up. Who knows.

After losing her husband, Catherine’s beautiful estate is transformed into a makeshift hospital, which is soon filled with men suffering face wounds from combat in WWI. As well as a doctor and dentist trying to repair the devastating impact of these horrific wounds, there is an artist, Anna Coleman, who sketches the wounded for medical records. There is a curious lack of sympathy in the way that the author portrays the characters, making it challenging to actually become engaged with them.

i cant figure out how many stars to give this book, or not.
it wasnt what i tho't it was going to be. i dont even know if i can describe it! wealthy man and woman, man goes off to war, dies,leaves his home to be used as a hospital while his wife still lives there, military turns it into hospital for men with facial injuries,retired dr takes over, woman still lives there, dentist and american woman 'hook' up while she is traveling with her husband who is there to help with the war cause-woman leaves with dentist to be the 'artist' for the facially deformed men at the hospital while her husb goes off somewhere else, woman who lives in house decides to have her husband recreated from man with deformities and artist helps but she doesnt really know she is doing that and the retired dr struggles with whether he is right or not in not allowing the men to see themselves in mirrors, or any other reflective objects.
ok so.
i didnt like the book. just decided

DNF I didn't really like the way this book was written. Though beautiful writing, it didn't quite FLOW.