Comments on: Book Review: The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

By: Diane

Diane — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:57:42 +0000

I read the book in January 2010, and left a note here in February. Reading all your comments, I guess I missed a lot, and so will now begin to re-read the book. However, as to the Massachusetts setting – it made no difference to me. It was a setting and a vehicle for the action there. Not being from that area of the country, From the author’s descriptions I found the town very engaging and very representative of life during WWII. So I’ll report back after I’ve re-read the book.

By: lore

lore — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:21:53 +0000

I was mostly bothered by the title of the book. I don’t think Iris was the main character of this book, but rather the three women who’s personalities and actions couldn’t be different. Beautifully written–a bit too poetic/precious for the story told. I liked it the book, and especially liked the review. Thank you

By: Two Dicky Birds » Two Little Dicky Birds.html

Two Dicky Birds » Two Little Dicky Birds.html — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 10:38:53 +0000

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By: K. Hunt

K. Hunt — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:54:15 +0000

I, like some of you, was also annoyed about the setting of Franklin, MA, a Cape town, in this book. It bothered me from the very beginning being from Massachusetts myself as well. It seemed to me that Blake didn’t want to do research to substantiate a geographical fact. I like a good fictional novel, but to me there needs to be some truth to the fiction to give a sense of validity to the story. That said, I struggled in the beginning to get past this and have thoroughly enjoyed the book since. It was a great story!

By: S. Orlando

S. Orlando — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:55:07 +0000

My reading group leader said there was a “twist” at the end. I didn’t see any. Did I miss something???

By: Randye

Randye — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:13:46 +0000

I enjoyed the book and found the writing about the Blitz and the fleeing of Jewish refugees most powerful. I, too, would have wanted Frankie to underscore that “there was no where for them to go to..” Also in Sarah Blake’s ‘The Story Behind the Story’ at the end of the book, she mentions a photo from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that moved her. The photo is famous but is also infamous as it is the source of an international court case of slander regarding the Al-Dura “myth”. Respectable journalists and media watchers around the globe have shown that the photo was “staged” – a hoax. In fact, there was no young boy who died in the crossfire. Though I understand Sarah’s reaction to viewing such a image, I would appreciate an editor’s note in future printings so as not to perpetuate the media’s blame against Israel. After all, a main theme of this story is how the media reports and frames the “truth”.

By: Anita

Anita — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:47:55 +0000

I, too, wanted to like the book… but am ambivalent about it: too descriptive and wordy in parts. Should have had a different title, since it wasn’t ONLY about the postmistress.
I had recently taken a course on Edward R. Murrow, and it was interesting to read some “behind the scenes” info about his broadcasting during the pre WWII era. Also, I’m a docent at a Holocaust museum and didn’t realize the book would contain much about the refugees trying to escape Europe. There wasn’t enough explanation about the fact that there was “no where for them to go to….”

By: Mariellen

Mariellen — Mon, 31 May 2010 23:15:13 +0000

I am from Massachusetts and I found it really lazy of the author not to check to make sure there wasn’t a real Franklin Ma, well inland from the ocean. This lack of professionalism irked me throughout. I also thought the death of one of the main characters at the end was unnecessary and just a tad melodramatic. I too found it unlikely that a portable recording device was available in 1941 for the character to record the voices of the refugees. Perhaps the author felt she could get away with these discrepancies, but educated readers would be annoyed, as I was.

By: Lomeda

Lomeda — Wed, 26 May 2010 08:50:28 +0000

I found the book somewhat frustrating because of the writing style. How many times do we need to have the leaning-in-for-the-cigarette-lighting described? It’s the first book I read on the Kindle, so I have a question. Two of the chapters start out exactly the same with Iris “bringing the canceling stamp down on three letters in a row with a satisfying thump.” How could an editor miss this? Or is this a Kindle issue. I missed that Iris gave Emma the telegram and the letter at the same time, or was that just implied? Also, if Frankie is going to start the book in present day, shouldn’t she come back to that?

By: Michele Somers

Michele Somers — Tue, 25 May 2010 02:02:27 +0000

I disagree with this reveiwer. I did finish the book and enjoyed it but felt the author did not follow through with the plot line – Iris does not shirk her duty as the postmistress – she holds the letter until the telegram is received and delivers both at the same time – I felt the author did not follow through with the plot development and did not feel that Iris shirked her duty at all.

Comments on: Book Review: *The Postmistress* by Sarah Blake