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Coventry by Helen Humphreys

November 7, 2008 by Darlene

Coventry is the second book of Helen Humphreys that I’ve read (this is also my selection for my November 2nds Challenge). The first I had read was The Lost Garden which I really enjoyed. Coventry was no different. Helen Humphreys has a way of writing that is beautiful to me no matter how difficult the subject matter may be as it is in Coventry.

Coventry is mainly focused on one night, November 14, 1940, on which occured the bombing of the British town of Coventry by the Germans. Harriet is a widow who lost her husband in the first war. Now in the second war she is found standing on the roof of the Conventry Cathedral on bomb watch watching out for fires with a young man named Jeremy. The air-raid sirens start to wail and a bomb falls. This puts Harriet and Jeremy on a journey through the town of Coventry to find Maeve, Jeremy’s mother. What they see and experience on the way is both horrifying and devastating-the destruction of Coventry and the killing of so many innocent people. Yet, in the midst of all this terror love and comfort can be found.

There are several quotes in this book that have stayed with me and I’d like to share a few…so that you have an idea of the descriptive and beautiful writing style of Humpreys…

  • “For hours, for no reason that I could imagine, I drew black swans. Hunched over a piece of cardboard on the floor of the hotel room, the coal softening to dust on this surface beneath me. What I wanted was the simple pleasure of seeing you again. But you didn’t come, couldn’t come. I don’t know how to make you return to me. But I did come to know the black swan. I knew the long snake flex of its neck, knew that the shape of the body was a leaf, a wing, an open hand, the human heart. I fastened these images to paper, called them swan. And then I rose, black dust dripping from my hands, my arms spread empty to the empty sky, as I walked out through broken streets feathered with shadow-darkness lifting me home.”
  • “The good thing about books is that they remain themselves. What happens in their pages stays there. Harriet does not like the idea of the story bleeding through into real life. She trusts a story, and doesn’t trust real life. But what makes her trust a story is the knowledge that it will stay where it is, that she can visit it but that there is no chance it will visit her.”
  • “Harriet is sure she can smell the books burning in the library. She thinks she can smell the pages turning to ash, all the pages she has poured through, the paper thick and slightly damp, the edges of the pages brown with foxing and sometimes sticky to the touch. She used to pride herself on all the information she knew. For some reason it was a comfort, all this knowledge she could unravel with a breath. Now, that still contemplation she had in the library seems completely unreal. Maybe reading was just a way to make her feel less alone, to keep her company. When you read something you are stopped, the moment is stayed, you can sometimes be there more fully than you can in your real life.”

If you’ve never read anything by Helen Humphreys you really should-you should experience her beautiful writing yourself. I don’t think a review can do justice to the way her novels make a person feel. Coventry is a gripping read. Humphreys brings alive the bombing of Coventry in such a way that you feel as though you are living through this terror with the characters. In fact she drew on actual events and eyewitness accounts for the writing of this novel. It’s not a huge book either at 192 pages and yet you feel as though you know the characters intimately.

I absolutely recommend this novel. I fully intend to read more of Humphreys books. Many thanks to Mini Book Expo and Harper Collins Canada for the opportunity to read this wonderful novel. You can purchase Coventry here.

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Comments

  1. Marg says

    November 7, 2008 at 8:27 pm

    i really would like to read this book. I have heard a number of good things about it.

  2. Ramya says

    November 7, 2008 at 9:10 pm

    wow! that was a great review Dar! I have never heard of Humphreys before, but from your quotes i totally understsnd what it is that you mean! Shall add her to my list! This definitely looks like an interesting book and the cover is soo spooky!:)

  3. Mary says

    November 7, 2008 at 9:32 pm

    What a great review, Dar. I’ll watch for this one!

  4. Serena says

    November 7, 2008 at 10:53 pm

    sounds like a good book.

  5. Dar says

    November 8, 2008 at 3:46 am

    Marg, I think you’d like it. It’s hard to read but still written so well that it’s good-if that makes sense.

    Ramya, thanks. I think you’d like Humphreys. I just picked up another of her books today-The Frozen Thames and look forward to reading it. The cover is spooky-overlooking Coventry.

    Mary, I looked on Amazon but it looks like it isn’t available there until February I think. We’ve had it here for quite a while already.

    Serena, it was good. You and Anna would probably like it as it deals with the war. Again, I got to learn something which I didn’t mention in my review.

  6. Anna says

    November 8, 2008 at 6:22 am

    You can bet this one’s going on my list! Thanks for the great review, Dar!!

    –Anna
    Diary of an Eccentric

  7. Linda Jacobs says

    November 8, 2008 at 2:41 pm

    This intrigues me because I’ve been looking for a new comtemporary novel to add to our World Literature curriculum. Do you think it would be something high school juniors and seniors would like? If you have any other suggestions, I’d be happy to hear them. Thanks!

    This review sparkles!

  8. Dar says

    November 8, 2008 at 3:37 pm

    Anna, I do think it’s one you’d like. I mentioned that to Serena.

    Linda, thanks so much. You know I do think it would be a good selection in terms of showing the effects of war. It is a little graphic in some descriptions as it’s dealing with the war and only in one instance is there a little s*x. So, I guess it depends on what is allowed into the curriculum these days.

  9. Veens says

    November 8, 2008 at 5:11 pm

    Your recommendations are something I really go with! And I am really sure I would like this one as well!

    I will get at least one book from this author – thanks Girl!

  10. Toni says

    November 8, 2008 at 7:45 pm

    Wow.. Darlene.. those quotes were so good. That last one really sunk in and resonated so true to me. Thank you, as always for the awesome review of a book that appears to be very powerfully and poetically written.

  11. Dar says

    November 8, 2008 at 8:03 pm

    Veens, thanks so much 🙂

    Toni, Humphreys does have a very poetic style of writing. Her’s are the type of books that are keepers for me. I can most definitely see myself reading Coventry again.

  12. J. Kaye Oldner says

    November 9, 2008 at 1:37 am

    Way to go with your November 2nds Challenge! I am hoping to finish mine soon. 🙂

  13. naida says

    November 9, 2008 at 1:42 pm

    It does sound good, I havent heard of Helen Humphreys before. Great review! I like the quotes you chose too.
    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

  14. samantha.1020 says

    November 9, 2008 at 11:48 pm

    This sounds like an amazing read. Great review and I’m adding this to my neverending list.

  15. Dar says

    November 9, 2008 at 11:59 pm

    J.Kaye, I got this one ok but I’m doing horribly on my classics. I missed one whole month on that one. Can’t seem to keep up to myself this past month.

    Naida, thanks. Humphreys is a Canadian author which may be why a lot haven’t heard of her.

    Samantha-thanks. I know about that never ending list. lol.

  16. Shana @ Literarily says

    November 11, 2008 at 3:12 am

    I love books set in this time period, so this one is definitely going on my TBR list. Especially with your positive review. You’ll probably see it on my next Friday Finds 🙂

  17. Dar says

    November 11, 2008 at 4:36 pm

    Shana, I think you’d really like this story. I’d be willing to send you my copy but this would be one I’d want to get back though. It’s on my to be kept forever list.

  18. Trish says

    November 12, 2008 at 12:36 pm

    Just read your comment about this one being a keeper forever–definitely sold me right there! Sounds like an intriguing book–especially that there is an element of hope in such turmoil. Thanks for the great review–I haven’t heard of this author!

  19. avisannschild says

    November 12, 2008 at 9:05 pm

    I love the way Helen Humphreys writes (I’ve read two of her books: The Lost Garden and another novel whose title escapes me at the moment), but I find that her stories are a bit depressing (or at least don’t end well). Was that your experience with this book?

  20. avisannschild says

    November 12, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    I should add that I tried to request this book from the Harper Collins First Look program but didn’t get it. It definitely sounds good!

  21. Dar says

    November 12, 2008 at 11:24 pm

    Trish, for me this one is a keeper. I really like Humphreys though. She’s a Canadian author so that may be why you’ve never heard of her.

    Avis, I too really like Humphrey’s writing. I agree that her books can be depressing and this one probably isn’t much different due to the subject matter. I think though it ended on a positive note. For me, her writing just captures my attention and even if it’s sad I can’t tear myself away from it.

  22. avisannschild says

    November 13, 2008 at 5:22 am

    Thanks, Dar, for answering my question! I don’t remember The Lost Garden super well, but I do remember that I found the ending depressing. Glad to hear this one ended on a positive note!

  23. Wanda says

    March 16, 2009 at 11:48 pm

    Oh my gosh, Dar! I am loving this book and I am only on page 37! I love it when books pull me in so early… OK gotta go start a new together read with my daughter then it’s more Coventry tonight … don’t know how I’m going to put this one down!

  24. Anonymous says

    March 19, 2009 at 7:06 pm

    As an actual Coventrian who is very familiar with the Blitz I am looking forward to reading this novel. Too bad Ms Humpheys is not English – it is difficult to put oneself into the Zeitgeist of another country if one is not au fait with it.

  25. Dar says

    March 20, 2009 at 5:50 pm

    Wanda, I’m glad you’re enjoying it. I can’t wait to see your review.

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