Review of 22 Britannia Road

As a part of the indie world of artists, I've come to greatly appreciate those who work alongside indie authors such as myself, like the photographers, book reviewers and editors.  I've been so very fortunate to collaborate with other artists since 2012, and to say it's inspiring and motivating is an understatement.  Ah, to be with people who GET IT! :)  So, in addition to writing my own works, I edit now and love it.  For me, it's almost as life-giving as writing itself.  I love seeing these beautiful pieces of work come together.  Seriously, it's magical as these characters and the plot feel like they become their own organic being, just begging for life and a home in your soul.

Just throwing it out there - if you're an author in need of an editor, look me up.  :)

I'm also going to try my hand at book reviewing.  Because let's be honest: to write well, you have to read well.  It's all a part of immersing yourself in your craft.  We can learn so much from our fellow artists who've also studied and immersed themselves in the craft.  Ah, I can already smell the pages of a book and feel it in my fingers as I eagerly devour its pages.  It's a beautiful work of art if you read the right ones.  How do you determine the "right ones"?  Well, each person has their own opinions.

So, here we go!  Each week (or so, because I do have four kids that are my first priority!), I'm going to post a review of a book that I think should be noticed, that has great artistic expression, as I search for one that leaves me better after reading it.

Jen's Review of 22 Britannia Road

by Amanda Hodgkinson

The Description of the Book:

"Hodgkinson's portrait of the primal bond between mother and child . . . leaves an indelible impression." —The New York Times Book Review

Debuting its first week on the New York Times bestseller list and earning comparisons to Sophie's Choice and Sarah's Key, 22 Britannia Road is an astonishing first novel that powerfully chronicles one family's struggle to create a home in the aftermath of war.

With World War II finally over, Silvana and her seven-year-old son, Aurek, board the ship that will take them to England, where Silvana's husband, Janusz—determined to forget his ghosts—has rented a little house at 22 Britannia Road. But after years spent hiding in the forests of Poland, Aurek is wild, almost feral. And for Silvana, who cannot escape the painful memory of a shattering wartime act, forgetting is not a possibility.

Jen's Thoughts:

[WARNING: SPOILERS]

The beginning of the novel starts with an unassuming love story between Silvana and Janusz.  Both young adults, their love story starts sweetly until World War II consumes them both.  He leaves her to go fight on the front, yet loses his troop and lives on his own for a while, wandering through pillaged villages until he finds another troop with which to fight.  She does what she must to survive with their infant son, and retreats to the woods for a feral life.  The whole while, their story is told through flashbacks that are stoic at best.  The shock of war memories floods the readers senses, leaving them to very well experience the PTSD the characters struggle through as they work to make their own life in England after the war.  

I would not recommend this to young readers, as the content is quite mature.  It features rape by Nazi occupying soldiers, the death of their biological infant son through a bombing and Silvana's "adoption" of an orphaned baby to replace him.  Additionally, the book is wrought with affairs as Silvana and Janusz struggle to get to know each other again after being apart for much of the war.  Also, Aurek, at age ten, is still breastfeeding for some odd reason.

The novel is sad and subdued as the main characters attempt to make life normal after going through such great traumas.  We see their internal psychology twist through coping with the horrors of war, and try to shift back to normal once reunited.  This being a daunting and nearly impossible task, we can't help but root for them to find a new normal and maybe, just maybe, even happiness.

What wouldn't you give to make life work with your family?  What does it mean to really be happy with your life?  Readers explore these deeper issues as the novel concludes with their choice to make life together work, however unsatisfying it will be.  After all, they are family.  Isn't that what you do?

Jen's Rating:

Two out of five stars due to mature content, twisted psychological situations, and explicit content.

Click here to view the book on Amazon!