Sleeping Through War by Jackie Carreira
Rose must keep
her dignity and compassion as a St Lucian nurse in London. Amalia
must keep hoping that her son can
escape their seedy life in Lisbon. And Mrs
Johnson in Washington DC must keep
writing to her son in Vietnam. She has no-one else to talk to. Three
different women in three different countries. They work, they
bring up children, they struggle to make ends meet while the world
goes around and the papers print the news. History is written by the
winners – and almost all of it has been written by men. The stories
of women like these go unremarked and unwritten so often that we
forget how important they are.
Link
to purchase from
Wordery: https://wordery.com/sleeping-through-war-jackie-carreira-9781788038539?cTrk=MTU3Nzg3NzQyfDVkMjgzOTAyZjA5OTA6MToxOjVkMjgzOGZhNjc5ODQyLjc0ODUxNDI0OmY0NzY0Njkx
Link
to purchase from
Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/sleeping-through-war/jackie-carreira/9781788038539
Sleeping
Through War isn't at all what I expected, and I don't mean it in a
negative way. It's unlike anything I've read before and I heartily
enjoyed it. The narrative follows the lives of three women
concurrently during a volatile period in world history.
Fascinating. I appreciated the detail the author poured into the narrative, focusing on the everyday lives of these women from differing backgrounds. In the beginning, I did wonder if their lives would connect at some point. However, as we begin to get to know them, it becomes clear their stories are unique and specific to them.
The time-line is short; merely three weeks during May 1968. It not only highlights the newsworthy events around the world during this time in history but what happens to three ordinary women and those close to them. The narrative highlights how within a short space of time, everything can change and not always for the better. As the stories about Amalia in Lisbon, Portugal, Mrs Johnson in Washington DC, US and Rose, newly arrived in London from St Lucia unfold, these women going about their everyday lives. They struggle just as much as those affected by the wars and demonstrations at this time, only their tragedies and difficulties never get heard.
As a reader, I loved the concept of Sleeping Through War. Although there isn't a physical link between these women they share a common link; all are trying their best to do what is right. One is writing to a son who is fighting in the Vietnam war. Another is trying her best to keep food on the table to care for her son after his father, her husband died fighting in the Angola War. Lastly, a lady newly arrived from the Caribbean who forms a friendship with a young single mother. Ms Carreira conveys their stories with compassionate insight.
Well researched, the writing is sublime as the narrative invites the reader to pause and think not only about these world events which occurred before many of us were born but to ponder and reflect upon everyday scenarios as relevant today as they were fifty years ago.
***arc generously received courtesy of the publisher Matador***
Fascinating. I appreciated the detail the author poured into the narrative, focusing on the everyday lives of these women from differing backgrounds. In the beginning, I did wonder if their lives would connect at some point. However, as we begin to get to know them, it becomes clear their stories are unique and specific to them.
The time-line is short; merely three weeks during May 1968. It not only highlights the newsworthy events around the world during this time in history but what happens to three ordinary women and those close to them. The narrative highlights how within a short space of time, everything can change and not always for the better. As the stories about Amalia in Lisbon, Portugal, Mrs Johnson in Washington DC, US and Rose, newly arrived in London from St Lucia unfold, these women going about their everyday lives. They struggle just as much as those affected by the wars and demonstrations at this time, only their tragedies and difficulties never get heard.
As a reader, I loved the concept of Sleeping Through War. Although there isn't a physical link between these women they share a common link; all are trying their best to do what is right. One is writing to a son who is fighting in the Vietnam war. Another is trying her best to keep food on the table to care for her son after his father, her husband died fighting in the Angola War. Lastly, a lady newly arrived from the Caribbean who forms a friendship with a young single mother. Ms Carreira conveys their stories with compassionate insight.
Well researched, the writing is sublime as the narrative invites the reader to pause and think not only about these world events which occurred before many of us were born but to ponder and reflect upon everyday scenarios as relevant today as they were fifty years ago.
***arc generously received courtesy of the publisher Matador***
TWITTER -
https://twitter.com/JCarreiraWriter
FACEBOOK: @SleepingThroughWar
WEBSITE: jackiecarreira.co.uk
FACEBOOK: @SleepingThroughWar
WEBSITE: jackiecarreira.co.uk
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