The Whalebone Theatre

Gorgeously written but I do not recommend unless you feel like sobbing uncontrollably through the last 100 or so pages. This is why I do not read WWII books, important though it may be to recall the absolute horrors of this war. Quinn sugarcoats nothing yet still manages to infuse the whole story with a lightness that is hard to describe. The first half dragged a bit, 4.5.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one — another listen. The beginning reminded me of Harry Potter, because she's so capably captures the innocence, vulnerability, and creativity of children. Later sections were a bit predictable at times, but I appreciated the characters as adults as much as when they were children. This is a particularly good book for people who like stories of England, World War II, the arts, and theater.