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The Beauty Chorus
New Year's Eve, 1940: Evie Chase, the beautiful debutante daughter of an adoring ?RAF commander, gazes out at the sky as swing music drifts from the ballroom. With bombs falling nightly in London, she resolves that the coming year will bring more than just dances and tennis matches. She is determined to do her bit for the war effort. 2nd January, 1941: Evie curses her fashionable heels as they skid on the frozen ?ground of her local airfield. She is here to volunteer for 'The Beauty Chorus', the female pilots who fly much-needed planes to bases across the country. Soon, she is billeted in a tiny country cottage, sharing with an anxious young mother and a naive teenager.
Thrown together by war, these three very different women soon become friends, confidantes and fellow adventuresses. But as they take to the skies, they will also face hardship, prejudice and tragedy. Can their new-found bond survive their darkest hours?
Thrown together by war, these three very different women soon become friends, confidantes and fellow adventuresses. But as they take to the skies, they will also face hardship, prejudice and tragedy. Can their new-found bond survive their darkest hours?
448 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
15 people are currently reading
737 people want to read
About the author
Kate Lord Brown
14 books201 followersTHE GOLDEN HOUR - 2025
Welcome to 30s Cairo, an epic and intimate story of friendship, survival and love.
Kate grew up in the wild and beautiful Devon countryside. After studying philosophy at Durham University and art history at the Courtauld Institute of Art, Kate gained a MA in Creative Writing.
Welcome to 30s Cairo, an epic and intimate story of friendship, survival and love.
Kate grew up in the wild and beautiful Devon countryside. After studying philosophy at Durham University and art history at the Courtauld Institute of Art, Kate gained a MA in Creative Writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
October 26, 2015
I wanted to enjoy this book, I truly did, but it has been quite a long time since I've had the misfortune of reading anything so vapid, so filled with common clichés and tropes, and so haphazardly thrown together.
Kate Lord Brown's The Beauty Chorus has all the pieces possible for a fantastic story - the world caught in the throes of WWII, beautiful women taking on roles previously done by men, Nazi sympathizers, and so much more. The problem is that our author could not write this story to save their life. Done by someone else, this novel could have been one of the greats among WWII fiction, but it unfortunately falls short of achieving this. Our three main characters - Evie, Stella, and Megan - are meant to be heroines, but come across void of personality and contradictory to themselves, each other, and those around them. They are meant to be viewed as headstrong, fearless, and independent, but instead come across as boy-crazy, flaky, and careless. There is not a single redeeming quality about any of them. In fact, given their jobs as ferry pilots, they're downright dangerous to themselves and others.
The male characters in the novel aren't any better off. The love interests of the three girls are as dreadfully boring as they are, and little more than vehicles for which the supposed heroines to have sex with, fall in love with, and to affirm the fact that "Well, yes. These girls are headstrong, fearless, and independent ... but all of that goes out the window when they meet a man." Personally, I even found it a little offensive. All of this time was spent telling us about these girls and how unlike other women they were, and then they became like all those other women that they are supposedly not. The only difference between Evie, Stella, Megan and "everyone else" is that we know their names.
There are villains in this story, of course. But their motives for being "evil" are so insignificant and inconsequential that it is painfully obvious that they are the villains "just because" there needed to be some degree of conflict, and Ms. Brown did not know how to create that without creating caricatures of bad people. Not for a moment could I actually believe what I was reading, and at points I was laughing out loud - and not when I was supposed to. All three meet their end (although not literally in some cases) with such haste that it is truly dreadful. Our hands are simply cleaned of them and that's it.
Brown pays very little attention to the time in which she has set her story. The world is at war, and she has the opportunity to write about the great things accomplished by women in the ATA, to give us a glimpse of life at this time, and what it must have been like for these girls and the people that they loved. The war is barely mentioned at all, and the only reminder that there is a war going on is the job that the ATA are doing, and some mentions of it by the characters. Ms. Brown has failed to paint an accurate picture of England during war time, and to be honest, it infuriates me to no end.
Lastly, there are so many loose ends left when the book is finished that I wonder how this got past an editor. There is very little closure upon reading the last sentence, and after having invested time into reading this I think it very irresponsible of the author to leave the reader wondering about so many things. You can't slap a "happily ever after" type of sentence at the end of your book and call it a day. There were so many things going on, and very few were addressed with a matter of finality. What happened with the land belonging to Megan's family? Was Lucky okay? What about Stella and Mike? Did Olivia see any form of consequence for her actions at all? I don't like to left assuming so many things, and I doubt there are many who do after reading 400+ pages of a book.
Personally, I felt a little insulted by this book. Brown thinks so little of her readers that she assumes we will overlook all of the inconsistencies, all of the laughable dialogue, all of the loose endings, and all of the WWII romance clichés. Sorry, Kate - but just as with everything else about this novel, you failed in that as well. Please stick to writing articles and blogging.
Kate Lord Brown's The Beauty Chorus has all the pieces possible for a fantastic story - the world caught in the throes of WWII, beautiful women taking on roles previously done by men, Nazi sympathizers, and so much more. The problem is that our author could not write this story to save their life. Done by someone else, this novel could have been one of the greats among WWII fiction, but it unfortunately falls short of achieving this. Our three main characters - Evie, Stella, and Megan - are meant to be heroines, but come across void of personality and contradictory to themselves, each other, and those around them. They are meant to be viewed as headstrong, fearless, and independent, but instead come across as boy-crazy, flaky, and careless. There is not a single redeeming quality about any of them. In fact, given their jobs as ferry pilots, they're downright dangerous to themselves and others.
The male characters in the novel aren't any better off. The love interests of the three girls are as dreadfully boring as they are, and little more than vehicles for which the supposed heroines to have sex with, fall in love with, and to affirm the fact that "Well, yes. These girls are headstrong, fearless, and independent ... but all of that goes out the window when they meet a man." Personally, I even found it a little offensive. All of this time was spent telling us about these girls and how unlike other women they were, and then they became like all those other women that they are supposedly not. The only difference between Evie, Stella, Megan and "everyone else" is that we know their names.
There are villains in this story, of course. But their motives for being "evil" are so insignificant and inconsequential that it is painfully obvious that they are the villains "just because" there needed to be some degree of conflict, and Ms. Brown did not know how to create that without creating caricatures of bad people. Not for a moment could I actually believe what I was reading, and at points I was laughing out loud - and not when I was supposed to. All three meet their end (although not literally in some cases) with such haste that it is truly dreadful. Our hands are simply cleaned of them and that's it.
Brown pays very little attention to the time in which she has set her story. The world is at war, and she has the opportunity to write about the great things accomplished by women in the ATA, to give us a glimpse of life at this time, and what it must have been like for these girls and the people that they loved. The war is barely mentioned at all, and the only reminder that there is a war going on is the job that the ATA are doing, and some mentions of it by the characters. Ms. Brown has failed to paint an accurate picture of England during war time, and to be honest, it infuriates me to no end.
Lastly, there are so many loose ends left when the book is finished that I wonder how this got past an editor. There is very little closure upon reading the last sentence, and after having invested time into reading this I think it very irresponsible of the author to leave the reader wondering about so many things. You can't slap a "happily ever after" type of sentence at the end of your book and call it a day. There were so many things going on, and very few were addressed with a matter of finality. What happened with the land belonging to Megan's family? Was Lucky okay? What about Stella and Mike? Did Olivia see any form of consequence for her actions at all? I don't like to left assuming so many things, and I doubt there are many who do after reading 400+ pages of a book.
Personally, I felt a little insulted by this book. Brown thinks so little of her readers that she assumes we will overlook all of the inconsistencies, all of the laughable dialogue, all of the loose endings, and all of the WWII romance clichés. Sorry, Kate - but just as with everything else about this novel, you failed in that as well. Please stick to writing articles and blogging.
March 18, 2012
Anything to do with women being heroic in WWI or WWII is the book for me! I love reading about both men and women being challenged and high up on my list to read is Bletchley Park and the SOE. This book crossed my path recently and as I was between bookclub books I grabbed it. I'm not sorry I did.
Although I found the end a little implausible I commend the writer on her research into the ATA (the men and women that ferried war planes from factories to airbases and back). In particular the flying sequences which read very well. It was obvious she had done her homework and historical accuracy is something that is very important to me as both a reader and a writer.
I loved the depiction of the day to day activities, the way Brown conveyed the simple cottage they lived in, reminiscent of the cottage that features in the movie Enigma and the sort of lifestyle (country living in small self sufficient villages) that I think has probably nearly died out in the UK and elsewhere since (and possibly because of) WWII. Anyone interested in these wonderful women should read this book. For more details on the ATA have a look at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Tran...
Although I found the end a little implausible I commend the writer on her research into the ATA (the men and women that ferried war planes from factories to airbases and back). In particular the flying sequences which read very well. It was obvious she had done her homework and historical accuracy is something that is very important to me as both a reader and a writer.
I loved the depiction of the day to day activities, the way Brown conveyed the simple cottage they lived in, reminiscent of the cottage that features in the movie Enigma and the sort of lifestyle (country living in small self sufficient villages) that I think has probably nearly died out in the UK and elsewhere since (and possibly because of) WWII. Anyone interested in these wonderful women should read this book. For more details on the ATA have a look at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Tran...
May 25, 2011
I saw this on Netgalley and of course, it being about women in aviation, I had to read it. Though I received the egalley from Netgalley, I am thrilled to be participating in the blog tour.
The Americans had the WASP and England had the ATA, Air Transport Auxiliary. This novel follows three different women, all ATA pilots during WWII for reasons of their own.
Evie is a rich, spoiled girl who is somewhat bored and wishes to get away from her stepmother's evil clutches. Evie is the star. She takes her flight test wearing a mink coat and drives an Aston... for full review, please click the link below:
http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2011/...
The Americans had the WASP and England had the ATA, Air Transport Auxiliary. This novel follows three different women, all ATA pilots during WWII for reasons of their own.
Evie is a rich, spoiled girl who is somewhat bored and wishes to get away from her stepmother's evil clutches. Evie is the star. She takes her flight test wearing a mink coat and drives an Aston... for full review, please click the link below:
http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2011/...
June 3, 2011
I first heard about this book via an interview with the author Kate Lord Brown over at Caroline Smailes blog. I was immediately intrigued with the story surrounding the female civilian pilots who flew planes during WW2. Kate explains that the original idea came from seeing an obituary for one of the original female pilots in one of her husband's flying magazines. She was wowed that women flew spitfires and she started on a path of in depth research to find out more. Interviewing the real 'spitfire girls' and immersing herself in archives.
I think this research was what made the novel such a success for me. It would be easy to think the story was quite fanciful, romantic and even a little far fetched at times. However, knowing that these events and activities did actually take place takes it to a whole different level. It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up at times reading about the bravery of these girls.
I really fell in love with the three main characters. Evie Chase is a young rich socialite and signs up to the ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary), initially to escape life under the regime of her step mother. She forgoes her luxury lifestyle and bunks in with her fellow trainees. Evie is typical of the ATA pilots, in that she is a young and glamorous, gaining the ATA their nickname of The Beauty Chorus.
Stella Grainger has joined up to escape the sadness of leaving her baby behind in Ireland with her in-laws, struggling with being a single parent.
Megan Jones is a young girl with a passion for flying. Losing her brother has made her want to do her duty for the war effort.
All three girls are thrown together in their preparations to start flying the fighter aircraft. They experience a fair deal of prejudice and malice at the hands of bitter injured male members of the ATA. The descriptions of the girls being airborne is magnificent and they are all longing to be given the go ahead to fly the majestic spitfires. There is a lot of fun and laughter along the way, but the inevitable sadness of them losing friends, family & colleagues is heartbreaking (I cried).
As I suspected when I wrote about starting this book, I was sad when I got to the end of it. However, to feed any hunger for further snippets about Evie et al, there is a blog Ask Evie, which has lots more information about the exploits of The Spitfire girls.
Full review including link to BBC report on the Spitfire girls here: http://www.frecklesfamily.com/2011/06...
I think this research was what made the novel such a success for me. It would be easy to think the story was quite fanciful, romantic and even a little far fetched at times. However, knowing that these events and activities did actually take place takes it to a whole different level. It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up at times reading about the bravery of these girls.
I really fell in love with the three main characters. Evie Chase is a young rich socialite and signs up to the ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary), initially to escape life under the regime of her step mother. She forgoes her luxury lifestyle and bunks in with her fellow trainees. Evie is typical of the ATA pilots, in that she is a young and glamorous, gaining the ATA their nickname of The Beauty Chorus.
Stella Grainger has joined up to escape the sadness of leaving her baby behind in Ireland with her in-laws, struggling with being a single parent.
Megan Jones is a young girl with a passion for flying. Losing her brother has made her want to do her duty for the war effort.
All three girls are thrown together in their preparations to start flying the fighter aircraft. They experience a fair deal of prejudice and malice at the hands of bitter injured male members of the ATA. The descriptions of the girls being airborne is magnificent and they are all longing to be given the go ahead to fly the majestic spitfires. There is a lot of fun and laughter along the way, but the inevitable sadness of them losing friends, family & colleagues is heartbreaking (I cried).
As I suspected when I wrote about starting this book, I was sad when I got to the end of it. However, to feed any hunger for further snippets about Evie et al, there is a blog Ask Evie, which has lots more information about the exploits of The Spitfire girls.
Full review including link to BBC report on the Spitfire girls here: http://www.frecklesfamily.com/2011/06...
August 25, 2011
The Beauty Chorus is the fictional story of three very different women in the Air Transport Auxiliary who ferry aircraft to British bases during the Second World War. The novel follows them through training and the early years of the war. Their family difficulties, their work challenges and their loves keep the story flowing swiftly.
This novel is an engrossing story that is well told. From the moment I began reading it, I slipped into Evie, Stella and Megan’s world and I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened next.
Adding to the strength of the plot, there is an interesting twist in the background of the main character, Evie’s love interest, Beau. This twist heightens the tension and keeps you guessing what will happen next. He’s a British hero but not a stereotypical one and the reader can’t be sure he really is trustworthy until the climax of the novel. The story is a combination of an historical fiction and a spy thriller.
This is an excellent story and my only criticism is the author’s use of imaginary monologues by an historic figure, Amy Johnson. These monologues purport to tell the story of her last hours of life before her aircraft went missing. The fictional Amy poses questions, which she never answers, about what she might have done during those hours and what might have finally happened to her. I think these scenes detract from the main story and the book would be better without them. But they are only a small part of the whole novel and can easily be skipped.
I found The Beauty Chorus a wonderful story that introduced me to a segment of war history that is often overlooked. It highlights the achievements of the women who served in the ATA in an entertaining manner and, even if it weren’t based on fact, it would still be a good read.
This novel is an engrossing story that is well told. From the moment I began reading it, I slipped into Evie, Stella and Megan’s world and I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened next.
Adding to the strength of the plot, there is an interesting twist in the background of the main character, Evie’s love interest, Beau. This twist heightens the tension and keeps you guessing what will happen next. He’s a British hero but not a stereotypical one and the reader can’t be sure he really is trustworthy until the climax of the novel. The story is a combination of an historical fiction and a spy thriller.
This is an excellent story and my only criticism is the author’s use of imaginary monologues by an historic figure, Amy Johnson. These monologues purport to tell the story of her last hours of life before her aircraft went missing. The fictional Amy poses questions, which she never answers, about what she might have done during those hours and what might have finally happened to her. I think these scenes detract from the main story and the book would be better without them. But they are only a small part of the whole novel and can easily be skipped.
I found The Beauty Chorus a wonderful story that introduced me to a segment of war history that is often overlooked. It highlights the achievements of the women who served in the ATA in an entertaining manner and, even if it weren’t based on fact, it would still be a good read.
June 20, 2013
I really enjoyed this book and also learnt a lot about the role of ATA unit in the Second World war. I love fiction set during this period and this was a real treat, well written and with interesting and clearly defined characters (though admittedly with a few stereotypes). The book is very well researched and inspired me to look a bit further into some areas discussed.
My only complaint is that towards the end of the book things descended somewhat into action drama, quite different in tone from the rest of the story. I actually found myself laughing at one far fetched scene. Overall the book was great and not your typical war time romance - the ending just let it down a little bit.
I've posted here a link to Kate Lord Brown's blog, focussing particularly on the ATA - you might find it interesting before or after you read the book!
http://katelordbrown.blogspot.co.uk/s...
My only complaint is that towards the end of the book things descended somewhat into action drama, quite different in tone from the rest of the story. I actually found myself laughing at one far fetched scene. Overall the book was great and not your typical war time romance - the ending just let it down a little bit.
I've posted here a link to Kate Lord Brown's blog, focussing particularly on the ATA - you might find it interesting before or after you read the book!
http://katelordbrown.blogspot.co.uk/s...
June 8, 2011
Kate Lord Brown's stunning debut novel begins in Britain, 1941, when World War II is at its height. Three young women sign up to deliver much-needed planes to airfields across Europe. They are glamorous, adventurous, and ready to risk their lives in the sky. To the fighter pilots, they are 'The Beauty Chorus'.
"Filled with grit, determination, bravery, espionage and the infamous British 'stiff upper lip', this book gives you an insight into what life was like during WWII.' -- The Army Rumour Service (full review)
"Kate Lord Brown has taken a little-known part of the war effort and brought it to life. The research has obviously been meticulous" -- The Bookbag (full review)
"Filled with grit, determination, bravery, espionage and the infamous British 'stiff upper lip', this book gives you an insight into what life was like during WWII.' -- The Army Rumour Service (full review)
"Kate Lord Brown has taken a little-known part of the war effort and brought it to life. The research has obviously been meticulous" -- The Bookbag (full review)
October 15, 2012
I’d put off reading this book for ages, I’d heard it was a beautiful and emotional read and I needed to be in the right frame of mind (and have a good supply of tissues) and it never felt like the right time. I’m really glad I waited, a book like this deserves some proper indulgent reading time. It’s a truly wonderful read, I’m not sure I have the superlatives for it. Steeped in history, filled with the wonderful women of the ATA this book has it all – hard work, friendship, laughter, tears and love. An absolute must read.
July 22, 2011
This novel tells the story of three young women who fly planes for the airforce during the Second World War. It's based on fact; women really did fly planes during the Second World War, risking their lives to help the war effort. This is a great book, with vivid characters and a storyline filled with drama, romance, and intrigue.
May 21, 2011
Very much enjoyed this one - set in the Second World War , about female pilots. Lots of action and a few tears too.
June 17, 2011
great read
July 16, 2011
Really liked this book. I come from an aviation family so loved the female pilot angle. The only thing I didn't like was how abruptly it ended.
May 23, 2019
Read this some time ago. A good enjoyable book, but wouldn’t read. Again,
November 4, 2012
I really liked this book until the last 50 pages. I mean it is really really good and that is the only reason the book received 3 stars until 2, as the ending killed most of my enjoyment of the book.
The Author does an excellent job of bringing the 3 main characters to life and showing us how hard it was for women who were doing an important job during World War 2. I can't express how much I enjoyed the first 380 pages of this book, and at the rate the author was going I thought we were headed to this being a series. Sadly that is not the case.
Spoilers ahead!!!
The main character, Evie, is wealthy, independent and quite competent. She is an excellent flyer who is determined to do her part for the war effort, which for her means she will join the female pilots who fly planes to different parts of England to be used in the War by the male pilots or fly politicans where they need to go. This is all great, the other 2 characters are written the same way and I reallly enjoyed them. Til we get to the end of the book where Evie tells her romantic rival that their shared boyfriend (not really but it is a long story) is off to Germany. Well, the romantic rival, a German sympathizer, promptly runs off to tell her German friends that he is coming to ensure he gets shot down because if she can't have him NO ONE CAN!!
At this point Evie, instead of going to the Commander on the base so they can radio her boyfriend and warn him, decides she will jump in the WEAPONLESS plane she has and chase afer him. Convinced she can get to him and have him turn around. I mean, this, well written character goes from someone I think is smart and wonderful to TSTL in about 5 pages. I almost threw the book at the wall.
It goes about as well as one thinks it will, they end up in occupied France but manage to escape, however, not in the realistic way the rest of the book has been protrayed in but in an insane far fetched clearly the author had no idea how to end this book way.
I received this book from my mom, who recommended it. When I asked her about the ending, her response was that Ms. Lord Brown was just clumsy with the ending. I would agree but I would also add that she clearly ran out of steam and just needed to tie the book up. This book (until the last 50 pages) screams for a sequel, there is even a set up for it involvin Evie becoming a spy for the English. I mean it is all there!!! Instead we get this crazy, lazy ending which runs what is a REALLY REALLY good book otherwise.
Based on the 75% of the book I enjoyed I gave the book 3 stars instead of 5, Ms. Lord Brown is clearly a skilled writer and I look forward to her next effort. However, she better not destroy such a good character in her next book or I really won't be able to give her anymore chances.
The Author does an excellent job of bringing the 3 main characters to life and showing us how hard it was for women who were doing an important job during World War 2. I can't express how much I enjoyed the first 380 pages of this book, and at the rate the author was going I thought we were headed to this being a series. Sadly that is not the case.
Spoilers ahead!!!
The main character, Evie, is wealthy, independent and quite competent. She is an excellent flyer who is determined to do her part for the war effort, which for her means she will join the female pilots who fly planes to different parts of England to be used in the War by the male pilots or fly politicans where they need to go. This is all great, the other 2 characters are written the same way and I reallly enjoyed them. Til we get to the end of the book where Evie tells her romantic rival that their shared boyfriend (not really but it is a long story) is off to Germany. Well, the romantic rival, a German sympathizer, promptly runs off to tell her German friends that he is coming to ensure he gets shot down because if she can't have him NO ONE CAN!!
At this point Evie, instead of going to the Commander on the base so they can radio her boyfriend and warn him, decides she will jump in the WEAPONLESS plane she has and chase afer him. Convinced she can get to him and have him turn around. I mean, this, well written character goes from someone I think is smart and wonderful to TSTL in about 5 pages. I almost threw the book at the wall.
It goes about as well as one thinks it will, they end up in occupied France but manage to escape, however, not in the realistic way the rest of the book has been protrayed in but in an insane far fetched clearly the author had no idea how to end this book way.
I received this book from my mom, who recommended it. When I asked her about the ending, her response was that Ms. Lord Brown was just clumsy with the ending. I would agree but I would also add that she clearly ran out of steam and just needed to tie the book up. This book (until the last 50 pages) screams for a sequel, there is even a set up for it involvin Evie becoming a spy for the English. I mean it is all there!!! Instead we get this crazy, lazy ending which runs what is a REALLY REALLY good book otherwise.
Based on the 75% of the book I enjoyed I gave the book 3 stars instead of 5, Ms. Lord Brown is clearly a skilled writer and I look forward to her next effort. However, she better not destroy such a good character in her next book or I really won't be able to give her anymore chances.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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September 6, 2011'You'd think they would train these SOE girls better, it's just sloppy.' Hans sipped his cognac. 'She looked the wrong way crossing the road, silly girl.'
AHAHAHAHAHA oh god. (nevermind. ignore me.)
This is my second in a list of recently read WWII novels. The first was Tuesday's War by David Fiddimore. I’ve noted, reading these in tandem, that there are definite Girl Books and definite Boy Books, and this one was a Girl Book.
And ya know… sadly, I didn’t get into this one, and I fear that’s because it was a Girl Book. It should have pushed ALL my buttons -- Air Transport Auxiliary with a dash of Special Operations Executive, AND it was set mostly at White Waltham which was our flying club for 5 years (and where we were such regulars that they built a changing table in the Ladies’ for us when our daughter was born)… But little of this book actually had anything to do with flying, and the existing flight sequences were peppered with small but jarring technical errors. (Small but jarring technical errors RUIN MY LIFE… I KNOW TOO MUCH. I can never just sit there and enjoy the ride/read. The misspelling of words like “Messerschmitt” and “Boche” as “Messerschmidt” and “Bosch” drives me nuts. I wish SO MUCH that I didn't notice, or didn't care.)
For my adventure-addicted brain there was far too much pubbing and clubbing in this book. I wouldn’t mind if it forwarded the plot, but I found the focus gravitating toward descriptions of gorgeous clothes and flashy autos. And the pervasive descriptions of gourmet food - what was that about? Besides belying the rationing situation, it was just weird to have the narrative punctuated by extensive descriptions of what everyone was having for supper.
Still, Brown’s research is impressive, and I am in fact quite envious of her exchanges with Betty Lussier, Richard Poad, and Carolyn Grace - me being such a plane-spotter that I have read all the same books as Brown and can put faces to the names of all the real ATA characters who turn up in the book. I know immediately who’s being referred to when so-and-so is introduced as a former ballet dancer or described as ditching in the Firth of Forth. But I wish there had been more evidence of the author’s contact with these people in the book itself, and that the actual plot had been less focused on romance and more focused on flying.
Still, it’s a matter of preference, I think… I suspect I am more a Boy Book reader than a Girl Book reader.
randomly, I really love the cover.
AHAHAHAHAHA oh god. (nevermind. ignore me.)
This is my second in a list of recently read WWII novels. The first was Tuesday's War by David Fiddimore. I’ve noted, reading these in tandem, that there are definite Girl Books and definite Boy Books, and this one was a Girl Book.
And ya know… sadly, I didn’t get into this one, and I fear that’s because it was a Girl Book. It should have pushed ALL my buttons -- Air Transport Auxiliary with a dash of Special Operations Executive, AND it was set mostly at White Waltham which was our flying club for 5 years (and where we were such regulars that they built a changing table in the Ladies’ for us when our daughter was born)… But little of this book actually had anything to do with flying, and the existing flight sequences were peppered with small but jarring technical errors. (Small but jarring technical errors RUIN MY LIFE… I KNOW TOO MUCH. I can never just sit there and enjoy the ride/read. The misspelling of words like “Messerschmitt” and “Boche” as “Messerschmidt” and “Bosch” drives me nuts. I wish SO MUCH that I didn't notice, or didn't care.)
For my adventure-addicted brain there was far too much pubbing and clubbing in this book. I wouldn’t mind if it forwarded the plot, but I found the focus gravitating toward descriptions of gorgeous clothes and flashy autos. And the pervasive descriptions of gourmet food - what was that about? Besides belying the rationing situation, it was just weird to have the narrative punctuated by extensive descriptions of what everyone was having for supper.
Still, Brown’s research is impressive, and I am in fact quite envious of her exchanges with Betty Lussier, Richard Poad, and Carolyn Grace - me being such a plane-spotter that I have read all the same books as Brown and can put faces to the names of all the real ATA characters who turn up in the book. I know immediately who’s being referred to when so-and-so is introduced as a former ballet dancer or described as ditching in the Firth of Forth. But I wish there had been more evidence of the author’s contact with these people in the book itself, and that the actual plot had been less focused on romance and more focused on flying.
Still, it’s a matter of preference, I think… I suspect I am more a Boy Book reader than a Girl Book reader.
randomly, I really love the cover.
January 6, 2013
When I saw the cover of this book, I just couldn’t resist. I love to read books about women in World War II and this book dealt with a topic I knew very little about – the Air Transport Auxiliary, who had women pilots to ferry aeroplanes around the English airbases. (The fact that I was at one of my favourite bookshops – Reader’s Feast in Melbourne, may also have helped to loosen my purse strings). It’s quite a thick book and started off rather slowly, but certainly finished with a bang!
There are three female characters, all pilots who share a house but come from very different backgrounds. Evie is rich but defiant – she increasingly takes a larger role as the book continues. Stella is a married woman with a secret as to why she’s in English and Megan is the young teenager. Megan takes more of a back seat to the other two, not too sure why as she’s just as likeable but much less detailed in her characterisation. Evie continually steals the spotlight as the most headstrong, outgoing and risky character but she’s very likeable under it all. Stella is a bit of a cold fish and I couldn’t really warm to her, as she seemed alternately icy and an emotional wreck. Megan is cute, but she’s a bit immature and fades into the background as the story continues.
The plot is the trials, tribulations, joy and sorrow that the girls share from their training to the height of the war. There are scary aeroplane problems, raucous times in nightclubs and the harsh realities of fuel and food rationing. One of the most of lovely things about this book is how it shows how women of all ages and classes joined together during hardship. It also covered a range of love affairs (from pedestrian to flaming hot) but that’s not the focus. It’s about what these women did to serve their country at any cost.
Although the action heats up considerably towards the end – the book almost changing genres – it’s at the cost of the other characters. It’s predominantly about Evie and another pilot. That’s not a bad thing (especially if you like Evie, as I did) but I was surprised that the action became so heated, given the gentler tone earlier on in the book.
This is definitely an original take on World War II’s women in action and Lord Brown should be commended for making learning history entertaining through the eyes of her characters. I’d definitely read her next book.
There are three female characters, all pilots who share a house but come from very different backgrounds. Evie is rich but defiant – she increasingly takes a larger role as the book continues. Stella is a married woman with a secret as to why she’s in English and Megan is the young teenager. Megan takes more of a back seat to the other two, not too sure why as she’s just as likeable but much less detailed in her characterisation. Evie continually steals the spotlight as the most headstrong, outgoing and risky character but she’s very likeable under it all. Stella is a bit of a cold fish and I couldn’t really warm to her, as she seemed alternately icy and an emotional wreck. Megan is cute, but she’s a bit immature and fades into the background as the story continues.
The plot is the trials, tribulations, joy and sorrow that the girls share from their training to the height of the war. There are scary aeroplane problems, raucous times in nightclubs and the harsh realities of fuel and food rationing. One of the most of lovely things about this book is how it shows how women of all ages and classes joined together during hardship. It also covered a range of love affairs (from pedestrian to flaming hot) but that’s not the focus. It’s about what these women did to serve their country at any cost.
Although the action heats up considerably towards the end – the book almost changing genres – it’s at the cost of the other characters. It’s predominantly about Evie and another pilot. That’s not a bad thing (especially if you like Evie, as I did) but I was surprised that the action became so heated, given the gentler tone earlier on in the book.
This is definitely an original take on World War II’s women in action and Lord Brown should be commended for making learning history entertaining through the eyes of her characters. I’d definitely read her next book.
January 10, 2012
I think first I should say I am a hard marker and I rarely give above three stars - so this is a very good book indeed. I can't give this book five stars as it wasn't perfect and there were bits I didn't really believe - whether I just didn't think it would happen, or I thought it wasn't in keeping with the characters I'm not sure - but I think building all the characters more deeply would have helped. But that's perhaps unfairly starting with the negatives - and there are far more positives to this book than negatives. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it. For me it is hard not to love a book which starts "I have four and a half hours to live. I am leaning against the wing of the yellow-bellied Airspeed Oxford smoking contentedly as the ground crew chaps run their final checks." The voice of the famous Amy Johnson who died on ATA service is blended beautifully with the story of the fictional ATA pilots of this book - adding atmosphere and authenticity to the story. It is also hard not to like a book set in ww2, where the one eyed ginger tabby is called Stalin - because he is a bit red and a bit of a dictator.
I won't go into detail about the story, as that has been done by other reviewers and is in the synopsis in the product page. Suffice it to say that the book follows the lives of three very different women who joined the Air Transport Auxiliary during ww2. These women not only had to put up with the criticism of being women in a mans job. They had to live day to day in a very dangerous situation - ferrying planes to different RAF bases, flying without instruments or guns. It goes without saying that every day they were highly vulnerable to attack from the Luftwaffe.
A thoroughly enjoyable read, in a fascinating time and setting. I did feel that there was a chapter missing at the end though, or are we to look forward to a sequel? Well done the author.
I won't go into detail about the story, as that has been done by other reviewers and is in the synopsis in the product page. Suffice it to say that the book follows the lives of three very different women who joined the Air Transport Auxiliary during ww2. These women not only had to put up with the criticism of being women in a mans job. They had to live day to day in a very dangerous situation - ferrying planes to different RAF bases, flying without instruments or guns. It goes without saying that every day they were highly vulnerable to attack from the Luftwaffe.
A thoroughly enjoyable read, in a fascinating time and setting. I did feel that there was a chapter missing at the end though, or are we to look forward to a sequel? Well done the author.
November 1, 2012
In 1940, with the war in Europe intensifying, British women were called upon to undertake tasks that had traditionally been carried out by men. Evie, the aristocratic daughter of an RAF commander; Stella, the war widow recently returned from Singapore; Megan, the girl from rural Wales who has never been away from home before. These are the three central characters who sign up with the ATA and ferry various military aircraft to bases all over the UK, and this book focuses on their lives, loves and wartime work.[return][return]In its defence, this book is well-written and I felt involved with the characters' lives. Kate Lord Brown has clearly tried to create a heart-wrenching, beautiful story about a generation whose youth was blighted by war. Sadly, this book falls far, far short of that. As you may have guessed from the previous paragraph, the characters were incredible - incredibly stereotyped, that is. The impossibly rich, impossibly beautiful girl, the mysterious girl who has returned from overseas, and the country yokel who may as well have turned up on a tractor. The male characters weren't much better - variously handsome, wealthy, aristocratic... and of course, the token American GI. [return][return]The storyline started out well, but quickly became tired and predictable. I made a game out of guessing what was going to happen next - I was mostly right. I was hoping that there would be a dramatic twist to redeem the book towards the end, but sadly not. The characters seemed to have remarkably short memories, and generally operated under the delusion that any problem, be it a marital crisis or the death of a loved one, can be fixed with a nice glass of champagne and the attentions of a beautiful and/or wealthy member of the opposite sex. And they all lived happily ever after...
June 7, 2012
The novel is really interesting; it records the past and shows me things about these years that I did not live in. I like the way Kate uses to describe the scenes, it makes me feel like I am taking a place in the story and live in it. The unique thing about the novel that it talks about three powerful women’s, which is not a common thing about the novels that I had read before.
I really loved the main characters who are Evie chase a young lady from a wealthy family and she wants to leave her life that any girl dream of it because her stepmother which seems. Stella who wants to forget the past and the sad life that she lived in, by leaving her baby behind in Ireland. And Megan who loves flying, and because the loss of her brother, made her join to participate in the war.
I like how the Kate introduced these three girls from different background and how they met together to achieve one goal which is to help in the war. I like the strong side of the girl’s personalities and they did not go away from their home, and place themselves in dangerous situations of ferrying airplanes around the country. It was interesting and exciting to know each one of them stories and secrets.
The novel helped me to learn more about historical things that is not related to my culture. That showed me the great role that these women played a long time ago while at the same time the women in the Middle East cannot or not allowed to do such a thing.
I learned more about the ATA pilot, which I did not know much about them before.
I think if this book if turns to a movie would be more powerful. It will be good to see the whole story with sounds and setting. That will make the novel known by many people and it would not be forgotten.
I really loved the main characters who are Evie chase a young lady from a wealthy family and she wants to leave her life that any girl dream of it because her stepmother which seems. Stella who wants to forget the past and the sad life that she lived in, by leaving her baby behind in Ireland. And Megan who loves flying, and because the loss of her brother, made her join to participate in the war.
I like how the Kate introduced these three girls from different background and how they met together to achieve one goal which is to help in the war. I like the strong side of the girl’s personalities and they did not go away from their home, and place themselves in dangerous situations of ferrying airplanes around the country. It was interesting and exciting to know each one of them stories and secrets.
The novel helped me to learn more about historical things that is not related to my culture. That showed me the great role that these women played a long time ago while at the same time the women in the Middle East cannot or not allowed to do such a thing.
I learned more about the ATA pilot, which I did not know much about them before.
I think if this book if turns to a movie would be more powerful. It will be good to see the whole story with sounds and setting. That will make the novel known by many people and it would not be forgotten.
June 7, 2012
Kate Lord Brown has chosen a subject that was believed by many to be exhausted. There are numbers of books that have been written on the subject of Second World War. Yet the author has been able to find a part of the war, of which very little is known, that has not been addressed by many. The author has not only been able to find an unearthed subject but has done exceedingly well to bring it to life.
Through the book the author has tried to throw light on the little known part of the war – Air Transport Auxiliary Unit (ATA) and the life of women in these units. The story revolves around three women and their experiences together in ATA. The war is seen through the eyes of these three women. It is clear from the reading that a lot of research has gone into the book and the author has paid attention details.
The book is a fiction and can be categorized into numerous genres such as romance, history, adventure, World War II, etc. But it is to be noted that romance comes before adventure. Even the story is set in the backdrop of the war and ATA, the story focuses more on the life of women’s personal lives. The book showcases the romances, joys, heartbreaks, and adventures of the women.
The cover of the book, to some extent, can attract women as its primary audience but the boom can be enjoyed by both men and women, and especially those fascinated by World War II. It shows how important a role woman played in the war even though it has not been acknowledged. It sheds new light on the role of women that I had not imagined earlier. It changed my perspective on women during World War II. I will definitely recommend this book to others, as it is not informative but also fun to read.
Through the book the author has tried to throw light on the little known part of the war – Air Transport Auxiliary Unit (ATA) and the life of women in these units. The story revolves around three women and their experiences together in ATA. The war is seen through the eyes of these three women. It is clear from the reading that a lot of research has gone into the book and the author has paid attention details.
The book is a fiction and can be categorized into numerous genres such as romance, history, adventure, World War II, etc. But it is to be noted that romance comes before adventure. Even the story is set in the backdrop of the war and ATA, the story focuses more on the life of women’s personal lives. The book showcases the romances, joys, heartbreaks, and adventures of the women.
The cover of the book, to some extent, can attract women as its primary audience but the boom can be enjoyed by both men and women, and especially those fascinated by World War II. It shows how important a role woman played in the war even though it has not been acknowledged. It sheds new light on the role of women that I had not imagined earlier. It changed my perspective on women during World War II. I will definitely recommend this book to others, as it is not informative but also fun to read.
May 11, 2012
I was really looking forward to reading this novel as it is an era I do enjoy and I had discovered the ATA girls in another historical romance and wanted to read more.
Kate Lord Brown has written an absorbing story of 3 girls, from different backgrounds, brought together through their desire to help the war effort flying aeroplanes.
Evie has led a charmed life supported by Daddy and her step-mother. Life in the ATA and sharing a cottage with 2 other girls, should be a shock to her, but she takes it all in her stride as the confident member of the group.
Stella, quieter and with a past that is not clear to begin with, has left her young son in the care of her in-laws to join up. She is not forward in letting others know about how she came to be a single mother.
Megan Jones has only ever known the family farm in Wales until now.
The story line is very engaging, the characters are larger than life and very easy to get on with. There are some cameo roles from famous figures of that time.
I enjoyed the balance of not only the social and romance side of life for the girls but also the actual flying. It was very interesting to read about the less glamorous side of being in the ATA, the often very dangerous flying missions. These girls, some very young and never away from home before, were risking their lives ferrying aeroplanes around the country.
Fascinting insight into the ATA, a great read, and I am looking forward to reading The Perfume Garden next.
4.5 out of 5 for me!
review copy
Kate Lord Brown has written an absorbing story of 3 girls, from different backgrounds, brought together through their desire to help the war effort flying aeroplanes.
Evie has led a charmed life supported by Daddy and her step-mother. Life in the ATA and sharing a cottage with 2 other girls, should be a shock to her, but she takes it all in her stride as the confident member of the group.
Stella, quieter and with a past that is not clear to begin with, has left her young son in the care of her in-laws to join up. She is not forward in letting others know about how she came to be a single mother.
Megan Jones has only ever known the family farm in Wales until now.
The story line is very engaging, the characters are larger than life and very easy to get on with. There are some cameo roles from famous figures of that time.
I enjoyed the balance of not only the social and romance side of life for the girls but also the actual flying. It was very interesting to read about the less glamorous side of being in the ATA, the often very dangerous flying missions. These girls, some very young and never away from home before, were risking their lives ferrying aeroplanes around the country.
Fascinting insight into the ATA, a great read, and I am looking forward to reading The Perfume Garden next.
4.5 out of 5 for me!
review copy
June 5, 2012
Captivating story on the lives of young female pilots ferrying aircrafts for the ATA during World War two. The story focuses on three brave ladies in a male dominated place and time in the world. Kate Lord Brown writes about the struggles women have in their roles in the war. It was hard to believe that the men they worked with would sabotage their planes and therefore cause death to some of the female pilots. It was very interesting to know that they had that much involvement in the war. The romance and relationships these characters have with each other was a good balance with the war and the constant fear that was off the ground. The story has a very realistic and thrilling plot around these interesting characters. The backgrounds of the three major characters was intriguing to learn about as they are quite diverse but they managed to grow closer together when they were billeted in a cottage. I enjoyed reading that the girls would still be thrilled and excited when they flew these planes. There was a constant danger in the sky but they still took their chances even when they were flying completely of the radar. Truly a difficult job flying these planes solo across Britain. I hoped for the story to carry on as I was caught up with Evies strong and adventurous persona. The story would make for a great movie because it has so much in it from loss and romance to adventure.
June 7, 2012
The story speaks of three female pilots in World War II .A part of World War II that not much was known or spoken of, which I believe every woman would hold pride on these fighting woman as they read the story. A fascinating fictional story tells us the their story through the eyes of the three female pilots as the fight through their journey as female pilots. Fighting in the war and thinking of their family and loved ones; how the people they love feel and say about what their girls are going through. A romance set within a compelling of flyers. Being a female and working in the army is no walk in the park; I like how they stated that the other men from the army, even though they respect the fact that the female pilots are working hard and fighting for their country, they still feel a little unsettled about the thought of a woman doing a man’s job. The female pilots fight not only in war but they fight through the things they go through in life, and surviving everyday away from the ones they never thought they could bare a day without. One with her child left with her in-laws and another falling for a married man .All those conflicts gets into the readers heart and emotions as they got into mine.
September 30, 2015
It is 1941, The Battle of Britain is won but England is still facing a threat from Hitler and the Luftwaffe is terrorising the cities and towns. The Allies need to maintain their dominance in the air and they need planes in the right places at the right times. This is where the ATA or 'The Beauty Chorus' step into the picture, young women risking their lives to move planes around the country. Thrown together in a small cottage just outside of their air base, 3 young women from very different backgrounds are thrown together as new AT recruits. Evie is from a well to do family where money is no object, Megan is a naive farmer's daughter from Wales and Stella is a young woman recently returned from Singapore.
As these 3 women move beyond their very different backgrounds true friendship and solidarity grows as they face the traumas of war together and have their friendships tested to the limit.
A heart-warming novel about love, loss, friendship and adventure which were the staple die of the girls from 'the beauty chorus'. I loved this book and for me I finished it far too quickly. An excellent read!
As these 3 women move beyond their very different backgrounds true friendship and solidarity grows as they face the traumas of war together and have their friendships tested to the limit.
A heart-warming novel about love, loss, friendship and adventure which were the staple die of the girls from 'the beauty chorus'. I loved this book and for me I finished it far too quickly. An excellent read!
March 24, 2014
I'm enjoying this book. I didn't know that women were allowed to be pilots during WWII. It will be very interesting to find out what they did to help the war effort.
On Chapter 5 next.
March 24th completed this book.
A fabulous read! Loved this book! I learnt so much about these very courageous and brave women. Without them the fighter pilots would not have had the planes delivered on time to be able to fight the enemy!
I also loved the fictious story entwined within the facts about some of the girls lives during these very dangerous times.
A must-read to anyone who enjoys reading about this era.
I had never heard of this author before and have bought her next book ' A Perfumed Garden' on my Kindle today. As it was on offer for 99p. Have read the blurb and really fancy reading this one too. It's my favourite type of book where the story is inter-woven between the present and the past.
Keep up the good work Kate. I will definitely look for more books to devour from you.
Avid Reader
On Chapter 5 next.
March 24th completed this book.
A fabulous read! Loved this book! I learnt so much about these very courageous and brave women. Without them the fighter pilots would not have had the planes delivered on time to be able to fight the enemy!
I also loved the fictious story entwined within the facts about some of the girls lives during these very dangerous times.
A must-read to anyone who enjoys reading about this era.
I had never heard of this author before and have bought her next book ' A Perfumed Garden' on my Kindle today. As it was on offer for 99p. Have read the blurb and really fancy reading this one too. It's my favourite type of book where the story is inter-woven between the present and the past.
Keep up the good work Kate. I will definitely look for more books to devour from you.
Avid Reader
July 9, 2016
A fascinating story of an untold piece of war history with engaging characters and a gripping plotline. My only complaint is the writing style, which really doesn't do the story justice. Written in 99.9% dialogue, it reads almost like a screenplay or the sub-title text of a movie, often in non-sequiters of rapid fire tone changes, from joking to fear to anger to love to flirtation to hurt all within as many lines, and without any of the intervening narrative or description to link them altogether in some sort of sense. Without any narrative, you're left to imagine or make up for yourself any description between the lines to bring the narrative to life - resulting in a stilted, acerbic tone when the characters and storyline beg for passion.
I still really enjoyed the book for its important history, captivating characters and inventive storyline, but its a shame that for all its potential, it fails to really reach out and grab the reader with its words.
I still really enjoyed the book for its important history, captivating characters and inventive storyline, but its a shame that for all its potential, it fails to really reach out and grab the reader with its words.
September 12, 2017
Evie Chase is the daughter of a wealthy man in England set during WWII. She longs to join in the fight in some way. She was taking some flying lessons but had to stop when her allowance ran out. She meets an Pete, old friend at a dance and is introduced to a man who invites her to consider joining the ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary), female volunteers who moved aircraft around the country by the fastest method possible. She applies and is joined by two other women; Stella who is running away from a marriage and Megan, a young woman who has never been out of Wales. As the story unfolds we catch glimpses of the demanding work these women did, sometimes taking four or five flights a day and having to return by night train in the dark. The story revolves around the three women with Evie as the main character. I enjoyed the book and learned more about this valuable service the women and men did during the war.
August 8, 2016
As a male reader who reads all kinds of genres I thought it quite a good book, although intended primarily for the female market, I suspect. It was an easy read but that it not a criticism. It was entertaining and the four main characters in the book kept me engaged most of the time.
The Amy Johnson bit was interesting (I won't elaborate and post a spoiler) but I'm not sure if the 'strange' bit about of her was strictly necessary.
I give it four stars which I rate as good. It would have to be exceptional for me to give it five stars. It wasn't perfect, but as a leisurely read between the more serious books I also read, it was a welcome change. I particularly like the flying scenes, and the way the women pilots are depicted, reminding me of the important and dangerous work the ATA did in WWII.
The Amy Johnson bit was interesting (I won't elaborate and post a spoiler) but I'm not sure if the 'strange' bit about of her was strictly necessary.
I give it four stars which I rate as good. It would have to be exceptional for me to give it five stars. It wasn't perfect, but as a leisurely read between the more serious books I also read, it was a welcome change. I particularly like the flying scenes, and the way the women pilots are depicted, reminding me of the important and dangerous work the ATA did in WWII.
November 28, 2013
I was somewhat disappointed with this book after being intrigued by its description... probably the hammy audiobook narration didn't help - every male character sounded like a sleaze. It was fascinating hearing about this aspect of WWII, which I hadn't even aware if before - but I didn't find the characters and their personal stories terribly believable. In particular, the romantic plots were by turns predictable and startling to the point of being incomprehensible. *spoiler alert* I could tell the first time Beau & Evie met that they would end up together! The Amy Johnson stuff was a bit weird too. It was quite interesting but might have made more sense if that had carried on throughout the book, given that she was narrating from beyond the grave anyway!
June 10, 2012
A romance set within a compelling story of the flyers of the ATA in WW2 England. The ATA was tasked with flying unarmed planes from base to base depending upon where the airplanes were needed. The ATA was made up of civilian women and what was called "The Ancient and Tattered"; those men who were too old to be fighter pilots or those injured out. As you can tell, I found the history more interesting that the romance. The characters were a bit plastic, and the plot sometimes unbelievable. I especially found the end disappointing. A "bubblegum" book with an interesting setting.
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