Lillian's Story: One Womans Journey through the 20th Century

by Sally Patricia Gardner

Lillian's life spans the 20th century.Born in Suffolk in 1900, in service at the age of 12, her life is greatly changed by her experiences in two world wars. The Great Depression, the austerity years,President Kennedy's assassination, Neil Armstrong's moon walk and the death of Princess Diana are among the many events of this turbulent century that are told through their effect on her long life.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, 20th Century, Ebooks, Contemporary, Amazon

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Daria Loginova-edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

After I read last 2 paragraphs I said "oh my god..." And started crying!
I got this book only because it was free on my kindle. It was hard in the brining to get Ito it... But it is truly one amazing life and this journey throw 20th century form female perspective is rather refreshing. And very inspiring! This book also made me want to have been born in a big family with bunch if siblings... But then again I have a big family we just don't get along as well as Lillian's family...
This book is a real tearjerker I would highly recommend it to everyone!

[Michelle Litton Ogaidi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fun idea, but this book lacks any depth. Time passes and the narrator checks in and refers to huge events, but never explains what happened, ie deaths, births, etc. New characters are constantly being referenced with no introduction. It got very confusing and I never felt like my curiosity was satisfied.

[Susie Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lillian's story traces her journey through life from her birth at the dawn of the 20th century up to her death a hundred years later.

She narrates in a chatty and natural style how as a young girl she leaves home to go into service, leading the reader through two world wars, expressing her fears and joys and her loves and losses. Lillian is a strong, positive and open-minded woman, receptive to the huge changes taking place in her own world and the greater world beyond. She's interested in international events as much as in her family and friends, and we learn her attitude to the major happenings of the century - the atomic bomb, the Kennedy assassination, the Iraq war and the political scene in Great Britain. I loved it when Lillian wonders whether at the age of 92 she's too old to learn how to become a computer buff.

I found the character of Lillian totally convincing and likeable, and one reason I enjoyed this book is that she reminded me so much of my dear mother-in-law. Both fiercely loyal to family and friends, both born in the early part of the 20th century, and living through many changes and much heartache, they got on with their lives and dealt with their difficulties without complaint, making their way in the world through hard work.

As Lillian's family and those of her friends grew exponentially I found it difficult to keep track of all the characters, and although the author includes a dramatis personae at the end, I often struggled to remember who everybody was. Also I felt Lillian's second marriage, and a certain event that I won't mention because it would be a spoiler, were just a little contrived.

The ending was completely unexpected. Overall I found this to be a very satisfying read that I would recommend to anybody interested in social history.

[Tina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This would be good, as it gives a real flavour of Lillian's life and has some wonderful bits in it, except there are far too many characters in this. The author keeps introducing new ones but doesn't always tell you who they are.

For instance, I've just got to the a bit where her son William, whose pregnant wife Tilly was killed by a doodlebug, has visited Lillian on her birthday and given her a photo of little Rosalind.

Now we have no previous mention of Rosalind, so how the heck is the reader supposed to know who she is?

Then a couple of sentences later, we find out she's his child because he married Elsie. Shouldn't you introduce your characters first? Wouldn't it make more sense to say that William and Elsie got married and had a little girl who they named Rosalind, and on Lillian's birthday, William gave her a framed photo of the child.

This has happened throughout the whole book and is really frustrating because you have to keep going to the end of the book (it's at the end in the Kindle version, it may be at the beginning in the paperback) where there is a list of each character, to see who they are.

I'm going to try to persevere with it as I'd like to know what happens, but it's a really annoying aspect of the book and I can see many people getting so frustrated that they give up on it.

Also, from the book blurb, you are led to believe it's a true story, but it isn't, Lillian is a fictional character.

Okay finished it.

It's very sad in places, and if you didn't get so confused with all the different characters, it would be a great book.

[Paul Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lillian’s story is a book I would not normally have picked up to read. However, I enjoy reading historic accounts, particularly of the first and second world wars and somebody recommended Lillian’s story to me. It spans the life of Lillian, born at the turn of the century, January 1900. The Prologue has you from the start. “Was Lillian an extraordinary woman born in ordinary times, or an ordinary woman born in extraordinary times?” And so the story begins, with Lillian, twelve years of age. And from then on you become part of her captivating life, as it winds its way through the history of the last century. Encompassing both the first and second world wars, through recession, hard times, and joy. Through loss, triumph and love, this tale takes you on a journey familiar to us all, in a history we all have partly grown up in. I was completely taken with this incredibly engaging tale. Particularly her account of the Second World War and the incredible fortitude of the British people, through the hardship and suffering, and the laughter, as a nation pulls together. Beautifully told, Sally has cleverly written a historic account of the last century, but seen through the eyes of an ordinary person, a person who could be my grandmother, mother, or aunt, someone familiar to us all. And so you cannot help but become a part of Lillian’s life, and in so doing, her life becomes incredible. In my mind, Sally has written a masterpiece. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!. All I can say is don't judge a book by its cover or its title. When I saw the cover and the title and the cover I thought it would be a bit boring but how wrong I was.
It reminds me a lot of the Helen Forester series which I try to read quite frequently because I love them and I am going to try to the same with this one.
It follows the life of one woman born in 1900 right up until her death in the late 1990's. It details historical events through the eyes of one person. From the two world wars, the heat wave of 76 decimalisation Margaret Thatcher becoming prime minister to name a few. However the book is more like a journal and there can be year lapses but I think that is what makes this book special it's the story of a journey and the time's not specific people or day in her life it aims to show the circle of life.
I do agree with the previous reviews about the amount of characters and that it did become confusing in parts but at the moment I am researching my family tree and like Lillian's family it is very confusing particularly during the two war years when lots of people were killed then their spouses remarried and children were born often named after their siblings which has passed away so maybe this is intentional of the author to demonstrate the huge shift to the nuclear family which we have today.

[Carol Diffenderfer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a refreshing read! Those of us who remember most of the years chronicled will welcome the plain, wonderful prose of this book. No vulgarity, no cheap pandering scenes, just a grand, no-nonsense account of nearly a century of a woman's family, good and bad, told honestly and plainly.

I got hungry, I read on; I got sleepy, I read on; the telephone ran and went unanswered, I read on. It was that soul-satisfying, I couldn't put it down. That being said, perhaps I should tell that I was born during the Great Depression in America, and this story is British. Never mind, I found myself with many of the same memories, recognizing the historical characters and incidents, feeling the woman's emotions, wishing for a friend like her.

Caveat: If you're a fan of sizzling romance, gritty crime, and enjoy lewd "literature," you'll hate this book.

[Annett Jummrich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay book. It's written in diary format, so as a reader the story does feel real, almost like Lilian really did exist and now I'm reading her diary. However, the book does lack depth. New characters are suddenly mentioned without explanation on who these people are and where they are coming from. The more advanced the story, the more confusing. At the end there are so many characters that it became confusing who these people are or how they are related.
Also, important life events, such as a death in the family, are only mentioned briefly, almost like a footnote or afterthought.
The book itself is a nice idea - it really is a journey through the 20th century -, however the execution lacks much to be desired. 2.5 stars.

[Deborah Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written story! History and realistic characters are blended into a satisfyingly long story with a conclusion, not ended in a few chapters and onto the next book. Mrs. Gardner has a way of weaving the many people in the lifetime of this woman into her journey to make them unforgettable and I love the way the character ages with the tale and I also enjoyed being submersed into the English lifestyle. It is helpful to set your E-reader to the UK dictionary so you can learn as you go. I now know what a "bloater paste" sandwich is!

[Laurel Kristick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Around the Year (ATY) Prompt 13. A prompt from a previous Around the Year in 52 Books challenge (2019 #34. A book with a person’s name in the title)

A fictitious diary of Lillian, a woman who lived from 1900-1999. Felt like I was reading the thoughts of a real person, as Lillian starts with being sent off to work as a maid at age 12, living through the First and Second World Wars, the space race, and Margaret Thatcher. Through those years, she raises two sons and experiences the love, lives and losses among her friends and family.

[Lorraine Danslow · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little history lesson

Really enjoyed this warm, funny and touching book. I've read it over a number of weeks and it was easy to pick up and put down although I did lose track of who some of characters were. Such a big family! I loved reading Lilian's personal responses to events in history. Has really left me reflecting on the experiences our ageing population have been through. Thank you Sally!

[Aileen (Ailz) Grist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, can't recommend highly enough

[shirley austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good story but as others have said, too many characters. Lost track of many which possibly made me unsympathetic to the rest as I didn't know who they were. However, I enjoyed the book overall.

[g evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely Story - worth a read

Just the sort of story I like. This author writes a good book Recommended reading. Will read more of this authors wirk

[Andi Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book but....

Do not read this book if you recently lost a pet. I had been 10 days Since id lost my Bo. I started reading when the list Goldie and almost died crying

[Mrs Jennifer Hines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story and easy to read. Didn't want it to end. I could relate to the many events, being of the older generation, but feel younger people would enjoy it too.

[Liz Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book well written, kept my interest. So many changes in this country over the last century.

[Diane Cressy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable read

I love Lillian! What a wonderful character and what a wonderful life! It was a delightful trip through the history of England in the 20th century.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first few pages were engaging, but I soon realized that the story was too shallow to hold my interest. Did not finish.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this fictional diary that takes us through the 1900s.
Lillian's family life takes us through 2 world wars, political upheaval and deprivation.
She is opinionated and doesn't suffer fools. She struggles with religious faith but prays desperately when those she loves needs it.
The strength of the book are the loving bonds made with family and friends.
I did get confused as her family grew, and as I read this on a kindle app it wasn't till I got to the end that I found the list of characters.
I was particularly pleased to read her reaction to Princess Diana's death as she is now so rarely mentioned in the media.
The end was shocking, and I'm worried for Pete's welfare!

[Samantha Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I loved this book. Looking back, I'm surprised I was kept engaged for so long - the wasn't any real action or adventure, I was hooked merely on the emotional connection with the characters. I'm sad to say, however, that I only emotionally connected with very few of the characters. So many were constantly being introduced and returned that I lost track of who was who. I could only really keep to grips with Lillian being the narrator, Thirza being her sister, Jimmy being her first husband, Freddy being her second, and Jack and William being her sons. It was hard to keep track of everyone, but nevertheless I got through it and loved every moment of it (regardless of it taking me over a month to get through - though that was due to other distractions!)

[Julie Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the diary format of this book so that it brought me straight into the thoughts and feelings of Lillian during her lifetime in Great Britain. This story spans nearly a hundred years, beginning with Lillian's life as she's about to embark into service in January 1912.

This book is a wonder of historical data from a personal point of view, which, to my mind, highlights how 'ordinary' people lived during that time. It's filled with every emotion as well as particularly interesting landmarks of British history.

Yes, I would recommend reading this insightful look into the forever changing times of Britain from 1912...

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful story. Written in diary style, but not everyday, just occasionally, twice a year mostly. The story of Lillian flowed beautifully and the time spent reading it flew by. I never wanted to put it down and I almost didn't want it to end, but, alas, it had to eventually because she couldn't live forever. The thing I found saddest was we knew what was going to happen to one member of her family after Lillian was gone and I wanted to scream at the character in question. I had to knock a star off for the end; I understood why it ended like it did, but I would've preferred a 'nicer' ending.

[Helena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started reading this under the impression that it was a memoir, and was disappointed to realize partway through that it is a work of fiction. It's okay, and I especially liked the section on WWII (I find the British Home Front fascinating, and read pretty much everything I can find on it, fiction or not), but a lot of the last half or so is kind of choppy, and toward the end there are so many grandkids and friends' grandkids floating around--most with only first names given--that it gets hard to keep track of everyone.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. All the little tidbits from over the period of Lillian's life. For example the war seen from her view. What she did and didn't know as a person that wasn't told anything like a million others. Just details she heard over the radio. There are a lot of interesting snippets that you wouldn't generally think of.
What I did find confusing was the amount of names of people. There were a lot of them to keep up with.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed some of the accounts in this book and found much of the stories of the war years fascinating. I would have liked there to be more detail about what it was like to be in service as l found what was there to be very interesting.
My only other criticism would be that there was such a huge range of characters that it was increasingly hard to keep track of them all as the book progressed and more and more relations were born.

[Doreen Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable book in diary format. As I was reading in short bursts due to personal commitments I sometimes found it difficult to remember the relationships between characters, particularly in the last quarter of the book. There were so many. In the Kindle version, which I was reading, the characters are listed at the end of the book. I was unaware it was there until I had finished the last diary entry.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real feel good story. I recognise strengths and traits in Lillian from my own gran. The author has collected Lillian's story's well and transcribed brilliantly. It tells a tale of old London, of communities that stood side by side in he face of loss and danger in ww2 . A close knit family that ages, grows, and loves one another. My childhood is full of similar characters that always had a tale to tell. Life is not like that now which makes the story even more poignant. Lovely book

[Clarina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really fab book which takes you on a journey through the last century by telling it through the eyes of Lillian, a fictional character who was born in 1900 and died in 2000. Got into the story very quickly and fascinating to see these major historical events through the eyes of someone who was in it. Felt the author got a bit stuck in the war years but picked up the pace again afterwards.

Good book if you want an overview of life for the people in the 20th century. Very enjoyable read.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book! It's a great concept! The life of one woman becomes an exploration of the big events in Europe over the twentieth century. The only things I didn't like was that a number of the entries were really brief and under-developed and the fact that it was really difficult to keep up with who all of the characters were once we got to grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Apart from that it's a sweet little novel.