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Bird's Eye View
Rose Jolliffe is an idealistic young woman living on a farm with her family in Saskatchewan. After Canada declares war against Germany in World War II, she joins the British Women's Auxiliary Air Force as an aerial photographic interpreter. Working with intelligence officers at RAF Medmenham in England, Rose spies on the enemy from the sky, watching the war unfold through her magnifying glass.
When her commanding officer, Gideon Fowler, sets his sights on Rose, both professionally and personally, her prospects look bright. But can he be trusted? As she becomes increasingly disillusioned by the destruction of war and Gideon's affections, tragedy strikes, and Rose's world falls apart.
Rose struggles to rebuild her shattered life, and finds that victory ultimately lies within herself. Her path to maturity is a painful one, paralleled by the slow, agonizing progress of the war and Canada's emergence from Britain's shadow.
When her commanding officer, Gideon Fowler, sets his sights on Rose, both professionally and personally, her prospects look bright. But can he be trusted? As she becomes increasingly disillusioned by the destruction of war and Gideon's affections, tragedy strikes, and Rose's world falls apart.
Rose struggles to rebuild her shattered life, and finds that victory ultimately lies within herself. Her path to maturity is a painful one, paralleled by the slow, agonizing progress of the war and Canada's emergence from Britain's shadow.
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
20 people are currently reading
1145 people want to read
About the author
Elinor Florence
4 books277 followersMy new historical novel Finding Flora, about women homesteaders on the prairies, was published by Simon & Schuster in April 2025 and became an immediate national bestseller.
My debut novel Bird's Eye View tells the story of a young Canadian woman who joins the air force in World War Two and becomes an aerial photographic interpreter.
My second novel Wildwood is about a single mother from the big city who must fulfill the conditions of her inheritance by living for one year in an abandoned farmhouse in northern Canada.
I grew up on a prairie farm and had a long career in journalism, writing for newspapers and magazines including Reader’s Digest. I even published my own newspaper before turning to fiction.
I have Indigenous heritage, thanks to my Cree ancestors, and I am a card-carrying member of the Métis Nation of B.C.
For the past twelve years I have written a monthly blog titled Letters From Windermere, in which I write about my love of history, and recommend one good book every month. Everyone is welcome to join, and I welcome new followers.
Married with three grown daughters, I now live in the mountain resort town of Invermere, British Columbia. My passions are village life, old houses, and flea markets.
More than you ever wanted to know about me can be found on my website: www.elinorflorence.com. I answer every message!
My debut novel Bird's Eye View tells the story of a young Canadian woman who joins the air force in World War Two and becomes an aerial photographic interpreter.
My second novel Wildwood is about a single mother from the big city who must fulfill the conditions of her inheritance by living for one year in an abandoned farmhouse in northern Canada.
I grew up on a prairie farm and had a long career in journalism, writing for newspapers and magazines including Reader’s Digest. I even published my own newspaper before turning to fiction.
I have Indigenous heritage, thanks to my Cree ancestors, and I am a card-carrying member of the Métis Nation of B.C.
For the past twelve years I have written a monthly blog titled Letters From Windermere, in which I write about my love of history, and recommend one good book every month. Everyone is welcome to join, and I welcome new followers.
Married with three grown daughters, I now live in the mountain resort town of Invermere, British Columbia. My passions are village life, old houses, and flea markets.
More than you ever wanted to know about me can be found on my website: www.elinorflorence.com. I answer every message!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
December 25, 2014
Since I am the author, obviously I am going to enjoy my own book. But as an objective reader of historical fiction, I can say that this is the only novel ever written, to my knowledge, that has a Canadian woman in the Air Force as the protaganist. If someone else knows about one, I will stand corrected. I interviewed women vets and did an enormous amount of research to make the book historically accurate. And I find the subject of aerial photo interpretation fascinating. I hope other readers will agree.
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May 9, 2017I know that predictions can be hit or miss—they certainly are with me—but sometimes you’ve got to throw one out there, because you feel so passionately that a book deserves wider attention than it’s getting.
I feel that way about Birds Eye View, by Elinor Florence. What it has in common with Code Name Verity and the BBC serial The Bletchley Circle is a story featuring the sort of smart women who really did contribute to winning WW II, but whose work largely went unsung partly for social reasons and partly because their work was heavily classified for the next half-century.
Of course there’s going to be a certain element of modern outlook mixed with that of women born right around the time WW I ended. Code Name Verity is probably the most contemporary of them, with its cynicism and its implied approval setting up its shocker. The TV serial I think got closer to depicting women of the time, but I believe that Florence comes closest to the voices of the women whose memoirs and collected letters I’ve read from that time. But it’s not just the period sensibility that made this a standout, it’s that rare quality of grace in dealing with that most horrible of human endeavors: mass warfare.
The novel begins with an extremely tense moment as female air wardens wait at an isolated air field for reconnaissance fliers to return. The weather over England has just taken an abrupt turn toward ice storm, which is bad news for airplanes . . .
And then our first-person narrator, Rose Jolliffe, is a young Canadian woman living in a tiny prairie town called Touchwood. It’s 1939, and she works assisting a foul-mouthed, snuff-taking veteran named MacTavish, who loathes the British officer corps and thinks Canada is well out of any more wars.
But Rose, as well as most of the other young people in her town, yearn to do their bit. Rose is mostly motivated by a strong wish to get out of tiny, boring Touchwood, away from farming. The first sign she gets that war is not glamorous is watching the faces of the young men going away to be trained—and their anxious parents, who all recollect WW I. The second sign happens comes when the local area is used for pilot training, but she is determined. She signs up for the women’s auxiliary service, knowing that the most they will be doing is scrubbing, laundry, and tea service—however her training with MacTavish’s printing press lifts her out of the regular run.
Before long she finds herself in England, at a newish estate at Medmenham (which amused me, as it was the site of Sir Francis Dashwood’s wannabe devil worshippers two hundred years before almost to the year, that that is not acknowledged in the book), scrutinizing photographs taken by reconnaissance planes for camouflaged artillery emplacements and munitions factories.
She also sees the results of bombings, which includes the collateral damage: cows and pigs, horses and dogs, and the broken bits of civilians. Florence depicts so vividly the toll Rose and her colleagues their work extracts from them, all in various ways. The characters are varied, the female friendships strong. Rose tumbles into love, or what she thinks is love, as she keeps working around the clock to impress her handsome boss.
The grimness of the war is punctuated by letters going back and forth from home: her parents, her best friend, and her neighbor Charlie Stewart all write, each with distinct voices.
The anxiety as younger brothers volunteer jacks up the tension, especially when the inside details of missions are revealed to the photographers. The suave words of newspapers can’t hide what the remorseless camera eye reveals.
The climactic sequence is a real emotional roller coaster, but Florence writes with grace as well as compassion, and here and there, when needed, just enough of a touch of humor. It’s this insight and grace that made the story so memorable for me—that, and her unerring ear for the idiom of the time, not only Canadian but British from various levels of society.
To wind up, this is one of the best books I’ve read this year, and I hope it finds the audience it deserves.
Copy provided by NetGalley; I'm going to buy a print copy for my shelves.
I feel that way about Birds Eye View, by Elinor Florence. What it has in common with Code Name Verity and the BBC serial The Bletchley Circle is a story featuring the sort of smart women who really did contribute to winning WW II, but whose work largely went unsung partly for social reasons and partly because their work was heavily classified for the next half-century.
Of course there’s going to be a certain element of modern outlook mixed with that of women born right around the time WW I ended. Code Name Verity is probably the most contemporary of them, with its cynicism and its implied approval setting up its shocker. The TV serial I think got closer to depicting women of the time, but I believe that Florence comes closest to the voices of the women whose memoirs and collected letters I’ve read from that time. But it’s not just the period sensibility that made this a standout, it’s that rare quality of grace in dealing with that most horrible of human endeavors: mass warfare.
The novel begins with an extremely tense moment as female air wardens wait at an isolated air field for reconnaissance fliers to return. The weather over England has just taken an abrupt turn toward ice storm, which is bad news for airplanes . . .
And then our first-person narrator, Rose Jolliffe, is a young Canadian woman living in a tiny prairie town called Touchwood. It’s 1939, and she works assisting a foul-mouthed, snuff-taking veteran named MacTavish, who loathes the British officer corps and thinks Canada is well out of any more wars.
But Rose, as well as most of the other young people in her town, yearn to do their bit. Rose is mostly motivated by a strong wish to get out of tiny, boring Touchwood, away from farming. The first sign she gets that war is not glamorous is watching the faces of the young men going away to be trained—and their anxious parents, who all recollect WW I. The second sign happens comes when the local area is used for pilot training, but she is determined. She signs up for the women’s auxiliary service, knowing that the most they will be doing is scrubbing, laundry, and tea service—however her training with MacTavish’s printing press lifts her out of the regular run.
Before long she finds herself in England, at a newish estate at Medmenham (which amused me, as it was the site of Sir Francis Dashwood’s wannabe devil worshippers two hundred years before almost to the year, that that is not acknowledged in the book), scrutinizing photographs taken by reconnaissance planes for camouflaged artillery emplacements and munitions factories.
She also sees the results of bombings, which includes the collateral damage: cows and pigs, horses and dogs, and the broken bits of civilians. Florence depicts so vividly the toll Rose and her colleagues their work extracts from them, all in various ways. The characters are varied, the female friendships strong. Rose tumbles into love, or what she thinks is love, as she keeps working around the clock to impress her handsome boss.
The grimness of the war is punctuated by letters going back and forth from home: her parents, her best friend, and her neighbor Charlie Stewart all write, each with distinct voices.
The anxiety as younger brothers volunteer jacks up the tension, especially when the inside details of missions are revealed to the photographers. The suave words of newspapers can’t hide what the remorseless camera eye reveals.
The climactic sequence is a real emotional roller coaster, but Florence writes with grace as well as compassion, and here and there, when needed, just enough of a touch of humor. It’s this insight and grace that made the story so memorable for me—that, and her unerring ear for the idiom of the time, not only Canadian but British from various levels of society.
To wind up, this is one of the best books I’ve read this year, and I hope it finds the audience it deserves.
Copy provided by NetGalley; I'm going to buy a print copy for my shelves.
December 19, 2014
Sadly I went into this knowing nothing about Canada in WWII, just one of the gaps in my knowledge I wasn't even aware of before. So, yay, I now have a nice overview to fill that in a bit. And the Canadian aspect is important, because the relationship with Britain is so different from that of the United States, and because so many volunteered so soon. Rose from Saskatchewan makes an excellent POV character. She's appalled by the shortages and the classism, but captivated by the history and stoicism.
She is, as well, clever, which I like generally, but specifically here I love, having recently watched The Bletchley Circle. Rose becomes involved in photographic interpretation, an aspect of intelligence about which I previously knew nothing.
Such rich storytelling: six years of war, two continents, a teen girl growing up, losing illusions, discovering her strengths and limits. There is love, and loss, and risks of all kinds, and there is also a compelling thread of the advance of technology through the war, and how stout-hearted defenders of liberty are challenged with the sheer scale of death inflicted and caused. Florence has written a book of depth, wherein no one and no thing is ever one-sided, and the intellectual puzzles are no less gratifying than the emotional ones.
Heartily recommended for fans of Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis, The Montmaray Journals by Michelle Cooper, Flygirl by Sherri Smith, Coming Home by Rosamund Pilcher, Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, and Mare's Ware by Tanita Davis.
Copy won from The Book Babe, thank you very much!
She is, as well, clever, which I like generally, but specifically here I love, having recently watched The Bletchley Circle. Rose becomes involved in photographic interpretation, an aspect of intelligence about which I previously knew nothing.
Such rich storytelling: six years of war, two continents, a teen girl growing up, losing illusions, discovering her strengths and limits. There is love, and loss, and risks of all kinds, and there is also a compelling thread of the advance of technology through the war, and how stout-hearted defenders of liberty are challenged with the sheer scale of death inflicted and caused. Florence has written a book of depth, wherein no one and no thing is ever one-sided, and the intellectual puzzles are no less gratifying than the emotional ones.
Heartily recommended for fans of Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis, The Montmaray Journals by Michelle Cooper, Flygirl by Sherri Smith, Coming Home by Rosamund Pilcher, Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, and Mare's Ware by Tanita Davis.
Copy won from The Book Babe, thank you very much!
November 6, 2014
I know of Bletchley Circle. I know of spies. I'd never heard of photographic interpreters. But when you sit down and think of it, of course they existed; of course they did their bit and they were very important to the war effort; of course some of them were women.
But first, let me say how much I liked this book and why... I loved the heroine. She makes mistakes, learns from them, improves herself, has bad moments, and gets back up. I loved the subtle theme that war may seem glamorous at first, but it is so not. It's sad, tragic, and leaves a trail of heartbreak in its wake. I love the funny bits in the middle of all this sadness: the woman with her hair in rollers in the bomb shelter, the backward movie of the queen, the funny dance-floor episode. I literally laughed out loud. The fact there were such funny moments in a mostly serious story was a major bonus for me. I love a good laugh.
But what's this about? A Canadian woman who thinks the grass is greener on the other side. Surely war is more exciting than farming? She joins up, goes to England to do her bit, and gets more than she bargained for, sees loss, feels fear, gets some tough lessons that war is not glamorous and love isn't necessarily found where you expect or want it. But that's not all. She becomes a photo interpreter and with her, readers learn about how this was during these times, the photos she looked at, the tools of her trade, what railroad tracks and buildings and aircraft fire appeared as. And the most fascinating: the tricks Germans used to throw Allies off track.
Needless to say, I especially loved how she would make a breakthrough, point out how/why we were being fooled, discover bombs pointing at London... Amazing stuff, especially Operation Fortitude. And yet the story also manages to inform us what's going on back "home" in Canada.
I loved this book and have nothing bad to say about it. I highly recommend it to lovers of WWII historical fiction. You'll laugh, cry, and learn something to boot. It doesn't get better than that. I think this is a fine tribute, too, to the aerial photographic interpreters who aided the Allies in WWII. We see all they accomplished in a most entertaining way.
I also had the liberty of doing a short Q&A with the author. You can read it and enter a giveaway for the book on my blog: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2014/...
But first, let me say how much I liked this book and why... I loved the heroine. She makes mistakes, learns from them, improves herself, has bad moments, and gets back up. I loved the subtle theme that war may seem glamorous at first, but it is so not. It's sad, tragic, and leaves a trail of heartbreak in its wake. I love the funny bits in the middle of all this sadness: the woman with her hair in rollers in the bomb shelter, the backward movie of the queen, the funny dance-floor episode. I literally laughed out loud. The fact there were such funny moments in a mostly serious story was a major bonus for me. I love a good laugh.
But what's this about? A Canadian woman who thinks the grass is greener on the other side. Surely war is more exciting than farming? She joins up, goes to England to do her bit, and gets more than she bargained for, sees loss, feels fear, gets some tough lessons that war is not glamorous and love isn't necessarily found where you expect or want it. But that's not all. She becomes a photo interpreter and with her, readers learn about how this was during these times, the photos she looked at, the tools of her trade, what railroad tracks and buildings and aircraft fire appeared as. And the most fascinating: the tricks Germans used to throw Allies off track.
Needless to say, I especially loved how she would make a breakthrough, point out how/why we were being fooled, discover bombs pointing at London... Amazing stuff, especially Operation Fortitude. And yet the story also manages to inform us what's going on back "home" in Canada.
I loved this book and have nothing bad to say about it. I highly recommend it to lovers of WWII historical fiction. You'll laugh, cry, and learn something to boot. It doesn't get better than that. I think this is a fine tribute, too, to the aerial photographic interpreters who aided the Allies in WWII. We see all they accomplished in a most entertaining way.
I also had the liberty of doing a short Q&A with the author. You can read it and enter a giveaway for the book on my blog: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2014/...
October 5, 2014
I got a free copy of this book from Netgalley. It is a quick and easy read, but a lovely book. It takes place during WWII, and starts in the prairies and then moves to England, where Rose, the narrator, is part of a unit that reviews endless photos to detect what is going on on the ground in Germany. Rose is a good character; confident, smart and somewhat naive at times. One of the surprisingly and quirky best things about the book are Rose's descriptions and love of farming and the natural world. Also her observations about the differences between England and Canada, although somewhat simplistic, are well done. Ultimately, the story line is not that surprising and, despite the subject matter and the sad events in the book, the characters are all a bit unrealistically well intentioned and upbeat -- with one notable exception. However, I liked The way in which Florence gives us a view of some of the roles available for women during the war and I found myself getting caught up in the story and Rose's plight. A solid 4 stars and a book I would happily recommend.
October 15, 2015
I could not put this book down! There are so many books out there set during WW II, this one is different and worth the read. It follows a young Canadian girl from Saskatchewan to England to do her part for the war effort. She becomes an aerial photographic interpreter, looking for German weapons launching sites, troop movements, anything to help the Allies in the fight. I have never read anything about this branch of the military before and I found it very interesting. The author was born and raised in the North Battleford, Sask area, and I have read that the hometown of Touchwood in the novel is based on North Battleford. The airport here was one of the flight training centres during the war, just as the Touchwood airport was. The buildings built for the training were meant to be temporary, but some are still standing. I really liked the letters at the end of every chapter, and how Rose grew and matured as the years passed.
May 25, 2017
This was such a delightful surprise. Without Sherwood Smith's fervent recommendation, I might never have picked this up, but I'm so glad I did. I come to this from the no doubt not unique but interesting perspective of having British parents who were about the same age as the main characters here, who both lived through WWII. My mum looked after evacuated children and my dad was in the RAF, though a telegraph operator rather than a flyer. When I was seven, we immigrated to Canada, so I have both sides of this story in my own background. I grew up hearing stories of the War - it was the defining period in my parents' lives, as no doubt it was for so many of that generation - and have seen my share of WWII movies. But somehow this novel really brought things to life in a new way. It's meticulously researched, and I didn't catch any historical inaccuracies and only one of what I thought was a minor slip in diction (and that's because I'm fanatical about such things; I may have been wrong anyway and it was no great issue). I think seeing England through an outsider's eyes gave me a new, slightly more critical, way of looking at things, but it was all fair comment, nothing to rouse an ex-pat's ire. The device of photographic surveillance provided a natural way to include details about events in the war that most civilians wouldn't have known about. For example, my parents used to talk about how shocked they were when they found out about Dresden; the devastation of the fire-bombing was not made public because of morale. Here, we get a "bird's eye view," made extra horrific by the use of the brand new technology of Kodachrome. Rose is a delightful character: homesick, not always making the best decisions, but ultimately maturing and "coming through." Somewhat to my surprise, the description of VE Day had me sobbing, even though I've heard and read and seen so many stories of that day. This book DEFINITELY deserves a greater readership: highly recommended to anyone interested in the period or who just likes a good story.
July 6, 2016
Another gem of historical fiction from Dundurn. Bird's Eye View by Elinor Florence tells the story of a naive Saskatchewan farmer's daughter joining the ranks of the WRAF after her RAF pilot is killed flying in the Commonwealth Training Program. Rose sails to Britain, and serves as an interpreter of images taken by bombers over Europe. She has a natural eye for detail in this demanding work.
But the book is much more than this. It is a coming of age story in the best tradition. Rose suffers homesickness, culture shock, military rules, and class snobbery. She makes mistakes, falls for the wrong man, is badly injured in a London bombing, and suffers severely during her convalescence.
The author has created a compelling story with excellent research underpinning it all and a very believable protagonist. Though I knew something about the work of photo interpreters, this book filled me in on this fascinating and vital work. I was fully engaged with Bird's Eye VIew from beginning to end. It's a page turner.
Highly recommended for those who enjoy good historical fiction and also perhaps for some military history buffs.
But the book is much more than this. It is a coming of age story in the best tradition. Rose suffers homesickness, culture shock, military rules, and class snobbery. She makes mistakes, falls for the wrong man, is badly injured in a London bombing, and suffers severely during her convalescence.
The author has created a compelling story with excellent research underpinning it all and a very believable protagonist. Though I knew something about the work of photo interpreters, this book filled me in on this fascinating and vital work. I was fully engaged with Bird's Eye VIew from beginning to end. It's a page turner.
Highly recommended for those who enjoy good historical fiction and also perhaps for some military history buffs.
June 14, 2017
Relatively little has been written about the role Canadian women played during WW11, the author sheds light with her first novel. “Birds Eye View” tells the story of Rose Jollife, a young woman from Saskatchewan whose town becomes an air training base.
This novel is more than an historical fiction for addicts. Its alluring storyline, rich prose, vivid description and captivating pace have kept me glued to every word till I reached the final chapter. The protagonist is a Canadian woman in uniform. Although, Rose is a fictional character and the town of Touchwood is a creation the events are factual. Rose joins the air force travels overseas and becomes an interpreter of aerial photographs. This is her story seen through Canadian eyes…..
Ms. Florence describes the prairies beautifully some will certainly recognized the landscape and the setting as North Battleford the actual location for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Throughout the war Rose has a bird’s eye view of the Canadian experience – at Dieppe, in the skies over Germany, on the beaches of Normandy and when Canada shared in the Allied victory. Reading her experiences is so captivating I thought I was there with her bending over photographs searching for details that don’t belong…..
To make this story as historically accurate as possible the author has definitely did an enormous amount of research and has succeeded in penning one of those captivating war story that honours a group of forgotten heroes.
This gem of historical fiction is an excellent read one that should please any historical buffs.
I received this ARC for review from Dundurn.com via Netgalleys
This novel is more than an historical fiction for addicts. Its alluring storyline, rich prose, vivid description and captivating pace have kept me glued to every word till I reached the final chapter. The protagonist is a Canadian woman in uniform. Although, Rose is a fictional character and the town of Touchwood is a creation the events are factual. Rose joins the air force travels overseas and becomes an interpreter of aerial photographs. This is her story seen through Canadian eyes…..
Ms. Florence describes the prairies beautifully some will certainly recognized the landscape and the setting as North Battleford the actual location for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Throughout the war Rose has a bird’s eye view of the Canadian experience – at Dieppe, in the skies over Germany, on the beaches of Normandy and when Canada shared in the Allied victory. Reading her experiences is so captivating I thought I was there with her bending over photographs searching for details that don’t belong…..
To make this story as historically accurate as possible the author has definitely did an enormous amount of research and has succeeded in penning one of those captivating war story that honours a group of forgotten heroes.
This gem of historical fiction is an excellent read one that should please any historical buffs.
I received this ARC for review from Dundurn.com via Netgalleys
April 4, 2015
Rose Jolliffe is a young Canadian woman who lives in a small Saskatchewan town called Touchwood. She’s naive and inexperienced but smart enough to brazen her way into a job at the local newspaper. She longs to join the military to participate in Canadians helping to win the war like her brother and male friends. Finally she finds a way to pay her own way to England and join the Royal Air Force. Along the way she finds some discrimination against Canadians and struggles to represent her country well.
Rose becomes part of a unit assigned to perform photographic interpretations of aerial photos taken on spy and bombing runs. It is important work as it helps determine troop movements, defenses, damage, and other strategic fighting information. Rose has an exceptional gift of interpretation, helped along by her growing up in a rural community and her photographic work at the newspaper job.
Rose suffers from loneliness and from the losses and deprivations of war, making mistakes in love and friendship along the way. But each experience contributes to her growing into a capable and centered woman who makes major contributions to the war effort through her skillful detective interpretations. For example, Rose figures out there are many more troops in a location than it appears in the photographic evidence because one building doesn’t have snow on the roof as it should – the warm bodies inside have caused the snow to melt, as Rose has seen on the cattle barn at home.
“Bird’s Eye View” is the story of Rose growing up in the tense atmosphere of a world at war. Many are the back-breaking hours the interpreters put in to discover the tiniest out of place feature of a photo. The reader is given fascinating insights as to the little-known photographic interpretation activities, all done with black and white photographs until close to the end of the war. Many of the war’s secrets were kept or uncovered by the aerial interpreters. It’s worth a read just to enter the world of interpreters. This is author Elinor Florence’s first novel, and I say well done.
I approached “Bird’s Eye View” with reservations because the first pages seemed ‘girlie’. Was this going to be a naive girl’s romance story? Not my cup of tea. But the naivety disappeared as the story and Rose grew, and in the end Rose seemed a fully formed character worthy of our reading time. Her Canadian viewpoint was also a plus. Most importantly, I found myself caught up in the fascinating world of aerial photographic interpretation and wanting to know more.
Rose becomes part of a unit assigned to perform photographic interpretations of aerial photos taken on spy and bombing runs. It is important work as it helps determine troop movements, defenses, damage, and other strategic fighting information. Rose has an exceptional gift of interpretation, helped along by her growing up in a rural community and her photographic work at the newspaper job.
Rose suffers from loneliness and from the losses and deprivations of war, making mistakes in love and friendship along the way. But each experience contributes to her growing into a capable and centered woman who makes major contributions to the war effort through her skillful detective interpretations. For example, Rose figures out there are many more troops in a location than it appears in the photographic evidence because one building doesn’t have snow on the roof as it should – the warm bodies inside have caused the snow to melt, as Rose has seen on the cattle barn at home.
“Bird’s Eye View” is the story of Rose growing up in the tense atmosphere of a world at war. Many are the back-breaking hours the interpreters put in to discover the tiniest out of place feature of a photo. The reader is given fascinating insights as to the little-known photographic interpretation activities, all done with black and white photographs until close to the end of the war. Many of the war’s secrets were kept or uncovered by the aerial interpreters. It’s worth a read just to enter the world of interpreters. This is author Elinor Florence’s first novel, and I say well done.
I approached “Bird’s Eye View” with reservations because the first pages seemed ‘girlie’. Was this going to be a naive girl’s romance story? Not my cup of tea. But the naivety disappeared as the story and Rose grew, and in the end Rose seemed a fully formed character worthy of our reading time. Her Canadian viewpoint was also a plus. Most importantly, I found myself caught up in the fascinating world of aerial photographic interpretation and wanting to know more.
December 25, 2014
I met Elinor Florence online through a mutual acquaintance months before her book was released by Dundurn this year - the same publisher that just put out my latest book. We hit it off and ended up doing two ‘War Birds’ events on Remembrance Day weekend, where we traded copies of our books. It’s been sitting on my to-read pile ever since, and I finally got to it this past week. As is often the case with books, it was perfect timing.
It seems like several key points of this sweeping, World War II-era novel take place around Christmas and New Year’s, and I certainly appreciated my family, friends and the peace and plenty that surrounds me as the book’s narrator and protagonist, Rose Joliffe, experiences the horrors and privations of war.
Florence, who has decades of journalism and editing work to her credit, really knows how to bring Rose’s story to life. Rose starts out in a small Saskatchewan town called Touchwood working for the local newspaper. She has just graduated from high school and is naïve, idealistic, but smart as a whip. She is determined to join up and so goes overseas to be part of the Royal Air Force and is quickly assigned to the photographic interpretation section where her skills and intuition prove invaluable. Unfortunately, her instincts fail her a bit when it comes to her dashing superior officer.
While I wanted to take her by the shoulders and give her a good shake sometimes, I really rooted for Rose, and by the end of the book she – like so many who lived through the war – is changed, in many ways for the better. She certainly doesn’t take anything for granted in life and love, and I think she, along with the reader, is reassured by humanity’s amazing resilience in the face of tragedy.
I was very moved by this heartwarming novel, and Florence is an excellent writer whose clear storytelling really pulls you along. I disappeared into the book for hours at a time and stayed up too late on more than one night reading it, but it was worth it.
It seems like several key points of this sweeping, World War II-era novel take place around Christmas and New Year’s, and I certainly appreciated my family, friends and the peace and plenty that surrounds me as the book’s narrator and protagonist, Rose Joliffe, experiences the horrors and privations of war.
Florence, who has decades of journalism and editing work to her credit, really knows how to bring Rose’s story to life. Rose starts out in a small Saskatchewan town called Touchwood working for the local newspaper. She has just graduated from high school and is naïve, idealistic, but smart as a whip. She is determined to join up and so goes overseas to be part of the Royal Air Force and is quickly assigned to the photographic interpretation section where her skills and intuition prove invaluable. Unfortunately, her instincts fail her a bit when it comes to her dashing superior officer.
While I wanted to take her by the shoulders and give her a good shake sometimes, I really rooted for Rose, and by the end of the book she – like so many who lived through the war – is changed, in many ways for the better. She certainly doesn’t take anything for granted in life and love, and I think she, along with the reader, is reassured by humanity’s amazing resilience in the face of tragedy.
I was very moved by this heartwarming novel, and Florence is an excellent writer whose clear storytelling really pulls you along. I disappeared into the book for hours at a time and stayed up too late on more than one night reading it, but it was worth it.
February 4, 2016
2nd edit on 02-03-16: I gifted the paperback edition to my 86 year old Mother for Christmas. She called me to let me know that she finished it and LOVED it and hopes that Ms. Florence will be publishing more historical novels in the near future!
edited to add: I would recommend clicking on the author's name and then following her link to her personal blog; I think it's titled "Wartime Wednesday's". Lot's of very interesting information and stories.
This novel is a very well researched historical fiction story that introduced me to the contributions that Canada made during WWII. I absolutely LOVED the main character, Rose, who is a young Canadian growing up on a farm. She is finally able to find a way to go to England and help with the war effort by using her photography skills in Intelligence work. Ms. Florence was able to write her characters so that at times I forgot that this was a work of fiction, although I'm sure that many of the details were based on actual historical events. The author's writing reminds us of how brutal and emotionally draining it was for those in England during the war. And she also doesn't shy away from describing the heartbreaking deaths and destruction that both England and Europe endured during this terrible war. The characters were so "real" to me; I both laughed and cried and was sad to reach the end of Rose's story. I'm looking forward to reading more from Ms. Florence in the future!
edited to add: I would recommend clicking on the author's name and then following her link to her personal blog; I think it's titled "Wartime Wednesday's". Lot's of very interesting information and stories.
This novel is a very well researched historical fiction story that introduced me to the contributions that Canada made during WWII. I absolutely LOVED the main character, Rose, who is a young Canadian growing up on a farm. She is finally able to find a way to go to England and help with the war effort by using her photography skills in Intelligence work. Ms. Florence was able to write her characters so that at times I forgot that this was a work of fiction, although I'm sure that many of the details were based on actual historical events. The author's writing reminds us of how brutal and emotionally draining it was for those in England during the war. And she also doesn't shy away from describing the heartbreaking deaths and destruction that both England and Europe endured during this terrible war. The characters were so "real" to me; I both laughed and cried and was sad to reach the end of Rose's story. I'm looking forward to reading more from Ms. Florence in the future!
February 12, 2014
Lovely, lyrical historical fiction about the challenges of being female in WWII.
October 7, 2023
I will start here “I didn’t know how she could keep it up so long without taking a breath.” I have seen a lot of similar quotes in books about holding your breath, here is one. This book was well researched and written and I learned so much. A female, no less a Canadian female serving for Britain in Britain during WW 2 as a photographic interpreter. Rosie, a strong protagonist endures it all. A satisfactory ending, however not a 5 star for me as it was a tad long and a bit repetitive, especially through the middle of the book. I have read Wildwood which is my preferred genre and I know Ms Florence is writing another book, hoping it to be the sequel to Wildwood, can we convince her and the powers that be?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2017
Grab your hankies
This is the best book I have read in years. After reading so many books based in wartime from an English perspective it was wonderful to read a Canadian based book. Incredibly well researched.
It had me gripped from the beginning. I have sobbed alongside Rose. Her war story is so believable. My only negative thought us of Fowler. Silly man. Where did he get a new nightie from?
I'm not going to give anything away but when you read what she does with her tin if Canadian soil I believe you will cry as well.
This is the best book I have read in years. After reading so many books based in wartime from an English perspective it was wonderful to read a Canadian based book. Incredibly well researched.
It had me gripped from the beginning. I have sobbed alongside Rose. Her war story is so believable. My only negative thought us of Fowler. Silly man. Where did he get a new nightie from?
I'm not going to give anything away but when you read what she does with her tin if Canadian soil I believe you will cry as well.
November 13, 2018
I have read so many books set during WW2 but this is one, although fiction, felt the most real!! Only one part (baby boy) was too much for me to suspend disbelief.
I learned so much about the women’s role in the war. I was able to relate to the character as she came from SK. I found the job of looking at the pictures to find camouflage very interesting.
Highly recommend.
I learned so much about the women’s role in the war. I was able to relate to the character as she came from SK. I found the job of looking at the pictures to find camouflage very interesting.
Highly recommend.
September 4, 2018
Rose is a young woman from the Canadian Prairies when WW2 begins. Anxious to do her part, she leaves her job and family and goes to England where she joins the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force. As a skilled photo interpreter, she watches the war unfold from a “Bird’s eye view.”
Love and loss is a repeated theme in this book, but that does not make it a sweet romance. This is a serious and well-researched historical novel. The world of 1940’s England and Canada is realistically brought to life. Intrigue is mingled with heartbreak and devastation, but never dwells too long on the heaviness. Florence skilfully reminds the reader that though wars are strategized and fought on a large scale, the realities are uniquely experienced by human beings on an individual level. Thanks to Florence for this very worthwhile read.
Love and loss is a repeated theme in this book, but that does not make it a sweet romance. This is a serious and well-researched historical novel. The world of 1940’s England and Canada is realistically brought to life. Intrigue is mingled with heartbreak and devastation, but never dwells too long on the heaviness. Florence skilfully reminds the reader that though wars are strategized and fought on a large scale, the realities are uniquely experienced by human beings on an individual level. Thanks to Florence for this very worthwhile read.
September 11, 2023
I read this as a book club book and enjoyed it! Author lives locally and came to provide the background. While sure I would read another of hers for story alone, what you learn along the way historically simply enriches the experience and speaks to a wider audience (Our club has men and women and this book was enjoyed by all!)
November 23, 2014
I loved, loved, loved this book. It combines several of my favorite topics...WWII, women during the war, Western Canadian fiction. I don't think I have ever before read a Canadian WWII novel featuring a female protagonist, and it's about time someone wrote one.
This book tells the story of prairie farm girl Rose Jolliffe through the duration of the war. When the war begins, Rose is a very naive eighteen year old, working at the local newspaper in her home town of Touchwood, based on the author's home town of North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Rose longs to leave Touchwood, to go overseas to help out like so many of her male friends and former classmates, but there are no such opportunities for Canadian women. In part she seeks to help, and in part she seeks adventure and an escape from the sameness of small town life and farming. Rose eventually finds a way to to go, paying her own way overseas and joining the British Women's Auxiliary Air Force. She soon finds that the war is much less glamorous than she thought, and that the farm she so longed to leave is the only place she wants to be. The Rose who comes home at the end of the book is a very different person than that naive and idealistic eighteen year old.
This book is full of fascinating details about the war, including the experiences of a prairie town suddenly invaded by hundreds of foreign air men, the hardships of basic training, the friction between people of different social classes in the British military, a night spent in a London air raid shelter, and the horrors of the V1's and V2's near the end of the war. Rose's experiences as an aerial photographic interpreter are particularly interesting, as she studies the photos taken from reconnaissance planes to determine what the Germans are doing, identify priority targets for Allied bombing missions, and assess the success of those missions. This is an aspect of the war that I have never read about in my extensive WWII reading. Rose's letters from her family and friends back home serve to add a glimpse of what was going on back in Canada.
As this book chronicles Rose's loss of innocence, it also chronicles the Canadian war experience, as Canada comes of age and gains the respect of the rest of the world. Many of the highs and lows of Canada's contribution to the war are touched on. For a relatively short book, this one covers an impressive amount of Canadian war history.
As a prairie farm girl, I was delighted by the many anecdotes about farm life that are thrown in. The author got these right, and it is obvious she is a prairie farm girl herself. She has followed the advice of "write what you know", and it adds so much to the book.
The character of Rose is very well developed, although some of the other characters are occasionally a bit stereotypical. The story flows well and kept my attention. I could hardly put it down. My only real complaint is that I figured out how it would end very, very early on, and I hate it when that happens. I hope Elinor Florence keeps writing, as she is very good at what she does.
This book tells the story of prairie farm girl Rose Jolliffe through the duration of the war. When the war begins, Rose is a very naive eighteen year old, working at the local newspaper in her home town of Touchwood, based on the author's home town of North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Rose longs to leave Touchwood, to go overseas to help out like so many of her male friends and former classmates, but there are no such opportunities for Canadian women. In part she seeks to help, and in part she seeks adventure and an escape from the sameness of small town life and farming. Rose eventually finds a way to to go, paying her own way overseas and joining the British Women's Auxiliary Air Force. She soon finds that the war is much less glamorous than she thought, and that the farm she so longed to leave is the only place she wants to be. The Rose who comes home at the end of the book is a very different person than that naive and idealistic eighteen year old.
This book is full of fascinating details about the war, including the experiences of a prairie town suddenly invaded by hundreds of foreign air men, the hardships of basic training, the friction between people of different social classes in the British military, a night spent in a London air raid shelter, and the horrors of the V1's and V2's near the end of the war. Rose's experiences as an aerial photographic interpreter are particularly interesting, as she studies the photos taken from reconnaissance planes to determine what the Germans are doing, identify priority targets for Allied bombing missions, and assess the success of those missions. This is an aspect of the war that I have never read about in my extensive WWII reading. Rose's letters from her family and friends back home serve to add a glimpse of what was going on back in Canada.
As this book chronicles Rose's loss of innocence, it also chronicles the Canadian war experience, as Canada comes of age and gains the respect of the rest of the world. Many of the highs and lows of Canada's contribution to the war are touched on. For a relatively short book, this one covers an impressive amount of Canadian war history.
As a prairie farm girl, I was delighted by the many anecdotes about farm life that are thrown in. The author got these right, and it is obvious she is a prairie farm girl herself. She has followed the advice of "write what you know", and it adds so much to the book.
The character of Rose is very well developed, although some of the other characters are occasionally a bit stereotypical. The story flows well and kept my attention. I could hardly put it down. My only real complaint is that I figured out how it would end very, very early on, and I hate it when that happens. I hope Elinor Florence keeps writing, as she is very good at what she does.
July 31, 2017
One of my favourite things about this novel was its portrayal of a 1940s Canadian prairie town - neither a time nor place which I've experienced in person. And isn't that one of the best things about books and historical fiction in particular?: you are taken into other times and places.
I have read quite a bit of WWII-time fiction, but not until Bird's Eye View did I learn in particular about British medical efforts around facial reconstruction or early plastic surgery to repair the badly damaged faces and bodies of soldiers and others who experienced war injuries, especially burns. It was interested in enough that I had to look up information and photos relating to the so-called Guinea Pig Club and the doctor connected to it. Another wonderful thing about historical fiction: learning details about the past which you might otherwise have never known. And Elinor Florence clearly put much effort into researching this novel, including at least one research trip to England.
This is quite an accessibly written novel, with some adventure, some romance, and lots of history (including WWII-time women's history/military history). I usually tend to go in for fiction further up the literary fiction end of the reading scale, but this novel will appeal to many people, as is evidenced by its reaching bestselling status in Canada. I give it 3.5 stars, based on my particular tastes.
I looks forward to reading more by Elinor Florence, including her newest novel set in Peace River, Alberta. And I will continue to follow her blog, Wartime Wednesdays (see http://elinorflorence.com/BLOG). I met Elinor once; she seems a really lovely person, and I hope she continues to research and write with the enthusiasm that she has exhibited so far, and of those Canadian places that don't always get a lot of coverage on our literary radars.
I have read quite a bit of WWII-time fiction, but not until Bird's Eye View did I learn in particular about British medical efforts around facial reconstruction or early plastic surgery to repair the badly damaged faces and bodies of soldiers and others who experienced war injuries, especially burns. It was interested in enough that I had to look up information and photos relating to the so-called Guinea Pig Club and the doctor connected to it. Another wonderful thing about historical fiction: learning details about the past which you might otherwise have never known. And Elinor Florence clearly put much effort into researching this novel, including at least one research trip to England.
This is quite an accessibly written novel, with some adventure, some romance, and lots of history (including WWII-time women's history/military history). I usually tend to go in for fiction further up the literary fiction end of the reading scale, but this novel will appeal to many people, as is evidenced by its reaching bestselling status in Canada. I give it 3.5 stars, based on my particular tastes.
I looks forward to reading more by Elinor Florence, including her newest novel set in Peace River, Alberta. And I will continue to follow her blog, Wartime Wednesdays (see http://elinorflorence.com/BLOG). I met Elinor once; she seems a really lovely person, and I hope she continues to research and write with the enthusiasm that she has exhibited so far, and of those Canadian places that don't always get a lot of coverage on our literary radars.
December 28, 2014
I absolutely LOVE this book!! There just aren't enough adjectives to describe how vividly I felt the emotions and saw the visuals in my own head. I learned so much I never knew before regarding how it must have been to live through a World War. My emotions ran the full range from feeling the depths of despair along with the heroine to the absolute rapture she felt at the end resolution of the book. I will read whatever this author publishes. What a joy--the very best book I've read in ages, and I am an avid reader. I've always enjoyed historical novels, and this is the best one I've ever come across: Educational, emotional, poignant, eye-opening and just plain fascinating regarding aerial reconnaissance and so much more I never knew a thing about. And before anyone starts thinking I must know this author to write such a glowing review, let me assure you I do not. My local library had this book in their front showcase under "New Releases." I read the back cover, was immediately intrigued, and the rest is history -- so to speak!
January 15, 2018
Amazing! I loved the subject matter of this novel and learned a lot along the way as I paused my reading to research many of the places and events included in the story. so glad that I stumbled across this novel recommendation and bought it as a Christmas gift to myself!!
I learned so much more about the canadian women involvement in the RAF and RCAF, and would love to learn more after finishing this.
I have a son who loves airplanes and has pictures of the Lancaster on his bedroom walls, and I can't wait to share this novel with him when he is older.
I learned so much more about the canadian women involvement in the RAF and RCAF, and would love to learn more after finishing this.
I have a son who loves airplanes and has pictures of the Lancaster on his bedroom walls, and I can't wait to share this novel with him when he is older.
November 27, 2014
I received this book through the Goodreads first reads in exchange for an honest review.
What a really good book by a Canadian author.
It takes place during the 2nd World War. It starts off in Saskatchewan where they build a place for pilots to train before heading off to war. Rose decides that she wants to be a part of helping so she decides to join the British Women's Auxiliary as a aerial photographic interpreter. The book tells about what it was like for her. She finally joins up with the Canadians before the war is over when they allow women to join the war. I don't want to give to much away because lots happens so get out there and read it for yourself.
What a really good book by a Canadian author.
It takes place during the 2nd World War. It starts off in Saskatchewan where they build a place for pilots to train before heading off to war. Rose decides that she wants to be a part of helping so she decides to join the British Women's Auxiliary as a aerial photographic interpreter. The book tells about what it was like for her. She finally joins up with the Canadians before the war is over when they allow women to join the war. I don't want to give to much away because lots happens so get out there and read it for yourself.
November 21, 2014
I won a copy of this book in goodreads giveaway.
We follow Rose from the beginning of the war to the end of the war which I liked. I felt as the years went by during the war there is a big character development of Rose. I didn't like the love affair of Rose and Gideon but I see it was need to get Rose from point a to point b.
My fave. part of the book is when Rose and June walks into a store to buy a newspaper and June gives a child a orange and the child has never in his life seen a orange or tasted one. It really touched my heart. I will never forget that scene as long as shall lived.
We follow Rose from the beginning of the war to the end of the war which I liked. I felt as the years went by during the war there is a big character development of Rose. I didn't like the love affair of Rose and Gideon but I see it was need to get Rose from point a to point b.
My fave. part of the book is when Rose and June walks into a store to buy a newspaper and June gives a child a orange and the child has never in his life seen a orange or tasted one. It really touched my heart. I will never forget that scene as long as shall lived.
November 26, 2014
I laughed; I cried; I remembered; and I learned! Ms Florence has a wonderful talent for expressing a woman's emotions, fears, and intuitions in these wartime circumstances that we have been exposed to from men's perspective forever... This is "historical fiction" with the amazing insight from hours and hours and hours of "factual research". It has the honesty of the feelings of a woman in those trying times. Great reading for those that lived through these times, and for those who want to know more about women's untold stories of this era!
December 17, 2014
Excellent book and very well researched. I found it a bit slow to start, but when I got into it I couldn't put it down. The description of planes returning from a successful mission only to crash on an ice- covered runway was almost like watching it happen. Rose Jolliff is a strong character, but the mistakes she makes give her believable. I've followed the author's blog and was fascinated by the way she worked her research into the story.
May 11, 2015
I really enjoyed this book, as a Canadian it was interesting to learn about the role small towns played in the war effort. I found it really interesting how keen the young men of the day were to enlist, our awareness of the ravages of war is so much greater now. I found this book easy to read and loved the main character. Most of all I was fascinated by the role of photography and its importance in winning the war
April 13, 2016
This is a wonderful book. I cannot wait to share it with my book club. Strong female protagonist, fascinating part of war history, wonderful characters. Except for Gideon Fowler. That guy was a jerk.
April 9, 2024
Loved this book. I reserve 5 stars for my tippy top favorites (e.g., To Kill A Mockingbird) and this fell just short, really a 4.75. Emotional, touching, descriptive and well written.
November 8, 2020
"Bird's Eye View" is the kind of historical novel I always hope to find, but seldom do. I started reading it for it's subject matter, with my pen and notebook at my elbow, but I was drawn into the story of Rose Jolliffe immediately. I couldn't put it down. I read it right through supper and on into the night, not stopping to take down one note.
It's been years since I've devoured a book this fast. I'm a picky reader, easily thrown off by ill-defined characters and superficial research. I'm a prairie girl from Alberta, so I'm touchy about how writers describe that landscape. Florence has drawn the Saskatchewan backdrop of Rose's story so vividly that it feels warmly familiar.
I knew very little about aerial photographic interpretation in England during World War Two and had I come across it during any of my research I would have passed it by as too technical for my tastes. Elinor Florence's skill at weaving Rose's wartime work into her intriguing personal story is impressive. The rich detail of Rose's work combined with the subtle, but deep dive into her emotional life is spellbinding.
Reading this book was a rare and wonderful experience for me. I'm eager to begin Florence's next novel tonight.
It's been years since I've devoured a book this fast. I'm a picky reader, easily thrown off by ill-defined characters and superficial research. I'm a prairie girl from Alberta, so I'm touchy about how writers describe that landscape. Florence has drawn the Saskatchewan backdrop of Rose's story so vividly that it feels warmly familiar.
I knew very little about aerial photographic interpretation in England during World War Two and had I come across it during any of my research I would have passed it by as too technical for my tastes. Elinor Florence's skill at weaving Rose's wartime work into her intriguing personal story is impressive. The rich detail of Rose's work combined with the subtle, but deep dive into her emotional life is spellbinding.
Reading this book was a rare and wonderful experience for me. I'm eager to begin Florence's next novel tonight.
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