Birmingham Blitz

by Annie Murray

An unmissable and much-loved favourite, Birmingham Blitz by Annie Murray is the tale of everyday courage and determination in wartime Britain.August 1939. Genie Watkins, a Birmingham kid, would love to have a proper happy family like her Italian friend, Teresa. But Genie hasn't reckoned with the outbreak of war, her already rocky family being split up and the strangely liberating effect it all has on her mother . . . Under Birmingham skies darkened by blackout Genie shares her fears and hopes with Teresa, keeps her spirits up with her nan and glamorous auntie Lil, and tries to hold her family together. And amid it all, she discovers love . . .

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, War

449 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 10, 1998

About the author

Annie Murray was a ‘childhood writer.’ Her career was helped a great deal by belonging to Tindal Street Fiction Group in Birmingham and by winning the SHE/Granada TV Short Story Competition in 1991. She has published short stories in a number of anthologies as well as SHE magazine. Her first regional saga, Birmingham Rose appeared in 1995 and reached the Times bestseller list. She has since published more than a dozen others, including the ‘Cadbury books,’ Chocolate Girls and The Bells of Bournville Green, Family of Women and her latest, A Hopscotch Summer. Annie has four children and lives near Reading.

Reviews

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is just a few years in the life of Genie Watkins. It's incredible to think it's that short a time because so much happens. It's very well written as you would expect from Annie Murray, and it definitely paints a picture of life in Birmingham during the second world war. It is sad in places but it's real and I liked that it was set it Birmingham rather than London or Liverpool.

[Elizabeth Ducie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genie Watkins is a teenager, but her family background and the times she is living through mean she is old beyond her years. She is the strong one, holding her dysfunctional family together. So what happens when she no longer has the strength to do that? Is a happy ending possible for Genie?

I love Annie Murray's books. They are full of places I know well, albeit in an era I never lived through. Interesting storyline, well-researched. A good 'curl up in front of the fire' read.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so humourous, while being awfully sad. The war stories I have read have never been like this, it is a typical family, typical lives and typical troubles. It has both happy and sad points but I'm so glad I had the oppertunity to read this, I loved it. A truly brilliant read and so cleverly written. Clear and to the point and very honest. x

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking story told in first person by 15 year old as WWII began in late summer of 1939. Life was in the slums of Birmingham were tough before the war but became nearly unbearable as it progressed.
The words of the time were a bit unusual but once you get the flow of the story it is beautifully developed. Made you feel like you needed to find a shelter.
Character development is great.

[Trudy Dowling · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mom lived through the blitz but avoids talking about it. I can't imagine being 10 years old and rising to bomb shelters. I would freak to look at the sky and see a German floating down holding onto a parachute. This book, and others like it, have helped me grasp what it was like. With every book my respect for those affected goes up. The survivors are the real heroes.

[Elaine Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good story and not your usual everyone is in it together so lets make the most of it, knees up Mother Brown etc. It followed the main character Genie through the 2nd WW - how her mental state was affected not only by the bombs but by the actions of those around her. When reading you become this character and feel every emotion. Well worth your time.

[Trudie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant as always, I love Annie Murray's books. This made me cry lots though and made me think about what life was like for my Mum who grew up in Brum during the war and experienced the air raids as a 5 to 10 year old

[Samantha Boylan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of the best I’ve read. I think the length of time taken to complete it tells its own story. Storyline wasn’t enough to keep me turning the pages, slow and heavy in places. Got better towards the end. Looking forward to starting my next book.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Birmingham Blitz a brilliant read.

Well done for another great book, this has kept me gripped from beginning to end. Lots of research into the war years and explained in great detail which you feel part of as you read. Thank you

[Moira Crosier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read

Loved this book as always it was a great easy read the characters were easy to follow and to understand

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story of love and loss

[Tiffany Johnstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant book. Genie is an amazingly resilient character. I feel for Genie throughout the whole book. Readers get a sense of what it was like during the Blitz. Absolutely brilliant story.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Annie Murray never disappoints. Loved this story. Had all the drama and emotions of war and struggles everyone had to endure wrapped in love and sadness. Definitely a good read

[Dawnie1610 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyable read, brings to life the atmosphere of the midlands.

[Yvonne Trigg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great as an audio book. The story focuses on several families within a close knit community during the second World War. Bit predictable in parts but interesting to move outside of London.

[June Jackman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in four sittings. Brilliant

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I was born & raised in Birmingham so I knew a lot of the areas mentioned but also learned a lot about Brum during the blitz. My nan was 17 when ww2 began and Genie reminded me so much of the stories my nan used to tell me about Aston during that time. This story really dives into the mental struggles of living through war, on the surface it was keep calm and carry on but bubbling underneath was fear, uncertainty and more fear. This was my first Annie Murray book and it won't be my last.

[Jan Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book is good. Took a little time to get into the story. After a bit the book was better and was interesting and enjoyable. Characters became better as the book progressed.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not the sort of book I would normally read, but my mum recommended it, so I did. Superb! A character-driven story that hooks you and keeps you turning the pages. I was particularly impressed, though, by how much I LEARNED - not only about the war, but about the conditions working class people had to tolerate. A real eye-opener.

[Jennifer Gallagher · Rating 3 out of 5]

was very disappointed with the end the blitz carried o until alomst the endof the war.. yet this finished in 1941.. could have brought book upto end of the war

[Maire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love all Annie Murrays books

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not up to her usual standard

[Tracy Bethell · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent read,would recommend

[Hayley Swithers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! Could not put it down. Fantastic!