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Good Night, Irene: A Novel
This “powerful, uplifting, and deeply personal novel” (Kristin Hannah, #1 NYT bestselling author of The Four Winds ), at once “a heart-wrenching wartime drama” (Christina Baker Kline, #1 NYT bestselling author of Orphan Train ) and “a moving and graceful tribute to heroic women” ( Publishers Weekly , starred review), asks the What if a friendship forged on the front lines of war defines a life forever?
In the tradition of The Nightingale and Transcription , this is a searing epic based on the magnificent and true story of courageous Red Cross women.
In 1943, Irene Woodward abandons an abusive fiancé in New York to enlist with the Red Cross and head to Europe. She makes fast friends in training with Dorothy Dunford, a towering Midwesterner with a ferocious wit. Together they are part of an elite group of women, nicknamed Donut Dollies, who command military vehicles called Clubmobiles at the front line, providing camaraderie and a taste of home that may be the only solace before troops head into battle.
After D-Day, these two intrepid friends join the Allied soldiers streaming into France. Their time in Europe will see them embroiled in danger, from the Battle of the Bulge to the liberation of Buchenwald. Through her friendship with Dorothy, and a love affair with a courageous American fighter pilot named Hans, Irene learns to trust again. Her most fervent hope, which becomes more precarious by the day, is for all three of them to survive the war intact.
Taking as inspiration his mother's own Red Cross service, Luis Alberto Urrea has delivered an overlooked story of women's heroism in World War II. With its affecting and uplifting portrait of friendship and valor in harrowing circumstances, Good Night, Irene powerfully demonstrates yet again that Urrea's “gifts as a storyteller are prodigious” (NPR).
In the tradition of The Nightingale and Transcription , this is a searing epic based on the magnificent and true story of courageous Red Cross women.
In 1943, Irene Woodward abandons an abusive fiancé in New York to enlist with the Red Cross and head to Europe. She makes fast friends in training with Dorothy Dunford, a towering Midwesterner with a ferocious wit. Together they are part of an elite group of women, nicknamed Donut Dollies, who command military vehicles called Clubmobiles at the front line, providing camaraderie and a taste of home that may be the only solace before troops head into battle.
After D-Day, these two intrepid friends join the Allied soldiers streaming into France. Their time in Europe will see them embroiled in danger, from the Battle of the Bulge to the liberation of Buchenwald. Through her friendship with Dorothy, and a love affair with a courageous American fighter pilot named Hans, Irene learns to trust again. Her most fervent hope, which becomes more precarious by the day, is for all three of them to survive the war intact.
Taking as inspiration his mother's own Red Cross service, Luis Alberto Urrea has delivered an overlooked story of women's heroism in World War II. With its affecting and uplifting portrait of friendship and valor in harrowing circumstances, Good Night, Irene powerfully demonstrates yet again that Urrea's “gifts as a storyteller are prodigious” (NPR).
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First published May 30, 2023
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About the author
Luis Alberto Urrea
62 books2,946 followersLuis Alberto Urrea is the award-winning author of 13 books, including The Hummingbird's Daughter, The Devil's Highway and Into the Beautiful North (May 2009). Born in Tijuana to a Mexican father and American mother, Luis has used the theme of borders, immigration and search for love and belonging throughout his work. A Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2005 (nonfiction), he's won the Kiriyama Prize (2006), the Lannan Award (2002), an American Book Award (1999) and was named to the Latino Literary Hall of Fame. He is a creative writing professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago and lives with his family in the 'burbs (dreaming of returning West soon!).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,557 reviews
June 8, 2023
4.5⭐
“If you get to come home, you will be so grateful you won’t realize at first that you survived. But once you know you survived, you’ll only be starting to understand.”
Inspired by his mother’s Red Cross experience during WWII, Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea is a remarkable work of historical fiction that gives us a glimpse into the contribution of the women of the Clubmobile Corps of the American Red Cross to the war effort.
In 1943, several young women from all across the country signed up with the American Red Cross to serve in the Clubmobile Corps in WWII Europe. Their task was making and serving donuts and coffee, offering a taste of home to those serving on the front, in an effort to boost morale. These young women would be traveling across Europe operating a Clubmobile, a specially designed bus equipped with apparatus for frying donuts and making coffee and stocked with chocolate, cigarettes, magazines chewing gum and so on. Among the “Donut Dollies” as they were referred to, were Irene Woodward, a New Yorker from an affluent family, who flees from her engagement with an abusive partner and Dorothy Dunford, a Midwestern farm girl from Indianapolis, who sells her farm after the death of parents and who lost her brother to the War. Initially not too impressed by their job description, neither of them is aware of the perils they will face, the horrors they will witness and the indelible imprint it will leave on their lives.
“It had not taken them long after arriving at Glatton to understand that their service was not truly about the donuts and coffee. They had seen enough boys fail to return from a morning flight. The real service was that their faces, their voices, their sendoff might be the final blessing from home for some of these young pilots. The enormity of this trivial-seeming job became clearer every day.”
We follow them through their training in the United States to WWII-ravaged Europe as they live through bombardments in London, to the air bases across Europe into the trenches as they follow the Allied troops through D-Day, Battle of the Bulge, the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp and onwards as they witness devastation, experience loss and meet several people who would impact the way they perceived not only the realities of war but also how important the role they were playing was. Even though Irene and Dorothy are very different individuals – their backgrounds, their perceptions of their job and how they react to all that they witness and experience – they form a deep friendship. Needless to say, their experiences leave them with scars- both emotional and physical.
“Would carrying all of these sorrows and torments inside her condemn her to a life sentence of silence? She could never apologize enough or give thanks enough for being the survivor.”
The story gives us an insightful glimpse into how women contributed to the war effort on the front - a Red Cross initiative that has rarely been featured in WWII fiction (this is the first time I have come across any reference to the Clubmobile Corps). The author writes with much sensitivity and compassion while depicting the significance of the lighthearted moments of comfort, friendship, music and laughter among those for whom “tomorrow” was uncertain. I loved the moments of camaraderie and between Irene, Dorothy and the troops they meet as well as the moments Irene shares with Hans, the fighter pilot with whom she develops a close bond. The story does start slow and it took a while (around the twenty percent mark) for me to fully engage in the story but I am so glad that I continued to read. Informative, insightful and profoundly moving, this is a story told from a unique perspective that will touch your heart. For those who enjoy WWII fiction, I would not hesitate to recommend this novel.
Many thanks to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
June 16, 2023
4.5 shiny stars! Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea was a moving yet harrowing novel that was based on the author’s own mother’s experience in the Red Cross during World War II. Whenever I thought about women in The Red Cross during World War II, I had thought that they were all nurses. How wrong I was! Just as many women were recruited by The Red Cross as Donut Dollies as nurses. I had never heard of this particular division, nor knew of its existence, that existed within the organization of the Red Cross before reading this book. During World War II, young women were employed by The Red Cross as Donut Dollies. Their main purpose was to serve the troops hot coffee and donuts. They brought a piece of home to the soldiers. These brave and courageous women provided quick wit, flirtatious banter and a ready smile to the soldiers that were about to face battles. Their main objective was to provide support, friendship and a sense of home to the troops. They drove large, cumbersome yet reliable Clubmobiles named after cities in the United States. Luis Alberto Urrea brilliantly portrayed the tragedies, atrocities and fear of war that these heroic women lived through and experienced. The sad part of all of this is that none of what the Donut Dollies did during the war has been recognized. Very few if any, if they are like me, have ever heard about the part they played in helping win the war.
In 1943, Irene Woodward, escaped an abusive marriage and a domineering mother when she secretly enlisted in the Red Cross. She was assigned to the Donut Dollies’ division. Irene would soon learn all that was expected of her. Then her and the other Dollies were to be sent to Europe to serve. In her training, Irene met Dorothy Dunford. Dorothy was a rather tall farm girl from Indiana. Irene and Dorothy were as different from each other as they could be. Yet, the two women became a team and developed a strong bond of friendship through the course of the war. Dorothy became known as Stretch and Irene as Gator. Through the early days of the war, Irene and Dorothy woke each morning and served the soldiers hot coffee and homemade donuts. They provided cheer, encouragement and smiles for each soldier they served.
After D-Day, Irene and Dorothy joined up with the Allied troops and followed the soldiers into the dangers of war. They drove The Rapid City, their trusted Clubmobile, and proceeded into Normandy, France, Belgium and even Germany. These brave women witnessed The Battles of the Bulge. They came face to face with German retaliation more than once. General Patton asked both Irene and Dorothy to accompany his men to Buchenwald when it was liberated. What Irene and Dorthy witnessed that day stayed with them for their entire lives. The images of the prisoners and the sight of the Crematorium were forever implanted upon their minds.
These brave women were so much more than met the eye. Yes, they served coffee and donuts, always had a ready smile and word of encouragement but they were often side by side with the soldiers as battles were being fought. The Donut Dollies often faced the same harsh realities of war as their fellow soldiers did. I am so grateful to Luis Alberto Urrea for sharing his own mother’s experiences as a Donut Dolly in the Red Cross during World War II and making me aware of all that these very brave, selfless and courageous women endured through the years they served. They went over and beyond what was initially expected of them. I really enjoyed all the characters that Luis Alberto Urrea created for this book and felt like I really got to know them by the time I finished reading Good Night, Irene. I still find myself thinking about Irene and Dorothy especially. It made me sad to realize that these women were never given the true recognition they deserved. I really enjoyed reading Good Night, Irene and highly recommend it.
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company for allowing me to read Good night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
In 1943, Irene Woodward, escaped an abusive marriage and a domineering mother when she secretly enlisted in the Red Cross. She was assigned to the Donut Dollies’ division. Irene would soon learn all that was expected of her. Then her and the other Dollies were to be sent to Europe to serve. In her training, Irene met Dorothy Dunford. Dorothy was a rather tall farm girl from Indiana. Irene and Dorothy were as different from each other as they could be. Yet, the two women became a team and developed a strong bond of friendship through the course of the war. Dorothy became known as Stretch and Irene as Gator. Through the early days of the war, Irene and Dorothy woke each morning and served the soldiers hot coffee and homemade donuts. They provided cheer, encouragement and smiles for each soldier they served.
After D-Day, Irene and Dorothy joined up with the Allied troops and followed the soldiers into the dangers of war. They drove The Rapid City, their trusted Clubmobile, and proceeded into Normandy, France, Belgium and even Germany. These brave women witnessed The Battles of the Bulge. They came face to face with German retaliation more than once. General Patton asked both Irene and Dorothy to accompany his men to Buchenwald when it was liberated. What Irene and Dorthy witnessed that day stayed with them for their entire lives. The images of the prisoners and the sight of the Crematorium were forever implanted upon their minds.
These brave women were so much more than met the eye. Yes, they served coffee and donuts, always had a ready smile and word of encouragement but they were often side by side with the soldiers as battles were being fought. The Donut Dollies often faced the same harsh realities of war as their fellow soldiers did. I am so grateful to Luis Alberto Urrea for sharing his own mother’s experiences as a Donut Dolly in the Red Cross during World War II and making me aware of all that these very brave, selfless and courageous women endured through the years they served. They went over and beyond what was initially expected of them. I really enjoyed all the characters that Luis Alberto Urrea created for this book and felt like I really got to know them by the time I finished reading Good Night, Irene. I still find myself thinking about Irene and Dorothy especially. It made me sad to realize that these women were never given the true recognition they deserved. I really enjoyed reading Good Night, Irene and highly recommend it.
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company for allowing me to read Good night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
February 18, 2023
’Some think we’re so brave, but we really don’t know enough to be scared. Some people think we’re brats…some of us are. Some think we’d be better off at home, where a woman’s place used to be…about 200 years ago. Some stare, shake their heads in disbelief. Some cheer, some scream and wave—everybody greets us. Some wolf, some worship, some think you’re human and some don’t…You’re a Red Cross girl. You’re on the snow-and-charm circuit. You’re a griping, kidding GI. You’re personality on legs. - Anonymous World War II letter
Several years ago I read Urrea’s ’The House of Broken Angels’ and was impressed by his writing, his imagery and the way that it made it all seem so real to me. I would have to say that he’s outdone himself in his latest, ’Good Night, Irene’, a story which was inspired by his mother’s service as part of the Red Cross crew which traveled to the places in ’Good Night, Irene’ during World War II.
This story begins as America is beginning to become more involved in World War II, October 1943, and Irene was twenty-five. She’d just received her letter of acceptance and was still feeling a little giddy. She hadn’t told anyone, especially her parents, about applying and now, here she was, on her way to reporting for duty. She’d already left her engagement ring behind - in the storm drain on East Twenty-Eighth Street. In Washington, she will need to get her physical exam, and inoculations at the Pentagon. Her papers were at the bottom of her shoulder bag, and she’s ready to leave home. She knows she’s signed on for the duration of the war and an additional six months, with exceptions, but first she has to go through two weeks of training. She knows she will miss New York, but she feels like she is ready for this, as though it is an adventure.
All that I’ve shared takes place in the first chapter or so, and there is much more to this story, but I will only say that this is one you won’t want to miss. This is a World War II story, but it is also so much more, a story of friendship, love, family, war, loss as well as a lifelong journey.
Pub Date: 30 May 2023
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Little, Brown and Company
June 4, 2023
I’ve become more cautious about reading WWII stories because they were all tending to blend together. And no sooner did I start this, then I felt a sense of deja vu. Readers of The Beantown Girls will feel the same. The story revolves around two American women who sign up to be Red Cross volunteers or Donut Dollies as they were known. Dorothy is a strapping girl from Indiana. Raised on a farm, she already knows how to drive, change a truck tire, etc.. Irene, whose POV directs the story, is her polar opposite. A city girl from a wealthy family, she escapes a proposed marriage to a lout by joining up.
The first part of the book tracks their training in the US and their first assignments in England. It was too dry for my taste. Urrea is a verbose writer and gives us voluminous descriptions of the air bases and the machinery. In many instances, I felt I was being told, rather than shown, too many points. Yes, I get that they were there to be a friendly face to the soldiers, I didn’t need to be hit over the head with the idea. “Their real service was that their faces, their voices, their sendoff might be the final blessing from home for some of these young pilots. The enormity of this trivial-seeming job became clearer every day.”
Things got better after the women arrived in Europe. Urrea does a good job in placing the reader firmly on the western front, especially with the Battle of the Bulge. This section was the high point of the book. The ending of the book became a little too hokey for my taste.
I went into this based on a comparison to Transcription. It’s not a good comparison and the publisher does a disservice to use it.
I think I would have been more impressed with this book if I hadn’t read The Beantown Girls. The characters were enjoyable and felt very real. It would have benefited from more editing to tighten it up and make the pacing more consistent.
My thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Co. for an advance copy of this book.
The first part of the book tracks their training in the US and their first assignments in England. It was too dry for my taste. Urrea is a verbose writer and gives us voluminous descriptions of the air bases and the machinery. In many instances, I felt I was being told, rather than shown, too many points. Yes, I get that they were there to be a friendly face to the soldiers, I didn’t need to be hit over the head with the idea. “Their real service was that their faces, their voices, their sendoff might be the final blessing from home for some of these young pilots. The enormity of this trivial-seeming job became clearer every day.”
Things got better after the women arrived in Europe. Urrea does a good job in placing the reader firmly on the western front, especially with the Battle of the Bulge. This section was the high point of the book. The ending of the book became a little too hokey for my taste.
I went into this based on a comparison to Transcription. It’s not a good comparison and the publisher does a disservice to use it.
I think I would have been more impressed with this book if I hadn’t read The Beantown Girls. The characters were enjoyable and felt very real. It would have benefited from more editing to tighten it up and make the pacing more consistent.
My thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Co. for an advance copy of this book.
May 18, 2023
Wow….
“Good Night, Irene” is quite marvelous. I couldn’t have gotten into this book faster or with more reading gusto if I tried.
Ha….and I’ve been in a low mood…..
But, if ever a book got me out of my own miserable thoughts….(at least a temporary time-out), “Good Night, Irene” did the trick.
I’ve always said….in my own life > my most satisfying times have been when I’ve worked on an important project with others and ‘from’ our working hard together (in the trenches so to speak), real profound, meaningful friendships, developed.
I was reminded of that: POWERFUL friendships grow from
working our asses of with others….’together’.
But MY GOD…..Luis Alberto Urrea inspired me to no end…..
[he did in another way in “The House of Broken Angels”, too….a very different book]…. > the book where I ‘first’ marveled at his storytelling.
But in this novel……Urrea takes his inspiration (which becomes ours), from his own mother….and ‘her’ Red Cross experiences during WWII > and his STORYTELLING is OFF THE CHARTS…
JUST FABULOUS…..a very satisfying book that any die-hard reader will not want to miss……
It has everything!!!
I felt the full range of emotions. (even a little teary now)
I gasped frequently with emotions shifting rapidly….happy, sad, heartbreaking, heart-rendering…. moved by the experience of being so transformed …tossed into this story myself….feeling the courage, the fear, the devastating violence, the exhaustion, the friendships, the power, the unbelievable humanity.
I was overwhelming moved ….especially moved by the last chapters …..
THIS NOVEL HAS A BEAUTIFUL SOUL. DON’T MISS IT!!!
NON-SPOILER excerpts:
“I’m on my way to war. There. I said it”.
“What branch? WAC? WAVES?”
“Red Cross”.
“He seemed to relax. Bedpan commando. Still, nursing’s tough duty”.
“Not nursing”.
“Oh yeah? What, then?”
“Clubmobiles”.
“What the hell is that?”
“Mobile service. Comfort, moral support. As I understand it, we’ll be backing the troops in the field. We make coffee and donuts. In trucks”.
“You what?”
“Coffee. And donuts”.
“He laughed”.
“Clubmobiles, she explained. A red cross club….on wheels”.
“Donuts. He shook his head. I heard it all now”.
“Have you any advice?”
“Sure, he said. Don’t do it.”
“Thank you for your insight, she crossed her arms”
“Cover your ass, how about that?”
“Sorry to bother you”.
“Look, it’s no place—“
“For a girl?”
“She turned toward him. I intend to serve my country, she said, and this is what they’ll let me do. I have never made a doughnut in my life. I don’t know how to drive a truck. And the coffee I’ve made has been known to incapacitate its victims”.
“So tell me, Sarge—you’re the expert. How will I do?”
“Well, he said. You’ll do swell”.
“You’ll be shocked. You’ll think you’re strong, you’ll think you’re tough. You’ll think you can take it. You cannot take it. And then you will not be shocked anymore. That’s what war does so you so can keep on going. You will be in mortal danger besides our boys. You will do things, some of you, that should win medals”.
It turns out… It was not very easy to be able to produce donuts.
“That infallible donut machine splurted globs and wads of misshapen, over wet dough to splash into the hot grease, abominations that were then fried into donuts resembling golden underpants and topographical maps of ancient lands”.
Miller’s Law: “Never Let Them See You Cry”.
*The Red Cross “Coffee-Donut” girls came into existence in 1917…..during the Great War…..
when…..the boys (who lived in squalor and horror), once asked a group of ladies if they had anything sweet to eat.
Kudos to Luis Alberto Urrea > TERRIFIC worthy - deeply substantial book to write.
Memorable ….one of my favorites.
“Good Night, Irene” is quite marvelous. I couldn’t have gotten into this book faster or with more reading gusto if I tried.
Ha….and I’ve been in a low mood…..
But, if ever a book got me out of my own miserable thoughts….(at least a temporary time-out), “Good Night, Irene” did the trick.
I’ve always said….in my own life > my most satisfying times have been when I’ve worked on an important project with others and ‘from’ our working hard together (in the trenches so to speak), real profound, meaningful friendships, developed.
I was reminded of that: POWERFUL friendships grow from
working our asses of with others….’together’.
But MY GOD…..Luis Alberto Urrea inspired me to no end…..
[he did in another way in “The House of Broken Angels”, too….a very different book]…. > the book where I ‘first’ marveled at his storytelling.
But in this novel……Urrea takes his inspiration (which becomes ours), from his own mother….and ‘her’ Red Cross experiences during WWII > and his STORYTELLING is OFF THE CHARTS…
JUST FABULOUS…..a very satisfying book that any die-hard reader will not want to miss……
It has everything!!!
I felt the full range of emotions. (even a little teary now)
I gasped frequently with emotions shifting rapidly….happy, sad, heartbreaking, heart-rendering…. moved by the experience of being so transformed …tossed into this story myself….feeling the courage, the fear, the devastating violence, the exhaustion, the friendships, the power, the unbelievable humanity.
I was overwhelming moved ….especially moved by the last chapters …..
THIS NOVEL HAS A BEAUTIFUL SOUL. DON’T MISS IT!!!
NON-SPOILER excerpts:
“I’m on my way to war. There. I said it”.
“What branch? WAC? WAVES?”
“Red Cross”.
“He seemed to relax. Bedpan commando. Still, nursing’s tough duty”.
“Not nursing”.
“Oh yeah? What, then?”
“Clubmobiles”.
“What the hell is that?”
“Mobile service. Comfort, moral support. As I understand it, we’ll be backing the troops in the field. We make coffee and donuts. In trucks”.
“You what?”
“Coffee. And donuts”.
“He laughed”.
“Clubmobiles, she explained. A red cross club….on wheels”.
“Donuts. He shook his head. I heard it all now”.
“Have you any advice?”
“Sure, he said. Don’t do it.”
“Thank you for your insight, she crossed her arms”
“Cover your ass, how about that?”
“Sorry to bother you”.
“Look, it’s no place—“
“For a girl?”
“She turned toward him. I intend to serve my country, she said, and this is what they’ll let me do. I have never made a doughnut in my life. I don’t know how to drive a truck. And the coffee I’ve made has been known to incapacitate its victims”.
“So tell me, Sarge—you’re the expert. How will I do?”
“Well, he said. You’ll do swell”.
“You’ll be shocked. You’ll think you’re strong, you’ll think you’re tough. You’ll think you can take it. You cannot take it. And then you will not be shocked anymore. That’s what war does so you so can keep on going. You will be in mortal danger besides our boys. You will do things, some of you, that should win medals”.
It turns out… It was not very easy to be able to produce donuts.
“That infallible donut machine splurted globs and wads of misshapen, over wet dough to splash into the hot grease, abominations that were then fried into donuts resembling golden underpants and topographical maps of ancient lands”.
Miller’s Law: “Never Let Them See You Cry”.
*The Red Cross “Coffee-Donut” girls came into existence in 1917…..during the Great War…..
when…..the boys (who lived in squalor and horror), once asked a group of ladies if they had anything sweet to eat.
Kudos to Luis Alberto Urrea > TERRIFIC worthy - deeply substantial book to write.
Memorable ….one of my favorites.
October 8, 2025
One of my favorite authors, so I'm super excited for this new book. Can't wait for May!!
Update:
I’ve read two books by Luis Alberto Urrea before, both of which I loved tremendously, “Into the Beautiful North” (4 stars), and “The House of Broken Angels,” which I read during the early days of the pandemic and which filled me with so much joy and life! (5 stars. See my review at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....)
THIS book LOOKED like it would also be filled with life, but… no, it was not so for me. I have found Urrea’s writing to be almost magical and have admired his ability to craft and create interesting, flawed, real human beings, but here, his writing was extremely stilted and trite and unimpressive. Worse, the characters, right from the first pages, were uninteresting, flat, and two-dimensional. I felt I was reading the book version of a very dated 1940’s-era B-movie.
I feel badly saying all this, because the book was inspired by the life of the author’s grandmother, and because, as a veteran, I am grateful for the service and sacrifices of the many men and women before and after me. So: Will I read Urrea again? Absolutely! But this book was a deep disappointment.
Many thanks to NetGalley and to Goodreads - I scored both a free digital ARC and a physical ARC in exchange for my honest review of the book.
Update:
I’ve read two books by Luis Alberto Urrea before, both of which I loved tremendously, “Into the Beautiful North” (4 stars), and “The House of Broken Angels,” which I read during the early days of the pandemic and which filled me with so much joy and life! (5 stars. See my review at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....)
THIS book LOOKED like it would also be filled with life, but… no, it was not so for me. I have found Urrea’s writing to be almost magical and have admired his ability to craft and create interesting, flawed, real human beings, but here, his writing was extremely stilted and trite and unimpressive. Worse, the characters, right from the first pages, were uninteresting, flat, and two-dimensional. I felt I was reading the book version of a very dated 1940’s-era B-movie.
I feel badly saying all this, because the book was inspired by the life of the author’s grandmother, and because, as a veteran, I am grateful for the service and sacrifices of the many men and women before and after me. So: Will I read Urrea again? Absolutely! But this book was a deep disappointment.
Many thanks to NetGalley and to Goodreads - I scored both a free digital ARC and a physical ARC in exchange for my honest review of the book.
May 6, 2024
This is a fictionalized accounting of the author’s mother, Phyllis McLaughlin who joined the Red Cross in 1943 as a “clubmobiler.” Women who accompanied General Patton’s troops through France and Germany after D-Day. Also known as the “forgotten volunteers.”
So, what was a clubmobile anyway? Well, they were 2.5-ton trucks and buses repurposed as mobile social clubs. Thus, a “clubmobiler” would be a young woman tasked with boosting the military morale to the European frontlines, with donuts, coffee and friendly conversation.
We see Irene, (Phyllis’s fictional counterpart – her middle name was actually Irene) escaping one bad situation to join what hopefully will not be another. Along the way she befriends Dorothy who has her own backstory.
And although this story is based on a true story with real people, most of the records of this time were destroyed in a fire. Which allows the author to become creative with his storytelling, about the liberating of Buchenwald.
It is vivid, heartbreaking, heart-wrenching and sometimes filled with a sense of horror. We are being surrounded by war scenes, and the author paints them vividly. I won’t talk of them here. I think readers just need to know that this book will not sidestep them.
But it will talk enough about the women’s experiences. Which makes it a very moving read, despite the harsh realities of the scenes. And even though it is fictionalized, the reality for the author’s mother was that she actually suffered from undiagnosed PTSD, and chose not to talk about her service to him.
I think the author’s point…he felt the need to tell the women’s story – the good, the bad and the ugly – the worst of humanity. And, the best of those who cared.
Please take time to read the Author’s Note and Acknowledgments.
So, what was a clubmobile anyway? Well, they were 2.5-ton trucks and buses repurposed as mobile social clubs. Thus, a “clubmobiler” would be a young woman tasked with boosting the military morale to the European frontlines, with donuts, coffee and friendly conversation.
We see Irene, (Phyllis’s fictional counterpart – her middle name was actually Irene) escaping one bad situation to join what hopefully will not be another. Along the way she befriends Dorothy who has her own backstory.
And although this story is based on a true story with real people, most of the records of this time were destroyed in a fire. Which allows the author to become creative with his storytelling, about the liberating of Buchenwald.
It is vivid, heartbreaking, heart-wrenching and sometimes filled with a sense of horror. We are being surrounded by war scenes, and the author paints them vividly. I won’t talk of them here. I think readers just need to know that this book will not sidestep them.
But it will talk enough about the women’s experiences. Which makes it a very moving read, despite the harsh realities of the scenes. And even though it is fictionalized, the reality for the author’s mother was that she actually suffered from undiagnosed PTSD, and chose not to talk about her service to him.
I think the author’s point…he felt the need to tell the women’s story – the good, the bad and the ugly – the worst of humanity. And, the best of those who cared.
Please take time to read the Author’s Note and Acknowledgments.
October 11, 2023
Good Night, Irene: A Novel is the latest historical fiction novel by one of my favorite writers, Luis Alberto Urrea. This book is based on the experience of his mother during World War II with the American Red Cross Clubmobile following the soldiers under General Patton as they advanced into Germany. This is a searing epic tale based on the true experiences of the brave and heroic women in the American Red Cross.
This is the fictional story of Irene Woodward who abandons her abusive fiance in New York City to enlist with Red Cross and head to Europe at the height of World War II. A friendship is immediately forged during their training; that of Irene Woodward and Dorothy Dunford, a tall blonde girl from a Midwest farm with a sharp and biting sense of humor. These two become partners on one of the Red Cross military vehicles called Clubmobiles, serving coffee and donuts freshly made. There was a running joke about who may be the next "Third Girl on the Truck." These women became part of an elite group joining the Allied soldiers moving into France. During their time, they will be embroiled in danger as they are witness to the Battle of the Bulge, the horrors of Buchenwald, and the march to Bastogne under the command of General George Patton. This is a beautiful story of friendship and comraderie in the midst of immense personal challenges and loss amid the horrors of war. With Urrea's beautiful writing and his immense heart, it is impossible not to keep turning pages and shedding a few tears facing the personal aftermath of war.
In the Author's Notes, Urrea gives one a glimpse into the life of his mother with the following poignant excerpts:
I just want to end by saying that there is a delightful photograph at the beginning of this book that shows the author's mother and two other "Donut Dollies" in front of their Clubmobile in the European theater. In the background, there is the shadow of man's face in the window. I will let you read the book to flesh out who that ghostly presence may be. And may I add, what a wonderful tribute to your mother and all of the courageous women who served with the Red Cross, Mr. Urrea.
This is the fictional story of Irene Woodward who abandons her abusive fiance in New York City to enlist with Red Cross and head to Europe at the height of World War II. A friendship is immediately forged during their training; that of Irene Woodward and Dorothy Dunford, a tall blonde girl from a Midwest farm with a sharp and biting sense of humor. These two become partners on one of the Red Cross military vehicles called Clubmobiles, serving coffee and donuts freshly made. There was a running joke about who may be the next "Third Girl on the Truck." These women became part of an elite group joining the Allied soldiers moving into France. During their time, they will be embroiled in danger as they are witness to the Battle of the Bulge, the horrors of Buchenwald, and the march to Bastogne under the command of General George Patton. This is a beautiful story of friendship and comraderie in the midst of immense personal challenges and loss amid the horrors of war. With Urrea's beautiful writing and his immense heart, it is impossible not to keep turning pages and shedding a few tears facing the personal aftermath of war.
In the Author's Notes, Urrea gives one a glimpse into the life of his mother with the following poignant excerpts:
"My mother, Phyllis Irene, had roots in Manhattan and the Bronx and Staten Island's Richmond Village; her mother owned an antiques shop on Broadway; and she spent many early and last years in Mattituck. All places foreign to me."
"Mom died in April of 1990. She had a Bible and a Julia Child cookbook beside her in her bed."
"Today, I know when I looked at her, I saw only Ma; but she saw herself as a Manhattan movie star with a fizzy cocktail in one hand and a fashionable cigarette holder in the other, and she was amusing a gathering of sophisticates as Bobby Short's piano jazz played and everyone called each other 'dahling.' She was not trapped in a barrio apartment or a San Diego suburb that felt like a desert to her. And she forever saw herself as that vibrant woman in cataclysms of laughter."
I just want to end by saying that there is a delightful photograph at the beginning of this book that shows the author's mother and two other "Donut Dollies" in front of their Clubmobile in the European theater. In the background, there is the shadow of man's face in the window. I will let you read the book to flesh out who that ghostly presence may be. And may I add, what a wonderful tribute to your mother and all of the courageous women who served with the Red Cross, Mr. Urrea.
May 26, 2023
Did I read the same book other reviewers did? I slogged through this VERY long book, whose story doesn't start until the 50% mark. Oh there were words the first half, but they read like (bad) non-fiction - all descriptions and no character development or much of a plot. I'll give you that the ending was sweet but jeez oh Pete, I suffered to get there. It was interesting to learn about these Red Cross volunteers during WWII but if you're looking to spend time with memorable characters, this isn't the book for you.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2023
I choose to not read as much WWII historical fiction as I once did because all the plots were starting to blend together. However, when I read the synopsis of Good Night, Irene, I felt that instant attraction. This is the tale of two American women- Irene and Dorothy who join the American Red Cross and travel overseas becoming "Donut Dollies" making and serving doughnuts to men in uniform.
There is a good mix of humor and hardship in this book and only a dash of romance( thank goodness!) because a lot happens to these two characters. I liked that the author was inspired to write this novel because of his mother's own personal history with wartime and the Red Cross. The descriptions made me feel like I was journeying along with Irene, Dorothy, and the "ever-changing third girl." I imagine that the story will eventually make it to the screen. It's a good story!
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown, and Company for access to this title. I am auto-approved for Little, Brown, and Company.
#GoodNightIrene #NetGalley
Expected Review Date 30/05/23
Goodreads review published 14/05/23
There is a good mix of humor and hardship in this book and only a dash of romance( thank goodness!) because a lot happens to these two characters. I liked that the author was inspired to write this novel because of his mother's own personal history with wartime and the Red Cross. The descriptions made me feel like I was journeying along with Irene, Dorothy, and the "ever-changing third girl." I imagine that the story will eventually make it to the screen. It's a good story!
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown, and Company for access to this title. I am auto-approved for Little, Brown, and Company.
#GoodNightIrene #NetGalley
Expected Review Date 30/05/23
Goodreads review published 14/05/23
March 24, 2023
I loved House of Broken Angels and had high hopes for Luis Alberto Urrea’s new novel Good Night, Irene. Once I picked it up, I could not set it down.
I fell in love with these characters from the start for their wit and spunk, the deep friendships they create, their bravery and sacrifice. I suffered with them, I cried for them, and I rejoiced with them. This novel shares all the characteristics of my favorite books. Good story telling, wonderfully drawn characters filled with wit and charm, an unflinching observation of tragedy and suffering, and an ending that gave me joy.
Well-off New York socialite Irene escapes an abusive fiancé by enlisting in the Red Cross to become a Donut Dollie, serving coffee and donuts on the front lines in Europe during WWII. She is paired with Dorothy, a Mid-Western farm girl who is a blond Amazon, and although an unlikely pair, they forge a deep bond. Just as the men in combat will do anything for the men beside them, these women’s bond is forged in war.
From pastoral England and London to trench warfare in France and Belgium, and finally deep into Germany, the girls run the clubmobile, keeping the boys’ spirits up, offering a reminder of home and country. Thousands of men pass through their lives, and they smile and flirt until their cheeks hurt, pouring cup after cup of coffee until their arms ache. The appreciative men send them letters of thanks. Dorothy is fond of Smitty, half her height. Irene falls for a Western fighter pilot, ‘Hans.
In England, the girls lived in posh hotels or quaint thatched-roofed cottages. After D-Day, they follow the men to the continent. At the front, their lives are in danger. War’s realities are all around them. The deprivation. The death. The civilian losses. The fear. The death camps. The carrying on, doing their duty. What she experiences enrages Dorothy, who ensnares Irene in a scheme that changes their lives.
Women who volunteer to go to war have always experienced the same trauma as the combatant soldiers. We don’t often read about their experience and sacrifice. Urrea was inspired by his mother who had served in the Red Cross during WWII. What a wonderful tribute he has offered to these women.
I received a free egalley from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.
I fell in love with these characters from the start for their wit and spunk, the deep friendships they create, their bravery and sacrifice. I suffered with them, I cried for them, and I rejoiced with them. This novel shares all the characteristics of my favorite books. Good story telling, wonderfully drawn characters filled with wit and charm, an unflinching observation of tragedy and suffering, and an ending that gave me joy.
Well-off New York socialite Irene escapes an abusive fiancé by enlisting in the Red Cross to become a Donut Dollie, serving coffee and donuts on the front lines in Europe during WWII. She is paired with Dorothy, a Mid-Western farm girl who is a blond Amazon, and although an unlikely pair, they forge a deep bond. Just as the men in combat will do anything for the men beside them, these women’s bond is forged in war.
From pastoral England and London to trench warfare in France and Belgium, and finally deep into Germany, the girls run the clubmobile, keeping the boys’ spirits up, offering a reminder of home and country. Thousands of men pass through their lives, and they smile and flirt until their cheeks hurt, pouring cup after cup of coffee until their arms ache. The appreciative men send them letters of thanks. Dorothy is fond of Smitty, half her height. Irene falls for a Western fighter pilot, ‘Hans.
In England, the girls lived in posh hotels or quaint thatched-roofed cottages. After D-Day, they follow the men to the continent. At the front, their lives are in danger. War’s realities are all around them. The deprivation. The death. The civilian losses. The fear. The death camps. The carrying on, doing their duty. What she experiences enrages Dorothy, who ensnares Irene in a scheme that changes their lives.
Women who volunteer to go to war have always experienced the same trauma as the combatant soldiers. We don’t often read about their experience and sacrifice. Urrea was inspired by his mother who had served in the Red Cross during WWII. What a wonderful tribute he has offered to these women.
I received a free egalley from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.
May 30, 2023
**Happy Publication Day**
*4.5 stars rounded up. 'Women are called upon to piece the broken world together.'
Irene Woodward decides on the spur of a moment in October, 1943, to leave her cushy life in NY, as well as her rather abusive fiancé, to join the American Red Cross Corp on the 'chow and charm circuit.' These volunteers will be sent to the front lines in groups of threes to run clubmobiles from which they will pass out freshly made donuts and coffee to the GIs. But most importantly, to smile and flirt and keep up the men's morale.
Irene is joined by Dorothy, a 6'2" Indiana farm girl who is more interested in driving the vehicle than cooking. The third on their team is Ellie from Chicago who quickly decides this life is not for her after a few glimpses of the realities of war. So Irene (Gator) and Dorothy (Stretch) have to carry on short-handed for most of their stint of duty.
I knew little of what these Red Cross volunteers did during the war so this story was quite eye opening. These women were definitely heroes. They learn life lessons and grow as people, fall in love, and suffer losses, but for the most part, keep smiling. The author found a way to make the ending the best part of the novel. Just loved it!
I received an arc of this novel from the author and publisher via NetGalley. Many thanks. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Here's a link to a touching letter from Luis Alberto Urrea about meeting the Red Cross Clubmobile woman who worked with his mother, Phyllis McLaughlin, during WWII: https://mailchi.mp/e/donut-dollies-19...
*4.5 stars rounded up. 'Women are called upon to piece the broken world together.'
Irene Woodward decides on the spur of a moment in October, 1943, to leave her cushy life in NY, as well as her rather abusive fiancé, to join the American Red Cross Corp on the 'chow and charm circuit.' These volunteers will be sent to the front lines in groups of threes to run clubmobiles from which they will pass out freshly made donuts and coffee to the GIs. But most importantly, to smile and flirt and keep up the men's morale.
Irene is joined by Dorothy, a 6'2" Indiana farm girl who is more interested in driving the vehicle than cooking. The third on their team is Ellie from Chicago who quickly decides this life is not for her after a few glimpses of the realities of war. So Irene (Gator) and Dorothy (Stretch) have to carry on short-handed for most of their stint of duty.
I knew little of what these Red Cross volunteers did during the war so this story was quite eye opening. These women were definitely heroes. They learn life lessons and grow as people, fall in love, and suffer losses, but for the most part, keep smiling. The author found a way to make the ending the best part of the novel. Just loved it!
I received an arc of this novel from the author and publisher via NetGalley. Many thanks. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Here's a link to a touching letter from Luis Alberto Urrea about meeting the Red Cross Clubmobile woman who worked with his mother, Phyllis McLaughlin, during WWII: https://mailchi.mp/e/donut-dollies-19...
September 18, 2023
I have only read 50 pages, but this is the most ridiculously bad book I've read all year and am abandoning it.
I cannot belive I am expected to go along with the writing and dialogue of its three main characters from the start, Irene, Dorothy, and Ellie. No one talks like this (it reads stilted and fake), the women move forwards/backwards in their relationships with zero explanation or character building, and the three women are so interchangeable, it's laughable.
I can't decide what I find the most offensive. It might be the whiplash of the character's emotions and feelings towards another, or the fact that Urrea expects to skip over any character building or relationship building, and we will love I/D/E anyways -- or because the subject matter is historical fiction on a topic that history glosses over, we will all just swoon over how "amazing" it is that he's "shone a light on the topic" and just give him a Pulitizer or something.
Historical fiction writers on WWII are always just like, lazy about the characters and I don't care how many historical accounts you've read, or pictures of real "donut dollies" you've dredged up to put in your book. These female characters don't sound like people, nor like women, and the fact that they're all essentially the same is insulting.
... I got kind of mad about this one, huh? Sorry, not sorry.
I cannot belive I am expected to go along with the writing and dialogue of its three main characters from the start, Irene, Dorothy, and Ellie. No one talks like this (it reads stilted and fake), the women move forwards/backwards in their relationships with zero explanation or character building, and the three women are so interchangeable, it's laughable.
I can't decide what I find the most offensive. It might be the whiplash of the character's emotions and feelings towards another, or the fact that Urrea expects to skip over any character building or relationship building, and we will love I/D/E anyways -- or because the subject matter is historical fiction on a topic that history glosses over, we will all just swoon over how "amazing" it is that he's "shone a light on the topic" and just give him a Pulitizer or something.
Historical fiction writers on WWII are always just like, lazy about the characters and I don't care how many historical accounts you've read, or pictures of real "donut dollies" you've dredged up to put in your book. These female characters don't sound like people, nor like women, and the fact that they're all essentially the same is insulting.
... I got kind of mad about this one, huh? Sorry, not sorry.
May 30, 2023
A stunning portrait of a part of WWII that I knew nothing about, the Red Cross Clubmobiles staffed by American women who met preset qualifications, entered this service at officer ranks, and manned large bus-sized vehicles bringing coffee, donuts and cheerful faces to the forward troops in Europe.
To be continued….
A copy of this book was provided through Little Brown and NetGalley for an honest review.
To be continued….
A copy of this book was provided through Little Brown and NetGalley for an honest review.
March 27, 2024
Book on CD narrated by Barrie Kreinik, with an afterword narrated by the author.
5*****
This book of historical fiction is based on the life experiences of Urrea’s mother, who served as a Red Cross “Donut Dolly” during World War II.
Urrea gives us two main characters – Irene and Dorothy (Dot). These young women were each compelled to join the Red Cross and serve during World War II either because they were running from an untenable situation or seeking to avenge a deep loss. Meeting during training and paired in the Rapid City, an Army “deuce and a half” truck, specially outfitted as the combat version of a food truck, they become colleagues, fast friends, and each other’s support system. They endure hardship and rationing, strange foods (or no food), exhausting schedules, bad roads, and poor accommodations. They soldier on in support of the troops. No matter their own aches and pains, sorrows or irritations, they put on a brave smiling face to bring a little bit of “home” to the front.
There are a number of wonderful supporting characters, including “Rusty” Penny, Garcia, and Handyman. And several real combatants make appearances as well, including Gen George Patton. Urrea also brings the European theater to life with vivid descriptions – of war-time England, the forests of France and Germany, bombed villages, the horrors of a concentration camp, and the sights, sounds and smells of a field hospital.
I have read many books by Urrea, so I knew he could write, but I was almost speechless at the end of this book. Whatever you do, do NOT skip the author note at the end where he relates how it took him some twenty years to come to grips with and write this novel as a testament to his mother’s experiences. This is truly a love letter to his mother.
The audiobook is masterfully narrated by Barrie Kreinik. She really brings these women to life. The author note at the end is narrated by Urrea, himself, which added to the impact of what he related.
5*****
This book of historical fiction is based on the life experiences of Urrea’s mother, who served as a Red Cross “Donut Dolly” during World War II.
Urrea gives us two main characters – Irene and Dorothy (Dot). These young women were each compelled to join the Red Cross and serve during World War II either because they were running from an untenable situation or seeking to avenge a deep loss. Meeting during training and paired in the Rapid City, an Army “deuce and a half” truck, specially outfitted as the combat version of a food truck, they become colleagues, fast friends, and each other’s support system. They endure hardship and rationing, strange foods (or no food), exhausting schedules, bad roads, and poor accommodations. They soldier on in support of the troops. No matter their own aches and pains, sorrows or irritations, they put on a brave smiling face to bring a little bit of “home” to the front.
There are a number of wonderful supporting characters, including “Rusty” Penny, Garcia, and Handyman. And several real combatants make appearances as well, including Gen George Patton. Urrea also brings the European theater to life with vivid descriptions – of war-time England, the forests of France and Germany, bombed villages, the horrors of a concentration camp, and the sights, sounds and smells of a field hospital.
I have read many books by Urrea, so I knew he could write, but I was almost speechless at the end of this book. Whatever you do, do NOT skip the author note at the end where he relates how it took him some twenty years to come to grips with and write this novel as a testament to his mother’s experiences. This is truly a love letter to his mother.
The audiobook is masterfully narrated by Barrie Kreinik. She really brings these women to life. The author note at the end is narrated by Urrea, himself, which added to the impact of what he related.
June 18, 2023
Astounding! RTC. Luis Alberto Urrea never disappoints. WOW.
June 22, 2023
Beware the thought, “I’ve read everything there is to read about WWII.” Instead, perhaps consider what I learned in my twenties: “Everyone has a story to tell.”
The title character escapes an abusive relationship and overbearing family of modest Staten Island wealth to enlist in the Red Cross during the middle years of World War Two. She makes it through training and soon ships overseas to serve as an attendant to something called a “Clubmobile.” The instructions are suspect but clear: to remind the troops for what they’re fighting. That means not just coffee and donuts, but conversation and a little flirtation wouldn’t hurt. The sheltered Irene meets the towering Indiana farm girl Dorothy, and together they ride all over Europe after the D-Day Invasion.
The first part is simply charming. Sometimes it can be a little difficult to read, since the conversations are stuck in the kind of slang I only remember from Bugs Bunny cartoons. People back then were so much more skilled at witty banter, so I slowed my reading so I could appreciate it. Once I did, I got a vivid look into the conflicts and fears going on inside Irene’s head. I wasn’t crazy about the abrupt perspective shifts, sometimes within the same chapter, but Urrea saves it with real-life, tangible character actions and emotions.
As I expected, the novel shines during the most dangerous scenes. It’s war, after all, and we’re not spared the terror. Tanks plow through homes, shots meet their targets, death lurks at every corner, even for our two “Donut Dollies.” Urrea does it well: it’s not just used for melodrama, but gets shared in a human way. Certainly not glorified, the violence is simply experienced by us through the eyes of a non-combatant (though for Dorothy that changes a bit), and hence it’s both frightening and realistic. There’s a dogfight scene written with sheer poetry, a standalone chapter that just sings.
I was also charmed by the love affair that brews between Irene and “Handyman,” a pilot she meets in her early training days. The R&R they share on the French Riviera was authentic, heartwarming, and sweet as sugar. Perhaps it was made more special knowing that this really was Irene’s first true love.
There’s a pivotal scene about 75% through that also has that magical, dreamy but realistic tinge. The fever dream within is not my thing, and as it always does, it slowed me down. But I wouldn’t have done without it. Although many of the scenes stirred deep and powerful emotions in me, this one ran through my heart like a shooting star.
Then, it pulled me through a final section, fifty years after Irene’s service. It was tough to read only because I was so emotionally invested, so sad and angry and thrilled for what would happen to her next. Some have called it a little too schmaltzy (not in those words), but I’ll say no more except that I was on the verge of tears.
I see this as a wonderful book club pick. Plenty to discuss here, and plenty of scenes over which to gush and praise. It’s historical fiction, it’s real-life, it’s romance, it’s friendship. And all of it woven together with brilliant prose and true, deep feeling. Among the best 2023 has had to offer so far! 4.75 stars!
The title character escapes an abusive relationship and overbearing family of modest Staten Island wealth to enlist in the Red Cross during the middle years of World War Two. She makes it through training and soon ships overseas to serve as an attendant to something called a “Clubmobile.” The instructions are suspect but clear: to remind the troops for what they’re fighting. That means not just coffee and donuts, but conversation and a little flirtation wouldn’t hurt. The sheltered Irene meets the towering Indiana farm girl Dorothy, and together they ride all over Europe after the D-Day Invasion.
The first part is simply charming. Sometimes it can be a little difficult to read, since the conversations are stuck in the kind of slang I only remember from Bugs Bunny cartoons. People back then were so much more skilled at witty banter, so I slowed my reading so I could appreciate it. Once I did, I got a vivid look into the conflicts and fears going on inside Irene’s head. I wasn’t crazy about the abrupt perspective shifts, sometimes within the same chapter, but Urrea saves it with real-life, tangible character actions and emotions.
As I expected, the novel shines during the most dangerous scenes. It’s war, after all, and we’re not spared the terror. Tanks plow through homes, shots meet their targets, death lurks at every corner, even for our two “Donut Dollies.” Urrea does it well: it’s not just used for melodrama, but gets shared in a human way. Certainly not glorified, the violence is simply experienced by us through the eyes of a non-combatant (though for Dorothy that changes a bit), and hence it’s both frightening and realistic. There’s a dogfight scene written with sheer poetry, a standalone chapter that just sings.
I was also charmed by the love affair that brews between Irene and “Handyman,” a pilot she meets in her early training days. The R&R they share on the French Riviera was authentic, heartwarming, and sweet as sugar. Perhaps it was made more special knowing that this really was Irene’s first true love.
There’s a pivotal scene about 75% through that also has that magical, dreamy but realistic tinge. The fever dream within is not my thing, and as it always does, it slowed me down. But I wouldn’t have done without it. Although many of the scenes stirred deep and powerful emotions in me, this one ran through my heart like a shooting star.
Then, it pulled me through a final section, fifty years after Irene’s service. It was tough to read only because I was so emotionally invested, so sad and angry and thrilled for what would happen to her next. Some have called it a little too schmaltzy (not in those words), but I’ll say no more except that I was on the verge of tears.
I see this as a wonderful book club pick. Plenty to discuss here, and plenty of scenes over which to gush and praise. It’s historical fiction, it’s real-life, it’s romance, it’s friendship. And all of it woven together with brilliant prose and true, deep feeling. Among the best 2023 has had to offer so far! 4.75 stars!
June 12, 2023
New York society girl Irene Woodward makes the impulsive decision to join the Red Cross during WWII. She has her reasons: her stepfather is a creep and her fiance hits her. Training for the "donut dollys" - or, the preferred term, "clubmobilers" - is rough. But Irene makes friends with Ellie and Dorothy and within a few months they are on their way to Europe.
One thing I really liked about this book was the level of description. The author included just enough description of aircraft and seacraft and tanks and the mechanics of the donut trucks that I could picture them, but not so much that it was tedious. I felt myself in every place he put his characters: 1940s New York and Washington DC, a wartime ocean crossing, England in the months leading up to D-Day.
But the flaw in this book is the flat characters. Irene merely reports briefly that her fiance abused her. We learn no more about it (at least in the first third of the book), and therefore we don't understand her life-changing decision. Nor did I have the sympathy for her that I wanted to have. Similarly, it's not clear why Dorothy and Irene don't really like Ellie, nor why Ellie - a tough Chicago girl - apparently washes out at the first sign of danger. Dorothy is portrayed as a plus-sized, hale and hearty Midwestern farm girl, but that's all we know about her. We don't know what the stakes are for any of these women, and we have no insight into their emotional lives. Irene develops a crush on a pilot named Handy, but we aren't shown why. Just because he's a pilot and good-looking? A third of the way through the book, these characters were mere wisps to me, and I didn't care what happened to them, so I stopped reading.
Too bad, because the writing in this book is otherwise good and subject seemed interesting. I don't know. I had covid when I was reading this book, so maybe I was just missing things.
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Author of The Saint's Mistress
One thing I really liked about this book was the level of description. The author included just enough description of aircraft and seacraft and tanks and the mechanics of the donut trucks that I could picture them, but not so much that it was tedious. I felt myself in every place he put his characters: 1940s New York and Washington DC, a wartime ocean crossing, England in the months leading up to D-Day.
But the flaw in this book is the flat characters. Irene merely reports briefly that her fiance abused her. We learn no more about it (at least in the first third of the book), and therefore we don't understand her life-changing decision. Nor did I have the sympathy for her that I wanted to have. Similarly, it's not clear why Dorothy and Irene don't really like Ellie, nor why Ellie - a tough Chicago girl - apparently washes out at the first sign of danger. Dorothy is portrayed as a plus-sized, hale and hearty Midwestern farm girl, but that's all we know about her. We don't know what the stakes are for any of these women, and we have no insight into their emotional lives. Irene develops a crush on a pilot named Handy, but we aren't shown why. Just because he's a pilot and good-looking? A third of the way through the book, these characters were mere wisps to me, and I didn't care what happened to them, so I stopped reading.
Too bad, because the writing in this book is otherwise good and subject seemed interesting. I don't know. I had covid when I was reading this book, so maybe I was just missing things.
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Author of The Saint's Mistress
July 8, 2023
4 ++++ stars
This is such a departure for favorite author Urrea! His previous novels have all stemmed from his Mexican American family history, set mainly in Mexico and Soutwest U.S. This book features Urrea's mother who hailed from New York, and who was a member of the Donut Dollies, a unit of the Red Cross who brought donuts and comfort - a feeling of home - to service personnel during WWII out of a truck that was a rolling donut machine. The author's fictional mother, Irene, volunteered in 1943 and was sent initially to London, but then to the European theater.
It took me a while to engage with this story. The first part of the book was a little slow, but then at some point, the action and drama kicked in. I was all in after that and very much caught up in this story of Irene and her friend and Club Mobile sister, Dot. I finished this book sobbing at the poignancy and heart Irene and Dot's story was told and from the afterward read by Urrea about his mom. The narrator, who I initially didn't click with, ended up being the perfect choice.
Here's a great article about the Donut Dollies and their Club Mobiles. https://allthatsinteresting.com/donut...
Why I'm reading this: Favorite author! (And buddy read with friend, Diane.)
This is such a departure for favorite author Urrea! His previous novels have all stemmed from his Mexican American family history, set mainly in Mexico and Soutwest U.S. This book features Urrea's mother who hailed from New York, and who was a member of the Donut Dollies, a unit of the Red Cross who brought donuts and comfort - a feeling of home - to service personnel during WWII out of a truck that was a rolling donut machine. The author's fictional mother, Irene, volunteered in 1943 and was sent initially to London, but then to the European theater.
It took me a while to engage with this story. The first part of the book was a little slow, but then at some point, the action and drama kicked in. I was all in after that and very much caught up in this story of Irene and her friend and Club Mobile sister, Dot. I finished this book sobbing at the poignancy and heart Irene and Dot's story was told and from the afterward read by Urrea about his mom. The narrator, who I initially didn't click with, ended up being the perfect choice.
Here's a great article about the Donut Dollies and their Club Mobiles. https://allthatsinteresting.com/donut...
Why I'm reading this: Favorite author! (And buddy read with friend, Diane.)
May 23, 2023
What a revelation for me to find out that women actually enlisted for World War II service with the American Red Cross! Until reading this beautifully written novel,, chronicling the lives of Donut Dollies working the front lines, I foolishly assumed that coffee serving volunteers had light social responsibilities. Instead, these brave and generous souls, put their lives on the line at the same battlefields on which the GIs fought.
Luis Alberto Urrea, taking a little known chapter from his mother’s Red Cross service, weaves a tale of friendship, love, courage, and honor. Irene Woodward enlists as a Red Cross worker in 1943. She abruptly leaves her home and family in New York to escape from an abusive husband. Dorothy Danforth, becomes her work partner, friend and confidante as the two serve coffee and donuts, bringing a bit of home comfort, to soldiers fighting on the front line. Irene and Dot forge a bond solid enough to last a lifetime, while sharing intimate thoughts and moments together as best friends. Romance beckons when Irene becomes involved with an heroic American fighter pilot, Hans (Hands). The two plan to find each other when the war is over.
Urrea describes in depth what life at the front was like. He sweeps us from small towns in France and Belgium, right into battle, up into the blazing skies, then to the unimaginable horrors of Buchenwald, and the despair of makeshift battle front “ hospitals.” The details were so descriptive that I found myself feeling the emotional roller coaster that the characters were living.
Right up until the very end, I was captivated by the exquisite writing, which had me wondering how life would treat these characters in whom I had invested so much feeling. For lovers of historical fiction, this novel will be a treat. I thank #NetGalley and publisher, #Little,Brown and Company for providing me with an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review b
Luis Alberto Urrea, taking a little known chapter from his mother’s Red Cross service, weaves a tale of friendship, love, courage, and honor. Irene Woodward enlists as a Red Cross worker in 1943. She abruptly leaves her home and family in New York to escape from an abusive husband. Dorothy Danforth, becomes her work partner, friend and confidante as the two serve coffee and donuts, bringing a bit of home comfort, to soldiers fighting on the front line. Irene and Dot forge a bond solid enough to last a lifetime, while sharing intimate thoughts and moments together as best friends. Romance beckons when Irene becomes involved with an heroic American fighter pilot, Hans (Hands). The two plan to find each other when the war is over.
Urrea describes in depth what life at the front was like. He sweeps us from small towns in France and Belgium, right into battle, up into the blazing skies, then to the unimaginable horrors of Buchenwald, and the despair of makeshift battle front “ hospitals.” The details were so descriptive that I found myself feeling the emotional roller coaster that the characters were living.
Right up until the very end, I was captivated by the exquisite writing, which had me wondering how life would treat these characters in whom I had invested so much feeling. For lovers of historical fiction, this novel will be a treat. I thank #NetGalley and publisher, #Little,Brown and Company for providing me with an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review b
July 9, 2024
As I proclaimed to my book club at the beginning of our discussion of this novel, I am a pacifist. I am aware that it is a hopeless position to take, even an unpopular one in some areas, but some of us need to take a stand. Yes, we have always had war. Wars are started by psychotics who want more (land, resources, power, etc.) Millions die, arms dealers and producers of military equipment make millions. People are displaced, works of art are destroyed, wildlife is decimated, and soldiers come home with PTSD. Are there not other ways to have fun, burn off excess energy, resolve conflicts?
War makes for exciting tales as evidenced by the countless books about it. Good Night, Irene is one. It is actually a well-told tale. Two women join the Red Cross during World War II. They are trained to command military vehicles called Clubmobiles. As “Donut Dollies’ they provide coffee, donuts, camaraderie, and solace to troops on the front lines.
Luis Alberto Urrea undertook years of research about such women, one of whom was his mother. He presents a fairly even balance of information and adventure. The two main characters are almost opposites in temperament but after saving each other’s lives countless times become the best of friends. Danger, hard work, love affairs, feats of bravery, loss and near-death experiences fill the book.
I found it interesting. I felt for those women more than I had anticipated I would. The end of the story takes place many years later and was a complete surprise. I did not see it coming.
I am still a pacifist.
War makes for exciting tales as evidenced by the countless books about it. Good Night, Irene is one. It is actually a well-told tale. Two women join the Red Cross during World War II. They are trained to command military vehicles called Clubmobiles. As “Donut Dollies’ they provide coffee, donuts, camaraderie, and solace to troops on the front lines.
Luis Alberto Urrea undertook years of research about such women, one of whom was his mother. He presents a fairly even balance of information and adventure. The two main characters are almost opposites in temperament but after saving each other’s lives countless times become the best of friends. Danger, hard work, love affairs, feats of bravery, loss and near-death experiences fill the book.
I found it interesting. I felt for those women more than I had anticipated I would. The end of the story takes place many years later and was a complete surprise. I did not see it coming.
I am still a pacifist.
December 10, 2023
“Good Night, Irene”, by Luis Alberto Urrea (based on the true story of courageous Red Cross women - specially the ones known as “The Doughnut Dollies of WWII”)
This was my first book by this author, who was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for “The Devil's Highway”.
As I enjoyed the opening, I immediately obtained a copy of one of his older novels, “The House of Broken Angels”, which has received excellent reviews.
But unfortunately I lost interest in “Good Night, Irene”, after 20% in, mostly because of the dialogues, which in my opinion were the weakest part of his writing.
The concept was interesting, and the descriptions were very well written, but the development of the storyline and characters were underwhelming.
I only picked this book because it was compared to “The Nightingale” (by Kristin Hannah), one of my favourite novels.
Unfortunately this one did not work for me and I felt totally disconnected from everything.
But I do have to agree that the book became more interesting after 80% and that the conclusion was somewhat touching, hence my ratings.
I would have been upset if I had paid $19.99 (Canadian), plus 13% tax, for the ebook (that was the list price on December 10, 2023).
Fortunately my copy was from the public library.
Ebook (Kobo): 399 pages (default), 123k words
Audiobook narrated by Barrie Kreinik (the author’s notes is narrated by Luis Alberto Urrea): 13.4 hours (normal speed)
This was my first book by this author, who was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for “The Devil's Highway”.
As I enjoyed the opening, I immediately obtained a copy of one of his older novels, “The House of Broken Angels”, which has received excellent reviews.
But unfortunately I lost interest in “Good Night, Irene”, after 20% in, mostly because of the dialogues, which in my opinion were the weakest part of his writing.
The concept was interesting, and the descriptions were very well written, but the development of the storyline and characters were underwhelming.
I only picked this book because it was compared to “The Nightingale” (by Kristin Hannah), one of my favourite novels.
Unfortunately this one did not work for me and I felt totally disconnected from everything.
But I do have to agree that the book became more interesting after 80% and that the conclusion was somewhat touching, hence my ratings.
I would have been upset if I had paid $19.99 (Canadian), plus 13% tax, for the ebook (that was the list price on December 10, 2023).
Fortunately my copy was from the public library.
Ebook (Kobo): 399 pages (default), 123k words
Audiobook narrated by Barrie Kreinik (the author’s notes is narrated by Luis Alberto Urrea): 13.4 hours (normal speed)
May 19, 2023
I would rate this book 10 ⭐️ stars if that were possible.
Luis Alberto Urrea is a brilliant storyteller, so in this historical fiction novel he wholeheartedly tells us about his mother’s experience in WWII.
Urrea combines real events with heroic tales of the Women that served via the Red Cross , driving their refurbished buses and or ‘deuce and a half’ army trucks all over Europe to the frontlines.
They were charged with bringing a touch of home: coffee, donuts and an listening ear to the exhausted GIs. They drove hundreds of miles to all posts and camps where there was active fighting.
Urrea captures the spirit, courage and sisterhood of these brave women in such a personal way.
I didn’t want their story to end!
Don’t miss reading this book due to publish 5/30/23!
Thank you Edelweiss and Little Brown and Co.
And thank you Mr. Urrea for bringing us the knowledge of these courageous women !
Luis Alberto Urrea is a brilliant storyteller, so in this historical fiction novel he wholeheartedly tells us about his mother’s experience in WWII.
Urrea combines real events with heroic tales of the Women that served via the Red Cross , driving their refurbished buses and or ‘deuce and a half’ army trucks all over Europe to the frontlines.
They were charged with bringing a touch of home: coffee, donuts and an listening ear to the exhausted GIs. They drove hundreds of miles to all posts and camps where there was active fighting.
Urrea captures the spirit, courage and sisterhood of these brave women in such a personal way.
I didn’t want their story to end!
Don’t miss reading this book due to publish 5/30/23!
Thank you Edelweiss and Little Brown and Co.
And thank you Mr. Urrea for bringing us the knowledge of these courageous women !
July 10, 2023
This is one of those novels that sneaks up on you, dear reader. The first half is good—actually, quite good—but not what I would call riveting. Or compelling. It's more interesting than engrossing. But hang on to your hats because the second half is unputdownable. The story sweeps into overdrive, and I just couldn't tear myself away.
Written by Luis Alberto Urrea, the novel is loosely based on his mother's experiences in World War II as a "Donut Dollie." His mom, known as Phyllis McLaughlin then and later as Phyllis de Urrea, served with the American Red Cross in Clubmobile Cheyenne where she and two other women made donuts and coffee for the soldiers serving on the frontlines. Phyllis (or "Phyl") is a very minor character in the book, making several cameo appearances.
This is the story: It's 1943. Irene Woodward is a 25-year-old New York City socialite engaged to the son of a wealthy and prominent political family. But he's far from ideal as he has this unforgivable habit of hitting her. She does the only thing she can think of to escape: Throws her engagement ring down a storm drain and hops a train to Washington, D.C. to join the American Red Cross as a Donut Dollie on the frontlines of the war. She is assigned to work with Dorothy Dunford, a tall, gangly Indiana farmgirl whose brother died in the Pacific Theater of the war, whose father died of throat cancer, and whose mother died of heartbreak. Dorothy is filled with hurt and rage and wants to extract revenge for her brother's death.
Irene and Dorothy are shipped to England first and then Europe on the Western Front. Their job in the Clubmobile Rapid City—a 14-foot GMC military truck—is to pass out coffee and donuts, but also to listen to the soldiers when they need to talk, joke with them, hug them, and give them a taste of home. This is the story of Irene and Dorothy's friendship, experiences, romances, heartbreak, and shocking secrets as they serve in General Patton's 3rd Army. Irene falls in love with a handsome American fighter pilot named Hans (and nicknamed Handyman) and dares to imagine a life together after the war. But first, they must all survive.
Urrea is an incredibly talented writer, and this is especially true in his vivid, bold, and wrenching descriptions of the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp, the Battle of the Bulge, and the harrowing and horrific evils of war. The sounds, the sights, the smells—it's all here. Extraordinary…truly extraordinary.
And the ending? It's magnificent. I wept tears of sadness and joy.
This masterful and brilliant World War II story is told from a different point of view than usual about the little-known women who made donuts but doubled as heroines. It is an adventure story. It is a romance. But most of all, it is imaginative, authentic, and haunting.
Written by Luis Alberto Urrea, the novel is loosely based on his mother's experiences in World War II as a "Donut Dollie." His mom, known as Phyllis McLaughlin then and later as Phyllis de Urrea, served with the American Red Cross in Clubmobile Cheyenne where she and two other women made donuts and coffee for the soldiers serving on the frontlines. Phyllis (or "Phyl") is a very minor character in the book, making several cameo appearances.
This is the story: It's 1943. Irene Woodward is a 25-year-old New York City socialite engaged to the son of a wealthy and prominent political family. But he's far from ideal as he has this unforgivable habit of hitting her. She does the only thing she can think of to escape: Throws her engagement ring down a storm drain and hops a train to Washington, D.C. to join the American Red Cross as a Donut Dollie on the frontlines of the war. She is assigned to work with Dorothy Dunford, a tall, gangly Indiana farmgirl whose brother died in the Pacific Theater of the war, whose father died of throat cancer, and whose mother died of heartbreak. Dorothy is filled with hurt and rage and wants to extract revenge for her brother's death.
Irene and Dorothy are shipped to England first and then Europe on the Western Front. Their job in the Clubmobile Rapid City—a 14-foot GMC military truck—is to pass out coffee and donuts, but also to listen to the soldiers when they need to talk, joke with them, hug them, and give them a taste of home. This is the story of Irene and Dorothy's friendship, experiences, romances, heartbreak, and shocking secrets as they serve in General Patton's 3rd Army. Irene falls in love with a handsome American fighter pilot named Hans (and nicknamed Handyman) and dares to imagine a life together after the war. But first, they must all survive.
Urrea is an incredibly talented writer, and this is especially true in his vivid, bold, and wrenching descriptions of the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp, the Battle of the Bulge, and the harrowing and horrific evils of war. The sounds, the sights, the smells—it's all here. Extraordinary…truly extraordinary.
And the ending? It's magnificent. I wept tears of sadness and joy.
This masterful and brilliant World War II story is told from a different point of view than usual about the little-known women who made donuts but doubled as heroines. It is an adventure story. It is a romance. But most of all, it is imaginative, authentic, and haunting.
February 23, 2025
The ugliness of war, the open hearts of Red Cross volunteers with a sweet burgeoning love story stirred in are the main ingredients of the recipe for the strong World War II story, Good Night, Irene.
It was beautiful that the author wrote this book to honor his mother and the other strong women who were American Red Cross volunteers with the moniker Donut Dollys. This was a extremely touching story of female friendship. Our main protagonists Irene and Dorothy are pushed to both their physical and psychological limits serving the troops on the firing line of the war.
This could have been a 5 star read for me but for the end of the book. In my opinion it was not necessary to drag out the ending when the rest of the book was so well paced.
If you are a lover of historical fiction and particularly the World War II period you should definetely pick up Good Night, Irene.
As always, enjoy your reading!
It was beautiful that the author wrote this book to honor his mother and the other strong women who were American Red Cross volunteers with the moniker Donut Dollys. This was a extremely touching story of female friendship. Our main protagonists Irene and Dorothy are pushed to both their physical and psychological limits serving the troops on the firing line of the war.
This could have been a 5 star read for me but for the end of the book. In my opinion it was not necessary to drag out the ending when the rest of the book was so well paced.
If you are a lover of historical fiction and particularly the World War II period you should definetely pick up Good Night, Irene.
As always, enjoy your reading!
October 8, 2023
A story of WWII, based on the experiences of the author's mother, as she joined up with the Red Cross as a clubmobiler. . .serving coffee and donuts to soldiers in the thick of battle and between rounds with opposing forces in battlefields abandoned for a moment. In other words, these women were in harm's way just about as often as those fighting the battles.
Irene meets a number of other women who find themselves members of an odd team - tasked with encouraging, inspiring, nurturing, comforting, and putting up with roaming hands and hearts. They were to overlook some things, to prevent others, and all with a smile and a knowing chuckle. They had the job of being mighty motivators balancing risks and loving the men they served, for the most part.
Gripping and engrossing, I found this a very satisfactory read, out of a very large field of contenders.
Irene meets a number of other women who find themselves members of an odd team - tasked with encouraging, inspiring, nurturing, comforting, and putting up with roaming hands and hearts. They were to overlook some things, to prevent others, and all with a smile and a knowing chuckle. They had the job of being mighty motivators balancing risks and loving the men they served, for the most part.
Gripping and engrossing, I found this a very satisfactory read, out of a very large field of contenders.
February 28, 2024
I loved this book! I’m interested in WW11 because my daddy was a waist gunner and flew 32 missions. I never knew about the donuts and coffee girls. This is a reminder of how brutal war is. Strong women, friendship, love, grief, survival. My emotions were all over the place. Don’t skip the author’s note and go back and look at picture in the front. Highly recommend!
June 6, 2024
Read for the Quarterfinals for the fiction BT prize. Review early June.
Really this was a most interesting book and it often made me smile even though it was historical WWII fiction. Who knew about the Red Cross volunteer women who braved bombing and poor roads to bring coffee and smiles to the troops? I had never heard of this unselfish, brave women who gave time, energy and smiles to U.S. troops. It was a good read and a good story as well. Much of it biographical. I recommend it.
Really this was a most interesting book and it often made me smile even though it was historical WWII fiction. Who knew about the Red Cross volunteer women who braved bombing and poor roads to bring coffee and smiles to the troops? I had never heard of this unselfish, brave women who gave time, energy and smiles to U.S. troops. It was a good read and a good story as well. Much of it biographical. I recommend it.
June 11, 2023
I’m a big WWII historical fiction fan and really wanted to love this book given it’s stellar reviews. The story was interesting but it moved so slow I kept losing interest. It isn’t a book I’d recommend for WWII historical fiction.
May 20, 2025
Good Night, Irene is historical fiction that highlights the contributions of women who served as Red Cross volunteers during WWII. One of their duties involved operating vehicles called Club-mobiles. They brought comfort to the soldiers through coffee, donuts, and moments of normalcy amid the chaos. They closely followed combat units, often dangerously close to forward positions.
Protagonist Irene Woodward is a young American woman who joins the war effort to escape an abusive relationship. Alongside Dorothy Dunford, her fellow Red Cross Club-mobile operator, Irene witnesses war first-hand. The storyline follows her journey from the US to England, then on to France, Belgium, and Germany.
This is one of the better WWII historical fictions I have read. It depicts a story of female friendship and close bonds developed in shared wartime experiences. It portrays the realities of war, and though romantic attraction is part of the story, it is not the primary focus. The story reveals the emotional toll of war on those who endure it.
Urrea is a fabulous storyteller. He balances moments of tenderness and humor with devastating loss. The novel is a tribute to Urrea's mother who had worked in a Club-mobile with the Red Cross during WWII. It is a powerful and emotional story. Do not miss the author’s note at the end.
4.5
Protagonist Irene Woodward is a young American woman who joins the war effort to escape an abusive relationship. Alongside Dorothy Dunford, her fellow Red Cross Club-mobile operator, Irene witnesses war first-hand. The storyline follows her journey from the US to England, then on to France, Belgium, and Germany.
This is one of the better WWII historical fictions I have read. It depicts a story of female friendship and close bonds developed in shared wartime experiences. It portrays the realities of war, and though romantic attraction is part of the story, it is not the primary focus. The story reveals the emotional toll of war on those who endure it.
Urrea is a fabulous storyteller. He balances moments of tenderness and humor with devastating loss. The novel is a tribute to Urrea's mother who had worked in a Club-mobile with the Red Cross during WWII. It is a powerful and emotional story. Do not miss the author’s note at the end.
4.5
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