Birmingham Rose

by Annie Murray

It's never too late to start again . . .

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, War

498 pages, Paperback

First published February 24, 1995

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

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never would have picked this book up however it was given to me by a friend, and I actually quite enjoyed it.

A great account of life during the second world war and after in Birmingham.

Three stars.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover tells you all - this is romance, sub-genre saga, even though it only covers a single generation. Not my usual sort of thing at all, but the price have to pay for having an office far from the main administration parts of the school is that I can get stuck in the staffroom waiting for someone. It was on one of those occasions that I started to read this and I'm not one to leave a book unfinished so ...

As expected, plucky heroine overcomes a poor childhood and several setbacks to find true love and fulfilment at last. Some of the tragic events in Rose's life were almost convenient in that the final outcome would not have been possible without them, but she is never allowed to realise this. I was also not sure about the rationale for the harshly-treated-evacuee-brother sub-plot: her taking him in didn't seem to tell us more about her and his behaviour throughout was too obvious. The main reason I couldn't relate to Rose was nothing to do with the writing or plot, but because I seem to be totally devoid of the maternal instinct which is one of her main motivations. Still, it was gripping enough to read through a headache, even if it didn't get to me enough to make me weep, as I'm sure was the intention.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was okay. The early part of the book was really good with the injustices done to somebody who just want ed to try and get on in the world, but it seemed to peter off after that and became quite predictable and some parts almost 'convenient' for the story to reach its end which again was a predictable 'happy ever after.' A lot of irrelavent stuff as well that wasn't necessary to the plot.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Takes you through the streets of Birmingham and Italy and the relationships of the people that tie the two countries. The hardships and struggles and the love story that develops.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this on my Kindle, loved it so much I bought the paperback version to send to my Mum.

[Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well so far I'm off to a lousy start with reading authors I once loved again. The last book made my blood boil and this one was depressing. Even the sort of happy ending didn't feel that happy. It starts in the early 1930s when Rose our main character is found in the rain by the wife of a vicar. Rose becomes good friends with their daughter Diana. And for the first 100 or so pages the story was pretty good. I loved the complexities of Rose's parents, Dora who seemed at times broken and bitter but still quite willingly to do anything for her children and Sid a once proud hardworking man left shattered by the Great War but hating the man he had become. This came through later in the book when he refused permission for Rose to marry in 1939 because of how broken the last war left him. But before all that I was quite engaged in the story then the Lazenby part happened and I lost interest. It didn't seem to fit well into the story and only seemed there to give Rose trauma and well it was pointless. After that I didn't really care what happened. I mean Rose went from fiesty to boring and depressing and that whole thread ruined the book and again given the outcome it really didn't need to be there it served no real purpose didn't drive the story further or come up that much later. It pushed some of the good characters out and the book took a dark cynical turn and as I said it never bounced back from the poor but happy I'm going to make something of myself story it started out as. It perked up sort of during the war years. I loved Gloria wish we saw more of her but like Diana she disappears. There's weird time jumps where we skip over large parts of the story and only get a quick recap of how we got here which was confusing. At the end of one chapter Grace is engaged then suddenly shes complaining to Rose about how lucky she is to have a husband. Werent you engaged? What happened to him? So overall I guess it was okay. It was tough to get to the end though, but at least I didn't end up despising almost every single character like I did in Queen of the Mersey. I am glad that this wasn't my first book by Annie Murray otherwise it would've been my last. On a side note to add to the depressing angle one of the last chapters takes place on Coronation Day in 1953 which shows just how long Elizabeth II reigned for. I adored Grace's love of the royals reminds me of me. I love looking at the pictures reading the books etc but everyone else kind of rolls their eyes at me for it. But anyway I did like Rose and Grace and Alfie and the whole lot but boy was this a tough slog to get through.

[Stephii-Dawne Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book quite difficult to get into to begin with, due to the story being a bit close to home. But I'm so glad I persevered, because this epic story just gets better and better at every turn of the page. The author has written it so you're sucked into the life of Rose, and everything that goes on in her world. Through her heartaches, turmoil, wondering, and happiness, you really feel all of it. And this book has such an amazing ending. It was the perfect end to an awesome story. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and can't wait to pass it on for someone else to enjoy now!

[Trudie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were a couple of bits in this that I wasn't so keen on but this was really good. From growing up in Birmingham to spending the war years in Italy and back to Birmingham. I liked the main character Rose and her sister Grace.

[Helena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bittersweet

[Layla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn’t get into this series,

[Natalya · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Linda Hobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book,well worth reading

[Christine Alford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an easy read with down to earth characters! Love all of Annie Murray’s books!

[Dawnie1610 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very exciting read about Rose Lucas and her life before, during and after WWII.

[Annette Summerfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Rose, her family and the war. A woman and her struggles through the war time.
I read it in 2 days and felt very close and understanding of Rose and all she went through. Heart warming, sad, happy, loss...life

[Lindsay Wilson]

Even better in audio :-)

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, great storyline and fab.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤ 5 stars. Great story and a great true love between Rose and Paulo ❤

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely well written, great characters, true to life, interesting historical references - another great book from Annie Murray

[Ruth Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

easy read, nice story

[Annette Brampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of a girl who lives in Birmingham during the war years, she is from a poor family. The story follows her through until adulthood. Eventually happiness does happen.

Lovely book to read.