The Solitude Tree

by Colin Webster

Emma, young and with a touch of attitude, spends the weekend with her parents visiting her sick grandmother in the country. It’s the last place she wants to be. When her parents unexpectedly need to return to the city for work, she is left to care for her grandmother alone and for longer than she expected. Reluctant at first she becomes determined to prove to herself and to her mother that she can cope. Emma’s mood lifts when her grandmother begins to tell her stories of the time she spent serving in army hospitals during the war and Emma soon begins to draw comparisons with her own life. This is a story of life, love and death set in modern day Australia and the Pacific during World War Two.

346 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 10, 2018

Reviews

[Mrs R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. It has something for everyone; family drama, love and a bit of history. The characters are believable, and I enjoyed watching their stories unfold. Emma undergoes quite a transformation over the course of the novel. I like that the story takes place in two different eras - the present day and during World War 2. The historical scenes are authentic and the fact that they're told via Gran's memories is a clever touch. I really enjoyed the writing as it's written in a way real people think and speak, which means that the narrative and dialogue are very believable. I thought the ending was beautiful; it made me cry which, for me, is a sign that it's a great book!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Solitude Tree by Colin Webster. This lovely story is set in both modern times and World War 2. Colin brings to life the characters and vividly creates the worlds in which they live in with crisp no-nonsense writing. I really felt that I was there, with Kitty and Emma, every step of the way, living their story. A simply superb well written novel. A must read for anyone who enjoys wartime memories.