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East End Ration #3
A Ration Book Childhood
In the darkest days of the Blitz, family is more important than ever.
With her family struggling amidst the nightly bombing raids in London's East End, Ida Brogan is doing her very best to keep their spirits up. The Blitz has hit the Brogans hard, and rationing is more challenging than ever, but they are doing all they can to help the war effort.
When Ida's oldest friend Ellen returns to town, sick and in dire need of help, it is to Ida that she turns. But Ellen carries a secret, one that threatens not only Ida's marriage, but the entire foundation of the Brogan family. Can Ida let go of the past and see a way to forgive her friend? And can she overcome her sadness to find a place in her heart for a little boy, one who will need a mother more than ever in these dark times?
With her family struggling amidst the nightly bombing raids in London's East End, Ida Brogan is doing her very best to keep their spirits up. The Blitz has hit the Brogans hard, and rationing is more challenging than ever, but they are doing all they can to help the war effort.
When Ida's oldest friend Ellen returns to town, sick and in dire need of help, it is to Ida that she turns. But Ellen carries a secret, one that threatens not only Ida's marriage, but the entire foundation of the Brogan family. Can Ida let go of the past and see a way to forgive her friend? And can she overcome her sadness to find a place in her heart for a little boy, one who will need a mother more than ever in these dark times?
400 pages, Paperback
Published January 3, 2020
200 people are currently reading
325 people want to read
About the author
Jean Fullerton
30 books197 followersI was born into a large, East End family and grew up in the overcrowded streets clustered around the Tower of London. I still live in East London, just five miles from where I was born. I feel that it is that my background that gives my historical East London stories their distinctive authenticity.
I first fell in love with history at school when I read Anya Seton’s book Katherine. Since then I have read everything I can about English history but I am particularly fascinated by the 18th and 19th century and my books are set in this period. I just love my native city and the East End in particular which is why I write stories to bring that vibrant area of London alive.
I am also passionate about historical accuracy and I enjoy researching the details almost as much as weaving the story. If one of my characters walks down a street you can be assured that that street actually existed. Take a look at Jean’s East End and see the actual location where my characters played out their stories.
I first fell in love with history at school when I read Anya Seton’s book Katherine. Since then I have read everything I can about English history but I am particularly fascinated by the 18th and 19th century and my books are set in this period. I just love my native city and the East End in particular which is why I write stories to bring that vibrant area of London alive.
I am also passionate about historical accuracy and I enjoy researching the details almost as much as weaving the story. If one of my characters walks down a street you can be assured that that street actually existed. Take a look at Jean’s East End and see the actual location where my characters played out their stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
October 10, 2019
5☆ A Touching and Captivating War Time Saga I didn't want to put down.
Oh how I love the war time reads they are by far some of my favourite books.
They bring back so many fond memories of my Nans stories. I could of listened to her for hours.
This is my second book by Jean, and my second book within the series. But I had no problem quickly settling into the story. Time just flew by!
This story is centred around Ida and the Brogan Family within the East End during WWII, where rationing was the only way to survive, and family sticking together meant everything.
There is a few little twists which I really enjoyed as it added a little mystery and secrecy to the plot.
The Characters are so endearing, loveable and authentic. They made such an impression on me in the last book I couldn't wait to catch up with them in this book.
Jean took me on a journey of discovery and into the heart of East End and WWII.
I literally felt like I was apart of the story.
All of the precise intricate details were very Authentic and perfectly plotted.
The ambience, what life was like living on rations, Having no Money and scraping by on what you had, the emotions of war and it's effects, the danger, sounds, sights and smells. It felt so real. I've read plenty of these types of books but Jean had it spot on.
A Ration Book Childhood is a Touching Story about Survival, Family, Rationing, Betrayal, Secrets and Friendships.
It's a heart felt, Engrossing read that had me captivated the whole way through.
I can't wait for the next instalment!
So if you love a heart warming War Time Saga, with endearing characters, and an Authentic and Emotional plot, then you have to not only read A Ration Book Childhood, but the whole series!
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2019/1...
Oh how I love the war time reads they are by far some of my favourite books.
They bring back so many fond memories of my Nans stories. I could of listened to her for hours.
This is my second book by Jean, and my second book within the series. But I had no problem quickly settling into the story. Time just flew by!
This story is centred around Ida and the Brogan Family within the East End during WWII, where rationing was the only way to survive, and family sticking together meant everything.
There is a few little twists which I really enjoyed as it added a little mystery and secrecy to the plot.
The Characters are so endearing, loveable and authentic. They made such an impression on me in the last book I couldn't wait to catch up with them in this book.
Jean took me on a journey of discovery and into the heart of East End and WWII.
I literally felt like I was apart of the story.
All of the precise intricate details were very Authentic and perfectly plotted.
The ambience, what life was like living on rations, Having no Money and scraping by on what you had, the emotions of war and it's effects, the danger, sounds, sights and smells. It felt so real. I've read plenty of these types of books but Jean had it spot on.
A Ration Book Childhood is a Touching Story about Survival, Family, Rationing, Betrayal, Secrets and Friendships.
It's a heart felt, Engrossing read that had me captivated the whole way through.
I can't wait for the next instalment!
So if you love a heart warming War Time Saga, with endearing characters, and an Authentic and Emotional plot, then you have to not only read A Ration Book Childhood, but the whole series!
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2019/1...
January 14, 2020
I loved this book! This was the third in the series and it was like meeting up with old friends!!! It was such a warm, easy read and it was lovely. I finished it very quickly as I couldn’t put it down.
If you love a war-time saga about families living during the blitz, then you will love this.
If you love a war-time saga about families living during the blitz, then you will love this.
December 24, 2019
This time Fullerton focuses on the Brogan’s mother, Ida, in the third instalment of the ‘Ration Book’ series. I could not tell if this is the last one of the series, because the ending was still rather open however, I do not think this was as gripping as its predecessors. Whilst still a good read that portrays the hardships of the Blitz during the Second World War, Ida’s story did not have the same thrilling element of the previous books.
I was surprised that Fullerton had chosen to focus on Ida, fully expecting it to be the third sister of the Brogan daughter’s. However, I guess Cathy’s story was made pretty clear in the first novel, and there wasn’t too much new material to be added here. Despite having read all of the books in the series so far, this could easily be read as a stand-alone, as the writer provides plenty of the background story on all the other characters. Indeed, even if you had read the previous books and had taken a while to move through them all, you would not notice the gap at all; it felt like I was revisiting old family friends and it was pleasant to be reminded of the different histories.
Ida’s story focuses on love and trust, especially as she receives news that completely rocks her seemingly stable marriage. She is truly tested in already difficult times and once again, Fullerton brings alive the horrors of the war. Readers witness the daily struggles of the bombings on London – from rationing to sleeping in shelters each night. It feels like an alien world and so far away, making it all the more horrific with the knowledge that this did actually happen.
Queenie’s role in the story continues to bring light-hearted relief and she did make me chuckle! She is definitely one of my favourite characters and provided a break from the bleakness surrounding Ida. Never afraid of speaking her mind, Queenie stands up for herself and her family, regardless of who is on the receiving end of her brutal words. She is a brilliant character and I don’t think the story would have been the same without her.
I enjoyed this book and the wealth of emotions that the story provoked. Unexpectedly, this book closes on Christmas day, making it a surprise festive read! However, this should not deter any potential readers as it could easily be read at any time of the year. Yet, with no word on a fourth book in the series and the war still on-going, I wonder if Fullerton will be able to write a further story – with enough original material to continue following the Brogan family?
This was a lovely read and one that focuses on internal and external conflict. The importance of family loyalties is made clear throughout, instilling the feeling of love and warmth – particularly with the closing chapter. Whilst I did not find it as thrilling as the previous books, it was great to continue to read about the Brogans and how they survive London’s blitz.
With thanks to Atlantic books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was surprised that Fullerton had chosen to focus on Ida, fully expecting it to be the third sister of the Brogan daughter’s. However, I guess Cathy’s story was made pretty clear in the first novel, and there wasn’t too much new material to be added here. Despite having read all of the books in the series so far, this could easily be read as a stand-alone, as the writer provides plenty of the background story on all the other characters. Indeed, even if you had read the previous books and had taken a while to move through them all, you would not notice the gap at all; it felt like I was revisiting old family friends and it was pleasant to be reminded of the different histories.
Ida’s story focuses on love and trust, especially as she receives news that completely rocks her seemingly stable marriage. She is truly tested in already difficult times and once again, Fullerton brings alive the horrors of the war. Readers witness the daily struggles of the bombings on London – from rationing to sleeping in shelters each night. It feels like an alien world and so far away, making it all the more horrific with the knowledge that this did actually happen.
Queenie’s role in the story continues to bring light-hearted relief and she did make me chuckle! She is definitely one of my favourite characters and provided a break from the bleakness surrounding Ida. Never afraid of speaking her mind, Queenie stands up for herself and her family, regardless of who is on the receiving end of her brutal words. She is a brilliant character and I don’t think the story would have been the same without her.
I enjoyed this book and the wealth of emotions that the story provoked. Unexpectedly, this book closes on Christmas day, making it a surprise festive read! However, this should not deter any potential readers as it could easily be read at any time of the year. Yet, with no word on a fourth book in the series and the war still on-going, I wonder if Fullerton will be able to write a further story – with enough original material to continue following the Brogan family?
This was a lovely read and one that focuses on internal and external conflict. The importance of family loyalties is made clear throughout, instilling the feeling of love and warmth – particularly with the closing chapter. Whilst I did not find it as thrilling as the previous books, it was great to continue to read about the Brogans and how they survive London’s blitz.
With thanks to Atlantic books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 10, 2019
I really enjoyed the previous book in the series, A Ration Book Christmas, so it was a pleasure to be reunited with the Brogan clan. However, readers new to the series need not worry as they’ll soon be familiar with the members of the family and key events from previous books.
This time the focus is very much on Ida and Jerimiah as secrets and sins of the past threaten their previously rock strong marriage, something their children have up until now taken for granted. And, it turns out, others have secrets too. Sadly, not every problem can be solved with a nice cup of tea. However, when it comes to it, “Family is family”.
Once again, I was impressed with the way the author conjured up the atmosphere of wartime London – the nightly blackout, the interminable queuing, rationing (hence the spam sandwiches and eggless cake), and nights spent in crowded air raid shelters with little privacy. There’s also a real feeling of authenticity created by the little details of daily domestic life – the outside privy, the family’s ‘smalls’ piled in an enamel bucket under the sink waiting for wash day, listening to the BBC Home Service on the radio.
The book is a reminder that the fortitude of those on the ‘Home Front’ was in many ways just as great as those serving in the Army, Navy and Air Force. Like so many other families during this period, the Brogans live with constant uncertainty about the fate of loved ones serving overseas and are involved in war work that is often just as dangerous: fire-watching, driving ambulances, serving in the Home Guard.
As with the last book, there’s humour to lighten the mood. For example, this description of the most prominent feature of Ida’s wayward daughter-in-law, Stella (nee Miggles) – her breasts. ‘Tonight, like a pair of pink torpedoes, these were pushed up beneath the tight, sweetheart neckline of her figure-hugging dress as if ready to fire at someone. Someone, that is, wearing trousers.‘ And I’m pleased to say there’s the return of the fabulous matriarch of the Brogan clan, Queenie – reader of tea leaves, purveyor of wisdom… and horse-racing tips. Her showdown with Ida’s snooty sister Pearl is one of my absolute favourite scenes in the book.
As Christmas approaches, there are money worries and more serious concerns than what to serve for the festive feast. For Ida especially, there are difficult choices to be made. And if you’re not a bit blurry-eyed at the end of the book then you really do have a heart of stone.
In A Ration Book Childhood, Jean Fullerton delivers another heart-warming story of daily life in the East End of London during World War 2. If you want to get a real sense of what it was like to live during this period in our history, this is the series for you. (Oh, and a shout out to the designer of the book cover for use of a vintage image rather than present-day models dressed in costumes from the period who, to my mind, never manage to look authentically of that time.)
This time the focus is very much on Ida and Jerimiah as secrets and sins of the past threaten their previously rock strong marriage, something their children have up until now taken for granted. And, it turns out, others have secrets too. Sadly, not every problem can be solved with a nice cup of tea. However, when it comes to it, “Family is family”.
Once again, I was impressed with the way the author conjured up the atmosphere of wartime London – the nightly blackout, the interminable queuing, rationing (hence the spam sandwiches and eggless cake), and nights spent in crowded air raid shelters with little privacy. There’s also a real feeling of authenticity created by the little details of daily domestic life – the outside privy, the family’s ‘smalls’ piled in an enamel bucket under the sink waiting for wash day, listening to the BBC Home Service on the radio.
The book is a reminder that the fortitude of those on the ‘Home Front’ was in many ways just as great as those serving in the Army, Navy and Air Force. Like so many other families during this period, the Brogans live with constant uncertainty about the fate of loved ones serving overseas and are involved in war work that is often just as dangerous: fire-watching, driving ambulances, serving in the Home Guard.
As with the last book, there’s humour to lighten the mood. For example, this description of the most prominent feature of Ida’s wayward daughter-in-law, Stella (nee Miggles) – her breasts. ‘Tonight, like a pair of pink torpedoes, these were pushed up beneath the tight, sweetheart neckline of her figure-hugging dress as if ready to fire at someone. Someone, that is, wearing trousers.‘ And I’m pleased to say there’s the return of the fabulous matriarch of the Brogan clan, Queenie – reader of tea leaves, purveyor of wisdom… and horse-racing tips. Her showdown with Ida’s snooty sister Pearl is one of my absolute favourite scenes in the book.
As Christmas approaches, there are money worries and more serious concerns than what to serve for the festive feast. For Ida especially, there are difficult choices to be made. And if you’re not a bit blurry-eyed at the end of the book then you really do have a heart of stone.
In A Ration Book Childhood, Jean Fullerton delivers another heart-warming story of daily life in the East End of London during World War 2. If you want to get a real sense of what it was like to live during this period in our history, this is the series for you. (Oh, and a shout out to the designer of the book cover for use of a vintage image rather than present-day models dressed in costumes from the period who, to my mind, never manage to look authentically of that time.)
June 16, 2019
I have to say it was so good to join the Brogan family in A Ration Book Childhood,Ida is out when she she's a face from the past and goes to say hello but what happens is going to shatter ida and her marriage.The Brogans are a family that pull together but can they heal the rift between their parents,as christmas is coming the family club together to put on a family spread.Queenie is still the same but what has happened has rocked her world too and she has sympathy for Ida.I have to say that this is the best book yet of Brogan Family and when you read it have tissues ready as you will need them.worthy of more stars but 5* is all i can give Thank you to Jean Fullerton for a BRILLIANT book.
September 30, 2019
Jean Fullerton is the bestselling author of many family saga novels and the ‘East End Ration’ books of which this “A Ration Book Childhood” is the third in the series.
As soon as you start to read this book you get an immediate feel for the setting and how life was like for families during WW2 and the blitz.
This was my first book by the author so I can’t compare it to the others but it was well written and atmospheric and covered every single thing about life back in the 1940’s and is really quite an eyeopener. You really don’t realise how much you take for granted these days until you read something like this. Daily life of just wondering whether there would be enough meat left to buy by the time you got to the front of the queue, whether you would be able to get new uniform for your children to go to school in or if you would be able to scrape enough luxuries together to be able to cook a Christmas Day dinner. All along with the worry of sons, brothers, dads and husbands who were fighting for their country abroad. The daily bombings and having to trek to shelters with your kids and enough supplies to see you through all night if necessary, must have been torturous, not knowing if when you left the shelter your house would still be standing. Without reminders of life back then, we truly can’t appreciate how easy we have things today and how readily food and utilities are available to us now.
However, without belittling what families went through during the blitz, I did find the book a little dull. Without Queenie’s regular outbursts of Irish banter and setting the cat among the pigeons when she disagreed with anything, the story would be all rather one dimensional and I found generally the whole plot rather ‘safe’ even though there was emotion and family betrayals etc in the storyline.
Saying that, I did enjoy reading it for the historical aspect and I can see there has been a huge amount of research done to convey such authenticity in the story. The older generation who lived through the blitz will enjoy this series immensely but I also feel the younger generation should read this, to understand just how hard life was for families during the World Wars.
3.5 stars
As soon as you start to read this book you get an immediate feel for the setting and how life was like for families during WW2 and the blitz.
This was my first book by the author so I can’t compare it to the others but it was well written and atmospheric and covered every single thing about life back in the 1940’s and is really quite an eyeopener. You really don’t realise how much you take for granted these days until you read something like this. Daily life of just wondering whether there would be enough meat left to buy by the time you got to the front of the queue, whether you would be able to get new uniform for your children to go to school in or if you would be able to scrape enough luxuries together to be able to cook a Christmas Day dinner. All along with the worry of sons, brothers, dads and husbands who were fighting for their country abroad. The daily bombings and having to trek to shelters with your kids and enough supplies to see you through all night if necessary, must have been torturous, not knowing if when you left the shelter your house would still be standing. Without reminders of life back then, we truly can’t appreciate how easy we have things today and how readily food and utilities are available to us now.
However, without belittling what families went through during the blitz, I did find the book a little dull. Without Queenie’s regular outbursts of Irish banter and setting the cat among the pigeons when she disagreed with anything, the story would be all rather one dimensional and I found generally the whole plot rather ‘safe’ even though there was emotion and family betrayals etc in the storyline.
Saying that, I did enjoy reading it for the historical aspect and I can see there has been a huge amount of research done to convey such authenticity in the story. The older generation who lived through the blitz will enjoy this series immensely but I also feel the younger generation should read this, to understand just how hard life was for families during the World Wars.
3.5 stars
September 30, 2019
Jean Fullerton is the bestselling author of many family saga novels and the ‘East End Ration’ books of which this “A Ration Book Childhood” is the third in the series.
As soon as you start to read this book you get an immediate feel for the setting and how life was like for families during WW2 and the blitz.
This was my first book by the author so I can’t compare it to the others but it was well written and atmospheric and covered every single thing about life back in the 1940’s and is really quite an eyeopener. You really don’t realise how much you take for granted these days until you read something like this. Daily life of just wondering whether there would be enough meat left to buy by the time you got to the front of the queue, whether you would be able to get new uniform for your children to go to school in or if you would be able to scrape enough luxuries together to be able to cook a Christmas Day dinner. All along with the worry of sons, brothers, dads and husbands who were fighting for their country abroad. The daily bombings and having to trek to shelters with your kids and enough supplies to see you through all night if necessary, must have been torturous, not knowing if when you left the shelter your house would still be standing. Without reminders of life back then, we truly can’t appreciate how easy we have things today and how readily food and utilities are available to us now.
However, without belittling what families went through during the blitz, I did find the book a little dull. Without Queenie’s regular outbursts of Irish banter and setting the cat among the pigeons when she disagreed with anything, the story would be all rather one dimensional and I found generally the whole plot rather ‘safe’ even though there was emotion and family betrayals etc in the storyline.
Saying that, I did enjoy reading it for the historical aspect and I can see there has been a huge amount of research done to convey such authenticity in the story. The older generation who lived through the blitz will enjoy this series immensely but I also feel the younger generation should read this, to understand just how hard life was for families during the World Wars.
3.5 stars
As soon as you start to read this book you get an immediate feel for the setting and how life was like for families during WW2 and the blitz.
This was my first book by the author so I can’t compare it to the others but it was well written and atmospheric and covered every single thing about life back in the 1940’s and is really quite an eyeopener. You really don’t realise how much you take for granted these days until you read something like this. Daily life of just wondering whether there would be enough meat left to buy by the time you got to the front of the queue, whether you would be able to get new uniform for your children to go to school in or if you would be able to scrape enough luxuries together to be able to cook a Christmas Day dinner. All along with the worry of sons, brothers, dads and husbands who were fighting for their country abroad. The daily bombings and having to trek to shelters with your kids and enough supplies to see you through all night if necessary, must have been torturous, not knowing if when you left the shelter your house would still be standing. Without reminders of life back then, we truly can’t appreciate how easy we have things today and how readily food and utilities are available to us now.
However, without belittling what families went through during the blitz, I did find the book a little dull. Without Queenie’s regular outbursts of Irish banter and setting the cat among the pigeons when she disagreed with anything, the story would be all rather one dimensional and I found generally the whole plot rather ‘safe’ even though there was emotion and family betrayals etc in the storyline.
Saying that, I did enjoy reading it for the historical aspect and I can see there has been a huge amount of research done to convey such authenticity in the story. The older generation who lived through the blitz will enjoy this series immensely but I also feel the younger generation should read this, to understand just how hard life was for families during the World Wars.
3.5 stars
October 4, 2019
This is a fantastic read and it's set in the early years of World War 11. It follows the Brogan family through all their ups and downs and trying to get by in a world where just about everything was rationed.
Ida is married to Jerimiah and Ida is the heart and center of this story. She's a strong woman who holds her family together even when she is dealt one of the severest blows of all.
The characters, and there are some great ones, are so real they almost leap off the page. The language of the people from the East End is wonderfully done and I laughed out loud at times,especially when Queenie, Ida's mother in law was talking. She had some very funny lines.
I could not put this book down. From the first page I was hooked and I hope there's another book to follow as I'd love to know more about this family. I didn't realise there was a book before this, A Ration Book Christmas, but you don't have to have read it to enjoy this one. It's a stand alone read.
I'd highly recommend it.
Ida is married to Jerimiah and Ida is the heart and center of this story. She's a strong woman who holds her family together even when she is dealt one of the severest blows of all.
The characters, and there are some great ones, are so real they almost leap off the page. The language of the people from the East End is wonderfully done and I laughed out loud at times,especially when Queenie, Ida's mother in law was talking. She had some very funny lines.
I could not put this book down. From the first page I was hooked and I hope there's another book to follow as I'd love to know more about this family. I didn't realise there was a book before this, A Ration Book Christmas, but you don't have to have read it to enjoy this one. It's a stand alone read.
I'd highly recommend it.
October 6, 2019
A paint-by-numbers but readable Blitz set saga set that the cliched characters fail to bring to life.
A Ration Book Childhood is the third book is the series featuring the larger than life Brogan family and set firmly in the East End during the darkest days of the Blitz. Each book in the series focuses primarily on one family member with the first and second book telling the stories of daughters, Mattie and Jo respectively and this third book concentrating on big-hearted matriarch, Ida. Having read the second book that takes in Jo’s evacuation and sees her joining the home front war effort and finding it a pleasant read I was wholeheartedly disappointed by this third instalment.
At forty-two years old Ida Brogan has been married for a quarter of a century to Irish charmer and rag-and-bone man, Jeremiah (Jerry), and raised three girls and a son alongside her sister’s eleven-year-old unwanted son, Billy. Living with her cantankerous mother-in-law, Queenie, who doubles as a bookmakers runner and already no stranger to hard times, the run up to Christmas 1941 sees austerity and additional wartime directives stretch the family finances. Together with Ida attempting to make the Christmas a happy one with a few unexpected culinary luxuries she also volunteers at the Women’s Voluntary Service (WVS) rest centre with Jerry on patrol as a member of the Home Guard and unmarried daughter, Jo, an ambulance driver.
The central focus of the plot revolves around Ida catching sight of an old friend, Ellen Gilbert, looking a shadow of her former self even bearing in mind the two years of food rationing and disturbed nights that the country has experienced. With cheekbones jutting out and a sallow complexion her shock is only compounded when Ellen introduces her son, Michael, the spitting image of Jeremiah and leaving Ida in no doubt that her husband has been unfaithful and her children have a half-brother living just a few streets away. But why is Ellen back and what does it mean for the Brogan’s, in particular Ida? With implications for her family and the burden falling on matriarch, Ida, she soon finds herself confronted by the most impossible choices...
Disappointingly Ida’s eventual decisions felt like a foregone conclusion from the off and instead of the turmoil that I would have expected a woman in her position to experience her responses all felt a little hollow. Her easy acceptance of the predicament and the lead up to a making several unenviable choices felt devoid of real emotion meaning I found it difficult to invest in Ida as a character. In addition so much of the dialogue and interaction felt forced and as a consequence the whole main plot was disappointingly predictable. Fullerton’s poor characterisation lets the novel down with several of the predominant characters in this novel (Ida, Jeremiah, Queenie) failing to emerge from the page and their behaviour feeling stilted throughout.
Alongside the central plot of Ida and Jeremiah’s troubles, other family members stories provide some interesting sub-plots and combine to build a picture of London family life in the East End during the worst of the Blitz. Together with Jeremiah attempting to branch out with the rag-and-bone trade less profitable the stories of all three daughters add much to the drama, with eldest daughter, Mattie, a mother and and her husband working for MI5, Cathy’s husband behind bars and ambulance driver Jo’s fiancé stationed at Bletchley Park.
Admittedly there is a great deal of wartime colour but much of it is anecdotal and pretty superficial, being things that will be widely known amongst anyone with an interest in this period from eggless cakes, queuing outside shops, substituting with potatoes and carrots in recipes and all unclaimed metal being deemed government property. Despite being a very readable wartime saga that comes with snippets of information on the home front in the run up to Christmas 1941 I found it disappointingly formulaic and it added little to the previous saga novels that I have read. The emphasis of the novel is very definitely rosy and overall it failed to convince.
With thanks to Readers First who provided me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
A Ration Book Childhood is the third book is the series featuring the larger than life Brogan family and set firmly in the East End during the darkest days of the Blitz. Each book in the series focuses primarily on one family member with the first and second book telling the stories of daughters, Mattie and Jo respectively and this third book concentrating on big-hearted matriarch, Ida. Having read the second book that takes in Jo’s evacuation and sees her joining the home front war effort and finding it a pleasant read I was wholeheartedly disappointed by this third instalment.
At forty-two years old Ida Brogan has been married for a quarter of a century to Irish charmer and rag-and-bone man, Jeremiah (Jerry), and raised three girls and a son alongside her sister’s eleven-year-old unwanted son, Billy. Living with her cantankerous mother-in-law, Queenie, who doubles as a bookmakers runner and already no stranger to hard times, the run up to Christmas 1941 sees austerity and additional wartime directives stretch the family finances. Together with Ida attempting to make the Christmas a happy one with a few unexpected culinary luxuries she also volunteers at the Women’s Voluntary Service (WVS) rest centre with Jerry on patrol as a member of the Home Guard and unmarried daughter, Jo, an ambulance driver.
The central focus of the plot revolves around Ida catching sight of an old friend, Ellen Gilbert, looking a shadow of her former self even bearing in mind the two years of food rationing and disturbed nights that the country has experienced. With cheekbones jutting out and a sallow complexion her shock is only compounded when Ellen introduces her son, Michael, the spitting image of Jeremiah and leaving Ida in no doubt that her husband has been unfaithful and her children have a half-brother living just a few streets away. But why is Ellen back and what does it mean for the Brogan’s, in particular Ida? With implications for her family and the burden falling on matriarch, Ida, she soon finds herself confronted by the most impossible choices...
Disappointingly Ida’s eventual decisions felt like a foregone conclusion from the off and instead of the turmoil that I would have expected a woman in her position to experience her responses all felt a little hollow. Her easy acceptance of the predicament and the lead up to a making several unenviable choices felt devoid of real emotion meaning I found it difficult to invest in Ida as a character. In addition so much of the dialogue and interaction felt forced and as a consequence the whole main plot was disappointingly predictable. Fullerton’s poor characterisation lets the novel down with several of the predominant characters in this novel (Ida, Jeremiah, Queenie) failing to emerge from the page and their behaviour feeling stilted throughout.
Alongside the central plot of Ida and Jeremiah’s troubles, other family members stories provide some interesting sub-plots and combine to build a picture of London family life in the East End during the worst of the Blitz. Together with Jeremiah attempting to branch out with the rag-and-bone trade less profitable the stories of all three daughters add much to the drama, with eldest daughter, Mattie, a mother and and her husband working for MI5, Cathy’s husband behind bars and ambulance driver Jo’s fiancé stationed at Bletchley Park.
Admittedly there is a great deal of wartime colour but much of it is anecdotal and pretty superficial, being things that will be widely known amongst anyone with an interest in this period from eggless cakes, queuing outside shops, substituting with potatoes and carrots in recipes and all unclaimed metal being deemed government property. Despite being a very readable wartime saga that comes with snippets of information on the home front in the run up to Christmas 1941 I found it disappointingly formulaic and it added little to the previous saga novels that I have read. The emphasis of the novel is very definitely rosy and overall it failed to convince.
With thanks to Readers First who provided me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
September 30, 2019
A paint-by-numbers but readable Blitz set saga set that the cliched characters fail to bring to life.
A Ration Book Childhood is the third book is the series featuring the larger than life Brogan family and set firmly in the East End during the darkest days of the Blitz. Each book in the series focuses primarily on one family member with the first and second book telling the stories of daughters, Mattie and Jo respectively and this third book concentrating on big-hearted matriarch, Ida. Having read the second book that takes in Jo’s evacuation and sees her joining the home front war effort and finding it a pleasant read I was wholeheartedly disappointed by this third instalment.
At forty-two years old Ida Brogan has been married for a quarter of a century to Irish charmer and rag-and-bone man, Jeremiah (Jerry), and raised three girls and a son alongside her sister’s eleven-year-old unwanted son, Billy. Living with her cantankerous mother-in-law, Queenie, who doubles as a bookmakers runner and already no stranger to hard times, the run up to Christmas 1941 sees austerity and additional wartime directives stretch the family finances. Together with Ida attempting to make the Christmas a happy one with a few unexpected culinary luxuries she also volunteers at the Women’s Voluntary Service (WVS) rest centre with Jerry on patrol as a member of the Home Guard and unmarried daughter, Jo, an ambulance driver.
The central focus of the plot revolves around Ida catching sight of an old friend, Ellen Gilbert, looking a shadow of her former self even bearing in mind the two years of food rationing and disturbed nights that the country has experienced. With cheekbones jutting out and a sallow complexion her shock is only compounded when Ellen introduces her son, Michael, the spitting image of Jeremiah and leaving Ida in no doubt that her husband has been unfaithful and her children have a half-brother living just a few streets away. But why is Ellen back and what does it mean for the Brogan’s, in particular Ida? With implications for her family and the burden falling on matriarch, Ida, she soon finds herself confronted by the most impossible choices...
Disappointingly Ida’s eventual decisions felt like a foregone conclusion from the off and instead of the turmoil that I would have expected a woman in her position to experience her responses all felt a little hollow. Her easy acceptance of the predicament and the lead up to a making several unenviable choices felt devoid of real emotion meaning I found it difficult to invest in Ida as a character. In addition so much of the dialogue and interaction felt forced and as a consequence the whole main plot was disappointingly predictable. Fullerton’s poor characterisation lets the novel down with several of the predominant characters in this novel (Ida, Jeremiah, Queenie) failing to emerge from the page and their behaviour feeling stilted throughout.
Alongside the central plot of Ida and Jeremiah’s troubles, other family members stories provide some interesting sub-plots and combine to build a picture of London family life in the East End during the worst of the Blitz. Together with Jeremiah attempting to branch out with the rag-and-bone trade less profitable the stories of all three daughters add much to the drama, with eldest daughter, Mattie, a mother and and her husband working for MI5, Cathy’s husband behind bars and ambulance driver Jo’s fiancé stationed at Bletchley Park.
Admittedly there is a great deal of wartime colour but much of it is anecdotal and pretty superficial, being things that will be widely known amongst anyone with an interest in this period from eggless cakes, queuing outside shops, substituting with potatoes and carrots in recipes and all unclaimed metal being deemed government property. Despite being a very readable wartime saga that comes with snippets of information on the home front in the run up to Christmas 1941 I found it disappointingly formulaic and it added little to the previous saga novels that I have read. The emphasis of the novel is very definitely rosy and overall it failed to convince.
With thanks to Readers First who provided me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
A Ration Book Childhood is the third book is the series featuring the larger than life Brogan family and set firmly in the East End during the darkest days of the Blitz. Each book in the series focuses primarily on one family member with the first and second book telling the stories of daughters, Mattie and Jo respectively and this third book concentrating on big-hearted matriarch, Ida. Having read the second book that takes in Jo’s evacuation and sees her joining the home front war effort and finding it a pleasant read I was wholeheartedly disappointed by this third instalment.
At forty-two years old Ida Brogan has been married for a quarter of a century to Irish charmer and rag-and-bone man, Jeremiah (Jerry), and raised three girls and a son alongside her sister’s eleven-year-old unwanted son, Billy. Living with her cantankerous mother-in-law, Queenie, who doubles as a bookmakers runner and already no stranger to hard times, the run up to Christmas 1941 sees austerity and additional wartime directives stretch the family finances. Together with Ida attempting to make the Christmas a happy one with a few unexpected culinary luxuries she also volunteers at the Women’s Voluntary Service (WVS) rest centre with Jerry on patrol as a member of the Home Guard and unmarried daughter, Jo, an ambulance driver.
The central focus of the plot revolves around Ida catching sight of an old friend, Ellen Gilbert, looking a shadow of her former self even bearing in mind the two years of food rationing and disturbed nights that the country has experienced. With cheekbones jutting out and a sallow complexion her shock is only compounded when Ellen introduces her son, Michael, the spitting image of Jeremiah and leaving Ida in no doubt that her husband has been unfaithful and her children have a half-brother living just a few streets away. But why is Ellen back and what does it mean for the Brogan’s, in particular Ida? With implications for her family and the burden falling on matriarch, Ida, she soon finds herself confronted by the most impossible choices...
Disappointingly Ida’s eventual decisions felt like a foregone conclusion from the off and instead of the turmoil that I would have expected a woman in her position to experience her responses all felt a little hollow. Her easy acceptance of the predicament and the lead up to a making several unenviable choices felt devoid of real emotion meaning I found it difficult to invest in Ida as a character. In addition so much of the dialogue and interaction felt forced and as a consequence the whole main plot was disappointingly predictable. Fullerton’s poor characterisation lets the novel down with several of the predominant characters in this novel (Ida, Jeremiah, Queenie) failing to emerge from the page and their behaviour feeling stilted throughout.
Alongside the central plot of Ida and Jeremiah’s troubles, other family members stories provide some interesting sub-plots and combine to build a picture of London family life in the East End during the worst of the Blitz. Together with Jeremiah attempting to branch out with the rag-and-bone trade less profitable the stories of all three daughters add much to the drama, with eldest daughter, Mattie, a mother and and her husband working for MI5, Cathy’s husband behind bars and ambulance driver Jo’s fiancé stationed at Bletchley Park.
Admittedly there is a great deal of wartime colour but much of it is anecdotal and pretty superficial, being things that will be widely known amongst anyone with an interest in this period from eggless cakes, queuing outside shops, substituting with potatoes and carrots in recipes and all unclaimed metal being deemed government property. Despite being a very readable wartime saga that comes with snippets of information on the home front in the run up to Christmas 1941 I found it disappointingly formulaic and it added little to the previous saga novels that I have read. The emphasis of the novel is very definitely rosy and overall it failed to convince.
With thanks to Readers First who provided me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
October 8, 2019
It's hard to know where to start with this review as every part of A RATION BOOK CHILDHOOD is WONDERFUL! I first discovered Jean's books in 2010 with the fabulous A Glimpse of Happiness and promptly fell in love with Patrick Nolan (if you haven't read the Nolan family series you MUST!).
A RATION BOOK CHILDHOOD is the first book I have read in this series but I will definitely be reading the first two books as soon as possible. This book can easily be read as a standalone.
Jean Fullerton has an amazing talent for writing wonderful characters, events that resonate and that are filled with deep emotion, all set against a WWII backdrop that she skilfully brings to life. From love to heartbreak, humour to sadness and real-life to imagination, this book has it all and I absolutely devoured it. There are so many stand out characters in this brilliant story but, for me, it was the matriarch Queenie who I absolutely loved!
Pick up this book now and lose yourself in the trials, laughs and tribulations of the Brogan family - you won't regret it. Jean writes beautifully and delivers a perfect read!
A RATION BOOK CHILDHOOD is the first book I have read in this series but I will definitely be reading the first two books as soon as possible. This book can easily be read as a standalone.
Jean Fullerton has an amazing talent for writing wonderful characters, events that resonate and that are filled with deep emotion, all set against a WWII backdrop that she skilfully brings to life. From love to heartbreak, humour to sadness and real-life to imagination, this book has it all and I absolutely devoured it. There are so many stand out characters in this brilliant story but, for me, it was the matriarch Queenie who I absolutely loved!
Pick up this book now and lose yourself in the trials, laughs and tribulations of the Brogan family - you won't regret it. Jean writes beautifully and delivers a perfect read!
October 7, 2019
East End saga queen Jean Fullerton is back with an engaging, enjoyable and engrossing new tale that is simply perfect for curling up with on a cold autumn afternoon: A Ration Book Childhood.
The nightly bombing raids on the East End of London are certainly taking their toll on the local community and wondering whether you are going to lose your home, your possessions and your loved ones in one fell swoop is enough to put the fear of God in anyone, regardless of how strong and resilient one is. The Blitz has certainly hit the Brogan family hard and nobody knows this better than Ida Brogan. Not one to allow Hitler to discourage her or browbeat her, Ida is determined to keep her spirits up and to keep her family safe, fed and clothed – a challenge when rationing gets more and more difficult with every passing day. Still, if anyone can rise to a challenge and rise above any obstacle standing in her way, it’s Ida, however, when an old friend comes to town needing her help, it looks like this might be a test that could end up costing her everything. As old secrets come to light and loyalties are tested, will Ida manage to keep her head above water? Or is she about to lose it all?
Ellen, Ida’s oldest friend, is sick and needs Ida’s help. Ida is not one to turn away a friend in need, however,
Ellen happens to be somebody is possession of a specific piece of information that could jeopardise everything and everyone Ida cares about. Secrets that could threaten not just Ida’s marriage, but also the entire foundation of the Brogan household. The past has kept a tight hold over Ida for years, but with her friend having nobody to turn to, can Ida find it in her heart to let bygones be bygones and forgive her friend? With a little boy about to need not just a home and a roof over his head, but somebody to see him through a very dark time, can Ida find a place for him in the Brogan household? Or is she going to let her stubbornness and her fear get in the way of doing what in her heart of hearts she knows is the right thing?
Jean Fullerton deftly blends laughter, sadness, tears, pathos, family strife and romance in a wonderful saga that is ideal for losing oneself into. A Ration Book Childhood is a terrific tale of hardship, heartache, letting of the past and triumphing over adversity that will bring tears to readers’ eyes as they find themselves completely captivated by this first class saga.
Ida Brogan is a fabulous character readers really grow to care for. She is good-hearted, generous, believable and somebody readers would love to have fighting in their corner during a difficult time. The supporting characters in A Ration Book Childhood are wonderfully nuanced, brilliantly fleshed out and they leap off the pages from the off.
A must-read saga that is perfect for fans of Call the Midwife, A Ration Book Childhood is an uplifting, emotional and warm-hearted read from an immensely talented writer: Jean Fullerton.
The nightly bombing raids on the East End of London are certainly taking their toll on the local community and wondering whether you are going to lose your home, your possessions and your loved ones in one fell swoop is enough to put the fear of God in anyone, regardless of how strong and resilient one is. The Blitz has certainly hit the Brogan family hard and nobody knows this better than Ida Brogan. Not one to allow Hitler to discourage her or browbeat her, Ida is determined to keep her spirits up and to keep her family safe, fed and clothed – a challenge when rationing gets more and more difficult with every passing day. Still, if anyone can rise to a challenge and rise above any obstacle standing in her way, it’s Ida, however, when an old friend comes to town needing her help, it looks like this might be a test that could end up costing her everything. As old secrets come to light and loyalties are tested, will Ida manage to keep her head above water? Or is she about to lose it all?
Ellen, Ida’s oldest friend, is sick and needs Ida’s help. Ida is not one to turn away a friend in need, however,
Ellen happens to be somebody is possession of a specific piece of information that could jeopardise everything and everyone Ida cares about. Secrets that could threaten not just Ida’s marriage, but also the entire foundation of the Brogan household. The past has kept a tight hold over Ida for years, but with her friend having nobody to turn to, can Ida find it in her heart to let bygones be bygones and forgive her friend? With a little boy about to need not just a home and a roof over his head, but somebody to see him through a very dark time, can Ida find a place for him in the Brogan household? Or is she going to let her stubbornness and her fear get in the way of doing what in her heart of hearts she knows is the right thing?
Jean Fullerton deftly blends laughter, sadness, tears, pathos, family strife and romance in a wonderful saga that is ideal for losing oneself into. A Ration Book Childhood is a terrific tale of hardship, heartache, letting of the past and triumphing over adversity that will bring tears to readers’ eyes as they find themselves completely captivated by this first class saga.
Ida Brogan is a fabulous character readers really grow to care for. She is good-hearted, generous, believable and somebody readers would love to have fighting in their corner during a difficult time. The supporting characters in A Ration Book Childhood are wonderfully nuanced, brilliantly fleshed out and they leap off the pages from the off.
A must-read saga that is perfect for fans of Call the Midwife, A Ration Book Childhood is an uplifting, emotional and warm-hearted read from an immensely talented writer: Jean Fullerton.
August 21, 2019
I absolutely fell in love with this saga when I read A Ration Book Christmas last year, and have been eagerly awaiting the next instalment ever since. This is another must-read story that I'd strongly recommend for readers who enjoy historical family stories. This saga speaks to me personally because I can see many parallels with my own family's wartime experiences.
A Ration Book Childhood picks up the story of the Brogan family in October 1941. Stella has married Charlie and they have a son, Patrick. Charlie is in the army, now fighting in North Africa. The wonderfully stoic Ida helps Stella with childcare so that she can work the night shift in a factory canteen.
Queenie, Ida's mother-in-law, is still taking bets for Fat Tony, and her son, Jeremiah, is still scraping a living as a rag and bone man, and working nights with the heavy rescue. Jeremiah comes up with a business idea to earn a bit more cash but suffers a setback when Samson, his horse, killed.
Mattie and Cathy are married with their own babies, and Jo is desperate to marry Tommy, and has asked Ida to persuade Jeremiah to let them marry at Whitsun next year.
The youngest Brogan, Billy, overhears a disturbing conversation and starts to play up.
The main plot revolves around a friend from Ida's past appearing with an unwelcome surprise for Ida and her family. Despite her initial devastation at this revelation, Ida pulls herself together and adds another burden to her load.
A Ration Book Childhood is a really well written and researched story. I love the historical details which kept popping up, such as the siren suit, the bombing raids, the food rations, and the attack on Pearl Harbor. But the real story is about an East End family getting on with the ups and downs of day-to-day life during WWII. They have enough challenges to face without having to toddle off to the air raid shelter every night, the constant worry about being bombed out, queuing half the morning for food rations, and generally just scraping by all the time.
The Author's Note at the end of the book is also worth reading, talking about Fullerton's own family living in the East End of London and the system of evacuation of the children.
I found this to be a really engrossing read. I was already hanging by a thread after A Ration Book Christmas, wanting to know whether Stella would indeed marry Charlie, and why she wanted him, when he was so obviously not right for her. Stella doesn't get any better in this story. So now I'm waiting for the next book in this series, and hoping that life will improve for the Brogans, of whom I've become very fond.
A Ration Book Childhood picks up the story of the Brogan family in October 1941. Stella has married Charlie and they have a son, Patrick. Charlie is in the army, now fighting in North Africa. The wonderfully stoic Ida helps Stella with childcare so that she can work the night shift in a factory canteen.
Queenie, Ida's mother-in-law, is still taking bets for Fat Tony, and her son, Jeremiah, is still scraping a living as a rag and bone man, and working nights with the heavy rescue. Jeremiah comes up with a business idea to earn a bit more cash but suffers a setback when Samson, his horse, killed.
Mattie and Cathy are married with their own babies, and Jo is desperate to marry Tommy, and has asked Ida to persuade Jeremiah to let them marry at Whitsun next year.
The youngest Brogan, Billy, overhears a disturbing conversation and starts to play up.
The main plot revolves around a friend from Ida's past appearing with an unwelcome surprise for Ida and her family. Despite her initial devastation at this revelation, Ida pulls herself together and adds another burden to her load.
A Ration Book Childhood is a really well written and researched story. I love the historical details which kept popping up, such as the siren suit, the bombing raids, the food rations, and the attack on Pearl Harbor. But the real story is about an East End family getting on with the ups and downs of day-to-day life during WWII. They have enough challenges to face without having to toddle off to the air raid shelter every night, the constant worry about being bombed out, queuing half the morning for food rations, and generally just scraping by all the time.
The Author's Note at the end of the book is also worth reading, talking about Fullerton's own family living in the East End of London and the system of evacuation of the children.
I found this to be a really engrossing read. I was already hanging by a thread after A Ration Book Christmas, wanting to know whether Stella would indeed marry Charlie, and why she wanted him, when he was so obviously not right for her. Stella doesn't get any better in this story. So now I'm waiting for the next book in this series, and hoping that life will improve for the Brogans, of whom I've become very fond.
September 23, 2019
A Ration Book Childhood is the third book in the East End Ration Series by Jean Fullerton. You can read this book as a standalone but as the series is based on the Brogan family it is nice to read more about the characters that are focused on in the previous books.
The main focus of this book falls on the matriarch of the family, mother, wife, aunty - Ida Brogan. Throughout the trials and tribulations of the war, Ida has been the rock of the family. The love and support from her husband have given her strength when she has needed it most. So when a friend returns to town with a secret, Ida's life is turned upside down. When that friend needs to ask a huge favour of her, one that could put the nail in the coffin of Ida's now rocky marriage she doesn't know if she can deal with the pain of fighting for the love she once felt with her husband. Ida has always been strong but has she got the strength to keep her family together?
This book was such an emotional read. To read how people coped during the war years, how they carried on despite the food rationing, the constant need for staying in bomb shelters, the loss of loved ones, of their homes, of the constant worry for their men fighting the enemy. How they managed to carry on living their lives despite all that was thrown at them really fills me with awe. Ida Brogan and her family may be a fictional family but the author tells an amazing story with them one that makes me wish that they had been relatives of mine so that they could have told me their stories over and over again. I would be proud to have Ida Brogan as my grandmother or great grandmother.
I loved this book, I cannot fault it and I recommend it wholeheartedly. It and the others in the series are ones that I will definitely read again. In fact, I would love to see the series turned into one for the television or even a film. It would make amazing viewing.
The main focus of this book falls on the matriarch of the family, mother, wife, aunty - Ida Brogan. Throughout the trials and tribulations of the war, Ida has been the rock of the family. The love and support from her husband have given her strength when she has needed it most. So when a friend returns to town with a secret, Ida's life is turned upside down. When that friend needs to ask a huge favour of her, one that could put the nail in the coffin of Ida's now rocky marriage she doesn't know if she can deal with the pain of fighting for the love she once felt with her husband. Ida has always been strong but has she got the strength to keep her family together?
This book was such an emotional read. To read how people coped during the war years, how they carried on despite the food rationing, the constant need for staying in bomb shelters, the loss of loved ones, of their homes, of the constant worry for their men fighting the enemy. How they managed to carry on living their lives despite all that was thrown at them really fills me with awe. Ida Brogan and her family may be a fictional family but the author tells an amazing story with them one that makes me wish that they had been relatives of mine so that they could have told me their stories over and over again. I would be proud to have Ida Brogan as my grandmother or great grandmother.
I loved this book, I cannot fault it and I recommend it wholeheartedly. It and the others in the series are ones that I will definitely read again. In fact, I would love to see the series turned into one for the television or even a film. It would make amazing viewing.
September 27, 2019
9.5/10
Set in the midst of a war stricken London, Ida Brogan and her family are all united by a strong sense of family. Ida and her husband Jeremiah have been together for twenty five years and have brought up two boys and three girls together. After the loss of a baby boy ten years prior, Ida is devastated but carries on for her family. This book perfectly captures wartime Britain and the war effort carries out by men and women, as well as the general British spirit. .
When a secret from Jeremiah’s past turns up with a surprise for him, his marriage to dear wife Ida is threatened. This surprise is a ten year old son Michael, whose mother is Ida’s dying friend Ellen. As they are bound by their strong sense of family and looking out for each other, Ida- although with great difficulty- agrees to take Michael in. Their love transcends even the greatest problems they may face. .
My favourite character had to be Queenie, Jeremiah’s Irish elderly mother. Her humour was just incredible and her one liners were brilliant! .
I absolutely adored this book and it was nice to read a book set in wartime London, as my gran was a teenager living in London during the war and would often recount stories to me - so in a way I was reconnecting with her.
September 21, 2019
A RATION BOOK CHILDHOOD Ida Brogan living not far from the docks in mafeking terrace, East end London her family home. It's world war two. With her husband Jeremiah, mother in law Queenie, youngest daughter Jo and son Billy only still at home now it's still a tight squeeze. Ida is forty two years old now. Out shopping she bumps into her old friend Ellen Gilbert who has recently moved back, a widow with her son Michael,can Ida help her in her time of needs? A Heartbreaking story that I loved reading. Ida Brogan is a woman that puts everyone first, she is one true diamond lady of the east end. As Queenie says ' she has a grand big heart ' there is definitely a tissue or two needed for this book, I needed them and so will you. A touching read that you won't want to end
February 19, 2020
I borrowed this book from Swindon Libraries new books display.
This is the first book I've read by Jean Fullerton and I will now be looking to read more of The Ration Book series (this is number 3 in the series).
I have been choosing lots of historical fiction set during or after World War 2 (a period of history I studied for my O' Level History) and this is one of the best I have read.
Jean Fullerton brought the streets of London to life, so that you experience the sights, sounds and smells of the capital in 1941. The Brogan family are facing many challenges and I loved the way the story evolved - the family dynamics, the romances and the heartbreak. The ending suggested another book could follow and I have just seen that A Ration Book Wedding is due to be published in May 2020.
This is the first book I've read by Jean Fullerton and I will now be looking to read more of The Ration Book series (this is number 3 in the series).
I have been choosing lots of historical fiction set during or after World War 2 (a period of history I studied for my O' Level History) and this is one of the best I have read.
Jean Fullerton brought the streets of London to life, so that you experience the sights, sounds and smells of the capital in 1941. The Brogan family are facing many challenges and I loved the way the story evolved - the family dynamics, the romances and the heartbreak. The ending suggested another book could follow and I have just seen that A Ration Book Wedding is due to be published in May 2020.
October 3, 2019
Having read 'A ration book Christmas' it was good to catch up with the Brogans again. This is a heart-breaking story of love, betrayal and forgiveness - the author manages to tap into all the reader's emotions leaving you feeling completely wrung out by the end. Once again, against the backdrop of war, the human spirit triumphs and none of us know how we would rise to the challenge unless we faced the same dilemmas. I am not sure, however, that many of us would be able to show Ida's generosity of spirit. This book will make you laugh and cry, often at the same time.
February 16, 2020
This is a fantastic war time story. I felt fully immersed in war time East End London! The author does a fantastic job of describing what’s going on, so much so that I felt like I was there with the characters, going through the story with them, hearing the sirens, bedding down in the shelters etc.
I’ve not read any of the previous Ration Book stories (there is a series) but I didn’t feel like I’d missed anything – although now I’d love to read them all. The characters are brilliant – Ida and Jeremiah’s marriage at the beginning just seems so happy despite the troubles the war brings but then it’s rocked and you just will them to recover! Jeremiah is a great bloke, although he has made a huge mistake, the way he looks after his family is heartwarming. Queenie is an absolute star – she had me laughing out loud! And Ida – what an amazing woman! (and I’m sure many of the war time women were like her).
The story is well written and well researched. As you all know, I love a bit of history and the world wars are areas I’m really interested in. When I was in primary school we studied WW2 and rationing – and this bought it all back. It really makes you think about what people went through – and it’s such recent history that there are still people alive who experienced this tough way of life. But they got through – even with rations tight, disruption by air raids and blackouts and their homes being destroyed. It definitely made me think about how we worry about things these days that really aren’t that important….all we need is a bit of perspective!
Overall, this was a brilliant, well written, enjoyable and charming story that will take you back, and immerse you in war time London. Definitely recommended by me and I look forward to reading more from this author.
I’ve not read any of the previous Ration Book stories (there is a series) but I didn’t feel like I’d missed anything – although now I’d love to read them all. The characters are brilliant – Ida and Jeremiah’s marriage at the beginning just seems so happy despite the troubles the war brings but then it’s rocked and you just will them to recover! Jeremiah is a great bloke, although he has made a huge mistake, the way he looks after his family is heartwarming. Queenie is an absolute star – she had me laughing out loud! And Ida – what an amazing woman! (and I’m sure many of the war time women were like her).
The story is well written and well researched. As you all know, I love a bit of history and the world wars are areas I’m really interested in. When I was in primary school we studied WW2 and rationing – and this bought it all back. It really makes you think about what people went through – and it’s such recent history that there are still people alive who experienced this tough way of life. But they got through – even with rations tight, disruption by air raids and blackouts and their homes being destroyed. It definitely made me think about how we worry about things these days that really aren’t that important….all we need is a bit of perspective!
Overall, this was a brilliant, well written, enjoyable and charming story that will take you back, and immerse you in war time London. Definitely recommended by me and I look forward to reading more from this author.
October 2, 2019
The sense of community, family and the austerity of wartime London is conveyed well in this historical family saga. Part of the ‘Ration Book’ series, none of, which I have read, it works well as a standalone. However, the engaging characters, historical detail and sense of place, make me want to read the earlier books.
1941, London has suffered two long years of war, rationing makes living difficult, and the ever-present threat of nightly bombing means that living each day to the full, and appreciating your family is vital. Ida Brogan is a character who does this, she values her family and still loves her husband, but the return of an old friend in need makes her question everything that has gone before. The main plot focuses on her struggle to come to terms with this unwanted knowledge, and how it affects the family she holds so dearly.
There are many subplots interwoven into the story that gives it authenticity, depth and variety, which keeps the reader turning the pages. Outstanding characters are Ida, Jeremiah and Queenie. They are complex and believably flawed. The plot is well-paced and gives enough detail for you to appreciate the ambience of London’s EastEnd in WW2, without slowing the pace. The relationships, rationing and sense of community are beautifully conveyed and relatable. They made me recall my grandparents’ and parents’ wartime experiences, retold on numerous occasions during my childhood.
A lovely blend of family drama and history, with a realistic balance of humour and poignancy.
I received a copy of this book from Atlantic Books – Corvus via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
October 25, 2019
A story of pain and love and how love conquers all
An enthralling read from the pen of one of the masters of the genre.
Underpinned by the author's meticulous research, A Ration Book Childhood takes you into the blitz as if you had been physically taken back in time. You can hear the wailing of the moaning minnie- the name given to the siren and the explosions of the bombs, even feel the ground shaking, and besides the ravages of war, your heart is torn with the searing pain of betrayal as you walk in Ida's shoes.
For this is a tale set to the backdrop of London's East End's war... the shining courage of its folk and their 'family first' attitude to life.
The Brogan's are one such family. With daughters coping with little children while husband's are away fighting, or, as with one, locked away at His Majesty's pleasure, the matriarch, Ida, is crumbling under the pressure of a discovery that has rocked the foundations of her world.
A gripping saga. A page-turning novel. A read you shouldn't miss - but will when you come to the end. Highly recommend this wonderful book - deserving of much more than five star rating.
An enthralling read from the pen of one of the masters of the genre.
Underpinned by the author's meticulous research, A Ration Book Childhood takes you into the blitz as if you had been physically taken back in time. You can hear the wailing of the moaning minnie- the name given to the siren and the explosions of the bombs, even feel the ground shaking, and besides the ravages of war, your heart is torn with the searing pain of betrayal as you walk in Ida's shoes.
For this is a tale set to the backdrop of London's East End's war... the shining courage of its folk and their 'family first' attitude to life.
The Brogan's are one such family. With daughters coping with little children while husband's are away fighting, or, as with one, locked away at His Majesty's pleasure, the matriarch, Ida, is crumbling under the pressure of a discovery that has rocked the foundations of her world.
A gripping saga. A page-turning novel. A read you shouldn't miss - but will when you come to the end. Highly recommend this wonderful book - deserving of much more than five star rating.
March 21, 2024
This is the third book in The Ration Book Series.
Like its predecessors, this book concentrates on a different member of the Brogan family, whilst still including all of the other family members that you’ve grown to either love or hate.
Ida Brogan is trying her best to make the darkest days of the Blitz sufferable for her family. But when Ida’s best friend returns to the East End with a secret, not only is Ida’s marriage tested but so is the foundation of her whole family.
What I really like about this series, is the authors meticulous attention to detail. She has an uncanny way of transporting the reader back to a time that most of us have only read about. The infamous ‘keep calm and carry on’ attitude that us Brits seem to have perfected is echoed throughout the series, especially by those Londoners who faced just over eight months of relentless bombing during the Blitz.
I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to seeing what Book Four has in store for the Brogan family.
Like its predecessors, this book concentrates on a different member of the Brogan family, whilst still including all of the other family members that you’ve grown to either love or hate.
Ida Brogan is trying her best to make the darkest days of the Blitz sufferable for her family. But when Ida’s best friend returns to the East End with a secret, not only is Ida’s marriage tested but so is the foundation of her whole family.
What I really like about this series, is the authors meticulous attention to detail. She has an uncanny way of transporting the reader back to a time that most of us have only read about. The infamous ‘keep calm and carry on’ attitude that us Brits seem to have perfected is echoed throughout the series, especially by those Londoners who faced just over eight months of relentless bombing during the Blitz.
I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to seeing what Book Four has in store for the Brogan family.
April 14, 2025
We all know about the World War 2 ration books, and civilians eking out an existence for years and years - both during and after the war. But the realities of ration book life in England is one I'd never thought about - all the calculating, wrangling, supplementing, advance planning, sacrificing and doing without - it must have driven housewives and others crazy, being so time-consuming, exhausting, unrelenting and frustrating.
It's hard to believe how abundant, convenient and efficient modern life is, and how much we can take it for granted. It is good to walk in the shoes of people from the past, thanks to authors like Jean Fullerton.
It's hard to believe how abundant, convenient and efficient modern life is, and how much we can take it for granted. It is good to walk in the shoes of people from the past, thanks to authors like Jean Fullerton.
October 26, 2019
A Ration Book Childhood, is a well written and entertaining story of the Brogan family living in the Stepney area of the East End of London in World War Two. The struggles of living through the nightly air raids and devastation that the face family.
Then when a face from the past comes back into their lives with a shock for Ida and Jerimiah Brogan. The Brogan's are a family that you will love. It is a very easy read and well worth the five stars I have given it. Now I look forward, to the next book that I believe will be out sometime next year. A read I would recommend.
Then when a face from the past comes back into their lives with a shock for Ida and Jerimiah Brogan. The Brogan's are a family that you will love. It is a very easy read and well worth the five stars I have given it. Now I look forward, to the next book that I believe will be out sometime next year. A read I would recommend.
March 28, 2024
My first book from Jean Fullerton so I can’t compare to the other series of A Ration Book but I am informed even though I never read the previous ones this book stands out alone . The book was enjoyable from the moment I started reading right till the very end. Heart warming story of solid family history and values which is sadly dying in the East End of London.
The other books are definitely on my bucket list to read ! My favourite character in this book was undoubtedly Queenie all the way
The other books are definitely on my bucket list to read ! My favourite character in this book was undoubtedly Queenie all the way
October 3, 2019
Brogans
Another slice of the Brogans love it all the trials everyday life of the war but there's a new war coming at home how will Ida and Jerry get through this one .all the research that's gone into this book is fantastic I couldn't put it down till I had finished it 5 stars but well worth 10 .
Another slice of the Brogans love it all the trials everyday life of the war but there's a new war coming at home how will Ida and Jerry get through this one .all the research that's gone into this book is fantastic I couldn't put it down till I had finished it 5 stars but well worth 10 .
September 25, 2022
Very pleasing read ☺️
Awh I liked this book made a change from my normal thiller etc and it was a free prime book definitely recommend if you like a good old fashioned story very charming characterrs you could even picture your self living in the same street definitely be reading anther ration book very well written etc 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂
Awh I liked this book made a change from my normal thiller etc and it was a free prime book definitely recommend if you like a good old fashioned story very charming characterrs you could even picture your self living in the same street definitely be reading anther ration book very well written etc 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂
May 18, 2024
Having read the last in the series, I'm slowly finding the earlier ones! This is book 3, but it works as a standalone.
A Ration Book Childhood is predominantly Ida Brogan's story. When oldest friend Ellen returns to the area, needing help but carrying a huge secret, can Ida forgive her?
Great series, I love the character of Queenie!
A Ration Book Childhood is predominantly Ida Brogan's story. When oldest friend Ellen returns to the area, needing help but carrying a huge secret, can Ida forgive her?
Great series, I love the character of Queenie!
December 14, 2019
Rationing remembered
Reading reminded me of my childhood in the 1950s and my mother 's memories of being evacuated in1939. I enjoyed the book and will
lol for more Mean Fullerton books.
Reading reminded me of my childhood in the 1950s and my mother 's memories of being evacuated in1939. I enjoyed the book and will
lol for more Mean Fullerton books.
January 12, 2020
Heaetwarning
A really enjoyable story enjoyed every minute of it. A family not only living through the war but going through a war of their own. I am licking coward to reading the next part of their lives.
A really enjoyable story enjoyed every minute of it. A family not only living through the war but going through a war of their own. I am licking coward to reading the next part of their lives.
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