Dagen van weemoed

by Beverly S. Martin, Joke Veenboer (translator)

A fine copy in a fine dust jacket. As new. First edition. Cloth. 8vo. Warmly inscribed to Bill, to whom the book is dedicated. "...Steamily, sexy glitter-romance...A grabber..."

366 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mollie Pride is a book I have read numerous times.

This is not your typical story of a woman living through WW2 in London. For a start, Mollie is American. She has worked in radio since she was six years old and goes to London to report on what's happening in England. It also looks at what things were like in Japan and the USA in snippets of the story.

There are a lot of twists and turns that keep the reader guessing.

I really enjoy reading this story.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I spent last weekend curled on my bed utterly engrossed in the fascinating adventures of Beverly Swerling's MOLLIE PRIDE. Mollie climbs into our hearts as an enchanting 5-year-old vaudeville dancer with her down-and-out family touring 3rd-rate music halls in the late 1920s; ever impetuous, she marries at sixteen full of ideals to a young man who does not know how to handle her generous spirit, daring and growing fame as a broadcaster in the early days of radio. The tragedy of her marriage, her longing for another man who loves her but cannot have her, the troubles of her family whom she adores, and the ups and downs of her career from poverty to fame leads her to a unique chance to move to London and broadcast the horrors of World War II to America.

The years of the 20s to the 40s come vividly to life in this fast-paced novel: the cold water flats, the ten cent buses, the basement shelters during the bombing of London, the severe food rationing, the young men who go to battle and may not return and the edgy danger of early radio broadcasting in a world at war. To the very last page, the novel is full of unexpected turns of plot led always by Mollie's brave spirit and loving heart and her determination to prevail.

[JasminaJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was something I have enjoyed all the way through. I'm not usually interested in the topic (WWs), but this story was truly interesting. I loved how I could sense some facts about the characters throughout the story, and those facts actually appeared to be true towards the end of the book. At the same time I was also surprised about some others. All in all, the author really knew how to use words to hint, to describe, to portray situations, emotions, etc. to the reader. I was, however, a bit confused about Steve. His reaction at the very beginning was strange (I guess somehow expected, but nonetheless), and as a consequence I was never sure whether he really ever was in love with Mollie.

[Beverly Swerling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I blush. Wrote it, so what do I think... Liking it again as I edit for new electronic publication.