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My Name Is Eva
You can pay a terrible price for keeping a promise…
Evelyn Taylor-Clarke sits in her chair at Forest Lawns Care Home in the heart of the English countryside, surrounded by residents with minds not as sharp as hers. It would be easy to dismiss Evelyn as a muddled old woman, but her lipstick is applied perfectly, and her buttons done up correctly. Because Evelyn is a woman with secrets and Evelyn remembers everything. She can never forget the promise she made to the love of her life, to discover the truth about the mission that led to his death, no matter what it cost her…
When Evelyn’s niece Pat opens an old biscuit tin to find a photo of a small girl with a red ball entitled ‘Liese, 1951’ and a passport in another name, she has some questions for her aunt. And Evelyn is transported back to a place in Germany known as ‘The Forbidden Village,’ where a woman who called herself Eva went where no one else dared, amongst shivering prisoners, to find the man who gambled with her husband’s life…
A gripping, haunting and compelling read about love, courage and betrayal set in the war-battered landscape of Germany. Fans of The Letter, The Alice Network and The Nightingale will be hooked.
Evelyn Taylor-Clarke sits in her chair at Forest Lawns Care Home in the heart of the English countryside, surrounded by residents with minds not as sharp as hers. It would be easy to dismiss Evelyn as a muddled old woman, but her lipstick is applied perfectly, and her buttons done up correctly. Because Evelyn is a woman with secrets and Evelyn remembers everything. She can never forget the promise she made to the love of her life, to discover the truth about the mission that led to his death, no matter what it cost her…
When Evelyn’s niece Pat opens an old biscuit tin to find a photo of a small girl with a red ball entitled ‘Liese, 1951’ and a passport in another name, she has some questions for her aunt. And Evelyn is transported back to a place in Germany known as ‘The Forbidden Village,’ where a woman who called herself Eva went where no one else dared, amongst shivering prisoners, to find the man who gambled with her husband’s life…
A gripping, haunting and compelling read about love, courage and betrayal set in the war-battered landscape of Germany. Fans of The Letter, The Alice Network and The Nightingale will be hooked.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 6, 2019
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About the author
Suzanne Goldring
15 books174 followersFollowing an eventful career as a public relations consultant, specializing in business and travel, Suzanne Goldring turned to writing the kind of novels she likes to read, about the extraordinary lives of ordinary people. She writes in a thatched cottage in Hampshire and a cottage by the sea in North Cornwall.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 923 reviews
September 16, 2019
EXCERPT: 'What I'd like to do this time,' says Inspector Williams on his second visit, is ask you a bit about your time in the forces. I believe you joined up after you lost your husband, when he was killed in action. In 1943, wasn't it?'
'Is that when it was? I can't remember dates. Hugh wasn't at all keen for me to join. He wanted me to wait for him, but I so wanted to do something useful.' She looks across the room at Pat, who is sitting with her arms crossed looking irritated. 'Can you remember, dear? When my poor Hugh was killed?'
ABOUT THIS BOOK: You can pay a terrible price for keeping a promise…
Evelyn Taylor-Clarke sits in her chair at Forest Lawns Care Home in the heart of the English countryside, surrounded by residents with minds not as sharp as hers. It would be easy to dismiss Evelyn as a muddled old woman, but her lipstick is applied perfectly, and her buttons done up correctly. Because Evelyn is a woman with secrets and Evelyn remembers everything. She can never forget the promise she made to the love of her life, to discover the truth about the mission that led to his death, no matter what it cost her…
When Evelyn’s niece Pat opens an old biscuit tin to find a photo of a small girl with a red ball entitled ‘Liese, 1951’ and a passport in another name, she has some questions for her aunt. And Evelyn is transported back to a place in Germany known as ‘The Forbidden Village,’ where a woman who called herself Eva went where no one else dared, amongst shivering prisoners, to find the man who gambled with her husband’s life…
MY THOUGHTS: Right off, I have to say that I loved the character of Evelyn. She is perceptive, clever and oh so manipulative! She runs rings around everyone else. I hope that if I make it into my nineties, I shall be as sharp as she is.
While I loved the story of Eva/Evie/Evelyn/Hildebrand, and applauded her and rooted for her throughout, I did have a few issues with the writing. I felt that the author repeated herself a little to often, and that the moving backwards and forwards between the war days and afterwards, and the present (2016) could have been handled a little better. It didn't flow in parts and a few times I wondered when and where I was.... I felt that Evie's letters to her husband added little to the plot, and were often a cause of the repetition.
But overall I enjoyed the story (enjoyed it enough to read it in one sitting) and plan to read more by this author.
****
THE AUTHOR: This is the debut novel for Suzanne Goldring, who has previously published Powerless - The Year the Lights Went Out.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture vis NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of My Name is Eva by Suzanne Goldring for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'Is that when it was? I can't remember dates. Hugh wasn't at all keen for me to join. He wanted me to wait for him, but I so wanted to do something useful.' She looks across the room at Pat, who is sitting with her arms crossed looking irritated. 'Can you remember, dear? When my poor Hugh was killed?'
ABOUT THIS BOOK: You can pay a terrible price for keeping a promise…
Evelyn Taylor-Clarke sits in her chair at Forest Lawns Care Home in the heart of the English countryside, surrounded by residents with minds not as sharp as hers. It would be easy to dismiss Evelyn as a muddled old woman, but her lipstick is applied perfectly, and her buttons done up correctly. Because Evelyn is a woman with secrets and Evelyn remembers everything. She can never forget the promise she made to the love of her life, to discover the truth about the mission that led to his death, no matter what it cost her…
When Evelyn’s niece Pat opens an old biscuit tin to find a photo of a small girl with a red ball entitled ‘Liese, 1951’ and a passport in another name, she has some questions for her aunt. And Evelyn is transported back to a place in Germany known as ‘The Forbidden Village,’ where a woman who called herself Eva went where no one else dared, amongst shivering prisoners, to find the man who gambled with her husband’s life…
MY THOUGHTS: Right off, I have to say that I loved the character of Evelyn. She is perceptive, clever and oh so manipulative! She runs rings around everyone else. I hope that if I make it into my nineties, I shall be as sharp as she is.
While I loved the story of Eva/Evie/Evelyn/Hildebrand, and applauded her and rooted for her throughout, I did have a few issues with the writing. I felt that the author repeated herself a little to often, and that the moving backwards and forwards between the war days and afterwards, and the present (2016) could have been handled a little better. It didn't flow in parts and a few times I wondered when and where I was.... I felt that Evie's letters to her husband added little to the plot, and were often a cause of the repetition.
But overall I enjoyed the story (enjoyed it enough to read it in one sitting) and plan to read more by this author.
****
THE AUTHOR: This is the debut novel for Suzanne Goldring, who has previously published Powerless - The Year the Lights Went Out.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture vis NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of My Name is Eva by Suzanne Goldring for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
January 1, 2023
Evelyn Taylor-Clarke continued to write letters to her beloved husband, Hugh, even after being notified of his death. When a friend of Hugh's came to see her, Eva was shocked to hear what their superior had done, how he'd gambled with his men's lives. And she vowed to find him, whatever it took.
Eva joined the forces and was eventually sent to Germany to help with translating for the prisoners. Her horror at the methods of the man in front of her, proved he was no better than the Nazis had themselves been. When Eva moved to another area, where she assisted in the rehabilitation of those who'd been incarcerated in places like Dachau, it was sad, but satisfying seeing how much she and her friends could help. Eventually heading back to London and Kingsley - her family home - Eva kept her plan close to her heart...
My Name is Eva is a fascinating and intriguing look at the life of a woman who was left behind when her husband died in the war, and what drove her to get retribution for the man so horribly wronged. Author Suzanne Goldring has done a superb job in bringing the story together and I'll be looking for more of her work. Highly recommended.
Eva joined the forces and was eventually sent to Germany to help with translating for the prisoners. Her horror at the methods of the man in front of her, proved he was no better than the Nazis had themselves been. When Eva moved to another area, where she assisted in the rehabilitation of those who'd been incarcerated in places like Dachau, it was sad, but satisfying seeing how much she and her friends could help. Eventually heading back to London and Kingsley - her family home - Eva kept her plan close to her heart...
My Name is Eva is a fascinating and intriguing look at the life of a woman who was left behind when her husband died in the war, and what drove her to get retribution for the man so horribly wronged. Author Suzanne Goldring has done a superb job in bringing the story together and I'll be looking for more of her work. Highly recommended.
May 27, 2020
Evelyn Taylor-Clarke is in her 90's, she falls at home and while she's recovering she's staying at Forest Lawns Care Home.
Her only relative is her niece Pat, she's helping her Aunt by looking after the families crumbling manor house called Kingsley and sorting through generations of the families clutter. I believe she's really helping her Aunt as a way of keeping track of what and how much she will inherit when Evelyn passes away! Pat discovers some old photographs in a biscuit tin and some other shocking items.
Evelyn is a war widow, her husband Hugh died during WW II, she has no children and lives alone.
When Pat asks her Aunt about the things she has found, Evelyn is old, senile and can't remember a thing.
Evelyn might be over 90 but she's pretending to be a dippy old lady who's more interested in what biscuit she's having with her cup of tea than answering questions about her past, what happened during WW II and the contents of the old suitcases.
The book is about Evelyn's experiences during WW II, lost love, secrets, betrayal, danger and most of all revenge. I did enjoy reading about Evelyn's antics at the nursing home it was so funny, her relationship with her personal care assistant Mary was heart warming and how she had her niece Pat totally confused made me laugh. My Name is Eva is very different to other WW II Historical Fiction and I gave it four stars.
Her only relative is her niece Pat, she's helping her Aunt by looking after the families crumbling manor house called Kingsley and sorting through generations of the families clutter. I believe she's really helping her Aunt as a way of keeping track of what and how much she will inherit when Evelyn passes away! Pat discovers some old photographs in a biscuit tin and some other shocking items.
Evelyn is a war widow, her husband Hugh died during WW II, she has no children and lives alone.
When Pat asks her Aunt about the things she has found, Evelyn is old, senile and can't remember a thing.
Evelyn might be over 90 but she's pretending to be a dippy old lady who's more interested in what biscuit she's having with her cup of tea than answering questions about her past, what happened during WW II and the contents of the old suitcases.
The book is about Evelyn's experiences during WW II, lost love, secrets, betrayal, danger and most of all revenge. I did enjoy reading about Evelyn's antics at the nursing home it was so funny, her relationship with her personal care assistant Mary was heart warming and how she had her niece Pat totally confused made me laugh. My Name is Eva is very different to other WW II Historical Fiction and I gave it four stars.
July 22, 2019
Evelyn is an old lady in a nursing home and her niece Pat is clearing out Evelyn's home so that it can be sold. Pat finds a couple of suitcase with World War Two photographs and other memorabilia and when Evelyn sees these her memory takes her back to wartime Germany and a secret that she has kept for many years.
A slow burning story about love and betrayal.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
A slow burning story about love and betrayal.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2019
I received this book as a ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for my honest review. My Name is Eva is laugh out loud funny, sad in parts and had me glued to the pages in the beginning but I got lost somewhere a little before the middle. Fast forward to around 50% and wham! It picks up
Speed and i did not see “that” coming. Oh the secrets Evelyn has!!! Overall, i enjoyed this book. Thanks to NetGalley for this book.
Speed and i did not see “that” coming. Oh the secrets Evelyn has!!! Overall, i enjoyed this book. Thanks to NetGalley for this book.
August 25, 2019
Before I start, I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with a free copy of My Name is Eva in exchange for an honest review.
In all honesty, I didn’t like this novel for several reasons. The greatest problem with it is the structure of the story, or more precisely, the lack of it. The story jumps from 2016 to 1940s, then 1980s, 2016 again, 1950s, 1980s again, etc. This made the story less captivating and there was no mystery as to what would happen. Now, I generally don’t mind flashbacks when they’re done properly. I think that the story would have been much more interesting if the flashbacks were in the chronological order.
Another issue is the fact that Goldring spent too many pages on describing Evelyn’s days at Forest Lawns Care Home. These parts are uneventful and annoyingly repetitive. On the other hand, events that took place during and in the aftermath of WWII are not developed enough.
However, there are some things that I liked. First, I think that the idea is really good. There are not so many stories that revolve around the brutalities that happened after the war. Also, I like that Eva is more of an anti-heroine than a true hero. After all, she’s not much better than the people she hates so much.
You can find my full review here: https://stacked-reviews.com/my-name-i...
In all honesty, I didn’t like this novel for several reasons. The greatest problem with it is the structure of the story, or more precisely, the lack of it. The story jumps from 2016 to 1940s, then 1980s, 2016 again, 1950s, 1980s again, etc. This made the story less captivating and there was no mystery as to what would happen. Now, I generally don’t mind flashbacks when they’re done properly. I think that the story would have been much more interesting if the flashbacks were in the chronological order.
Another issue is the fact that Goldring spent too many pages on describing Evelyn’s days at Forest Lawns Care Home. These parts are uneventful and annoyingly repetitive. On the other hand, events that took place during and in the aftermath of WWII are not developed enough.
However, there are some things that I liked. First, I think that the idea is really good. There are not so many stories that revolve around the brutalities that happened after the war. Also, I like that Eva is more of an anti-heroine than a true hero. After all, she’s not much better than the people she hates so much.
You can find my full review here: https://stacked-reviews.com/my-name-i...
September 10, 2019
This was a different WWII read for me it was a point of view after the was ended with the fall of Germany in the hands of the Allies. The life story of Evelyn “Eva”. The pathway she went through to seek revenge on the death of her husband Hugh at the hands of the Colonel.
She got her revenge finally years after. But, after being violated and becoming pregnant she knew she’d have to leave her child that was painful decision to make.
She never saw her once she left Germany and the child never knew her.
Evelyn joined her husband.
I enjoyed this book but skipping the years that wasn’t fun. I gave it 3 1/2 stars.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and Suzanne Goldring for an early copy in exchange of an honest review.
She got her revenge finally years after. But, after being violated and becoming pregnant she knew she’d have to leave her child that was painful decision to make.
She never saw her once she left Germany and the child never knew her.
Evelyn joined her husband.
I enjoyed this book but skipping the years that wasn’t fun. I gave it 3 1/2 stars.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and Suzanne Goldring for an early copy in exchange of an honest review.
August 24, 2019
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
She had many names. Evelyn Taylor-Clarke. Mrs. T-C to the caring home staff. Aunt Evelyn to her niece Pat, and Eva during her years of service during World War II. All of these names represent various sides to Evelyn that she manages to hide from many, during various stages of her life.
Presently, her niece Pat is helping her clear her home, as Evelyn is now in her nineties and, after breaking a hip, is unlikely to ever live there again. Pat is continually bringing different items to her aunt because she has many questions. Some the things include a photo of a little girl from 1951, a cache of weapons and odd clothing.
It is the weapons found that drastically change things for Evelyn. Pat is soon often accompanied by a detective at the Care Home. He has many questions about the things that were found, and even about a man who when missing years previously. However, as far as Pat, the staff and now the detective are concerned, Evelyn is all but senile, and her memory is unreliable.
Evelyn has a secret. Actually she has many, many secrets. For starters, her mind is as sharp as a tack, and she is simply play-acting. Furthermore, the story is told in varying timelines and readers are clued in to Evelyn's duplicitous nature and some of the activities she was engaged in during and after the war.
What a tangled web she wove! Young or old, Evelyn set out a path. During the war she had an objective. She never, ever lost sight of it and carried out her plans with exact precision. This book was equally startling and compelling. Kudos to Suzanne Goldring for writing such an impressive debut novel.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
She had many names. Evelyn Taylor-Clarke. Mrs. T-C to the caring home staff. Aunt Evelyn to her niece Pat, and Eva during her years of service during World War II. All of these names represent various sides to Evelyn that she manages to hide from many, during various stages of her life.
Presently, her niece Pat is helping her clear her home, as Evelyn is now in her nineties and, after breaking a hip, is unlikely to ever live there again. Pat is continually bringing different items to her aunt because she has many questions. Some the things include a photo of a little girl from 1951, a cache of weapons and odd clothing.
It is the weapons found that drastically change things for Evelyn. Pat is soon often accompanied by a detective at the Care Home. He has many questions about the things that were found, and even about a man who when missing years previously. However, as far as Pat, the staff and now the detective are concerned, Evelyn is all but senile, and her memory is unreliable.
Evelyn has a secret. Actually she has many, many secrets. For starters, her mind is as sharp as a tack, and she is simply play-acting. Furthermore, the story is told in varying timelines and readers are clued in to Evelyn's duplicitous nature and some of the activities she was engaged in during and after the war.
What a tangled web she wove! Young or old, Evelyn set out a path. During the war she had an objective. She never, ever lost sight of it and carried out her plans with exact precision. This book was equally startling and compelling. Kudos to Suzanne Goldring for writing such an impressive debut novel.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
July 18, 2020
I liked Eva at the very beginning when we meet her in 2016 in a Care Home. She is in her 90’s perfectly competent but she is pretending to be verging on dementia. I found it amusing although it is not immediately clear why she is doing this.
Then we learn that Eva has promised to avenge her husband’s death after learning that he died because the Colonel leading his mission knowingly put his soldiers in harm’s way. It becomes a story of revenge. It takes years but she keeps her promise and that is her secret and why she must pretend to be befuddled.
The book is so scattered in time lines it denies the reader any kind of flow to the narrative.
If I had stopped reading the book at the half way point it would have got at least 3 stars, but I kept reading because on page 168 the author dropped a hint (or should I say a clue?) out of nowhere indicating that something else momentous had taken place in the past. (Was the author trying to channel Agatha Christie?)
Turns out Eva /Evelyn was a very unlikable person. I disliked her so much by the end I was sorry I wasted time on this book.
No! This book is in no way anything like "The Nightingale" and I object to the comparison.
Then we learn that Eva has promised to avenge her husband’s death after learning that he died because the Colonel leading his mission knowingly put his soldiers in harm’s way. It becomes a story of revenge. It takes years but she keeps her promise and that is her secret and why she must pretend to be befuddled.
The book is so scattered in time lines it denies the reader any kind of flow to the narrative.
If I had stopped reading the book at the half way point it would have got at least 3 stars, but I kept reading because on page 168 the author dropped a hint (or should I say a clue?) out of nowhere indicating that something else momentous had taken place in the past. (Was the author trying to channel Agatha Christie?)
Turns out Eva /Evelyn was a very unlikable person. I disliked her so much by the end I was sorry I wasted time on this book.
No! This book is in no way anything like "The Nightingale" and I object to the comparison.
October 7, 2019
I usually give 2 stars if I finish a book. This book was a disaster. Unlikable main character, poor writing, jumping between 4 different times in no order whatsoever. I kept reading because I thought I would certainly get better. It didn’t.
August 17, 2019
I was drawn to this book initially by the beautiful artwork on the cover which immediately let me know that this was a historical novel with a focus on World War 2. There was also a statement on the cover “You can pay a terrible price for keeping a promise” which had an air of mystery to it that set me to wondering what it would all be about. I have read many books that deal with the history of the times, but this one is quite unique and different from most in how it unfolds. I felt held in suspense as I was reading through it with more clues coming as time went on and I read the book in very short order whenever I could grab some time. For those who like puzzles, the author drops clues throughout the book and it is very important that you read to the very last page beyond the author’s notes. She certainly caught me by surprise!
As the story begins, we meet Mrs. Evelyn Taylor Clarke aka Evie, Eva and Hilda (short for Hildegarde). The setting is a retirement home where she has been living for some time. She is in her 90’s and after a fall it was made clear to her that she could no longer live on her own at her beloved Kingsley Manor. The reader quickly learns that in spite of her age, Eva (I will use that name throughout to avoid confusion) has not lost any of her mental capacity and is in fact more likely to remember things and be able to manipulate those around her than many who are much younger than her including her only niece Pat. Neither Eva nor Pat have ever had very much use for each other but as Eva’s only living relative the job has fallen on her shoulders to empty out her aunt’s house. I can identify with how difficult this must have been having had to do the same with my mother’s home after she had lived in it for over fifty years.
Eva was at one time married to her love Hugh who was involved in the military in some never clearly defined way though one is led to suspect he was serving in some undercover capacity. Sadly, he died in service to his country but though he is gone, Eva continues to write to him sharing her thoughts and feelings which the reader becomes privy to as the novel progresses. When Eva learns that he was likely sent unawares on a suicide mission, she promises that the man responsible will be held to pay.
The story skips back and forth through the years, and not always in a consecutive fashion, but as a reader I felt that the information in the flashbacks came out in a timely way.
Based on her desire for revenge, Eva makes choices that will guide her entire life, preventing her from ever moving on to form any other romantic attachments. As readers we get to see this slowly unfold. It leads her into danger and there are some scenes that include violence and rape which may be triggering for some readers. One thing that becomes very clear is that Eva is a master manipulator who is controlling all those around her without their having any awareness of it.
I think this book would make a wonderful choice for a book club with lots of food for discussion in terms of ethics and the difference between right and wrong. The author clearly knows how to write and made the story fascinating. When I finished reading the book one of my main thoughts was that it left me wondering just how many unique and different true stories there are for all the individuals involved or living in wartime conditions. I felt the book was very well researched and sadly, some of what happened makes it clear that to some the end always justifies the means. Each reader will have to answer that question for themselves.
Thank you to #NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read an advance reader’s copy of this novel My Name Is Eva which is due to be published September 11th, 2019. The above is my unbiased review.
As the story begins, we meet Mrs. Evelyn Taylor Clarke aka Evie, Eva and Hilda (short for Hildegarde). The setting is a retirement home where she has been living for some time. She is in her 90’s and after a fall it was made clear to her that she could no longer live on her own at her beloved Kingsley Manor. The reader quickly learns that in spite of her age, Eva (I will use that name throughout to avoid confusion) has not lost any of her mental capacity and is in fact more likely to remember things and be able to manipulate those around her than many who are much younger than her including her only niece Pat. Neither Eva nor Pat have ever had very much use for each other but as Eva’s only living relative the job has fallen on her shoulders to empty out her aunt’s house. I can identify with how difficult this must have been having had to do the same with my mother’s home after she had lived in it for over fifty years.
Eva was at one time married to her love Hugh who was involved in the military in some never clearly defined way though one is led to suspect he was serving in some undercover capacity. Sadly, he died in service to his country but though he is gone, Eva continues to write to him sharing her thoughts and feelings which the reader becomes privy to as the novel progresses. When Eva learns that he was likely sent unawares on a suicide mission, she promises that the man responsible will be held to pay.
The story skips back and forth through the years, and not always in a consecutive fashion, but as a reader I felt that the information in the flashbacks came out in a timely way.
Based on her desire for revenge, Eva makes choices that will guide her entire life, preventing her from ever moving on to form any other romantic attachments. As readers we get to see this slowly unfold. It leads her into danger and there are some scenes that include violence and rape which may be triggering for some readers. One thing that becomes very clear is that Eva is a master manipulator who is controlling all those around her without their having any awareness of it.
I think this book would make a wonderful choice for a book club with lots of food for discussion in terms of ethics and the difference between right and wrong. The author clearly knows how to write and made the story fascinating. When I finished reading the book one of my main thoughts was that it left me wondering just how many unique and different true stories there are for all the individuals involved or living in wartime conditions. I felt the book was very well researched and sadly, some of what happened makes it clear that to some the end always justifies the means. Each reader will have to answer that question for themselves.
Thank you to #NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read an advance reader’s copy of this novel My Name Is Eva which is due to be published September 11th, 2019. The above is my unbiased review.
August 28, 2019
I was looking forward to reading this because the description sounded interesting. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with the story. I blame this on Eva/Evelyn/Evie/Hilda. The woman with a dozen names and a very convoluted history. The book was confusing with all the flashbacks. I usually love flashbacks, but this jumped from the present(2016) to 1980s, 1940s, 1950s and was never in chronological order. Eva's life just didn't seem believable. She had every imaginable thing happen to her. I hated the dementia game she was playing. I didn't find it funny, but rather annoying. I was waiting for them to put her in some time of special place due to all her "acting." So much happened to Eva over the years, but would have liked to read more about it. Everything felt glossed over. What exactly happened to her husband? She doesn't really know the missions that he was sent on but takes revenge for his death. There was just too much going on and never loved any of the characters. Does Pat even love her aunt? She seems bothered that she inherits a house full of valuables and loads of land.
I found parts of the story interesting. I enjoyed reading about Eva in the past rather than when she was in the nursing home.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I found parts of the story interesting. I enjoyed reading about Eva in the past rather than when she was in the nursing home.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
October 1, 2020
This book wasn't what I expected. I thought this was a Historical Fiction maybe Historical Romance set in WWII. This story was about an ex-spy who was faking dementia in order to avoid answering for actions taken during war times.
I was surprised at how smug she was in her mental remunerations while she put on quite a show for her family as well as everyone at the senior citizen's home. I think her actions were brave in her youth, but her later crime was very calculated and coldblooded. I cannot say that I felt any sympathy for her victim, but I didn't enjoy the retelling of it.
It wasn't a historical fiction that I found any of the characters endearing or likable. It didn't tug on my emotional heart strings in the normal way that stories from this time period do. At the end, I felt relief that this story was over.
I was surprised at how smug she was in her mental remunerations while she put on quite a show for her family as well as everyone at the senior citizen's home. I think her actions were brave in her youth, but her later crime was very calculated and coldblooded. I cannot say that I felt any sympathy for her victim, but I didn't enjoy the retelling of it.
It wasn't a historical fiction that I found any of the characters endearing or likable. It didn't tug on my emotional heart strings in the normal way that stories from this time period do. At the end, I felt relief that this story was over.
December 27, 2019
A fantastic read.
This multi timeline focuses on the life of Evelyn, her time in Europe post World War II, present day and in between.
A cleverly constructed story of enduring love and hatred for an old foe.
This book is so well written; I have shed a few tears as well had a few laughs at Evelyn's cunning plot.
A book I would highly recommend.
This multi timeline focuses on the life of Evelyn, her time in Europe post World War II, present day and in between.
A cleverly constructed story of enduring love and hatred for an old foe.
This book is so well written; I have shed a few tears as well had a few laughs at Evelyn's cunning plot.
A book I would highly recommend.
December 21, 2021
Si-a facut loc in topul cartilor mele preferate de anul acesta♥️ Desi nu am citit foarte multe carti despre al Doilea Razboi Mondial, evrei si nenorocirile petrecute in acele vremuri, cartea aceasta m-a convins ca trebuie sa aprofundez subiectul.
Mi-a placut enorm de Evelyn Taylor-Clarke, sau “Eva”, o femeie puternica ce a trecut printr-o viata interesanta, plina de atrocitati, suferinta si moarte. Mi-a placut enorm ca a continuat sa ii scrie scrisori lui Hugh, barbatului vietii ei, chiar si dupa acesta si-a pierdut viata in razboi, fagaduindu-i un singur lucru: ca se va razbuna pe cel care l-a luat deliberat din viata si planurile ei.
M-a amuzat teribil batranica din prezent, cu nevinovatele sale jocuri ce denota inteligenta, perspicacitate si imaginatie.
Mi-a placut enorm puterea de care da dovada pe tot parcursul vietii ei, urmarind un singur scop: “indeplinirea fagaduintei iubirii vietii ei”♥️
Citatul preferat: “ Cum de au disparut toata umanitatea si bunatatea? a intrebat Eva, coborand glasul. Sau poate ca omenirea a avut dintotdeauna o inclinatie spre cruzime, insa si-a tinut-o bine ascunsa in spatele aparentei civilizatii.”
De la mine primeste 5❄️/5❄️ Si o recomand cu drag♥️
Mi-a placut enorm de Evelyn Taylor-Clarke, sau “Eva”, o femeie puternica ce a trecut printr-o viata interesanta, plina de atrocitati, suferinta si moarte. Mi-a placut enorm ca a continuat sa ii scrie scrisori lui Hugh, barbatului vietii ei, chiar si dupa acesta si-a pierdut viata in razboi, fagaduindu-i un singur lucru: ca se va razbuna pe cel care l-a luat deliberat din viata si planurile ei.
M-a amuzat teribil batranica din prezent, cu nevinovatele sale jocuri ce denota inteligenta, perspicacitate si imaginatie.
Mi-a placut enorm puterea de care da dovada pe tot parcursul vietii ei, urmarind un singur scop: “indeplinirea fagaduintei iubirii vietii ei”♥️
Citatul preferat: “ Cum de au disparut toata umanitatea si bunatatea? a intrebat Eva, coborand glasul. Sau poate ca omenirea a avut dintotdeauna o inclinatie spre cruzime, insa si-a tinut-o bine ascunsa in spatele aparentei civilizatii.”
De la mine primeste 5❄️/5❄️ Si o recomand cu drag♥️
tbr-2
October 21, 2022Currently free on Amazon (21.10.22)!!
July 25, 2019
Evelyn Taylor-Clarke-Mrs. T-C to the staff at Forrest Lawn Care Home-is as clever in her nineties as she was as a young woman. She has a secret, a promise she kept for years. The niece looking after matters for Mrs. T-C has no ideas of the lie her aunt has lived or the game Evelyn is playing.
The premise for this book was interesting: years after World War 2, an elderly lady fakes dementia to keep her secrets safe. Evelyn cleverly convinces those around her that she is losing her mind. The back and forth through time keeps the tension high, keeping the reader wondering what she did that needs to be protected.
I would have rated this a four if it werent' for the rape scene, which is closely followed by murder. There are scenes showing tortured prisoners. This is not a book to be read lightly. The author delves into the not so moral choices made after the war. And, of course, Evelyn has her revenge.
For readers who don't mind the darker aspects of the time period, I would recommend this to historical fiction readers. I received a free copy from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.
The premise for this book was interesting: years after World War 2, an elderly lady fakes dementia to keep her secrets safe. Evelyn cleverly convinces those around her that she is losing her mind. The back and forth through time keeps the tension high, keeping the reader wondering what she did that needs to be protected.
I would have rated this a four if it werent' for the rape scene, which is closely followed by murder. There are scenes showing tortured prisoners. This is not a book to be read lightly. The author delves into the not so moral choices made after the war. And, of course, Evelyn has her revenge.
For readers who don't mind the darker aspects of the time period, I would recommend this to historical fiction readers. I received a free copy from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.
August 13, 2020
Promises. Revenge. Sacrifice.
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The more I read, the more I understood, the more emotions I felt for Eva. This story was entirely about her and her life told during multiple time lines but not in chronological order. So if you don't like her character or can't connect with it, then this is not for you. This is a hit or miss book. The story starts off slow and since not in order, it may not make sense why it was written like that until the end when everything comes together.
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Overall, the story line was capturing, the writing was clever and it was a quick read. ⠀⠀
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Trigger: rape ⠀
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Thank you Grand Central Publishing through Netgalley for approving my request to read My Name is Eva in exchange for a honest review.
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The more I read, the more I understood, the more emotions I felt for Eva. This story was entirely about her and her life told during multiple time lines but not in chronological order. So if you don't like her character or can't connect with it, then this is not for you. This is a hit or miss book. The story starts off slow and since not in order, it may not make sense why it was written like that until the end when everything comes together.
⠀⠀
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Overall, the story line was capturing, the writing was clever and it was a quick read. ⠀⠀
⠀
Trigger: rape ⠀
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Thank you Grand Central Publishing through Netgalley for approving my request to read My Name is Eva in exchange for a honest review.
April 25, 2025
This book I’m reading today is called “My name is Eva” by Suzanne Goldring. The author's great-aunt Nora, who sent letters to her late husband Fred, also known as Tiny, served as the inspiration for this book. Fred was murdered while retraining with the RAF, while Nora was employed by the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) in post-war Germany. The story are setting in Germany and England. A remarkable character, Eva/Evelyn is bold, strong, intelligent, devoted, humorous, and affectionate. The book is engaging to read and has excellent writing. It's just impossible to put down. So, how did Eva's story end? You can decide.
August 10, 2019
World War II is an era that fascinates me. This is mostly why I picked up "My name is Eva". It did not feature as much of the war as I thought it would, but I wasn't too disappointed.
We follow Evelyn, who also calls herself Eva or Evie depending on the contexts, whose husband has been killed during the war. We meet her as an old woman in a retirement home, with many secrets threatened to be revealed when her niece digs a little in her property, now empty. Throughout the book, we discover who Evelyn is, the things she's done and the secrets she hides.
I felt a sense of peace reading this book. It just flows nicely, mixing letters with regular narration, so we get a glimpse of Evelyn's relationship with Hugh, her husband. I liked getting to know this little lady, who doesn't seem like much, but has done a great amount of things in her life, and uncovering her secrets, one page at a time. It made me want to see my grand parents more often and ask them about their life before kids (and I did go there afterwards !)
The reason I'm not giving it a better rating is that it was a little too uneventful for me. Don't get me wrong, there is some action, but I didn't feel too captivated by it, and it didn't make me feel anything in particular. Things happened and I just read them to get to the next part.
Another 'issue' for me was how deconstructed in time the narration was. You can go from a tale set in 2016, then 1945, then 1980, then 2016 again, then 1950, etc... I have no problems with the flashbacks, they're the entire point of the book, but I would have liked the flashbacks to follow the previous one. Like 1945, 2016, 1950,2016, 1980, and so on, instead of jumping back and forth decades.
Besides Evelyn, who was a good enough character, I couldn't feel much for the rest of the cast. They're here, but they don't convey much emotion, especially Pat, Evelyn's niece, who's a little cliché of the kid that doesn't want to be around old people too long.
I would have loved to read more about Hugh, getting to know who he was before being sent to war, how he met Evelyn, how they fell in love, and so on ! Maybe this can be another book ? I think I'd really like that !
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for providing me with an e-arc !
We follow Evelyn, who also calls herself Eva or Evie depending on the contexts, whose husband has been killed during the war. We meet her as an old woman in a retirement home, with many secrets threatened to be revealed when her niece digs a little in her property, now empty. Throughout the book, we discover who Evelyn is, the things she's done and the secrets she hides.
I felt a sense of peace reading this book. It just flows nicely, mixing letters with regular narration, so we get a glimpse of Evelyn's relationship with Hugh, her husband. I liked getting to know this little lady, who doesn't seem like much, but has done a great amount of things in her life, and uncovering her secrets, one page at a time. It made me want to see my grand parents more often and ask them about their life before kids (and I did go there afterwards !)
The reason I'm not giving it a better rating is that it was a little too uneventful for me. Don't get me wrong, there is some action, but I didn't feel too captivated by it, and it didn't make me feel anything in particular. Things happened and I just read them to get to the next part.
Another 'issue' for me was how deconstructed in time the narration was. You can go from a tale set in 2016, then 1945, then 1980, then 2016 again, then 1950, etc... I have no problems with the flashbacks, they're the entire point of the book, but I would have liked the flashbacks to follow the previous one. Like 1945, 2016, 1950,2016, 1980, and so on, instead of jumping back and forth decades.
Besides Evelyn, who was a good enough character, I couldn't feel much for the rest of the cast. They're here, but they don't convey much emotion, especially Pat, Evelyn's niece, who's a little cliché of the kid that doesn't want to be around old people too long.
I would have loved to read more about Hugh, getting to know who he was before being sent to war, how he met Evelyn, how they fell in love, and so on ! Maybe this can be another book ? I think I'd really like that !
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for providing me with an e-arc !
October 22, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Numele meu este Eva
Buna prieteni,azi vin cu recenzia la aceasta carte ce ne-o aduce pe Evelyn o bătrânică aparent senilă dar complet inofensivă. Evelyn este o bătaie de cap pentru nepoata sa, Pat, care moștenește conacul familiei și trebuie să se ocupe de toate lucrurile de acolo. Atunci când Pat dă peste niste arme si haine pătate de sânge, este nevoită să anunțe poliția. După mai multe investigații, polițiștii vor să discute cu Evelyn, dar aceasta nu pare să le fie de mare ajutor.
Povestea incepe in 1943, cu Evelin,o tânără văduvă care jură răzbunare pentru moartea soțului său Hugh, ucis într-o operațiune militară criminala cu obiectiv josnic pusă la cale de un comandant foarte crud. Evelyn m-a impresionat pentru iubirea și devotamentul pentru soțul său drag și amintirea acestuia. Scrisorile către soțul ei rămăseseră fără destinatar, inima ei rămăsese fără sufletul pereche… Răzbunarea era singurul lucru care o mai ținea pe picioare. Evelyn știa și împotriva cui trebuia să își canalizeze ura: omul care îi dăduse ultimul ordin, omul care știa de riscuri, dar a ales să sacrifice oameni fără pic de milă pentru cauza în numele căreia lupta.
Dar oare o sa reuseasca sa se razbune pe comandant si să-și țină promisiunea făcută sotului ei?
În final pot spune ca această carte a autoarei este foarte diferita de alte ficțiuni istorice din al doilea război mondial pe care eu le-am citit, este atat de complexă cu o poveste de viață cu multă viclenie ,dar în același timp este și o carte despre dragoste, trădare și dorinta arzătoare de răzbunare.
Lectură plăcută vă doresc!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
#carte #cartecadeau #carte #cărți #carturesti #catsofinstagram #cititorpasionat #carteadinmanamea #carturestitimisoara #citescdeciexist #cititulnuingrasa #cititor #citescinoriceanotimp #cititoare #citim #carturestiandfriends #citescdecisuntsexy #cititoridinbrasov #cititoridinmoldova #christmas #biblioteca #bookstagramfeature #book #bookstagramromania #humanitas #booklover #bookstagrammer #cernobîl #istorie #SuzanneGoldring
Buna prieteni,azi vin cu recenzia la aceasta carte ce ne-o aduce pe Evelyn o bătrânică aparent senilă dar complet inofensivă. Evelyn este o bătaie de cap pentru nepoata sa, Pat, care moștenește conacul familiei și trebuie să se ocupe de toate lucrurile de acolo. Atunci când Pat dă peste niste arme si haine pătate de sânge, este nevoită să anunțe poliția. După mai multe investigații, polițiștii vor să discute cu Evelyn, dar aceasta nu pare să le fie de mare ajutor.
Povestea incepe in 1943, cu Evelin,o tânără văduvă care jură răzbunare pentru moartea soțului său Hugh, ucis într-o operațiune militară criminala cu obiectiv josnic pusă la cale de un comandant foarte crud. Evelyn m-a impresionat pentru iubirea și devotamentul pentru soțul său drag și amintirea acestuia. Scrisorile către soțul ei rămăseseră fără destinatar, inima ei rămăsese fără sufletul pereche… Răzbunarea era singurul lucru care o mai ținea pe picioare. Evelyn știa și împotriva cui trebuia să își canalizeze ura: omul care îi dăduse ultimul ordin, omul care știa de riscuri, dar a ales să sacrifice oameni fără pic de milă pentru cauza în numele căreia lupta.
Dar oare o sa reuseasca sa se razbune pe comandant si să-și țină promisiunea făcută sotului ei?
În final pot spune ca această carte a autoarei este foarte diferita de alte ficțiuni istorice din al doilea război mondial pe care eu le-am citit, este atat de complexă cu o poveste de viață cu multă viclenie ,dar în același timp este și o carte despre dragoste, trădare și dorinta arzătoare de răzbunare.
Lectură plăcută vă doresc!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
#carte #cartecadeau #carte #cărți #carturesti #catsofinstagram #cititorpasionat #carteadinmanamea #carturestitimisoara #citescdeciexist #cititulnuingrasa #cititor #citescinoriceanotimp #cititoare #citim #carturestiandfriends #citescdecisuntsexy #cititoridinbrasov #cititoridinmoldova #christmas #biblioteca #bookstagramfeature #book #bookstagramromania #humanitas #booklover #bookstagrammer #cernobîl #istorie #SuzanneGoldring
July 21, 2019
Could not put this book down, and heaven help anyone that tried to disturb my reading !!
I absolutely loved this book !
I laughed, I cried, I cheered , I sympathized all because of Evelyn.
The book takes place between the past and the present, the present being Evelyn is a resident in an assisted living facility. I could so picture the setting and as Evelyn sets out to fool everyone , I thought you go girl !!
The past takes place during World War 2 as Evelyn enlists after the death of her husband.
A secret is about to be revealed after her niece uncovers some photographs from the War and that is one secret Evelyn wont have revealed.
Evelyn is brass, very clever and plots very well.
I don't want to say anything else but what a fantastic read.
My first , not my last book by Suzanne Goldring.
I can't recommend this book enough !!
A big thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to laugh, cry and cheer Evelyn on !!!
I absolutely loved this book !
I laughed, I cried, I cheered , I sympathized all because of Evelyn.
The book takes place between the past and the present, the present being Evelyn is a resident in an assisted living facility. I could so picture the setting and as Evelyn sets out to fool everyone , I thought you go girl !!
The past takes place during World War 2 as Evelyn enlists after the death of her husband.
A secret is about to be revealed after her niece uncovers some photographs from the War and that is one secret Evelyn wont have revealed.
Evelyn is brass, very clever and plots very well.
I don't want to say anything else but what a fantastic read.
My first , not my last book by Suzanne Goldring.
I can't recommend this book enough !!
A big thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to laugh, cry and cheer Evelyn on !!!
September 11, 2019
Make no mistake; this is a stellar read! From the thoroughly realistic characters (including the mysterious main character and her real jerk of a niece) to the intricate plot, I loved everything about it. I especially liked how Evelyn (Evie/Eva) was a master of manipulation. She was one of the most intriguing characters I have ever “met.” Do yourself a huge favor and pick this one up. For a full review, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for a complimentary, pre-release digital ARC of the book.
December 25, 2019
A brilliant book. Such an interesting story and so cleverly written.
September 13, 2019
A seemingly unremarkable old woman named Evelyn Taylor Clarke has now reached the stage in life where she needs to live in a care home. She doesn't appear to be anything out of the ordinary having spent most of her life living at the family home - Kingsley Manor in Surrey. But scratch beneath the surface and Evelyn/ Evie or Eva, as she is called depending on the circumstances you are reading about, has an awful lot to hide. She has kept so many secrets for years and now she knows her time is drawing near and that some of those secrets will come spilling out whether she likes it or not. But she is still in control of her destiny and would like a say as to the terms of these reveals.
So begins the impressive début novel from Suzanne Goldring – My Name is Eva.The reader is instantly lulled into a false sense of security thinking Evelyn is a harmless old woman who is going a bit funny and experiencing memory loss. Well her niece Pat who is currently sorting out Evelyn's estate certainly thinks so and pays scant attention to some of the things Evelyn says. But look a little closer and you will soon find that Evelyn very much has all of her senses even if physically her body may be letting her down. Now she understands the final piece of her game or puzzle is about to slot into place and she is very much looking forward to being the main operator and having control as to how the final curtain may fall.
Immediately within the first chapter Suzanne Goldring has the reader in the palm of her hands and this grip is not relinquished until you reach the very last sentence. This was not your typical war time historical fiction novel instead I felt as if the author had breathed fresh air into a genre I don't hesitate to call my favourite. Yes there is a dual timeline of sorts but it all focuses on one woman and the different names she has gone under in her life for different reasons. We observe the many personas of Evelyn and although she is one person I felt we truly got to know the many layers and depths to her. As we progress through the book we come to understand what has driven and motivated her since World War Two and that she is not all sweetness and light and if people truly understand the depths to which she plunged and the tactics she used they would certainly in for the surprise of their lives.
Evelyn in her old age pretends she is elusive and doesn't understand what is being asked of her or where she truly is but she is one clever cookie and there are so many questions raised within the first few chapters that the reader is desperate for answers. They will come with time but allowing the story to unfold and to follow the many strands of Eva's life are more than worth the pay off as you race towards the deeply satisfying and surprising conclusion. What is Eva hiding? Why is she letting on that she can't remember important things when questioned and why is there a photo hidden in her bedside locker that she takes out every night?
I loved how letters were interspersed between each chapter as they really helped the pace of the story and aided the reader in learning more about Evie and her situation. The letters written by Evie are to her husband Hugh who alongside the group he was with were betrayed by someone important in the war which led to their subsequent death. Evie is fuelled by anger once she learns the true cause of Hugh's death she wants revenge through any means possible. Through the letters we get a deep insight into her mind and heart and they are written in such a conversational style to Hugh. I would have loved to have had a little bit more about how Evelyn met Hugh and what their life was like before it was torn apart by war but on reflection this book is more about the aftermath of a major event in Evie's early life which directs the course of the remainder of her years.
The hatred Evie has for the man who took her beloved Hugh away from her only intensifies with time not lessens and the way she sets about seeking vengeance is truly remarkable. Never would one have thought Evie could be so sly, cunning and manipulative. The plans she weaves and the circumstances she brings about are riveting and horrifying in equal measure and her cool, calm and collected nature really belies how conniving and calculating she truly is. I don't think Evie is a character whom you are meant to fall in love with and root for all the way. I liked her as an older woman and I thought those scenes in the care home and the conversations she engages in with people who are questioning her upon the discovery of something best kept hidden were fantastically written. But in her earlier years working in Germany towards the end of the war and for several years following its conclusion well there was a totally different side to her where she became known as Eva and at times there I didn't like her and even more so when it became clear what she did.
Yet everything happens for a reason and she is spurred on to fight for the many injustices she has seen taken place but also there is something hidden even deeper that motivates her. This particular scene upon its revelation was difficult to read but I felt it was very much necessary to include it in the book as it helped me understand Eva even better. If Eva is ever to find peace in this life her mission needs to be fulfilled at whatever cost. One questions throughout and this is what would make this book a great selection for a book club is that can her actions when all the strands merge together ever be condoned? As a reader you go back and forth and your opinion is swayed more than once and in the end I remained firmly stuck in the middle torn between moral beliefs and obligations whilst thinking of a woman who was just so brutally affected and changed by one event.
Eva will go to any length to achieve her objective and all the plotting and planning is expertly revealed at just the right time. The line on the front cover says – you pay a terrible price for keeping a promise and this could not be more true the further you delve deeper into Eva's story. Eva's actions will prove divisive to many readers. Some are wrong, some are right but her agile and watchful mind has been playing a game for so many years that as she draws nearer to its conclusion she is maintaining a balancing act. She has carefully curated every strand of her life since the war and kept so many things close to her chest. Is she willing to reveal all and relinquish the control she always had over her carefully constructed life?
My Name is Eva is a haunting and brilliant read and a stand out book in the historical fiction genre. Some may find the going back and forth across the various timelines slightly confusing but I found it worked wonderfully and was written in such an ingenious way that you are constantly left wanting to read more of a particular time period as the time-line does not run concurrently. This is a cleverly constructed, well paced and plotted novel that strikes up many tones and perceptions of Eva depending on the point of her life that you are reading about. As for those crossword clues, well that angle was just brilliant and I'll say no more. The ending was simply sublime and it could not have ended in any other way. Suzane Goldring is definitely a real talent and I will certainly be looking out for more books from her in the future. My Name is Eva was an exceptional read with a main character you will not forget in a hurry.
So begins the impressive début novel from Suzanne Goldring – My Name is Eva.The reader is instantly lulled into a false sense of security thinking Evelyn is a harmless old woman who is going a bit funny and experiencing memory loss. Well her niece Pat who is currently sorting out Evelyn's estate certainly thinks so and pays scant attention to some of the things Evelyn says. But look a little closer and you will soon find that Evelyn very much has all of her senses even if physically her body may be letting her down. Now she understands the final piece of her game or puzzle is about to slot into place and she is very much looking forward to being the main operator and having control as to how the final curtain may fall.
Immediately within the first chapter Suzanne Goldring has the reader in the palm of her hands and this grip is not relinquished until you reach the very last sentence. This was not your typical war time historical fiction novel instead I felt as if the author had breathed fresh air into a genre I don't hesitate to call my favourite. Yes there is a dual timeline of sorts but it all focuses on one woman and the different names she has gone under in her life for different reasons. We observe the many personas of Evelyn and although she is one person I felt we truly got to know the many layers and depths to her. As we progress through the book we come to understand what has driven and motivated her since World War Two and that she is not all sweetness and light and if people truly understand the depths to which she plunged and the tactics she used they would certainly in for the surprise of their lives.
Evelyn in her old age pretends she is elusive and doesn't understand what is being asked of her or where she truly is but she is one clever cookie and there are so many questions raised within the first few chapters that the reader is desperate for answers. They will come with time but allowing the story to unfold and to follow the many strands of Eva's life are more than worth the pay off as you race towards the deeply satisfying and surprising conclusion. What is Eva hiding? Why is she letting on that she can't remember important things when questioned and why is there a photo hidden in her bedside locker that she takes out every night?
I loved how letters were interspersed between each chapter as they really helped the pace of the story and aided the reader in learning more about Evie and her situation. The letters written by Evie are to her husband Hugh who alongside the group he was with were betrayed by someone important in the war which led to their subsequent death. Evie is fuelled by anger once she learns the true cause of Hugh's death she wants revenge through any means possible. Through the letters we get a deep insight into her mind and heart and they are written in such a conversational style to Hugh. I would have loved to have had a little bit more about how Evelyn met Hugh and what their life was like before it was torn apart by war but on reflection this book is more about the aftermath of a major event in Evie's early life which directs the course of the remainder of her years.
The hatred Evie has for the man who took her beloved Hugh away from her only intensifies with time not lessens and the way she sets about seeking vengeance is truly remarkable. Never would one have thought Evie could be so sly, cunning and manipulative. The plans she weaves and the circumstances she brings about are riveting and horrifying in equal measure and her cool, calm and collected nature really belies how conniving and calculating she truly is. I don't think Evie is a character whom you are meant to fall in love with and root for all the way. I liked her as an older woman and I thought those scenes in the care home and the conversations she engages in with people who are questioning her upon the discovery of something best kept hidden were fantastically written. But in her earlier years working in Germany towards the end of the war and for several years following its conclusion well there was a totally different side to her where she became known as Eva and at times there I didn't like her and even more so when it became clear what she did.
Yet everything happens for a reason and she is spurred on to fight for the many injustices she has seen taken place but also there is something hidden even deeper that motivates her. This particular scene upon its revelation was difficult to read but I felt it was very much necessary to include it in the book as it helped me understand Eva even better. If Eva is ever to find peace in this life her mission needs to be fulfilled at whatever cost. One questions throughout and this is what would make this book a great selection for a book club is that can her actions when all the strands merge together ever be condoned? As a reader you go back and forth and your opinion is swayed more than once and in the end I remained firmly stuck in the middle torn between moral beliefs and obligations whilst thinking of a woman who was just so brutally affected and changed by one event.
Eva will go to any length to achieve her objective and all the plotting and planning is expertly revealed at just the right time. The line on the front cover says – you pay a terrible price for keeping a promise and this could not be more true the further you delve deeper into Eva's story. Eva's actions will prove divisive to many readers. Some are wrong, some are right but her agile and watchful mind has been playing a game for so many years that as she draws nearer to its conclusion she is maintaining a balancing act. She has carefully curated every strand of her life since the war and kept so many things close to her chest. Is she willing to reveal all and relinquish the control she always had over her carefully constructed life?
My Name is Eva is a haunting and brilliant read and a stand out book in the historical fiction genre. Some may find the going back and forth across the various timelines slightly confusing but I found it worked wonderfully and was written in such an ingenious way that you are constantly left wanting to read more of a particular time period as the time-line does not run concurrently. This is a cleverly constructed, well paced and plotted novel that strikes up many tones and perceptions of Eva depending on the point of her life that you are reading about. As for those crossword clues, well that angle was just brilliant and I'll say no more. The ending was simply sublime and it could not have ended in any other way. Suzane Goldring is definitely a real talent and I will certainly be looking out for more books from her in the future. My Name is Eva was an exceptional read with a main character you will not forget in a hurry.
February 10, 2024
-Xhimi ndezi dhe një cigare tjetër dhe e thithi. - Ti e di si e quajnë vendasit këtë vend tani, apo jo?
Eva u kthye nga ai dhe e pa e çuditur.
- Jo, si? Ma thuaj.
- "Das Verbotene Dorf", - tha Xhimi dhe ngriti vetullat për të theksuar rëndësinë.
- Fshati i ndaluar, - mërmëriti Eva. - Nuk është çudi. Ne
erdhëm për t'i vënë gjërat në vend, por po i bëjmë më keq. Jemi pothuajse po aq të këqij, sa edhe ata.
-Ja tek ishte, në listën e nderimeve me rastin e datëlindjes së mbretëreshës, emri që s’i shqitej nga mendja: Stiven Robinson. Para dy vjetësh, kur qe nderuar me titullin kalorës, ishte mërzitur shumë, por që ti jepej edhe një nderim tjetër, ishte e tepërt. Medalje për merita të veçanta, si jo. Duhej të ish bërë guf nga krenaria duke pispillosur mustaqen e vogël e të pastër. Meritë, posi! ��farë merite mund të kishte në metodën e tij çnjerëzore?
-Në kohën e gjyqeve në Frankfurt ajo qe ndier e
lehtësuar që shumë kriminelë lufte ishin gietur dhe dënuar, edhe pse sipas mendimit të saj dhe të shumë njerëzve të tjerë të drejtë,dënimet ishin tepër të lehta për krimet e tmerrshme që u kryen.
Po të paktën atyre u ishte drejtuar gishti. Të paktën çdo njeri do ta merrte vesh fare çfarë kishin bere. E si munden ata të bëjnë jetë normale pasi u akuzuan si përbindësha?
-Paratë, toka, pasuritë nuk janë të rëndësishme! - bërtiti Evelina. - Jeta është e rëndësishme. Duhet ta respektosh, ta mbrosh, të kujdesesh për të gjallët. Ti i vrisje njerëzit që nuk mendonin si ti dhe bëheshe palë me të tjerë që kishin vrare me qindra e mijëra.
Eva u kthye nga ai dhe e pa e çuditur.
- Jo, si? Ma thuaj.
- "Das Verbotene Dorf", - tha Xhimi dhe ngriti vetullat për të theksuar rëndësinë.
- Fshati i ndaluar, - mërmëriti Eva. - Nuk është çudi. Ne
erdhëm për t'i vënë gjërat në vend, por po i bëjmë më keq. Jemi pothuajse po aq të këqij, sa edhe ata.
-Ja tek ishte, në listën e nderimeve me rastin e datëlindjes së mbretëreshës, emri që s’i shqitej nga mendja: Stiven Robinson. Para dy vjetësh, kur qe nderuar me titullin kalorës, ishte mërzitur shumë, por që ti jepej edhe një nderim tjetër, ishte e tepërt. Medalje për merita të veçanta, si jo. Duhej të ish bërë guf nga krenaria duke pispillosur mustaqen e vogël e të pastër. Meritë, posi! ��farë merite mund të kishte në metodën e tij çnjerëzore?
-Në kohën e gjyqeve në Frankfurt ajo qe ndier e
lehtësuar që shumë kriminelë lufte ishin gietur dhe dënuar, edhe pse sipas mendimit të saj dhe të shumë njerëzve të tjerë të drejtë,dënimet ishin tepër të lehta për krimet e tmerrshme që u kryen.
Po të paktën atyre u ishte drejtuar gishti. Të paktën çdo njeri do ta merrte vesh fare çfarë kishin bere. E si munden ata të bëjnë jetë normale pasi u akuzuan si përbindësha?
-Paratë, toka, pasuritë nuk janë të rëndësishme! - bërtiti Evelina. - Jeta është e rëndësishme. Duhet ta respektosh, ta mbrosh, të kujdesesh për të gjallët. Ti i vrisje njerëzit që nuk mendonin si ti dhe bëheshe palë me të tjerë që kishin vrare me qindra e mijëra.
October 5, 2020
Rzuciłam się na tę książkę w promocji, bo bardzo zaciekawiła mnie historia pewnej starszej pani, przebywającej w domu opieki, udającej demencję i uważnie obserwującej swoje otoczenie. Co też takiego ukrywa? Jaki jest jej sekret i do czego dąży?
Po kilku stronach okazało się, że opowieść cofa się do czasów II WŚ, co już mi się mniej podobało, ale czytałam dalej. Dowiedziałam się, że Eva ma na sumieniu pewną zbrodnię i wyglądało na to, że jest to zbrodnia doskonała. Potem odkryłam, że było ich więcej… Czy rzeczywiście przemiła staruszka, uwielbiająca kwiaty i ciastka była zdolna zabić, a potem dokładnie zatrzeć wszystkie ślady? Dlaczego w ogóle zabiła? Ilu wrogów się pozbyła? O jakim przyrzeczeniu mówi? Wszystko wyjaśnia się systematycznie i powoli podczas czytania. Nie za szybko, ale też bez zbędnego przedłużania autorka przedstawia nam historię długiego życia Evy. Jest w nim sporo wątków polskich, choć te kwestie poruszone są, moim zdaniem, w sposób trochę stereotypowy. Ogólnie książka wciągała mnie coraz bardziej. Polubiłam bohaterkę, a na ostatnich stronach naprawdę jej kibicowałam i bawiło mnie jej podstępne zachowanie. W pewnym momencie stwierdziłam, że przypomina mi troszeczkę Zofię Wilkońską 😉
Naprawdę polecam lekturę. Nie powiem Wam, czy sekret Evy został odkryty, a zbrodnia ukarana. Sprawdźcie sami.
Po kilku stronach okazało się, że opowieść cofa się do czasów II WŚ, co już mi się mniej podobało, ale czytałam dalej. Dowiedziałam się, że Eva ma na sumieniu pewną zbrodnię i wyglądało na to, że jest to zbrodnia doskonała. Potem odkryłam, że było ich więcej… Czy rzeczywiście przemiła staruszka, uwielbiająca kwiaty i ciastka była zdolna zabić, a potem dokładnie zatrzeć wszystkie ślady? Dlaczego w ogóle zabiła? Ilu wrogów się pozbyła? O jakim przyrzeczeniu mówi? Wszystko wyjaśnia się systematycznie i powoli podczas czytania. Nie za szybko, ale też bez zbędnego przedłużania autorka przedstawia nam historię długiego życia Evy. Jest w nim sporo wątków polskich, choć te kwestie poruszone są, moim zdaniem, w sposób trochę stereotypowy. Ogólnie książka wciągała mnie coraz bardziej. Polubiłam bohaterkę, a na ostatnich stronach naprawdę jej kibicowałam i bawiło mnie jej podstępne zachowanie. W pewnym momencie stwierdziłam, że przypomina mi troszeczkę Zofię Wilkońską 😉
Naprawdę polecam lekturę. Nie powiem Wam, czy sekret Evy został odkryty, a zbrodnia ukarana. Sprawdźcie sami.
June 25, 2020
An interesting tale of one woman's life during the war and the secrets she kept all those years.
The story began in 2016 and proved to be most unusual. Eva/ Evelyn is a ninety-year-old woman that likes to pull the wool over her cousin's eyes. Though her mind was sharp as the pencils she kept close she made everyone believed that she was, in fact, losing it. Inwardly she had so much fun with all that you could not help but smile at the schemes she pulled.
A story that tells the other side of the war's devastation. It tells about the turmoil of the Polish people to be reunited with their country. The brutal interrogations to find the quilty people and the hate for one man that kept her on high alert.
Through it all, you could not help but appreciate her independence, her love for her estate and flowers and the need for sharp pencils. It shows so much about this woman that walked alone after her husband passed away during the war. And it tells of her unforgettable love towards Hugh who was with her till the end. A love story with a twist as you get to know the woman and her secrets and the lengths she went through to cover it up.
The story began in 2016 and proved to be most unusual. Eva/ Evelyn is a ninety-year-old woman that likes to pull the wool over her cousin's eyes. Though her mind was sharp as the pencils she kept close she made everyone believed that she was, in fact, losing it. Inwardly she had so much fun with all that you could not help but smile at the schemes she pulled.
A story that tells the other side of the war's devastation. It tells about the turmoil of the Polish people to be reunited with their country. The brutal interrogations to find the quilty people and the hate for one man that kept her on high alert.
Through it all, you could not help but appreciate her independence, her love for her estate and flowers and the need for sharp pencils. It shows so much about this woman that walked alone after her husband passed away during the war. And it tells of her unforgettable love towards Hugh who was with her till the end. A love story with a twist as you get to know the woman and her secrets and the lengths she went through to cover it up.
October 10, 2021
Evelyn Taylor-Clarke este o bătrână în vârstă de 95 de ani extrem de interesantă, o dată ce ajungi să îi cunoști povestea. Viața ei a fost încărcată de evenimente, mai mult cutremurătoare și sfâșietoare decât frumoase, dorindu-și să-și aducă contribuția în anii războiului, nu să stea să tricoteze, așteptând să i se întoarcă soțul de pe front.
Deși pare o bătrână ce dă semne de demență, Evelyn este o adevărată maestră în manipularea adevărului, încă are mintea ageră la cei 95 de ani ai săi și reușește să-i joace pe degete, pe Pat, nepoata sa, dar și pe diversele persoane cu care intră în contact. După ce s-a “cazat” la căminul de bătrâni Forest Lawns, Evelyn a însărcinat-o pe Pat să se ocupe de conacul Kingsley, însă nu se aștepta ca această “misiune” să scoată la iveală atât de multe secrete, pe care le-a ținut ascunse multă vreme…
Să-i aflu povestea lui Evelyn mi-a amintit de ce îmi place să citesc ficțiuni istorice, iar Evelyn este un personaj ce se imprimă în inimă și gând, demonstrează că femeile, deși par a fi fragile, sunt capabile de acte sângeroase când vine vorba de răzbunare, înfruntă greutăți cu stoicism, deși se rupe inima-n ele, pot îndura suferințe numeroase și rămânând puternice până-n ultima clipă… M-a distrat modul în care Evelyn se “juca” cu Pat și celelalte personaje, dar în același timp mă și întrista povestea sa, realizând prin câte a trecut. Datorită modului în care a fost redată acțiunea poveștii, atât la persoana întâi, când Evelyn își descărca sufletul, prezentând evenimente din trecut, dar și la persoana a treia, când era surprinsă în prezent, mi-a fost mult mai ușor să mă conectez cu ea, să o îndrăgesc și să sufăr pentru tot ce a fost nevoită să pătimească…
I-am devorat povestea, nu am putut să mă desprind nicio clipă, am topit-o în câteva ore, iar capitolele scurte au fost un plus în lecturarea volumului, a curs de la sine și n-am simțit când au trecut paginile.
Mă bucur enorm că am descoperit povestea lui Evelyn și vi-o recomand cu dragă inimă, în ciuda evenimentelor dureroase cuprinse, se citește ușor, este catchy și o veți iubi pe Evelyn instant.
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