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Travel Alone, Eva
"A rarity among romantic novels for teen-agers, this challenging story takes a clear-eyed look at reality, disillusionment, and maturity.
Eva Tyden, a young Swedish girl, is delighted when her older sister becomes engaged to Marcel Forge, a French refugee in Stockholm near the end of World War II. She dreams romantically of keeping house and caring for the children of Birgitta and Marcel, both of whom will pursue glamorous artistic careers. Just before the wedding through an unusual combination of circumstances, Eva meets Marcel's family for the first time.
It is an extremely unpleasant surprise for her, as is her sudden and bewildering change in attitude towards Marcel himself. But as she finds deception and disillusionment in others, Eva is also forced to face unpleasant aspects of her own nature, a discovery that forms a basis for the perceptible maturing of this very likable girl who goes on to find a dream of her own.
Lit with gentle humor, and pervaded by a strong sense of the French countryside, Travel Alone, Eva combines a substantial theme with fresh and stylish writing."
~from the jacket cover of Travel Alone, Eva
Eva Tyden, a young Swedish girl, is delighted when her older sister becomes engaged to Marcel Forge, a French refugee in Stockholm near the end of World War II. She dreams romantically of keeping house and caring for the children of Birgitta and Marcel, both of whom will pursue glamorous artistic careers. Just before the wedding through an unusual combination of circumstances, Eva meets Marcel's family for the first time.
It is an extremely unpleasant surprise for her, as is her sudden and bewildering change in attitude towards Marcel himself. But as she finds deception and disillusionment in others, Eva is also forced to face unpleasant aspects of her own nature, a discovery that forms a basis for the perceptible maturing of this very likable girl who goes on to find a dream of her own.
Lit with gentle humor, and pervaded by a strong sense of the French countryside, Travel Alone, Eva combines a substantial theme with fresh and stylish writing."
~from the jacket cover of Travel Alone, Eva
157 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 1949
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September 13, 2019
Shortly after WWII, Eva and her sister Brigetta are planning a trip from their hometown in Sweden to visit Birgitta's fiance in France. Just days before the trip, Birgitta becomes ill and must stay behind, so Eva finds she must take the trip to France alone. Upon arrival she discovers that things are not quite how she and Birgitta had imagined - in fact, she is now concerned that her sister's fiance, Marcel, was not honest with them while he was staying in Sweden as a soldier refugee. During her stay Eva has time to relflect on what is really true of Marcel and his family and what aspects she and her sister may have romanticized to the potential detriment of their relationships.
While this book is set in the period after WWII, it isn't a focal point. There are mentions of rations and some of the after effects the war had in Europe (specifically France), but it is all rather secondary. Eva is the main protagonist and while immature in some ways, comes across as mostly likeable. She makes some unfair assumptions and can be slightly dramatic, but she eventually realizes her foolishness and determines to correct it and make things right. While it isn't a particullarly significant book, it was an enjoyable read. The ending felt very hurried, however - as if the author was tired of writing and wanted to quickly wrap things up to just be done with it. I may have given it 4 stars had the ending been more well thought out and complete. I also wonder if perhaps some things were lost in the translation.
Overall, this book is a suitable romance for teens (probably 12 and up) and sets forth some worthy lessons about assumptions, self-reflection, and owning up to mistakes.
While this book is set in the period after WWII, it isn't a focal point. There are mentions of rations and some of the after effects the war had in Europe (specifically France), but it is all rather secondary. Eva is the main protagonist and while immature in some ways, comes across as mostly likeable. She makes some unfair assumptions and can be slightly dramatic, but she eventually realizes her foolishness and determines to correct it and make things right. While it isn't a particullarly significant book, it was an enjoyable read. The ending felt very hurried, however - as if the author was tired of writing and wanted to quickly wrap things up to just be done with it. I may have given it 4 stars had the ending been more well thought out and complete. I also wonder if perhaps some things were lost in the translation.
Overall, this book is a suitable romance for teens (probably 12 and up) and sets forth some worthy lessons about assumptions, self-reflection, and owning up to mistakes.
Displaying 1 of 1 review