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The Long Journey Home
A moving and powerful novel of love, secrets and redemption in a country torn apart by war. For readers of Kate Furnivall and Dinah Jefferies.It's 1941 and Kate is living in Rangoon, Burma, a world away from her traditional English upbringing. When she meets Edwin, a young teacher from London, she senses that he too is looking for a place to call home, and soon a friendship develops between them. As their bond grows, Kate begins to learn of the secrets in Edwin's past and the tragic events that brought them both to Burma. But war is coming and, when the Japanese forces invade, Kate and Edwin are forced to flee, along with thousands of others. They begin a perilous journey to India but soon become separated. As Kate continues on alone, she can't get this troubled young man out of her head. With the fallout of war all around them, in a place far from home, will Kate and Edwin survive their journey and find the new beginning they both seek? 'A sweeping historical fiction masterpiece' My Weekly'Evocative and atmospheric. Blench captures the wild and perilous journeys made by so many at the arrival of the war' Wilbur Smith The Long Journey Home is a Wilbur Smith adventure writing prize winner.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Readers are loving The Long Journey . . . The characters are beautifully alive, the locations so craftily described that I felt like I was there . . . a magnificent, well-researched novel.' Netgalley reviewer 'Written with compassion and thought . . . you really feel the emotions of the characters.' Netgalley reviewer 'The ending is delightful yet sad but at the same time life affirming. A soaring saga that will touch the reader and leave footprints on your heart.' Netgalley reviewer 'Well written with great detail . . . What a great writer Cecily Blench is.' Netgalley reviewer 'A real page turner from the very beginning . . . Cecily Blench is an excellent writer.' Netgalley reviewer 'Rich in emotion and description this book is just amazing . . . highly recommended.' Netgalley reviewer
400 pages, Paperback
Published June 10, 2021
37 people are currently reading
255 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 6, 2022
This WWII book is excellent historical fiction. It held my interest as the main characters were part of a horrific escape from British Burma to India. The main characters really hold the story together. In many respects the novel is as much about their challenges and personal trials as it is a story of the period.
The author manages to effectively integrate the plot into the complex politics of Burmese and Asian independence from British rule.
The novel is somewhat slow moving yet it stays focused upon the personal challenges rather than details of their ordeals. The author weaves a complex plot of relationships unfulfilled and questioning. This is very well presented and kept my attention until the final details of the drama are revealed.
Worth reading for those who like historical drama with a twist.
The author manages to effectively integrate the plot into the complex politics of Burmese and Asian independence from British rule.
The novel is somewhat slow moving yet it stays focused upon the personal challenges rather than details of their ordeals. The author weaves a complex plot of relationships unfulfilled and questioning. This is very well presented and kept my attention until the final details of the drama are revealed.
Worth reading for those who like historical drama with a twist.
July 28, 2022
The Long Journey Home is a historical novel set in World War II Burma during the Japanese invasion. Kate is working in Burma as a school inspector. When Edwin, a new work colleague arrives they form a strong connection. They are just getting to know each other when the Japanese invasion occurs.
Separated, they each try to escape Burma and make the long journey to India and freedom. Related from both points of view this is a novel of hardship, friendship, trust, challenge and belief.
Will Kate and Edwin will ever meet up again? No spoilers.
Separated, they each try to escape Burma and make the long journey to India and freedom. Related from both points of view this is a novel of hardship, friendship, trust, challenge and belief.
Will Kate and Edwin will ever meet up again? No spoilers.
May 15, 2021
This is a well researched historical novel set in Burma during World War 2 during the Japanese invasion.
Kate is a strong female character who has come to Burma to escape her demons. When she meets Edwin, a work colleague, she forms a strong connection with him as he also has a difficult past which is the reason he too has decided to come half way round the world to live in Burma. They are just getting to know each other when the war arrives on their doorstep and they have to flee before the Japanese arrive.
The description of Kate’s journey cross country is very moving, particularly the way in which she joins up with other people who are brought together through their shared plight. Kate’s strength of character shines through as she tries to help the others during their escape. Their suffering is immense and it is difficult to see how any of them will recover, even if they survive.
Edwin’s story is equally heartbreaking. His time in the prison camp is horrific but accurately portrayed as these camps were renowned for their brutality towards civilians.
The ultimate question is whether Kate and Edwin will ever meet up again and the reader does not find this out until the very last pages, Their stories are cleverly told in flashbacks and with different timelines so it is difficult to guess the final outcome.
It is a story of how the human spirit can finally triumph, even in dark times and is ultimately uplifting..
My only disappointment is that the ending did feel slightly rushed and left me wanting to know more about Kate’s story.
This book will appeal to readers who like well researched historical fiction with strong, well described female characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.
Kate is a strong female character who has come to Burma to escape her demons. When she meets Edwin, a work colleague, she forms a strong connection with him as he also has a difficult past which is the reason he too has decided to come half way round the world to live in Burma. They are just getting to know each other when the war arrives on their doorstep and they have to flee before the Japanese arrive.
The description of Kate’s journey cross country is very moving, particularly the way in which she joins up with other people who are brought together through their shared plight. Kate’s strength of character shines through as she tries to help the others during their escape. Their suffering is immense and it is difficult to see how any of them will recover, even if they survive.
Edwin’s story is equally heartbreaking. His time in the prison camp is horrific but accurately portrayed as these camps were renowned for their brutality towards civilians.
The ultimate question is whether Kate and Edwin will ever meet up again and the reader does not find this out until the very last pages, Their stories are cleverly told in flashbacks and with different timelines so it is difficult to guess the final outcome.
It is a story of how the human spirit can finally triumph, even in dark times and is ultimately uplifting..
My only disappointment is that the ending did feel slightly rushed and left me wanting to know more about Kate’s story.
This book will appeal to readers who like well researched historical fiction with strong, well described female characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.
November 22, 2021
The long journey home told showed us the strength and determination that Kate had to find her way through war torn Burma to India and safety. Her journey was written with compassion and thought the descriptions of the situations that they were in enabled you to feel how hard it must have been and how scared people must have felt, but they knew that had to carry on to get to safety, the horror of the situations were not sugar coated so you did feel the emotions of the characters such as Edwin and what he must have endured. I liked all the characters and wanted to know about their lives.
It was nice to see how Kate ended up in Burma before the war and through the letters exchanged with her sister and mother we could see how their relationships were being mended and strengthened as time went by.
A good read.
It was nice to see how Kate ended up in Burma before the war and through the letters exchanged with her sister and mother we could see how their relationships were being mended and strengthened as time went by.
A good read.
June 27, 2021
This is the story of Kate and Edwin, English people living and working in Burma before the Japanese invasion.
It is the story of how they escape Burma and make the long trek to India as the Japanese sweep through Burma. It is the story of the people they meet, whose lives touch theirs, change them indelibly. It is the story of how they both come to terms to who they really are and what they really want from life. It is as they face the past that they can make peace with it and themselves and face the future.
This book was a bit of a slow burner for me, but the more I read, the deeper I got into Kate and Edwins stories. The ending is delightful yet sad but at the same time life affirming.
A soaring saga that will touch the reader and leave footprints on your heart.
It is the story of how they escape Burma and make the long trek to India as the Japanese sweep through Burma. It is the story of the people they meet, whose lives touch theirs, change them indelibly. It is the story of how they both come to terms to who they really are and what they really want from life. It is as they face the past that they can make peace with it and themselves and face the future.
This book was a bit of a slow burner for me, but the more I read, the deeper I got into Kate and Edwins stories. The ending is delightful yet sad but at the same time life affirming.
A soaring saga that will touch the reader and leave footprints on your heart.
March 26, 2024
Man do I love historical fiction. Set during WWII, Kate finds herself in Burma. With the fear of the Japanese invading Burma, Kate along with the friends she makes along the way flee to India. Their journey is full of peril and trouble. Do they make it ?
While this is Blenchs` first novel, it was really well written, the settings very beautifully described and moved at a wonderful pacing. The novel is lengthy at 60 chapters but they are pretty short and you will wizz through them.
The only downside is that while told from the perspective of 2 characters, I found myself only caring for Kate throughout majority of the book. I could not have cared less for Edwin even I tried. Only at the end of the book did I begin to care for him more. However, Kate has such a wonderful, compelling story and she is a certified badass. I really wish Edwin was written in that way too; he had a lot of potential especially at the end where he too really improved but I wish it had been more constant.
While this is Blenchs` first novel, it was really well written, the settings very beautifully described and moved at a wonderful pacing. The novel is lengthy at 60 chapters but they are pretty short and you will wizz through them.
The only downside is that while told from the perspective of 2 characters, I found myself only caring for Kate throughout majority of the book. I could not have cared less for Edwin even I tried. Only at the end of the book did I begin to care for him more. However, Kate has such a wonderful, compelling story and she is a certified badass. I really wish Edwin was written in that way too; he had a lot of potential especially at the end where he too really improved but I wish it had been more constant.
February 16, 2022
I failed to finish this book. I can understand why others enjoyed it, but it wasn't for me. I could not like the main characters or feel any sympathy in certain aspects as much as I tried. I found the chapters too short and rushed to fit into the narrative of the story. Some people may like that, understandably.
November 21, 2022
Excellent story of Kate searches for peace after the death of her father Kate, she travels to Burma to find herself. Meeting Edwin who becomes a good friend. When Japanese invade Burma Edwin and Kate have no choice but to try to escape. They become separated both meeting new friends and each having to struggle for survival on their journeys towards India.
April 8, 2023
A soul searching internal journey for Kate, the main character, as she and others make a tortuous journey to escape from Burma and the terrible dangers of the Japanese occupation. Despite the incidences of destruction and cruelty, the finer aspects of humanity win through. A very well written book, often surprisingly gentle within the context of the subject matter, and full of compassion.
May 13, 2024
It is my second book by this author, Secrets of Malta which I enjoyed a lot. Both the story and characters. But this story I couldn't really get in. The voices sounded very realistic to me and also the story was good, but I think I just didn't have a click with the story, country, characters. It missed a bit of strength around the content.
November 25, 2021
Yet another aspect of WW2 that I hadn't previously considered; very well depicted.
I would have given it 5 stars but for the slightly unsatisfactory ending, and a touch too much repetition of Kate's endless navel-gazing.
I would have given it 5 stars but for the slightly unsatisfactory ending, and a touch too much repetition of Kate's endless navel-gazing.
March 26, 2022
A heart wrenching tale which takes you back to the East
during the Second World War. I found it a page a page
turner which kept you compelled to find out what
happened next which I thoroughly recommend.
during the Second World War. I found it a page a page
turner which kept you compelled to find out what
happened next which I thoroughly recommend.
August 26, 2022
A new aspect to ww2, not read about the Burma angel before and it shed a new light on an unknown area probably because people shy away from British colonialism and like to pretend it didn't happen. Full of loss and personal trials, I wanted something more for Kate in the end, she's still lost.
September 9, 2024
This story of a young English woman's escape from Burma to India is based on an often neglected but fascinating part of WWII history. The harsh conditions, the constant threat of attack and the difficult terrain are vividly described.
April 11, 2025
Beautifully written, full of emotions, pain, loss, love and strength. I'm not a war story person, but this book focusses on the connections, friendship and love between people and the impact of that which made it beautiful.
February 22, 2022
1941- A story about Burma, Kate,Edwin and fleeing the Japanese forces.
A Well written story.
A Well written story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2022
well written and very atmospheric, but i kept waiting for something to happen, some purpose, anythig like the papers they were given, maybe some inheritance....it all left me slightly unsatisfied.
August 5, 2024
It would be a 2.5 - 3 maximum ...
I expected more from the description - I have not been really caught up in the story
I expected more from the description - I have not been really caught up in the story
January 4, 2022
Such a beautiful book. A lovely story of two lives, written so well. Would absolutely recommend to anyone looking for a heartwarming yet tragic book.
February 14, 2022
This was a excellent book, proving human resilience. I am amazed at the strength of character people can draw upon.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews