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The Camel and the Butterfly
All Thomas Mirren wants is a simple life. He’s an old man now, after all. On his ninetieth birthday, while selling poppies, Thomas interrupts two shoplifters. To get back at him, they start a rumour that the former soldier had never served in the army. Just an old man pretending to be a hero. But who would believe such a thing?
Ian Rogers is a journalist. Things are quiet in the office, but then one day, he’s handed a story: something about a military imposter. Someone is claiming that Thomas Mirren is a fraud. And it seems there’s no record of the old soldier either. Could there be something to it?
When Ian’s daughter has an accident, the search begins for the hero who saved her, disappearing without leaving his name. A real hero, not like that Thomas Mirren.
Michel and Nicole Moreau live in France. During the war, they were saved by an English soldier who was later captured and killed. He’d have been ninety now.
In a world where perception is reality, does the truth even matter anymore? Does the past matter? Well, it matters to Thomas Mirren, and it looks like his past is about to catch up with him.
Ian Rogers is a journalist. Things are quiet in the office, but then one day, he’s handed a story: something about a military imposter. Someone is claiming that Thomas Mirren is a fraud. And it seems there’s no record of the old soldier either. Could there be something to it?
When Ian’s daughter has an accident, the search begins for the hero who saved her, disappearing without leaving his name. A real hero, not like that Thomas Mirren.
Michel and Nicole Moreau live in France. During the war, they were saved by an English soldier who was later captured and killed. He’d have been ninety now.
In a world where perception is reality, does the truth even matter anymore? Does the past matter? Well, it matters to Thomas Mirren, and it looks like his past is about to catch up with him.
- GenresFiction
335 pages, Paperback
Published November 7, 2021
20 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 15, 2022
In a Nutshell: A beautiful story but the author’s inexperience shows. If you can ignore the flaws in the writing style, this story will soothe your heart and make you believe in humanity again.
Story Synopsis:
I enjoyed the concept of the story. It is simple yet heartfelt, generating vibes of old-fashioned fiction in a modern era. Many of the characters are loveable. Thomas Mirren is the star of the show, and he holds his track very well on his able shoulders. Just because he is a senior citizen, don’t assume this book to be another “Ove” kind of story. Thomas isn’t a curmudgeon but a gentle and friendly old man. His relationship with his late wife Ellen is so touching! All the old geezers in this story pass remarks about the current generation, including their habit of not walking anywhere, the overdependence on devices, the increasing obesity, and even the strange fascination with “obscenely tight cycle shorts”. These elements were entertaining, and wise too!
Where the book falters is in its execution. It becomes too ambitious and thereby ends up convoluting things needlessly. I have seen many debut writers succumb to the same issue – they want to include a lot within a single book. I wish I could reach out to all of them and request them to go easy on themselves and their books.
Here’s where this book could have functioned better for me:
👉 There are way too many named characters. In fact, within the first 15% itself, there were about 22 characters with spoken lines. I stopped counting the characters after this point. A few key characters do the job much better than mentioning every Tom, Dick, and Harry by name, thereby muddling the readers. Naming every character isn’t necessary.
👉 There are way too many subplots, and not all of them are tackled to completion. For instance, the teenagers who start the rumour are written away with a simple one liner. There’s no detailing on whether anyone identified them as the culprits. Quite a few of the subplots could have been deleted without impacting the main track of Thomas’s war efforts.
👉 Years and places aren’t mentioned for a long time. The book was published in 2021, so I presumed, that the story was set in the same year. This led to some confusion as there’s a mention of the hundredth anniversary of the war but Thomas obviously couldn’t have served in WWI because of his age. The 22% point finally reveals the year to be 2014, clearing the confusion. Similarly, when the sub-track related to Michel and Nicole Moreau begins, it wasn’t specified that they were in France. “Saint Martin” could have been the name of any place.
👉 Sometimes, basic character details aren’t mentioned as well. These are minor things but they make a difference while picturing the character and understanding their behaviour. For instance, who is the older sibling - Michel or Nicole? If both are eighty, are they twins? For how long has Ian been a journalist? Why was he worried about their financial condition? (I also didn’t get the whole “selling poppies” business at first. It was a Google search that clarified to me why poppies get such a regular mention in the story! But this is on me – I hadn’t heard of that custom ever before, so I can’t blame this on the book.)
👉 Later on, the story goes back and forth between the past and the present, and between England and France. Sometimes, the same event is repeated from another character’s perspective. The problem is that not all the timeline changes are marked clearly. I don’t know if this was a formatting issue in the Kindle copy. I would have preferred separate chapters for different timelines.
👉 The narrative viewpoint jumps randomly across characters within the same chapter. There could be a few paras from Ian’s perspective, the very next para might reveal things from his wife Debbie’s viewpoint. A few paras later, the narration could go back to Ian or maybe his daughter Ellie or even Thomas who isn’t even in the same house! It took me a long time to adjust to this haphazard style.
👉 Most of the geriatrics in the book are at least 80, some much older. But they sure don't behave like most senior citizens of that age. Not a single one is sick or slow, most drink too much alcohol than bodies can handle at that age. Thomas even carries in his arms a healthy college-going girl for half a mile until her college, after she meets with an accident. It seems too unreal to believe.
👉 There is a fair bit of telling, making the writing needlessly descriptive and even creating some continuity errors.
Basically, this is a good story that gets bogged down by needless subplots and numerous characters. The focus is more on width than depth. A greater attention to detail and cutting down all frivolous tracks would have made a world of difference. On the positive side though, the book goes by very fast once you get used to the jumpy perspective and scene changes. This is a book to be read for its story, not its writing flourishes.
There's no doubt that the author has a great imagination; the story displays their research and their thinking clearly. The main thing needed is a better round of developmental editing and proofreading so that that creativity transfers from mind to paper seamlessly.
If I had to rate the book strictly for the story ignoring all else, it would have been 4.5 stars.
If I have to rate the book on its writing, it would get 2 stars.
Hence the average of the two ratings – 3.25 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through @LucyTurnsPages on Twitter and these are my honest thoughts about it.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
Story Synopsis:
90 year old Thomas Mirren is a WWII veteran who now spends his time with his old friends and volunteering at veteran-related events such as selling poppies. On one such occasion, when he catches two teen shoplifters red-handed, they retaliate by spreading a rumour that he has never been in the army and is faking his “hero” status.
Ian Rogers is a journalist who lives in the same town and works for the local newspaper. His boss hears rumours of a WWII imposter and he hands the story over to Ian, expecting a scandalous exposé. When Ian can’t find any info in the database related to Thomas Mirren, he wonders if there’s some truth to the rumour.
Michel and Nicole Moreau were saved during WWII by an unknown English soldier. All these decades, they have waited to hear from/about him. Will their wish come true?
The story comes to us in third person limited narration.
I enjoyed the concept of the story. It is simple yet heartfelt, generating vibes of old-fashioned fiction in a modern era. Many of the characters are loveable. Thomas Mirren is the star of the show, and he holds his track very well on his able shoulders. Just because he is a senior citizen, don’t assume this book to be another “Ove” kind of story. Thomas isn’t a curmudgeon but a gentle and friendly old man. His relationship with his late wife Ellen is so touching! All the old geezers in this story pass remarks about the current generation, including their habit of not walking anywhere, the overdependence on devices, the increasing obesity, and even the strange fascination with “obscenely tight cycle shorts”. These elements were entertaining, and wise too!
Where the book falters is in its execution. It becomes too ambitious and thereby ends up convoluting things needlessly. I have seen many debut writers succumb to the same issue – they want to include a lot within a single book. I wish I could reach out to all of them and request them to go easy on themselves and their books.
Here’s where this book could have functioned better for me:
👉 There are way too many named characters. In fact, within the first 15% itself, there were about 22 characters with spoken lines. I stopped counting the characters after this point. A few key characters do the job much better than mentioning every Tom, Dick, and Harry by name, thereby muddling the readers. Naming every character isn’t necessary.
👉 There are way too many subplots, and not all of them are tackled to completion. For instance, the teenagers who start the rumour are written away with a simple one liner. There’s no detailing on whether anyone identified them as the culprits. Quite a few of the subplots could have been deleted without impacting the main track of Thomas’s war efforts.
👉 Years and places aren’t mentioned for a long time. The book was published in 2021, so I presumed, that the story was set in the same year. This led to some confusion as there’s a mention of the hundredth anniversary of the war but Thomas obviously couldn’t have served in WWI because of his age. The 22% point finally reveals the year to be 2014, clearing the confusion. Similarly, when the sub-track related to Michel and Nicole Moreau begins, it wasn’t specified that they were in France. “Saint Martin” could have been the name of any place.
👉 Sometimes, basic character details aren’t mentioned as well. These are minor things but they make a difference while picturing the character and understanding their behaviour. For instance, who is the older sibling - Michel or Nicole? If both are eighty, are they twins? For how long has Ian been a journalist? Why was he worried about their financial condition? (I also didn’t get the whole “selling poppies” business at first. It was a Google search that clarified to me why poppies get such a regular mention in the story! But this is on me – I hadn’t heard of that custom ever before, so I can’t blame this on the book.)
👉 Later on, the story goes back and forth between the past and the present, and between England and France. Sometimes, the same event is repeated from another character’s perspective. The problem is that not all the timeline changes are marked clearly. I don’t know if this was a formatting issue in the Kindle copy. I would have preferred separate chapters for different timelines.
👉 The narrative viewpoint jumps randomly across characters within the same chapter. There could be a few paras from Ian’s perspective, the very next para might reveal things from his wife Debbie’s viewpoint. A few paras later, the narration could go back to Ian or maybe his daughter Ellie or even Thomas who isn’t even in the same house! It took me a long time to adjust to this haphazard style.
👉 Most of the geriatrics in the book are at least 80, some much older. But they sure don't behave like most senior citizens of that age. Not a single one is sick or slow, most drink too much alcohol than bodies can handle at that age. Thomas even carries in his arms a healthy college-going girl for half a mile until her college, after she meets with an accident. It seems too unreal to believe.
👉 There is a fair bit of telling, making the writing needlessly descriptive and even creating some continuity errors.
Basically, this is a good story that gets bogged down by needless subplots and numerous characters. The focus is more on width than depth. A greater attention to detail and cutting down all frivolous tracks would have made a world of difference. On the positive side though, the book goes by very fast once you get used to the jumpy perspective and scene changes. This is a book to be read for its story, not its writing flourishes.
There's no doubt that the author has a great imagination; the story displays their research and their thinking clearly. The main thing needed is a better round of developmental editing and proofreading so that that creativity transfers from mind to paper seamlessly.
If I had to rate the book strictly for the story ignoring all else, it would have been 4.5 stars.
If I have to rate the book on its writing, it would get 2 stars.
Hence the average of the two ratings – 3.25 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through @LucyTurnsPages on Twitter and these are my honest thoughts about it.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
April 10, 2022
So, I honestly don’t know where to begin, this book blew me away, I absolutely adored it and this is my favourite audiobook that I have ever listened to.
I felt so emotional listening to it (the narrator is fantastic! Such a lovely voice to listen to). I loved all of the characters, their interactions and the flashbacks to the past.
I don’t want to risk any spoilers, but this is a must for anyone looking for a heartwarming story, I highly recommend the audiobook (I will be purchasing a copy of the book as I want to read it to see what else I get from it).
I felt so emotional listening to it (the narrator is fantastic! Such a lovely voice to listen to). I loved all of the characters, their interactions and the flashbacks to the past.
I don’t want to risk any spoilers, but this is a must for anyone looking for a heartwarming story, I highly recommend the audiobook (I will be purchasing a copy of the book as I want to read it to see what else I get from it).
November 8, 2021
"At first, he hadn’t cared. He had seen and done so many terrible things that the patchwork of scars seemed unimportant—a reminder of a time he wished to forget. But then Ellen had arrived and everything had changed. She’d taught him to care again. And she’d needed him, just as he had needed her. Without her, he would have been lost. As he was now."
Picking out quotes from stories was something I used to do all the time while reading. I would update my reading progress with anything that moved me. I haven't done it in a few years; maybe it takes more to move me now or I haven't read any where actual sentences have moved me. Sections have moved me, yes. Death scenes have moved me. But maybe I just haven't been moved by the words themselves. I definitely didn't have that issue with this book. There were so many beautiful lines, paragraphs, and sections. The quote I've added could easily be replaced by ten others.
Michael Whitworth just has a way with words that moves. You come for the story, stay for the feelings and beauty of his words, then, long after you've finished reading, you think back and feel this horrible pit of emotion in your heart. A pit of emotion that's not often there for me down the line just from a story. And that's how I know he's a brilliant author. For me, the best authors are the ones that can evoke real emotions.
It was mostly Thomas that evoked these emotions in me. Thomas, a widowed veteran, interrupts two shoplifters while he's selling poppies one year, who then start a rumour that he never fought in the war at all. Ian Rogers, a local journalist, is tasked with the job to write a news article on this "military imposter" after finding no record of him ever serving.
The Camel and the Butterfly follows more than one perspective, including Thomas's and Ian's, as Ian is left to face a heart-wrenching truth and Thomas's past, a past he's spent so long trying to forget, comes to light.
Thomas is a character that will stay with me for a long time. I don't know why but every time the story was focused on him, I'd feel a dull ache in my heart.
Picking out quotes from stories was something I used to do all the time while reading. I would update my reading progress with anything that moved me. I haven't done it in a few years; maybe it takes more to move me now or I haven't read any where actual sentences have moved me. Sections have moved me, yes. Death scenes have moved me. But maybe I just haven't been moved by the words themselves. I definitely didn't have that issue with this book. There were so many beautiful lines, paragraphs, and sections. The quote I've added could easily be replaced by ten others.
Michael Whitworth just has a way with words that moves. You come for the story, stay for the feelings and beauty of his words, then, long after you've finished reading, you think back and feel this horrible pit of emotion in your heart. A pit of emotion that's not often there for me down the line just from a story. And that's how I know he's a brilliant author. For me, the best authors are the ones that can evoke real emotions.
It was mostly Thomas that evoked these emotions in me. Thomas, a widowed veteran, interrupts two shoplifters while he's selling poppies one year, who then start a rumour that he never fought in the war at all. Ian Rogers, a local journalist, is tasked with the job to write a news article on this "military imposter" after finding no record of him ever serving.
The Camel and the Butterfly follows more than one perspective, including Thomas's and Ian's, as Ian is left to face a heart-wrenching truth and Thomas's past, a past he's spent so long trying to forget, comes to light.
Thomas is a character that will stay with me for a long time. I don't know why but every time the story was focused on him, I'd feel a dull ache in my heart.
November 8, 2021
From the publisher: All Thomas Mirren wants is a simple life. He’s an old man now, after all. On his ninetieth birthday, while selling poppies, Thomas interrupts two shoplifters. To get back at him, they start a rumour that the former soldier had never served in the army. Just an old man pretending to be a hero. But who would believe such a thing?
Ian Rogers is a journalist. Things are quiet in the office, but then one day, he’s handed a story: something about a military imposter. Someone is claiming that Thomas Mirren is a fraud. And it seems there’s no record of the old soldier either. Could there be something to it?
When Ian’s daughter has an accident, the search begins for the hero who saved her, disappearing without leaving his name. A real hero, not like that Thomas Mirren.
Michel and Nicole Moreau live in France. During the war, they were saved by an English soldier who was later captured and killed. He’d have been ninety now.
In a world where perception is reality, does the truth even matter anymore? Does the past matter? Well, it matters to Thomas Mirren, and it looks like his past is about to catch up with him.
This book comes together slowly and methodically, which is part of what makes it so very good. After Thomas Mirren catches to two teenagers stealing, their method of revenge is to tarnish his name. Thomas doesn’t care at all what people think about him .
Ian, determined to keep his job, begins to investigate the claims against Thomas, putting a spin on the story that isn’t supposed to identify Thomas.
Ian’s daughter, when she realizes who actually saved her and the connection to other events, decides to keep the secret of her rescuer’s identity.
Michel and Nicole owe their very lives to someone who acted bravely during the war, and have often wondered about the person who saved them and what happened to him.
The way all of these characters connect really leads the reader to wonder what truly is important in life. The reader also gets to contemplate truth and how a person’s perception of truth isn’t always the full story.
I loved the alternating viewpoints in this story. Michael Whitworth weaves the big story in small, independent parts that slowly come together as the big story. What truly matters at the end of the day really isn’t much at all, and Mr. Whitworth does a fabulous job of driving that point home. I truly enjoyed this book and recommend it for readers looking for a unique story that slowly draws the reader in and delivers some wonderful lessons.
Thank you to Cahill Davis Publishing for the advance copy of this book. All opinions are entirely my own.
Ian Rogers is a journalist. Things are quiet in the office, but then one day, he’s handed a story: something about a military imposter. Someone is claiming that Thomas Mirren is a fraud. And it seems there’s no record of the old soldier either. Could there be something to it?
When Ian’s daughter has an accident, the search begins for the hero who saved her, disappearing without leaving his name. A real hero, not like that Thomas Mirren.
Michel and Nicole Moreau live in France. During the war, they were saved by an English soldier who was later captured and killed. He’d have been ninety now.
In a world where perception is reality, does the truth even matter anymore? Does the past matter? Well, it matters to Thomas Mirren, and it looks like his past is about to catch up with him.
This book comes together slowly and methodically, which is part of what makes it so very good. After Thomas Mirren catches to two teenagers stealing, their method of revenge is to tarnish his name. Thomas doesn’t care at all what people think about him .
Ian, determined to keep his job, begins to investigate the claims against Thomas, putting a spin on the story that isn’t supposed to identify Thomas.
Ian’s daughter, when she realizes who actually saved her and the connection to other events, decides to keep the secret of her rescuer’s identity.
Michel and Nicole owe their very lives to someone who acted bravely during the war, and have often wondered about the person who saved them and what happened to him.
The way all of these characters connect really leads the reader to wonder what truly is important in life. The reader also gets to contemplate truth and how a person’s perception of truth isn’t always the full story.
I loved the alternating viewpoints in this story. Michael Whitworth weaves the big story in small, independent parts that slowly come together as the big story. What truly matters at the end of the day really isn’t much at all, and Mr. Whitworth does a fabulous job of driving that point home. I truly enjoyed this book and recommend it for readers looking for a unique story that slowly draws the reader in and delivers some wonderful lessons.
Thank you to Cahill Davis Publishing for the advance copy of this book. All opinions are entirely my own.
November 9, 2021
Nothing like I've ever read but I loved it and fell in love with all the characters!
November 14, 2021
Really lovely book. Had me laughing and crying. Well written, lovely detail and characters.
May 26, 2023
With bountiful servings of humor, charm, and warmth—as well as a boatload of prawn sandwiches—The Camel and the Butterfly swept me away, touching my heart while also breaking it at the same time. It is a tale of war, love, loss, and regret, and it boldly explores the meaning of courage and the importance of truth.
The first hero of our story is a 90-year-old man named Thomas Mirren, a widowed World War II veteran who spends his days selling poppies at the local supermarket and drinking with his buddies at various pubs (or bars, depending on what side of the ocean you’re on). However, it quickly becomes obvious that Mirren is far more than what folks perceive him to be.
The other hero is Ian Rogers, a journalist for the local newspaper—though over the course of the novel, his “hero” status is called into question by many, including himself. This is because he’s forced to write a story that may or may not be true . . . one branding Thomas Mirren as a military fraud. Journalistic integrity is something closely examined within the context of the story, and I salute Michael Whitworth for having the courage to take an honest look into that particular issue.
Rounding out the tableau is a brother and sister living hours away in France. They play a special role, which I won’t divulge here. You’ll have to find out for yourself.
Given the endearing characters, historical accuracy, originality, and overall vividness of Michael Whitworth’s tale, I wouldn’t dare rate it anything less than five stars. Whitworth’s style and craft are well polished, though there were weaker moments that could’ve been improved. The pace is slow at times, but personally I didn’t mind that.
In short, I highly recommend The Camel and the Butterfly, and I can’t wait to see what the author produces next!
The first hero of our story is a 90-year-old man named Thomas Mirren, a widowed World War II veteran who spends his days selling poppies at the local supermarket and drinking with his buddies at various pubs (or bars, depending on what side of the ocean you’re on). However, it quickly becomes obvious that Mirren is far more than what folks perceive him to be.
The other hero is Ian Rogers, a journalist for the local newspaper—though over the course of the novel, his “hero” status is called into question by many, including himself. This is because he’s forced to write a story that may or may not be true . . . one branding Thomas Mirren as a military fraud. Journalistic integrity is something closely examined within the context of the story, and I salute Michael Whitworth for having the courage to take an honest look into that particular issue.
Rounding out the tableau is a brother and sister living hours away in France. They play a special role, which I won’t divulge here. You’ll have to find out for yourself.
Given the endearing characters, historical accuracy, originality, and overall vividness of Michael Whitworth’s tale, I wouldn’t dare rate it anything less than five stars. Whitworth’s style and craft are well polished, though there were weaker moments that could’ve been improved. The pace is slow at times, but personally I didn’t mind that.
In short, I highly recommend The Camel and the Butterfly, and I can’t wait to see what the author produces next!
January 1, 2023
What a lovely read this contemporary novel is. It was perfect for a lazy day’s read and I enjoyed every word. Quite a slow burner it’s emotional and heartwarming and centres on 90 year old World War II veteran Thomas Mirren. Thomas is a gentle man who, alongside other veterans and friends, is selling poppies in his local supermarket for the British Legion. Written from various POV’s, in the present (2014) and during WWII when, in France, brother and sister Nicole and Michel were saved by a British soldier.
Briefly, after stopping two teenage shoplifters Thomas is targeted by them spreading a rumour that he was never in the army. Although his friends are angry Thomas isn’t bothered. Then a journalist writes a story about this and it is posted alongside another story about a hero who saved the journalists daughter after she was victim of a hit and run.
Quite a simple story, although there are a lot of characters, and it was a bit confusing at the start as I didn’t realise it was set in 2014. Thomas is a wonderful character, still in love with his dead wife Ellen who he chats to and visits at the cemetery daily. Despite his war exploits, which he thinks make him bad, he is a kind soul and doesn’t appear to have a bad bone in his body. If you want a gentle read that is both heartwarming and touching then give this a go.
Briefly, after stopping two teenage shoplifters Thomas is targeted by them spreading a rumour that he was never in the army. Although his friends are angry Thomas isn’t bothered. Then a journalist writes a story about this and it is posted alongside another story about a hero who saved the journalists daughter after she was victim of a hit and run.
Quite a simple story, although there are a lot of characters, and it was a bit confusing at the start as I didn’t realise it was set in 2014. Thomas is a wonderful character, still in love with his dead wife Ellen who he chats to and visits at the cemetery daily. Despite his war exploits, which he thinks make him bad, he is a kind soul and doesn’t appear to have a bad bone in his body. If you want a gentle read that is both heartwarming and touching then give this a go.
August 27, 2023
Really loved the idea of this book and the characters. Felt like I knew them personally. Just felt a little slow at times, but I guess that's not always a bad thing.
November 7, 2021
Fans of A Man Called Ove will love this one! It has the same kind of feel and humour throughout.
November 29, 2023
I will admit to being distracted during my listening of this book. There were sections, story lines I found interesting and compelling, but as a whole the book didn’t resonate with me. For one thing, I kept having to remind myself we were talking about a man who was 90, walking around, living on his own, carrying a grown young woman a fair distance seemingly without trouble. Given his physical history, that just doesn’t ring true.
And why were they so bothered about his veterans status. Why would they doubt it? That all seems very contrived for the stories sake.
And why were they so bothered about his veterans status. Why would they doubt it? That all seems very contrived for the stories sake.
April 28, 2022
My first review of an audio book, I could not have hoped for a richer or more immersive experience of this gentle, wise and oh so perfectly charming story. The pitch-perfect narration, pleasant pacing, and wonderful soothing voice of this audio recording enthralled me for an afternoon and a morning, straight-through and captivating, until it was all done.
Thomas Mirren is a calm, stoic man - a nonagenarian - who in his long and intricate life has learned to take things as they come, both the good and bad, not dwelling in particular on the latter, which in Thomas’s case, has unfortunately exceeded most people’s definition of not only the “bad”, but perhaps also the survivable.
For Thomas, serving in a strategic capacity as a military paratrooper in WWII, has seen, experienced and even enacted things, monstrous things, he does not speak of - long compartmentalized, but not forgotten, as he plans his days around his comfortable routine of chats at the graveyard with Ellen (his beloved and deceased wife), visits to the Legion or pub with his two military chums, (the endearing Frank and the stalwart Colonel) as well as light shopping for the crisps, prawn sandwiches, beer and whiskey that serve as both food and necessary sustenance.
Until one day, - you may call it a mistake, a lack of judgement, or an act of moral cowardice - Thomas’s world is impinged on, violently, with lies and innuendo and a stain on his reputation that may or may not be reversible.
“What good could come from shaming old men?”
The story is told from the point of view of several characters based in Britain, including Thomas, as well as a separate voice which emerges early on from France, weaving in an intriguing tale describing secret wartime acts, intermingled with present-day life in a tiny village in Lyon France. Some of my favorite sections in this book include the author’s warm and evocative rendering of these wonderful French protagonists and their genial village life (contrasted cruelly with the terrors experienced by the same village during German occupation in the war).
As each sub-plot evolves, a deep and wonderful connection soon becomes clear, sparking up a tension that begs release, as well as a set of incipient themes that are as life-affirming as they are penetrating.
As Thomas’s world rallies and rages around him, and the reader squirms and yearns on behalf of him, it becomes clear that our main protagonist embodies an entirely different perspective.
Neither sinner nor saint, (monster nor hero) - ever-guileless Thomas, bright-blue eyes alight as he perches on Ellen’s favorite lavender-blooming bench, surrounded by butterflies, has lessons in store for us all.
Who has not both soared and shamed - and experienced all the gradations in between?
The lines we draw, the lives we judge, the world we see - whose view matters, at the end of it all, but our own?
Readers who long for hugs and happy endings will find much to adore in this touching and inspiring story - no spoilers here (you will need to read the book to find out more). Suffice it to say that I closed this book with regret, a lingering softness for Thomas, Lyon France, and yes, a heaping plate of prawn sandwiches.
A great big thank you to the publisher and the author for an audio ARC of this lovely book. All thought presented are my own.
Thomas Mirren is a calm, stoic man - a nonagenarian - who in his long and intricate life has learned to take things as they come, both the good and bad, not dwelling in particular on the latter, which in Thomas’s case, has unfortunately exceeded most people’s definition of not only the “bad”, but perhaps also the survivable.
For Thomas, serving in a strategic capacity as a military paratrooper in WWII, has seen, experienced and even enacted things, monstrous things, he does not speak of - long compartmentalized, but not forgotten, as he plans his days around his comfortable routine of chats at the graveyard with Ellen (his beloved and deceased wife), visits to the Legion or pub with his two military chums, (the endearing Frank and the stalwart Colonel) as well as light shopping for the crisps, prawn sandwiches, beer and whiskey that serve as both food and necessary sustenance.
Until one day, - you may call it a mistake, a lack of judgement, or an act of moral cowardice - Thomas’s world is impinged on, violently, with lies and innuendo and a stain on his reputation that may or may not be reversible.
“What good could come from shaming old men?”
The story is told from the point of view of several characters based in Britain, including Thomas, as well as a separate voice which emerges early on from France, weaving in an intriguing tale describing secret wartime acts, intermingled with present-day life in a tiny village in Lyon France. Some of my favorite sections in this book include the author’s warm and evocative rendering of these wonderful French protagonists and their genial village life (contrasted cruelly with the terrors experienced by the same village during German occupation in the war).
As each sub-plot evolves, a deep and wonderful connection soon becomes clear, sparking up a tension that begs release, as well as a set of incipient themes that are as life-affirming as they are penetrating.
As Thomas’s world rallies and rages around him, and the reader squirms and yearns on behalf of him, it becomes clear that our main protagonist embodies an entirely different perspective.
Neither sinner nor saint, (monster nor hero) - ever-guileless Thomas, bright-blue eyes alight as he perches on Ellen’s favorite lavender-blooming bench, surrounded by butterflies, has lessons in store for us all.
Who has not both soared and shamed - and experienced all the gradations in between?
The lines we draw, the lives we judge, the world we see - whose view matters, at the end of it all, but our own?
Readers who long for hugs and happy endings will find much to adore in this touching and inspiring story - no spoilers here (you will need to read the book to find out more). Suffice it to say that I closed this book with regret, a lingering softness for Thomas, Lyon France, and yes, a heaping plate of prawn sandwiches.
A great big thank you to the publisher and the author for an audio ARC of this lovely book. All thought presented are my own.
November 16, 2023
It's a heartwarming story. I had an audio book, and although the story moved slowly, it was an enjoyable listen.
January 15, 2024
Although there are moments in this little novel that are far from believable (a 90 year old carrying a teenager half a mile? really?) this is generally a heart warming story. While the ending is a foregone conclusion, getting there involves a story of journalistic integrity (or lack thereof), memories of fighting in France during the war, conversations in cemeteries with loved ones who are gone, a brother and sister in France, and a wise beyond her years teenager. It is all woven together by the table in the grocery store where our elderly protagonist and his just as elderly best friend sell poppies for Remembrance Day.
October 25, 2025
This was a very enjoyable book.
November 10, 2023
A slow, thoughtful look at aging war heroes, the horrors they have had to live through, how we often only perceive a small part of any individual, and how our incomplete perceptions can do a great disservice.
In this novel, we meet Thomas, a ninety-year-old veteran who was truly a hero. He shudders at some of the things he has had to do, but he was extremely strong and self-sacrificing. Now he has found peace with his past and just wants to live a simple life. Unfortunately, some young plunks spread a rumor that Thomas is a fraud who never even fought in the war. Thomas does not want recognition or hatred, but this is hard to achieve
This novel was sometimes beautifully written and sometimes painfully slow. It also stretched beyond what i could believe with Thomas's acts of strength and his ability to remain unruffled when lies were spread. I wish people like Thomas really existed, but I doubt they do.
In this novel, we meet Thomas, a ninety-year-old veteran who was truly a hero. He shudders at some of the things he has had to do, but he was extremely strong and self-sacrificing. Now he has found peace with his past and just wants to live a simple life. Unfortunately, some young plunks spread a rumor that Thomas is a fraud who never even fought in the war. Thomas does not want recognition or hatred, but this is hard to achieve
This novel was sometimes beautifully written and sometimes painfully slow. It also stretched beyond what i could believe with Thomas's acts of strength and his ability to remain unruffled when lies were spread. I wish people like Thomas really existed, but I doubt they do.
September 5, 2023
Before reading this book, I had been reading a fair bit about WWI and its horrors. This book was a pleasant palate cleanser. It is no great piece of literature, but was an engaging and pleasant read even if it was quite predictable at times.
December 12, 2025
A nice story
A nice story about a war hero who doesn't desire a lot of recognition but gets it anyway. It's a quick read but not particularly well-written. The situation seems contrived without any particular arc for most of the numerous characters.
A nice story about a war hero who doesn't desire a lot of recognition but gets it anyway. It's a quick read but not particularly well-written. The situation seems contrived without any particular arc for most of the numerous characters.
November 21, 2023
I found this a bit too lackluster to keep me engaged. To many characters doing things. I could not keep track of who is who. So I stopped reading.
December 28, 2023
This was a story of a humble gentle man who had much more complexity below the surface.
May 28, 2025
What a beautiful story! I truly enjoyed every moment. It was graceful and delicate and heartfelt. I loved it very much.
February 23, 2024
This was a fabulous story. So many threads, and layers. Highly recommend!
November 24, 2024
Nice story about a WWII war hero from England now in his 90’s. The story is a bit slow for my taste but a nice story.
March 18, 2022
A delightful page turner!
What a great debut novel this is for Michael Whitworth. I really enjoyed how he wrote the individual yet linked chapters of the characters within the book. I could visualise all of them, a good measure of a great book for me. I forced myself to read this over several days so that I could savour every moment. I highly recommend this and look forward to reading many more of Michael’s books.
What a great debut novel this is for Michael Whitworth. I really enjoyed how he wrote the individual yet linked chapters of the characters within the book. I could visualise all of them, a good measure of a great book for me. I forced myself to read this over several days so that I could savour every moment. I highly recommend this and look forward to reading many more of Michael’s books.
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