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The Silent War
When tragedy strikes, will she ever find happiness again?
A young girl battles against adversity in The Silent War , a moving saga by popular author Victor Pemberton. Perfect for fans of Harry Bowling and Cathy Sharp.
Sunday Collins is less than happy with her lot in war-torn London, working in the sweaty, steamy laundry round the corner from her home in a stark Holloway council flat known as 'the buildings' where she has been brought up by May Collins, a Salvation Army Officer who found her on the Sally Army steps along with her bossy sister Louie. Sunday lives for Saturday nights, when she makes the most of her Betty Grable looks at the Athenaeum Dance Hall. But Sunday's recklessly lived life is changed dramatically when, one summer morning in 1944, the laundry receives a direct hit from one of Hitler's V-1s, and she finds she is - and it seems permanently - deaf...
What readers are saying about The Silent War :
' I ran through the pages as I became more and more immersed and felt unable to put the book down '
'Mr Pemberton is a great writer who is able to make the reader feel like they are truly in North London during the war '
' Takes you back in time and makes you feel part of the story '
A young girl battles against adversity in The Silent War , a moving saga by popular author Victor Pemberton. Perfect for fans of Harry Bowling and Cathy Sharp.
Sunday Collins is less than happy with her lot in war-torn London, working in the sweaty, steamy laundry round the corner from her home in a stark Holloway council flat known as 'the buildings' where she has been brought up by May Collins, a Salvation Army Officer who found her on the Sally Army steps along with her bossy sister Louie. Sunday lives for Saturday nights, when she makes the most of her Betty Grable looks at the Athenaeum Dance Hall. But Sunday's recklessly lived life is changed dramatically when, one summer morning in 1944, the laundry receives a direct hit from one of Hitler's V-1s, and she finds she is - and it seems permanently - deaf...
What readers are saying about The Silent War :
' I ran through the pages as I became more and more immersed and felt unable to put the book down '
'Mr Pemberton is a great writer who is able to make the reader feel like they are truly in North London during the war '
' Takes you back in time and makes you feel part of the story '
448 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
50 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Victor Pemberton
46 books7 followersVictor Pemberton was a British writer and television producer. His scriptwriting work included BBC radio plays, and television scripts for the BBC and ITV, including Doctor Who, The Slide and The Adventures of Black Beauty.
His television production work included the British version of Fraggle Rock (second series onwards), and several independent documentaries including the 1989 International Emmy Award-winning Gwen: A Juliet Remembered, about stage actress Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies.
In addition to novelisations, he wrote many nostalgic novels set in London, prompted by the success of his autobiographical radio drama series Our Family.
In later life he moved to Spain, where he continued to write novels until his death in 2017.
His television production work included the British version of Fraggle Rock (second series onwards), and several independent documentaries including the 1989 International Emmy Award-winning Gwen: A Juliet Remembered, about stage actress Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies.
In addition to novelisations, he wrote many nostalgic novels set in London, prompted by the success of his autobiographical radio drama series Our Family.
In later life he moved to Spain, where he continued to write novels until his death in 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 12, 2018
Slow to start but improved half way into book need to persevere
September 10, 2009
This is a surprisingly good story about a young woman that loses her hearing in a bomb blast in World War 2. I have to admit I almost tossed it aside during the first hundred pages as I didn't much like the heroine, Sunday, very much. She is a bit of a brat. A prime example of her personality is when she gets upset that her best friend (who happens to be a bit chunky) has an admirer. Apparently, out of all the men that fall at Sunday's feet, this one fellow wants her chunky friend instead and she gets her knickers in a wad. She is also very "loose" with her body. Besides Sunday's attitude, the people's speech takes some getting used to. Example: "Ow many times do I 'ave ter tell these people ter keep that bleedin' door shut downstairs!"
After page one hundred and the life changing bomb blast, it gets better. As Sunday learns to deal with deafness and comes to terms with the fact that her life is forever different and she must adjust accordingly, her attitude towards other people changes for the better. She even goes so far as to help children afflicted like herself.
Meanwhile, she has a romance with an American Airman. (Who is stationed on an airbase nearby the farm she is helping on... in 1944.. and interesting fact I have to throw in here.. The United States Air Force did not exist till 1947...Rather than having the USAF flying around in the book, it should have been the USAAF, United States Army Air Force.) In between bouts of love and bombs dropping and friends dying, Sunday also has a stalker from her past. This is where the book gets ridiculous. All men fall at Sunday's feet and want to marry her and they even go so far as to fight over her. The farmer's son, the airman, the stalker.. come on!
There is a surprise in the ending as Sunday discovers her true parentage and also another surprise I didn't much like but won't give away because it is rather crucial to the story. A decent read, however.
After page one hundred and the life changing bomb blast, it gets better. As Sunday learns to deal with deafness and comes to terms with the fact that her life is forever different and she must adjust accordingly, her attitude towards other people changes for the better. She even goes so far as to help children afflicted like herself.
Meanwhile, she has a romance with an American Airman. (Who is stationed on an airbase nearby the farm she is helping on... in 1944.. and interesting fact I have to throw in here.. The United States Air Force did not exist till 1947...Rather than having the USAF flying around in the book, it should have been the USAAF, United States Army Air Force.) In between bouts of love and bombs dropping and friends dying, Sunday also has a stalker from her past. This is where the book gets ridiculous. All men fall at Sunday's feet and want to marry her and they even go so far as to fight over her. The farmer's son, the airman, the stalker.. come on!
There is a surprise in the ending as Sunday discovers her true parentage and also another surprise I didn't much like but won't give away because it is rather crucial to the story. A decent read, however.
February 2, 2010
This was quite a sweet easy read - based in an area of London I am familiar with which added to the enjoyment.
April 9, 2017
A great book by Victor Pemberton
A great story line set during World war 2. I loved the characters through the sad and happy times and especially the hard ships Sunday had to endure. A thoroughly enjoyable book.
A great story line set during World war 2. I loved the characters through the sad and happy times and especially the hard ships Sunday had to endure. A thoroughly enjoyable book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews