The Postmistress

By: Sarah Blake

Narrated by: Orlagh Cassidy

Those who carry the truth sometimes bear a terrible burden...

Filled with stunning parallels to today's world, The Postmistress is a sweeping novel about the loss of innocence of two extraordinary women-and of two countries torn apart by war.

On the eve of the United States's entrance into World War II in 1940, Iris James, the postmistress of Franklin, a small town on Cape Cod, does the unthinkable: She doesn't deliver a letter.

In London, American radio gal Frankie Bard is working with Edward R. Murrow, reporting on the Blitz. One night in a bomb shelter, she meets a doctor from Cape Cod with a letter in his pocket, a letter Frankie vows to deliver when she returns from Germany and France, where she is to record the stories of war refugees desperately trying to escape.

The residents of Franklin think the war can't touch them- but as Frankie's radio broadcasts air, some know that the war is indeed coming. And when Frankie arrives at their doorstep, the two stories collide in a way no one could have foreseen.

The Postmistress is an unforgettable tale of the secrets we must bear, or bury. It is about what happens to love during war­time, when those we cherish leave. And how every story-of love or war-is about looking left when we should have been looking right.

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©2010 Sarah Blake; (P)2010 Penguin

Just Okay....

What did you like best about The Postmistress? What did you like least?

Although this book had it's moments the ending was rather disappointing and the whole story line just sort of fizzled out. This is the authors first book and maybe others will be be better but it's as though she put all her energy into the first and middle portions and then lost seeing it through to the end. If that what she wrote is what was truly intended though, then I won't be rushing to obtain another one too soon based on this one.

Wonderful and Captivating

This book started a bit slowly at first, as you meet everyone. But before long, I felt myself swept along, captivated. Frankie's experiences are so vividly portrayed that I felt like I was in London when those bombs dropped, and hearing those stories on the trains. A peach of a book, that gives a snapshot of a very important piece of history.

Loved this book!

What a wonderful way to see into the past. A different view of the war showing such human emotion and moral conflict.

Off to a slow start

I started listening to this book several times and could not get into it. I nearly requested a refund of my book credit. I thought I would give it another chance and am glad I did. Fascinating and riveting story that makes you think. Three strong female characters made you want to get to know them!

overall an interesting story

What did you love best about The Postmistress?

This was my first audible book. I enjoyed listening rather than reading and this book was a good story regarding the London Blitz and what was happening back home .
The thing I liked best was that it showed that older people can also have a love story and it was depicted very well.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Postmistress?

One of the most memorable moments was when Harry finally did see a U boat and he was so helpless ....you just wanted to help him ring the bell

What about Orlagh Cassidy’s performance did you like?

easy listening and she made the book come alive.

If you could rename The Postmistress, what would you call it?

The Letter

Any additional comments?

I felt that the ending left a lot to be desired = it was a let-down. The steamy love scenes could have been left out. A little too graphic for my taste. Also the author used too many descriptive adjectives