Under a Sky on Fire: A gripping and utterly heartbreaking WW2 historical novel

#bookreviewUnder a Sky on Fire by Suzanne KelmanI read Suzanne Kelman’s ‘A View Across the Rooftops’ last year and liked it for its strong story & the strength of its characters. That is true of this book as well, which is set during the period of the Second World War (but in UK).Lizzie has had a troubled life in her teens after having a child at the age of 14, giving her child up for adoption and then moving to live with her uncle & aunt on a farm. She works to get her life back in their considerate care, and as war breaks out decides that she must contribute to the effort. She meets Diana who has also volunteered to join the armed forces, and they become good friends. The war also brings anxiety and stress for Julia (a London resident since many years) whose husband John is called on to fight in the war. As she is assigned to work on critical documentation for the Prime Minister’s office, she has to send her children away to stay with their aunt. The relationship between Lizzie, Diana & Julia grows to be strong, and they are pillars of support for each other. The war inevitably brings tragedy & grief, and yet there is hope as the three of them stick together.The characters are strong, and the writing gives you a view of their souls. A beautiful book which I certainly recommend, if historical fiction interests you.My rating: 4.5 / 5.

I just discovered Suzanne Kelman. Love her novels. A poignant love story. Thestory of Lizzie, Julia, and Diana is beautifully told.

Suzanne Kelman has a gift for creating characters one can care about. For me, that is one of the things I look for in historical fiction. Under a Sky on Fire does an excellent job of interweaving the historical reality of London during the horrific bombing by the German air force, which went on for nine months, with the lives of three young women living in London during this period. These women each takes on a challenging role in the war effort, and through their lives we gain insight into what it was like to live and work there, under near constant threat of death.Through Julia, a young mother of two, whose husband is off fighting, we see the work done by women in the secretarial pool supporting the war office of Winston Churchill. Diana has the formidable job of raising huge helium balloons, via wires, which serve as obstacles for enemy fighter planes. They were called barrage balloons. And Lizzie works in a radar tracking facility keeping track of incoming German planes so the British planes and can find them and hopefully bring them down. All of London is living under great tension, and the destruction of property and loss of life is unfathomable.Through a series of circumstances, the lives of these three admirable young women connect, and they form deep bonds which will last throughout their lives. I found myself believing in and caring about them and their children. It's powerful and important, I think, to see war from the viewpoint of women's lives. The Battle for Britain was being fought over their heads, as they rushed to bomb shelters wherever they were, including the one in the backyard of Julia's home, where they trembled in fear, while trying to comfort their children.A book like this is important because it makes real what it's like to live in a war zone, trying to survive and trying to keep others safe as well. We in the United States, haven't had war on our land since the Civil War, so it's perhaps it's easy to forget how devastating it is to those in the midst of war. If you find books about human beings and their experiences meaningful, I highly recommend this book.

As someone born in 1942 the aftermath of the Second World War was very much part of my childhood. I was taken back by this book to the time just before my life started and realised afresh the horrors and uncertainties that so many people, including my own parents, went through. The characters and their experiences seemed very real and you could really empathise with them. The only reason I didn't give the book the full five stars was because of the unlikely coincidence of Lizzie actually finding her daughter. I could accept the way that Abigail came in to Lizzie's life but finding Annie was just too unlikely. Nevertheless I was so engrossed that I have already downloaded the author's other books. Incidentally does the phrase "Your bedroom looks like a bomb site" , much used by my parents, resonate with younger generations?

This is my first ever 5 star book. I am old enough to have lived through the aftermath and consequences of this war and too old for this kind of emotion but loved it. A really wonderful read but no more weepies for me for a while, after all I am a man

This book took me back to my childhood, being born at the commentate of WW11 my memories include the sounds of those overhead bombers the sirens, and the fires and devastation Yes as young as I was 5years the impact was remembered, also the tales mum and family related after the war were those included in this book. What an author, couldnt put the book down, Im not one for crying but I certainly shed a tear or four, thank you for so clearly portraying the times and trials of us ordinary folks. Certainly recommend.