Jojo Moyes: The Ship of Brides

Recension: "The Ship of Brides" by Jojo Moyes

Cover

Title: The Ship of Brides

Author: Moyes, Jojo

Publication: 2008

Publisher: Hodder Paperbacks

"The only people who still have all the answers are those who have never been faced with the questions.” 






Cover Text:

"Australia, 1946. 650 brides are departing for England to meet the men they married in wartime. But instead of the luxury liner they were expecting, they find themselves aboard an aircraft carrier, alongside a thousand men.

On the sun-baked decks, old loves and past promises become distant memories, and tensions are stretched to the limit as brides and husbands change their minds. And for Frances Mackenzie, one bride in particular, it soon becomes clear that sometimes the journey is more important than the destination."

The novel tells the journey of four Australian women crossing the ocean in order to get to their American husbands. Each one a different character, they face problems, but also learn to stick together and to get along with difficult situations. They have to adjust themselves with the uncomfortable ship, with living together at very tiny space and much more. 

Frances wants nothing more than to escape her past. However, one day she cannot hide it anymore, the secret she carried with her thorughout the whole journey. Will it destroy everything she fought for? Margaret cannot wait to be together with her husband, but also misses her family back home. Having a deep heart, she always tries to solve the occuring conflicts and takes care of everybody. Avice, coming from a rich family, struggles to adjust herself to the new circumstances on board. Having her own prospect on how things should be, she often gets into conflicts with the other brides, especially with Jean. Jean, the youngest of the four brides the story is focused on, is kind of simple-hearted and, therefore, does not seem to be as sophisticated as Avice, for example, which leads to a stressed relationship between the two young woman.

The novel has autobiographical traits due to the fact that the author's grandma was one of the original brides who went on the long journey hoping for a better life. Her grandmother's journey is the basis for the fictional story. Moyes has written a wonderful book full of emotions that makes you feel like you are on board with the brides. Each chapter focusing on a different character perspective makes it very lively, touching and you definitley get into a relation with the characters and understand their hopes and fears. You feel with the brides and while reading you get the impression of the limitedness and the impact it has on the woman who have no minute for being on their own. A great story with realistic characters, interesting and stunning developments that makes you feel like you travelled back in time to the 1940s. I really enjoyed reading it and I am looking forward to reading the next books written by Jojo Moyes.

What is your favorite novel by Jojo Moyes?

A blogpost on Moyes' novel "Me Before You" can be found on my blog as well.


♥ xoxo



sources: http://www.jojomoyes.com/books/the-ship-of-brides

The Only People You Need in Life are the Ones that Need You in Theirs

Sometimes, you have to realize that not everyone loves the same way you do. Not everyone shares the same values nor has the same standards on how a relationship should work. Of course it hurts when you find out that you do not mean as much to someone as you thought you did. It is totally fine to cry, to spend afternoons lying in bed listening to sad music and eating ice cream; everyone gets to a point where they cannot do it anymore. However, after a certain amount of time, you have to get up and live again. It might be hard, because all you want to do is to be alone and not see anyone. Fight against the urge to go back home. Go outside, spend time with good friends who encourage you, believe in you, make you happy. You deserve to live your life the way you want it to be. Therefore, focus on the people who contribute to your happiness, moments that make you smile, hobbies that relax you etc. There is so much more outside our cages; the world is such a huge place - you will find the right one when the time has come!

Meanwhile, live your life, smile, give each day the chance to be the best one you have ever experienced. Be grateful for the lessons - you were hurt due to realizing that some people do not care as much as you do. However, it is much better to see it now than living a scheme. You were given the chance to find someone better, someone who values you, supports you, sees you as the wonderful person you are. Say "thanks life for showing me what I do not want" and move on. It is hard, it is a long process and there will be moments of doubt. Never give up, do not look back - only to see how far you have come and be proud of yourself.

Have a great week! 

♥ xoxo