First WWI Book

Well, this year I had decided not to join any book challenges. Then the ladies over at War Through The Generations posted this years war and, yeah, I have to "Wade" into World War I. I chose to wade in and read at least 4 books this year. And guess what, I have finished my first book-go me!

I am not sure why I had Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse on hold, but that cover was so gorgeous I had to see what was inside. I'll be honest, I am not a literary reader and I assumed the book was about abstract thoughts on living ghosts but no real haunts or spooks. You know, people who are alive but not living life. And yes, that is part of the story of Freddie but there are spooks in the book too.

Freddie was the younger child of a nearly perfect English family prior to WWI. When older brother George is lost and presumed dead on the battlefield, things shatter for the family. Within 10 years Freddie has been institutionalized and both parents died within months of each other. After recovering from his breakdown, Freddie decides a tour of France in the cold winter months might do him good. It is there, through an accident, that he lands in a village that is haunted by 600 year old ghosts and tragedy. Do you see the parallels? So it's up to Freddie to learn the story from so many years ago and set both the village and his ghosts free.

WWI is nearly a third character in the book. The war weaves itself through Freddie's heart and soul. We read about his parents receiving the news that George is lost and presumed dead. We see the effect of Freddie's hopes that George will be found alive. The war never really ended for Freddie even though he was too young to fight. 

This is a really slim book and it's not as physically wide as most books. It kinda felt like when a report was due in college and you couldn't say enough on your subject and so you fiddled with font to make it appear fuller. This is nearly a novella length if it was a traditional sized book but it doesn't mean that it's any less of a story.

I really enjoyed this, but I am so hesitant to recommend the book because it is rather dark. Nervous breakdowns, thoughts of suicide, ghost of villagers plus great descriptive writing on winter time means this in nearly Nordic in it's feel. It's not Winter's Bone or Dragon Tattoo dark but it isn't chick lit either. Because it is so slender, I would encourage any to give this a shot.

Oh, and yes, this is book 1 of my WWI challenge!