The Postmistress

This book starts out so promising. It is set in pre- world war 2 New England and a concurrent story takes place over the pond, in London, during the Blitz. It is essentially the story of three women: Frankie, Emma, and Iris. Frankie is a war radio commentator working for Murrow in war torn London. She is the person who brings the war home for those in American, constantly telling the stories of our allies and reminding us of why America needs to get in the fight.

Iris James is the Postmistress in a small New England town. She knows that war is coming, and tries to keep it from her loved ones for as long as possible. She is the one who will deliver the news about the implications of the war for those left behind.

Emma is a newly married young woman. She faces tragedy when the young doctor that she marries goes off to London to help during the Blitz. She waits everyday for the postmistress to deliver the letters that mean so much.

The lives of these three women become inexplicably woven together in the course of the story. Will the postmistress deliver the mail? What is it that brings a career girl like Frankie Bard to New England? What ultimately will become of Emma?

I enjoyed the first two halves of the story very much, especially as the story followed Frankie's quest for the truth. However, the third part, while it had moments of real brilliance, was a let down, for me, in the end. Did the story mean anything or was it all just a string of words put together on a page? I'm still not sure and maybe that's the problem.