Chocolate Girls

This book takes you on a great journey through time, into Birmingham during the Blitz, It is both historically spot on, and interesting at the same time.

The way in which Annie Murray combines fact with fiction is spellbinding, This is a very clever story, that takes you through the highs and lows of a community suffering at the hands of hitler and life in general.

The three main women characters in this books lives are intertwined, and being the best of friends they are there for eachother throughout, this in itself makes me pretty envious of the lives of these fictious characters. The way the author has combined their lives and built up their characters throughout is very realistic, and believable.
This is an absorbing story, with mny twists and turns.

I would recommend this book to anyone, it is very well written, and shows the real mastermind behind Annie Murray. It is no wonder that this book recieved an acredited award! FANTASTIC BOOK!

WHAT AN AWFUL BOOK !! (8/11 people found this helpful)

I give 3 stars because it has some great social history in it and i appreciate the work that must have gone into this book to achieve that - but as a novel - god no !!

FANTASTIC STORY + BRILLIANTLY WRITTEN (9/10 people found this helpful)

I picked up this book from a random pile at work; wanting something to read on the train. This is not a book I would usually select but I must say that I was completely enthralled - not only by the characters, the experiences of wartime, the brilliant descriptions but mainly the realism and the way the author does not just concentrate on one element (like I find with my usual crime thrillers where the author only researches one or two topics well).

Annie Murray writes intelligently about Birmingham, Cadbury's/Bournville, WWII, life on the home front, emotions of men after returning from war, the issues of pregnancy and infidelity in the 30s-50s, Judaism, Israel, the effects of the Holocaust on the survivors, adoption and she has also created 3-dimensional characters who are flawed but who you feel you understand (even if you don't always like them, esp. where Ruby or Edie's mum is concerned!)

This was a VERY pleasant surprise! I'd recommend it to anyone wanting a captivating story. Highly recommended; I will be reading more of Annie Murray!!!

First Class Read (4/5 people found this helpful)

A really interesting and well researched book made all the more readable as I worked in the Bournville/Stirchley area in the late 1950's/60's. It took me back to the streets I walked on and place I recognized at one of the happiest periods of my life. Annie Murray has created some wonderful characters and a book well worth a read.
What I do admire about her books are she does not centre each book on the same area as some authors do Annie takes you all around the city and sets her books on different estates etc. so in fact despite being an enjoyable read you learn more about the city's history. An added bonus but by no means boring. In fact despite living in Birmingham until 1969 I feel Annie Murray knows the city and it's history far more than I do and I look forward as ever to the next book.

BOURNVILLE REVISITED (13/16 people found this helpful)

I LOVED THIS BOOK ABOUT 3 GIRLS LIVING IN BOURNVILLE BIRMINGHAM AND WORKING AT CADBURY'S DURING THE 2ND WORLD WAR, AND THEIR SUBSEQUENT LIVES.

IT WAS SPECIAL TO ME AS I WAS BORN AND BRED IN BOURNVILLE, IN THE 1940'S, MY MOTHER HAVING WORKED AT CADBURY'S ALL HER LIFE.

THE BOOK WAS VERY ACCURATE ABOUT BOURNVILLE AND CADBURY LIFE AS
I KNEW IT. ONE OF THE GIRLS EVEN LIVED IN THE ROAD I LIVED IN, AND IT BROUGHT BACK MANY PERSONAL MEMORIES HAVING GONE TO THE JUNIOR SCHOOL, SANG IN THE CHURCH CHOIR ON THE GREEN, AND ALSO
MARRIED IN ST FRANCIS CHURCH ON THE GREEN

I FEEL THE AUTHOR DID MUCH RESEARCH AND THE BOOK IS ALSO A GOOD READ. I WAS INTERESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 3 GIRLS.

Annie Murray

Reader Reviews:

Historical Masterpiece (1/1 people found this helpful)

WHAT AN AWFUL BOOK !! (8/11 people found this helpful)

FANTASTIC STORY + BRILLIANTLY WRITTEN (9/10 people found this helpful)

First Class Read (4/5 people found this helpful)

BOURNVILLE REVISITED (13/16 people found this helpful)

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