Another beautiful story by Helen Humphreys. As with the Lost Garden, it was a little difficult to accept the ending, but I also knew it's how it had to be. I am always interested to learn more about a historical time/place/event that I thought I understood but hadn't really grasped - I find historical fiction helps give tragedy a face that somehow true stories fail to convey.

A good solid, satisfying read, though very quick.

I had never really put together the Hell of war from the perceptive told here, the English being bombed by the Germans. This was really brought to life in the book and is something I had never considered so I enjoyed having that insight.

I had seen the show 1940's house so I knew about the Anderson shelter, but I was surprised at the devastation the bombings brought and how quickly life could be snuffed out, a house or street destroyed.

While I did connect with the events unfolding, I didn't really connect with any of the characters, I sometimes had trouble telling the two women apart even, and as the book is all about one night, it's over very fast. I did enjoy it.

Coventry may be more aptly described as a novella, given its slim silhouette, but its content certainly punches well above its weight. It is the story of two women who meet initially during World War I, but the majority of the plot takes place during the night of the Coventry bombing during World War II on November 14, 1940. This is the story Harriet, a widow from WWI, now a substitute firewatcher on the roof of the cathedral who meets Jeremy while trying to escape the city. Their night of near misses and helping out complete strangers is in contrast to Maeve, Jeremy’s mother, who anxiously awaits his turn before going out to look for him herself.

I read this book in only a couple of days, but its impact is much stronger. The author has an excellent use of language in re-creating the scene of the bombings, right down to the fear, smells and sights in only a few words. It’s incredibly visually descriptive. It also captures the emotions very well – from fear to anguish to confusion during that night. The characters are well written and the reader bonds with them, crossing our fingers with Maeve that Jeremy makes it home, and feeling Harriet’s loneliness. There is an allure and mystery to their backgrounds, but not so much so that it leaves a gap in their character.

I wasn’t familiar with the Coventry bombing before reading this book but after doing some research, I found that this book is very accurate, down to the names of buildings that were destroyed.
If I had to sum up this book in a single word, that word would be powerful. This skinny little book brings to life a page from history. It’s definitely one to be taken off the shelf and read, preferably in a single sitting. It will haunt you for a long time afterwards, with the terror of the bombing and fires and the power of the Coventry people to survive and grow from that night.

I haven't read a book this compelling in a long time. Virtually all taking place during the night of the most intense bombing of Coventry during WWII, I couldn't really stop reading this book (it's only 170 pages). VERY very highly recommended.

I liked this book. The descriptions were very vivd. It made me so sad and so grateful for all of the veterans out there who served faithfully and helped to stop things like this terrible night from happeneing again. I'm amazed at what these people went through. I was not familiar with this town or this bombing at all. It was very interesting and has made me want to know more. The only thing I didn't like was that it was written in the third person. I just didn't like that viewpoint it made it feel almost detached but that is just a small thing. It was great and a very fast read for anyone who wants a book that you can finish quickly.

It's a readable account of a night when a city was bombed a lot.