The Widow and Her Hero

I downloaded the book for my mother in law, because the summary suggested the book is sort of 'n war love story. She was really disappointed, because she said the book is more about war statistics, like the names of ships and the names of officers and what they did during the war. She didn't finish the book and that seldom happens with her.

Very different from "Unbroken." You know from the start that it will end in disaster for the Australian commandos and it's very sad and difficult to listen to how events played out. The print version got great reviews, but for me this was just too tough a listen. The accent of the narrator seems completely British to my ear, which didn't seem to really fit the story.

Looks like not everyone's been terribly impressed by this one, but I really enjoyed it. I'm not entirely sure what folks were expecting, but having read another of Keneally's books (Victim of the Aurora), I knew I was probably in for a quiet and very convincing piece of historical fiction, and I wasn't disappointed one bit.

80-something-year-old Grace tells the story of her life with Leo, from courtship to marriage to widowhood, and of Leo's involvement with one Major Doucette and his obsession with dangerous missions to Singapore. It's a story of love and war and heroism and, maybe, about how the ghosts of your past can follow you for the rest of your life, if you let them.

As for the narration, Beverly Dunn, who was the voice of Grace, was fantastic--I absolutely loved her. I had a much more difficult time with David Tredinnick's narration for Leo's parts, because he just sounded so much older than I pictured Leo being at the time, and I could never quite reconcile the voice with the words. But there really aren't a whole lot of Leo bits, so it wasn't enough to really detract from the story as a whole.

Anyway, I definitely consider myself a fan of Keneally's at this point, and look forward to reading more of his work!

It was a insight to an episode in Australian War history from a woman's point of view.

Nancy Wake's story was a thriller as well.

Beverley Dunn has a way with her involvment in the text. You feel that you are there with her.

At the end, Beverley was speaking slowly and drawing out every word.

I loved this audio book, well written, it gave Beverley Dunn and David Tredinnick a difficult task but a memorable one.

This is such a truly wonderful book.
Superbly narrated. One of those stories you don't want to end because you have enjoyed the journey so much.
The characters are so real. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Australian history of our part in WW2.

The reader did a super job of pulling me into this story. She was perfect. I grew to really care about the characters and was left heartbroken thinking of all the great patriots they represent. David did a good job reading the part of "the hero" but it was short. I liked having 2 perspectives though. I highly recommend!

Interesting insight into a past era. A nice Keneally book which kept me interested to the end

Would definitely listen to this again. There are so many layers to the story once does not do it justice.

Memorable is the way The Widow copes with the disclosures of others about Leo's deeds. Leo is not the only hero.

Beverley and David make the characters real and personable. It's like listening to your Grandma talk about your Granddad. The wistful way Beverley remembers her beautiful man and the anguish in her voice at not being able to touch him is palpable. David as Leo is truly what you would imagine a young man would sound like, as he describes his mates and their adventures.

I couldn't rename it, it's just right.

I love books that bring a different perspective to historical events, and this one about a young Australian war widow peeked my interest. I didn't know Australia fought in WWII. This book feels like a retelling of actual events, but it's not. It begins with Grace, the widow, describing what she finds out 40+ years later was how her husband died. It's an interesting way to start the story, the problem is since I know how it ends, it feels like the story never engages. I kept waiting for "the other thing" to emerge, but it never does. It really is about Grace's 40+ year reluctant journey to finding out what happened to her first husband.

This was a disappointing listen. The reader did her best in a story with little real depth which aimed, I imagine, for great depth but felt flat.