Retro Reads discussion

This is such a short and sweet section that I think we don't need to worry about spoilers.

For those watching instead of reading, Part 4 is covered in
Episode 7 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzQn8...

I found this episode lovely and touching- but I’m glad I read (view spoiler)[Julia’s letter to Davy, about her marriage to Hiram - it was sweet and generous and rather sad. (hide spoiler)]

I haven't seen this episode yet, but I also appreciated that letter in the book. Agree completely with your characterization.

Julia was to me such a fantastic character. She had a rough life but she approached it with a lot of grace. (view spoiler)[I particularly liked how she came to grips with who her first husband was, recognized his flaws, and yet still had empathy and concern for him. I cannot even imagine the pain of seeing someone you loved not only just horribly wounded but in constant pain and face years and years.

One thing I thought RFD did well throughout the book was show how war affected all the characters differently and often for years after the end of fighting. You have Carter who sat out the war but developed a military persona I thought in part of his inner shame about that. Davy who suffered shell shock. Julia's husband who suffered wounds and pain for years.

Elizabeth Bowen's short story My Demon Lover has a line where a character suggests WWI never really ended that the interwar period was just the build up for the final battles. I think TSTAMD pretty much argues the same thing. (hide spoiler)]

Kavan wrote: "Julia was to me such a fantastic character. She had a rough life but she approached it with a lot of grace. I particularly liked how she came to grips with who her first husband was, recognized his..."

This is so true - I’ve felt that in this book, and in several other books I’ve read set in this post -WWI period. (view spoiler)[The damage and pain and loss rippled out for so long, and affected so many. (hide spoiler)]