Wednesday 10 August 2016

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein + Giveaway


Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Published in 2012. Bolinda audiobook edition published in June 2012.

Featured in Cover Characteristics: Aeroplanes

How I got this book:
Downloaded as part of the AudioSYNC 2013 summer season

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


'Code Name Verity is a compelling, emotionally rich story with universal themes of friendship and loyalty, heroism and bravery. Two young women from totally different backgrounds are thrown together during World War II: one a working-class girl from Manchester, the other a Scottish aristocrat, one a pilot, the other a wireless operator. Yet whenever their paths cross, they complement each other perfectly and before long become devoted friends. But then a vital mission goes wrong, and one of the friends has to bail out of a faulty plane over France. She is captured by the Gestapo and becomes a prisoner of war. The story begins in Verity's own words, as she writes her account for her captors.'

I enjoyed Code Name Verity far more than I expected to, even eagerly anticipating my commutes TO work as much as those from, just so I could listen to the next 45 minutes of the story!

I was a little uncertain when the story switches viewpoints in the middle as I felt it had come to a natural close. However, within a few minutes we were swooping off again, surely much like being in Dympna's Puss Moth! The characters are great and brilliantly narrated by Morven Christie and Lucy Gaskell in the Bolinda audio version I heard. I loved the twisting plot which has its very dark moments, but is a joy as it begins to unravel, and Elizabeth Wein does a great job of making her locations both real and atmospheric. At the end, Wein herself talked briefly about her inspirations and research and, believe me, that research shows through in the authenticity of her tale.

Code Name Verity is feminist historical fiction that manages to entertain and inform without preaching or being dry. Highly recommended to younger and older adult listeners/readers.


And now for the Giveaway!

Hand woven book sleeve 
I have my this pretty hand woven book sleeve to giveaway simply for answering the following question on this blog post. How easy is that?!

The Question:
Name another novel of women at war?

Comment your answer on this post before midnight (UK time) on the 17th of August to be in with a chance of winning. And while you wait to find out who's the lucky recipient, why not take a look through my other handmade wares listed in my Etsy shop?!

Hand-woven by me from a blue and grey toned acrylic yarn. I love the depth created by the colours and the extra interest provided by occasional orange and white flecks in this yarn. The covered warp threads are purple acrylic yarn which can just be glimpsed on the top edges and this Sleeve features a reclaimed striped fabric-covered heart button. The Sleeve when closed measures 5 inches / 13 cm across and 7.55 inches / 19 cm from top to bottom. For illustration purposes only, it is shown snugly enclosing a 11 cm by 18 cm book with 222 pages.

Book Sleeves are designed to protect your current paperback book from damage while you are not reading. They are great for travellers, commuters or shoppers - anytime you need to stash that can't-put-it-down book into a larger suitcase, tote bag or briefcase and don't want to discover dog-eared corners and creased covers later on! The Book Sleeves will fit standard sized paperback books, but can of course also be used for appropriately sized tablets, journals or simply to keep knick-knacks safely corralled.

The Giveaway is open worldwide. Answers must be commented by midnight (UK time) on the 17th August and I will randomly pick a winner on the 18th. The winner will be notified by replying to their Comment so if you think you might miss this response please also include other contact info such as your blog URL, twitter name or FB page. If the winner does not respond within 7 days, they will forfeit the prize.

Good luck!

Etsy Find!
by Contrail Art in
Truro, England

Click pic to visit Etsy Shop

Search Literary Flits for more:
Books by Elizabeth Wein / Young adult books / Books from Scotland

3 comments:

  1. I wish I could but I honestly usually read about women on the homefront and not in the war itself. Time to expand my horizons I suppose

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perhaps you might have read stories of women acting within Resistance movements or working in a healthcare capacity?

      Delete
  2. This Giveaway has now closed.

    I've got a new giveaway for a Devon poetry book now running at http://litflits.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/from-blue-by-james-cole-giveaway.html
    Good luck!

    ReplyDelete