The Girl You Left Behind by – Jojo Moyes – 384 pages
Book Blurb:
In 1916, French artist Edouard Lefevre leaves his wife Sophie to fight at the Front. When her town falls into German hands, his portrait of Sophie stirs the heart of the local Kommandant and causes her to risk everything – her family, reputation and life – in the hope of seeing her true love one last time.
Nearly a century later and Sophie’s portrait is given to Liv by her young husband shortly before his sudden death. Its beauty speaks of their short life together, but when the painting’s dark and passion-torn history is revealed, Liv discovers that the first spark of love she has felt since she lost him is threatened…
In The Girl You Left Behind two young women, separated by a century, are united in their determination to fight for the thing they love most – whatever the cost.
My Review: 4 stars
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Jojo Moyes delivers again with each of her three books being vastly different in tone and topic. I was thrilled to read a dual period book where the historical aspect is WW1 as there’s an surplus of books that take on WW2. I’m in agreement with many reviewers that the story of Sophie and Edouard were by far the best part of the book. Everyone who visited the Le Coq Rouge or lived in the town shared a common fear of the Germans yet their essence and emotions were individualized and clearly portrayed. I’m quite glad that the cover of this book didn’t show an image or rendering of The Girl You Left Behind, as I feel as if that piece of art was it’s own character with it’s own life, musings and travels. I have a vivid picture of what it looks like and don’t want my image blighted in any form. Well written and thought out, I highly recommend this book.
Quotes I liked:
These moods were simply weather fronts to be borne and adapted to.”
“It was like a slap. My sister and I glared at each other, and I felt as though I were teetering on the edge of something. Nobody fights you like your own sister; nobody else knows themost vulnerable parts of you and will aim for them without mercy.”
“You slept with him without Googling him? Oh my G-d, when you said you were out of the dating loop I never thought for a minute…You don’t sleep with someone without doing background, Jesus.”
“Once it is done, it cannot be undone.”
“Do you know how dissapointment tastes? Like iron filings in cold coffee.”
“Nobody listens anymore. Everyone knows what they want to hear, but nobody actually listens.”
