The September Girls

The September Girls follows the life/loves of several Liverpool women during WWII. Cara is the daughter of an Irish immigrant, but her life is a happy one. Sybil is the spoiled daughter of a rich couple whose parents are in an abusive relationship. They are born under the same roof and are called 'the September girls' by the housekeeper Nancy. The novel also follows the lives of the girl's parents who have a longlasting, albeit rocky frienship. This is the second Lee novel I have read and I enjoyed it quite a bit. Lee manages to capture the flavor of wartime perfectly. I do think she has a talent for writing female characters, her male characters however, never seem to jive with me, though for some reason. I found this a gripping book, and recommend this to fans of historical drama.

The September Girls starts on a chilly night in 1920 when two babies are born: one to a poor Irish family just arrived in Liverpool, and the second to a privileged family of money in the same town--in fact, in the very same house. Cara, the Irish child, grows up in a home filled with love and family though never rich, while Sybil, the monied child, grows up with an overly doting father and a mother who finally leaves them to forge her own life. Though very different, the girls' lives are entertwined through the circumstances of their births and the friendship of their mothers, leading them on different paths that will ultimately converge again. This is a wonderful tale that pulls you in the moment you read the first page. Brenna and Eleanor, the mothers in this story, bond over their children and we follow them and their daughters over the course of 20+ years, through marriages that crumble, children who disappoint, and lives that are changed irreparably when the bombs begin to fall on Liverpool in 1940. Each of the characters, from Nancy the stalwart housekeeper to Marcus the stand-offish businessman, creep slowly into your heart as you read about the adventures of life in Liverpool as seen through their eyes. Cara and Sybil take us far away as both join the military when Britain enters World War 2, and both experience devastating affairs of the heart that bring them closer together and then tear them apart once again. There are a few moments when things are tied up nicely that I would have liked a bit more information about, but this novel is so well-crafted and the characters so honest and believable that that is only a mild consideration. Full of life and the curves it throws us, this story will stay with me a very, very long time. I will definitely be looking for more from this superb author, and I encourage you to do the same. Highly, highly recommended.

Their called the September Girls Sybil and Cara born within minutes of each other. But they couldn't be different. Growing up, they could stand each other. But when the second world war breaks they are both station on Malta. But in wartime things can change quickly. And for the September girls their live will never be the same. "The September Girls" is another great book by Maureen Lee. As always Ms.Lee gives the reader great characters and a rich story that holds the reader interest and makes them want more.