The Poppy Factory

This is a story of two woman...who both suffer the effects of war...over 50 yrs apart...one..through her husband ..not coming home as the same man that left. Never mind that his body is different...THAT... she could care less about..its the way he acts, or doesn't act...his moods, his feelings, aways chasing the man he was...that he won't be anymore. Alfie has a hard time accepting his handicap of missing the bottom part of his one leg...he struggles to find work..in a london..that has thousands upon thousands of people out of work..the economy falling..soldiers with handicaps...and all needing jobs. All of this ..plus add to it the horrible nightmares of losing his best mate..right before his eyes. He turns to drinking more and more..to the point of blacking out..the more his young wife Rose..tries to help him..the more he pushes her away...and the effects of his drinking, and their constant arguing, she sees their marriage crumbling before her eyes. Jess is the great great granddaughter of Alphie and Rose...who has fought a war in Afghanistan...as a medic..being there first...on the line...to aid fallen soldiers. When she comes home to lead a normal civilian life with her boyfriend Nate...she starts to unravel...first..its a few drinks at dinner to get her through...but that progresses to more and more alcohol...at anytime of day..a few shots in her morning coffee...sneaking drinks at lunch...dinner..and through the night..till she crashes in a drunken stupor. She also has reoccurring nightmares of the soldiers she has lost on the field. When she comes home she is given a job as a Medic for the town she lives in..but during a bad accident..while working on a victim...she freezes...and is brought back to the field..and the hopelessness of not being able to stop all the blood, the bones and muscle in front of her...and she realizes..she can't do this..she is so afraid of not being there for victims...at the ready..and able to act efficiently...instead of freezing up and going back to the field. She is given her Great great grandmothers diarys by her mom...who recently just found them in the attic ..as Jess reads about her great grandfathers struggles..she sees herself in what her grandmother has written about all his highs and lows..and mostly the drinking to forget and to cope....Especially..with her and Nate's Relationship..now on a rocky path...she realizes..she needs help before she losses everything...and mostly the love of her life ..Nate. The store captures both victims struggles and how they deal and cope with trying to get better, feel better..and be a better happier person..for their families and friends and to themselves.The true story of the aftermath of war..and how our soldiers stuggle internally...back in the first world war..treatment wasen't anything like we have today or was it acknowledged in the same way.They were often told to just "Snap out if it" . Thank Goodness that has truly progressed for the better..but even with todays modern help..its not always a perfect ending for these poor boys. .. I liked the story and the comparisons and different time lines..it is very well written..compassionate and true to life...Liz Trenow is a Excellent Writer ..and truly enjoy all her books.