Robin’s Rave Reviews

If you like WWII historical fiction with a strong female protagonist, you should check out The Clockmaker’s Wife by Daisy Wood that was just released on July 8.

Big Ben, an icon known around the world, is a tourist must-see in London. During WWII Big Ben had an important job beyond telling the time. The nine o’clock chimes encouraged people to pray for peace during the Silent Minute that followed. It also rang in the BBC evening news listened to all over Nazi-occupied Europe. The author Daisy Wood stated, “The great bell represented freedom and better times to come; as long as it tolled, at least one country resisted oppression.” The Clockmaker’s Wife imagines what could have happened if Big Ben had been targeted by the enemy, but the fiction is surrounded by facts about London during WWII. Wood said, “…the loss of such a beacon of hope as the clock tower would have been a terrible blow to morale.”

DID YOU KNOW?  “Big Ben” isn’t the name of the clock nor the clock tower. It’s the name of the bell inside the clock.

This historical fiction is told through a dual timeline: 1940s in London and current day in both New York City and London.

LONDON:  In the war timeline the protagonist Nell is the wife of Arthur, one of a team of three that keeps Big Ben operational. Nell and baby Alice leave London to escape the bombings while Arthur stays behind to work. When Arthur is suddenly and inexplicably imprisoned, Nell returns to London to help get him released. Nell never questions her husband’s loyalty to his country, yet citizens were sometimes held with little proof of “working with the enemy” during the war. When Nell doesn’t make progress in helping him through traditional routes, she decides to investigate on her own. Her suspicions and questions lead her into dangerous territory.

NYC:  Baby Alice, now in her eighties, is recovering from hip surgery in a nursing home. During a visit, her daughter Ellie asks about Alice’s parents. Alice tells her that her father comes from a long line of clockmakers and that his job was working on Big Ben. Alice knows very little about her mother Nell since she was killed in the Blitz when Alice was only a baby. Since Alice’s father couldn’t bear talking about her, Nell was always a distant shadow to Alice. Ellie decides to bring the shadow into the light so her mom can know more about her mother before it’s too late. Ellie flies to London to uncover the truth about the kind of person Nell was and how she died. She discovers much more than she ever expected.

I like Nell’s character. A typical 1940s mother, perhaps, but when harsh circumstances hits her family, she steps up. She becomes a courageous woman putting her life at risk for her husband and her country. She develops into a much more interesting person than I was expecting. The story involving Nell is full of wartime intrigue.

I also like Ellie’s character. She recognizes that time passes too quickly and opportunities to learn about the past from those who lived it is limited. Also Ellie is a bridge between Alice and some broken family relationships. Doors had been closed for a long time that Ellie is able to reopen. 

Only a few things seemed weak to me. I would have liked to get deeper with Arthur’s character.  Also the love story of Ellie and Dan seemed a bit too quick, even though they’ve known each other for many years. Minor things, though.

Although this specific story is a work of fiction, I find myself wondering how many courageous stories from wars have been lost to time. I often think about the stories that get lost after just a few generations. Many of us are blessed enough to know at least some of our grandparents, but how often do we think to ask them about their younger lives? And when they pass, their stories, and the stories of their parents and grandparents, are lost. I know I regret not asking more questions of my parents and grandfather when they were still alive.

I highly recommend this book, but I also recommend that you don’t let your life events get lost. Your grandchildren and their children CAN know a bit about who you are, rather than just a shadow in an old picture. Take time to sit down with your children/grandchildren and tell them the stories. Don’t wait for them to ask. Too often they don’t see the value in those questions until it’s too late. Even if you aren’t an author, write down stories from your childhood and about your parents and grandparents along with your reflections on the significant events you’ve lived through. If you don’t want to write it, record it! Passing down a written document, video or voice recording will keep the stories more accurate rather than relying on the memory of others who didn’t live it. Everyone has experiences of value to share with the next generations. It’s your legacy.

Whether you buy or borrow, I hope you’ll come back and comment here after you’ve read The Clockmaker’s Wife by Daisy Wood. And don’t forget to leave even a short review (like 5 stars) on places like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, etc. If you love to read, please tell others about books and authors you love! If you like this book, check out the links to these WWII historical fiction books I’ve previously reviewed by Kristin Harmel:  The Winemaker’s Wife, The Book of Lost Names, and The Forest of Vanishing Stars.

Although I loved this book, after this review I’m taking a break from historical fiction to do some lighter reading this summer! Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for an ARC of The Clockmaker’s Wife. I have shared my honest opinion.

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