Let’s welcome Judith Barrow next, with a review that encompasses her entire Howarth Family Trilogy, with prequel and anthology. I know you’ll enjoy this amazing set of reviews, and will want to click on the Continue Reading link to see what each book has to offer. And thank you all for sharing this one, too!
Review by Barb Taub
Mary is a nursing sister at Lancashire prison camp for the housing and treatment of German POWs. Life at work is difficult but fulfilling, life at home a constant round of arguments, until Frank Shuttleworth, a guard at the camp turns up. Frank is difficult to love but persistent and won’t leave until Mary agrees to walk out with him.
We’ve all read epic family sagas—sweeping multi-generational tales like The Thorn Birds, The Godfather, Roots, the Star Wars franchise, and anything remotely connected to the British Monarchy. So as I read Judith Barrow’s Howarth Family trilogy, I kept trying to slot them into those multigenerational tropes:
- First generation, we were supposed to see the young protagonist starting a new life with a clean slate, perhaps in a new country.
- The next generation(s) are all about owning their position, fully assimilated and at home in their world.
- And the last generation is both rebel and synthesis, with more similarities to the first generation made possible by the confidence of belonging from the second one.
But the complex, three-dimensional miniatures I met in the first three books of the trilogy stubbornly refused to align with those tropes. First of all, there’s Mary Howarth—the child of parents born while Queen Victoria was still on the throne—who is poised between her parents’ Victorian constraints, adjustment to a world fighting a war, and their own human failures including abuse, alcoholism, and ignorance. When Pattern of Shadows begins in 1944, war-fueled anti-German sentiment is so strong, even the King has changed the British monarchy’s last name from Germanic Saxe-Coburg to Windsor. Mary’s beloved brother Tom is imprisoned because of his conscientious objector status, leaving their father to express his humiliation in physical and emotional abuse of his wife and daughters. Her brother Patrick rages at being forced to work in the mines instead of joining the army, while Mary herself works as a nurse treating German prisoners of war in an old mill now converted to a military prison hospital.
Mary’s family and friends are all struggling to survive the bombs, the deaths, the earthshaking changes to virtually every aspect of their world. We’ve all seen the stories about the war—plucky British going about their lives in cheerful defiance of the bombs, going to theaters, sipping tea perched on the wreckage, chins up and upper lips stiff in what Churchill called “their finest hour.” That wasn’t Mary’s war.
In May 1950, Britain is struggling with the hardships of rationing and the aftermath of the SecondWorldWar. Peter Schormann, a German ex-prisoner of war, has left his home country to be with Mary Howarth, matron of a small hospital in Wales. They intend to marry, but the memory of Frank Shuttleworth, an ex-boyfriend of Mary’s, continues to haunt them and there are many obstacles in the way of their happiness, not the least of which is Mary’s troubled family. When tragedy strikes, Mary hopes it will unite her siblings, but it is only when a child disappears that the whole family pulls together to save one of their own from a common enemy.
Her war is not a crucible but a magnifying glass, both enlarging and even inflaming each character’s flaws. Before the war, the Shuttleworth brothers might have smirked and swaggered, but they probably wouldn’t have considered assaulting, shooting, raping, or murdering their neighbors. Mary and her sister Ellen would have married local men and never had American or German lovers. Tom would have stayed in the closet, Mary’s father and his generation would have continued abusing their women behind their closed doors. And Mary wouldn’t have risked everything for the doomed love of Peter Schormann, an enemy doctor.
I was stunned by the level of historical research that went into every detail of these books. Windows aren’t just blacked out during the Blitz, for example. Instead, they are “criss crossed with sticky tape, giving the terraced houses a wounded appearance.” We’re given a detailed picture of a vanished world, where toilets are outside, houses are tiny, and privacy is a luxury.
The Granville Mill becomes a symbol of these dark changes. Once a cotton mill providing jobs and products, it’s now a prison camp that takes on a menacing identity of its own. Over the next two volumes of Howarth family’s story, it’s the mill that continues to represent the threats, hatred, and violence the war left behind.
To see the rest of the series review, please continue reading HERE
To Buy Pattern of Shadows go HERE
To Buy Changing Patterns go HERE
Author Judith Barrow
Although I was born and brought up in a small village on the edge of the Pennine moors in Yorkshire, for the last forty years I’ve lived with my husband and family near the coast in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, UK, a gloriously beautiful place.
I’ve written all my life and have had short stories, poems, plays, reviews and articles published throughout the British Isles. But only started to seriously write novels after I’d had breast cancer twenty-two years ago. Four novels safely stashed away, never to see the light of day again, I had the first of my trilogy, Pattern of Shadows, published in 2010, the sequel, Changing Patterns, in 2013 and the last, Living in the Shadows in 2015. The prequel, A Hundred Tiny Threads was published in August 2017. In 2017 I also completed an anthology of short stories of the minor characters in the trilogy. Hopefully now the family in this series will leave me alone to explore something else!
I have an MA in Creative Writing, B.A. (Hons.) in Literature, and a Diploma in Drama and Script Writing. I am also a Creative Writing tutor for Pembrokeshire County Council’s Lifelong Learning Programme and give talks and run workshops on all genres.
Along with friend and fellow author, Thorne Moore, I also organise a book fair in September. (this year onSaturday the 22nd) This year we’ve changed venues. Here’s the link that tells all!! http://www.narberthbookfair.co.uk. When I’m not writing or teaching, I’m doing research for my writing, walking the Pembrokeshire coastline or reading and reviewing books for Rosie Amber’s Review Team #RBRT, along with some other brilliant authors and bloggers.
Reblogged this on Judith Barrow and commented:
My ongoing gratitude to Barb Taub for this wonderful review, and to Marcia Meara for her generous idea of promoting authors and reviewers, Thank you both.
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So glad you like the idea, Judith. I think it’s going to be fun! 🙂 ❤ And very happy to have you here. 🙂
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Looking forward tto seeing your next contributors, Marcia. x.
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I’ve got the next two weeks already set up, but I just found out my new granddaughter is going to make an appearance on June 7, if not sooner, so I have to schedule like mad now. That way, the posts can continue while I’m in Charleston. 😀
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New granddaughter – ah, lucky you, Marcia. xx
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We sure are, Judith. This one has been a long time coming! Both my son and my daughter started families much later in life than many, if not most. But it’s been worth the wait. My son’s 13-year-old daughter is a treat, and my daughter’s five-year-old son is adorable. And now he gets to be a big brother, too. I can’t wait. And I don’t have to, for much longer. 😀
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Lovely!! xx
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Marcia, this is so good of you. Many thanks.x
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It’s my pleasure, Judith. I’m looking forward to reading and sharing all the reviews everyone wants to share over the weeks ahead. 🙂
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I read Barb’s wonderful review – well worth reading and sharing again.
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Thanks, Mary! Always wonderful to see you here. 🙂
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Thank you, Mary.
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A wonderful review.
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I agree. Glad you enjoyed it, Cynthia! 🙂
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It was such a thrill to read Barb’s review, Cynthia. Thank you for dropping by.
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A fabulous review. This sounds like a unique family saga and a great read. Nice to see you here Judith.
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So glad it intrigued you, Darlene. I think lots of folks will feel that way! 🙂
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Fingers crossed,. Marcia! 🙂
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Thank you, Darlene. Great to be here. x
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Reblogged this on DSM Publications and commented:
Check out this review of the book, Changing Patterns, by Judith Barrow, as featured in this post from The Write Stuff blog as part of the #ShareAReviewDay feature.
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So nice of you to help get the word out abut Judith’s series and our new #ShareAReviewDay feature. THANKS! 🙂
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My pleasure.
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Thank you so much, Don.
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You’re welcome.
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A most beautiful review from Barb for Judith. I’ve read 2 books in this series and loved them. I must catch up to the others on my TBR. ❤
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Good luck. I’m so far behind, it’s pitiful. But I do plan on getting to this series soon! 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the review.
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🙂 😉
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Thank you, Marcia. xxx
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Thanks so much, Debby. So chuffed you enjoyed the two you have read. <3xx
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❤
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Wonderful review. I’m adding this book to my TBR. ❤ Hugs to you both. ❤
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So glad you enjoyed it, Colleen. Thanks! 🙂 ❤
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Ah, thank you, Colleen. I feel so honoured by this review from Barb.Do hope you enjoy the book when it finally reaches the top of the list – we all have such a lot to read. xx
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I’m looking forward to it, Judith. ❤
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Great share, Marcia.
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Glad you enjoyed it, Robbie! Thanks! 🙂
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Thank you, Robbie.xx
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A fabulous review and one that would thrill any author ❤️
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So much, Tina. Thrilled.x
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Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
Barb Taub with a review for the Howarth Family Saga by Judith Barrow.. can highly recommend all the books as well… Head over and check it out…
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Thanks for reblogging, Sally. I’m scheduling 2 reviews each Tuesday for those who’d like to put a favorite one in front of more readers. Hope this works well for everyone. Judith really loved this series review of Barb’s and I’m glad she chose it. Most excellent!! 🙂
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Great idea Marcia… we have to get those reviews out there. I have moved my meet the reviewers to Wednesday now as I am clearing the weekends for the next few weeks to just a couple of posts.. xxxx
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I agree, we have to get them out there! When folks see what others have to say about the books, it’s bound to raise their interest. That’s the plan, anyway. 😀
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Absolutely and I am sure it is effective.. word of mouth is pretty good measure of anything…hugs xxx
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Thank you,Sally Really chuffed, I appreciate your recommendation. xx
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Pleasure Judith.. hugs xxxx
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What an awesome review. I’m certain it made Judith’s day (one of those reviews to die for). 😀 Thanks for sharing, Marcia.
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You’re very welcome, and a review that good needs to be seen far and wide! 😀
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Absolutely!
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It is indeed, Diana, one to remember forever. Thanks for dropping by. Grateful to Marcia for sharingxx
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Pingback: Changing Patterns By Judith Barrow – The Militant Negro™
Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
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Thanks for the reblog, Jaye! Very much appreciated! 🙂
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T^hank you so much, ladies.So appreciated.
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I haven’t gotten to this series yet, unfortunately, but have read the anthology: Secrets. (You know how I love short & sweet or short & not-so-sweet. Secrets is a wonderful collection. Excellent writing. Poignant stories.) Lovely review for this entire series! ❤
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Thanks, Sarah. I haven’t gotten to these books yet, either, but they are definitely on my TBR pile! I’m SO missing having time to read every day of the week, but it’s the way of it right now, I’m afraid. I do the best I can. Taking notes about Secrets, too. Thanks for stopping by to comment on this one! 🙂 ❤ It was a lovely review, for sure.
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I know! *cringe* I am in the midst of no-time-for-reading right now, too. It’s excruciating. Life happens. We do what we have to do. ❤ (And, yes! Do grab Secrets and read a story at a time when you get a chance. They are so well done.)
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That sounds like a good plan. Grabbing away! 😀 I have always enjoyed short stories, though I’m not at all good at writing them. It’s all I can do to finish a book in less than 400 pages! Gleep. But I love other people’s short stories, for sure. I have a full shelf of anthologies.
Here’s wishing both of us more time for reading! 🙂 ❤
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Thank you, Marcia.x
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It’s on my Kindle, Judith, even as I type! 😀 Can’t wait to read it! ❤
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Oh my, thank you, Marcia, you’re very kind. I’ll be interested to know which story you like best – it’s been a toss-up between two in particular.
❤
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I’ll be sure to let you know, but it might take me a little bit to get started on it. Hopefully, not very long. I’m going to try to fit stories in between other stuff. 😀 (My sneaky plan.) 😀
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We all have sneaky plans, Marcia… and then life bobs up and hits us right between the eyes lol 🙂 x
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Thank you again, Sarah -and for your lovely review on Amazon
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Thank you, Marcia. I do hope you try Secrets – and enjoy it. I’m stuck on such a small amount of reviews for it.– not hinting of course!! lol xx
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I promise to review as soon as I can find a moment to read it. My book reviews are almost as far behind as my actual reading time, but I’m looking for ways to fix that. I know I’ll enjoy the book, and it would be a good one to move up, because fitting in a short story here and there is easier than finding time to tackle a big book. So I’ll do my best to make that happen. 🙂 ❤
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I’ll work on this, too, Judith. Happy to pass this title along and, since it’s not my own book, I have *no* problem telling friends they have to leave a review. 😉
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Thank you, Sarah. I’m thrilled that you enjoyed Secrets. We are all so time starved these days, aren’t we – think we should vote for a forty-eight hour day!! Barb’s review is so brilliant – I’ve been floating with happiness for the last fortnight!!
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