Is A Place to Call Home historical fiction?

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars Poignant cameos, laced with humour

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 19, 2022

Review of Lizzie’s book – A place to call home
I love this author’s writing. She is unique and with her sparky, gently-funny asides, her sketches of people, she draws me right into her world. I think she must be a sensitive soul, Lizzie Page, and I imagine her sitting quietly at social occasions observing people, carefully, quietly, discreetly. She wouldn’t scribble down her observations in front of people but hurry home and do that afterwards. I’d love a peek inside her writer’s notebook.
The waifs and strays of Shilling Grange are bumbling along thanks to the love and care of Clara, their “house-mother”. She professes to not being maternal but she brims with love, this splendid young woman. There are mistakes and mishaps along the way and they are all very endearing. She was bereft of love herself as a child, so there is an understanding, a need to make life as happy as she can for her protégés. And they all have problems, ranging from abuse to mutism and lots more between. No spoilers here, but take it from me that each and every little cameo is believable… and ultimately lovable. In the immediate aftermath of a dreadful war, Clara is mindful of “The things people lived with. The memories they carried around with them…” and although the story brims with humour, there is poignancy in abundance.
Menace broods – and the spectre of Fairbridge Farm looms over the fate of some of the children. This is a real place in Australia that caused a scandal far too late. News of this awful place where children were treated so badly didn’t leak out until immediately but Clara has an instinctive fear about the proposition. Find out what happens and read for yourselves.
Page is a gifted writer, a natural. Her brushstrokes are deft, her little phrases say everything, whether it is a new-born baby described as “a swaddle of milk and talc” with “lashes like tiny feathers”, or “clouds, fine wispy things, like young boys’ moustaches”; “Howard was teething, his cheeks like fire engines.” This author knows about children. I could cite many more sentences that I highlighted.
I can’t wait to find out what happens in the next instalment. That was a bit of a tease, like a huge cliff-hanger, but I don’t believe we have too long to wait.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read an early issue of this splendid book. This is my unbiased, honest review. Five full-fat stars, without question.

4.0 out of 5 stars A sad period of our nation's history

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 1, 2022

I found this story interesting because I was a child at the time the author was writing about and it brought back memories. I am not sure the housemother in the story was a likely candidate for such a post.

5.0 out of 5 stars Review

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 23, 2022

Gripped by this story, can't wait for the next one to arrive. I want the best for the children and Clara

4.0 out of 5 stars Heart Warming Book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 6, 2022

A heart warming book set in the years just after WW2. This book is the second in the series and is an easy read. Am looking forward to the next instalment.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 28, 2022

A great 2nd instalment of the series, I am now looking forward to the next one . I can definitely recommend and it's five stars from me .