The Call of the Wrens by Jenni Walsh (Review by Shantell Krystal)

I really enjoyed reading this book. The author’s writing style made it very easy to follow and was not overly detailed in describing the history of what was going on at that time. I find that when there is too much background information, I sometimes get lost in the history rather than following the character’s story. There was just enough information for you to be able to picture what the characters would be going through. The story is told in alternating narratives in two parts – between Marion and another woman named Evelyn. Marion’s story starts with her life in an orphanage and moves forward from there. Evelyn’s begins when she is a young woman starting to think about marriage and how to keep a home. Even though their stories are told in 2 different time frames you can see how both women experience similar struggles in terms of what is expected to be a woman. Marion starts her story with leaving the orphanage and joining the army. This is the best choice at the time, as it provides her the ability to take care of all her basic needs to survive. Evelyn, although growing up in a very wealthy family, still struggles with wanting to do more with her life than becoming a wife and looking after a home. She is very passionate in the activities she does and when war breaks out, she finds herself with an extreme need to help. The two lives and stories eventually merge as the book continues and you learn of all the challenges each woman encounters as they go through trying to be the best at what they love and need to do.