I struggled to get into this book the first time. So this was the second time in a year I tried this one. I liked the young Dorothy character but I struggled a bit more with the contemporary Roberta character. Some of the minor characters felt a bit two-dimensional but otherwise the book would have been epic so it was probably a necessary loss. I enojyed the period nature of the early material which is unusual for me who would usually not pick a non-contemporary novel.

I do think the writing was great and i would totally read something else by the same author as my "not getting into it" was more my taste than the writing or the style. It was a clear and structured story that I think stands up well. the ending was a little weak for me but it was conclusive.

I struggled to get into this book the first time. So this was the second time in a year I tried this one. I liked the young Dorothy character but I struggled a bit more with the contemporary Roberta character. Some of the minor characters felt a bit two-dimensional but otherwise the book would have been epic so it was probably a necessary loss. I enojyed the period nature of the early material which is unusual for me who would usually not pick a non-contemporary novel.

I do think the writing was great and i would totally read something else by the same author as my "not getting into it" was more my taste than the writing or the style. It was a clear and structured story that I think stands up well. the ending was a little weak for me but it was conclusive.

Roberta collects the old letters, cards, lists.. whatever she finds in the old books she comes across while working at a second hand bookshop. Her grandmother is ancient and living in a care facility. Roberta has been given some of her belongings including a letter from the grandfather she never knew that was written after he died in the war.

This book switches back and forth from present day Roberta to her grandmother, Dorothy, during World War II.

Dorothy is unhappily married. While her husband is away at war she meets, and falls in love with, Squadron Leader Jan Pietrykowski.

Roberta sets out to find answers to the questions she has about the letter she found.

I wanted to like this book but it was just blah. I love the concept of the old book store and finding and collecting old letters. But that was it. Roberta's story was flat and boring. I didn't like it after her cat died, to be honest. Dorothy's story wasn't bad until near the end. It just went on and on and on about the damn baby. I didn't like the ending. Some things in the book had me wondering why they were written in, some things went on too long, some things were just too convenient. A forgettable book.

Absolutely. Loved. This. Book!! 

 

Told in past/present form, Mrs. Sinclair's Suitcase had a charm all its own. Each chapter begins with a description of notes, cards, or random finds found between the pages of used books. It is here that present-day Roberta stumbles across a letter that she suspects belonged to her paternal grandmother. Confused, Roberta begins to search for clues to her 110 year old grandmother's past. In the meantime,  the reader begins to learn about Roberta, her boss, and the shop's two coworkers. Roberta's life is nothing spectacular but her story is interesting and I enjoyed getting to know her and her surroundings. Roberta is a young woman I'd like to know. 

 

WWII. Dorothy lives in a quaint cottage and has had one misfortune after the other until a Polish pilot enters her life unexpectedly. Dorothy's story was my favorite,  although I enjoyed both. Roberta and Dorothy's tales collide with heartbreak and triumph. Louise Walters knows how to write a story with thoughtful characters that keep reader's hearts invested. Great read! I will definitely recommend this to all of my friends.

 

 

*Special thanks to Penguin's First to Read program for sending me a digital copy in exchange for an honest review. 

I really liked this book a lot. It goes from present day back and from Roberta's grandmother's life. When I first started reading it, the first letter to Dorothea, it was very confusing. However, I remembered the gist of it. It was only after I had finished the book and went back to it that the whole thing made sense.

I also got confused when a chapter opened with a letter from people I'd never heard of. After a bit, I realized it was the letters and other odd sort of bookmarks that people would leave in their books.

This was both a happy and sad ( a lot of sad) book that I enjoyed immensely. The real romantics out there may get a little sappy eyed and there were a few chuckles. However, overall I thought it was a very good story with strong characters and written very well. I highly recommend it.

I would like to thank Putnam Books and Net Galley for the free entertainment in exchange for an honest review.