Customer Reviews

Few Eggs and No Oranges

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Vere Hodgson was a social worker living in the Notting Hill Gate area of London during WWII. Her account of the Blitz, and life in London during the War is a fascinating account of the everyday lives of ordinary people. The diary is full of detail about the difficulties of travelling, the lack of food (particularly fruit and eggs, hence the title), the responsibilities of being a fire-watcher during air-raids, and the toll that the uncertainties of life took on the population. One of Vere's more endearing traits is her hero-worship of Churchill. At one point she recommends that a statue of gold be erected in thanks for his leadership during the War. Her circle of friends is wide, and includes her family in Birmingham (where she visits as often as she is able). The diary brings the experiences of Londoners in those uncertain times vividly to life. Highly recommended.

My mother (now 85) lived as a young adult through the bombing of London IN London and on the cliffs of Dover during WW2. I bought this book for her. She has read many, many of the war diary books and post war diaries of people, like her, who were there. She enjoyed all the others. This one was so real, so true to life and so much like the real experience that she said it gave her chills and goosebumps. This diary is unique among the others in that those who experienced the same thing recognize and re-experience those horrible times. She said that she often had to put it down long, long before bedtime so that she would be able to sleep. This one is the real thing!

This book was as informative as it was enjoyable. The author was personable and entertaining. The descriptions of London and the country put you right next to Vere as she rambles about or hears a bomb explode. Excellent.