In Times Like These
About the book:
Pearl Harbor attacked! The United States is at war. But
Addie fights her own battles on the Iowa home front. Her controlling husband
Harold vents his rage on her when his father's stroke prevents him from joining
the military. He degrades Addie, ridicules her productive victory garden, and
even labels her childlessness as God's punishment. When he manipulates his way
into a military unit bound for Normandy, Addie learns that her best friend
Kate's pilot husband has died on a mission, leaving her stranded in London in
desperate straits. Will Addie be able to help Kate, and find courage to trust
God with her future?
My review:
Many characters made the start slightly puzzling, but once I
sorted out who belonged to whom, the pages almost turned themselves. Great
period piece exploring family dynamics and interpersonal relationships as well
as the growth of self-esteem and the importance of friendship.
In Times Like These
is a lesson of intergenerational frustration on one front, and love and healing
on another. Addie grows up oddly innocent and sheltered in a terribly dysfunctional
family, while her husband, Harold, likewise grows up watching his father
verbally and emotionally abuse his mother, though not to the extent his own
righteousness led him to act out on the wife he settled for and the life he felt
was dealt to him. Instead of doing his best, Harold felt victimized when things
didn’t go his way, and took out his selfishness on those around him. Addie,
with her poor self-image, learned through the help of her neighbors and
friends, to stand up for herself.
This story proves the importance of self-revelation based on
an intimate faith in God, not the interpretations of Scripture and faith
practices of others where “right,” “wrong,” and “justifiable” are usually in
the eye of the beholder.
Loved it and would read it again. Great for discussion
groups and those who like well-researched WWII era on the US side and female
character growth.
