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Review
`Sadie Jones again pulls no punches in this strong story.' --Sunday Telegraph
`intelligent and moving novel'
--Woman and Home
Jones is fabulous...offering titbits of danger and discord, yet keeping a cool matter-of-fact tone for the big horrors'
--Sunday Times
"a must-read; a devastating, brilliant account of what happens when everything a man believes in...begins to crumble." --Cath Kidston Magazine
Jones's elegant, understated prose cleverly reflects a society of stiff upper lips, white gloves and cocktails at the club. --Booktrust.org.uk
Haunting and often harrowing -- Booktrust.org.uk
Small Wars is both an affecting love story and a mediation on honour, morality and the psychological impact of war. -- Booktrust.org.uk
`Full of danger and discord'.
--The Sunday Times
`intelligent and moving novel'
--Woman and Home
Jones is fabulous...offering titbits of danger and discord, yet keeping a cool matter-of-fact tone for the big horrors'
--Sunday Times
"a must-read; a devastating, brilliant account of what happens when everything a man believes in...begins to crumble." --Cath Kidston Magazine
Jones's elegant, understated prose cleverly reflects a society of stiff upper lips, white gloves and cocktails at the club. --Booktrust.org.uk
Haunting and often harrowing -- Booktrust.org.uk
Small Wars is both an affecting love story and a mediation on honour, morality and the psychological impact of war. -- Booktrust.org.uk
`Full of danger and discord'.
--The Sunday Times
Book Description
The devastating follow-up to the massive bestseller The Outcast. What happens when everything a man believes in - the army, his country, his marriage - begins to crumble...
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
67 of 71 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I eagerly anticipated reading the second novel from Sadie Jones as I absolutely loved 'The Outcast' last year.'Small Wars' is a moving, emotional read, set mainly in Cyprus during the 1950s. The main character, Hal Treherne, is seemingly an army man for life, following in his father's and grandfather's footsteps, and after a posting in Germany, he moves to Cyprus with his wife Clara, and his young twin daughters, and after a temporary home, they move to live with the other families on the base. There is a real sense of the heat and stifling atmosphere of the island evoked in the novel, and the pressures and demands of all aspects of army life are starkly portrayed. The events on Cyprus that Hal bears witness to, as the British attempt to defend this colony, have a devastating effect on him and his marriage.
This novel tells of a man and a family terribly damaged by the conflicting demands of duty and love, following orders and knowing the difference between right and wrong, and how this can become blurred. It portrays a man's internal agonies in the face of serving his country alongside those around him, however they might behave, and at facing up to his own doubts and weaknesses. Additionally we experience the struggle that Hal has to verbalise or express in any way the life-changing feelings he experiences. The events in Cyprus prove to be a test of the strength of love between Hal and Clara, and test their marriage to the limits. I found this a moving and intelligent read, with situations at times having parallels with the modern day.
This novel tells of a man and a family terribly damaged by the conflicting demands of duty and love, following orders and knowing the difference between right and wrong, and how this can become blurred. It portrays a man's internal agonies in the face of serving his country alongside those around him, however they might behave, and at facing up to his own doubts and weaknesses. Additionally we experience the struggle that Hal has to verbalise or express in any way the life-changing feelings he experiences. The events in Cyprus prove to be a test of the strength of love between Hal and Clara, and test their marriage to the limits. I found this a moving and intelligent read, with situations at times having parallels with the modern day.
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A review of Small Wars by Sadie Jones.
After reading and loving Jones' first book 'The Outcast' I knew she had plenty more to give. That said not all second novels live up to the promise of their predecessor. Jones does not disappoint with 'Small Wars'. Set in post second world War Cyprus, where the British are trying to hold on to their Mediterranean colony in the face of unionist insurgents, 'Small Wars' details the impact of this so called minor military intervention on the lives of the everyday people involved; in this case Major Hal and his wife Clara Treherne. As the story unfolds Jones' reminds us that there is no such thing as a small war. The fact the book takes place in the 50s doesn't make it any less topical. Jones is one of those wonderful breed of writers (all of whom seem to be women) who master the art of credible dialogue. Beneath the ellipses and the apparent banality of the conversations whole worlds are changing. The strain of army life on the Treherne's marriage and the toll it takes on Major Hal's moral and emotional well-being is conveyed fantastically well through Jones penchant for the minutiae. What could be boring, irrelevant detail if handled badly is used by Jones to great effect to show the importance of the ordinary in life. It's the absence and rupture of these things when disaster strikes that can be so devastating.
As has been stated in other reviews book is paced well. Jones knack for characterisation is indisputable. Even those of minor importance jump off the page with whole back stories one can easily imagine even if not apparent on the page. The character of Lewis is particularly fascinating and I would have liked him to feature more, particularly towards the end of the book; or at least a stronger resolution to his story.
My only real criticism is the long, drawn-out denouement of the novel. It seems to meander and drag its way to the end. Admittedly the turn that the narrative takes would have made it difficult to end abruptly. Nevertheless the book lost some momentum and I think the ending could have been a lot more succinct.
Still, Jones is proving to be one of the most consistent of new writers. Although I was not as taken in by the story in 'Small Wars' as I was with 'The Outcast' it's a solid read. Meticulously researched, Jones brings colour and texture to a genre - the war novel- that I would normally give wide berth. You can trust Jones to elicit the humanity from just about any topic. Her gift as a novelist comes so naturally as to appear effortless. I am already looking forward to her next one.
After reading and loving Jones' first book 'The Outcast' I knew she had plenty more to give. That said not all second novels live up to the promise of their predecessor. Jones does not disappoint with 'Small Wars'. Set in post second world War Cyprus, where the British are trying to hold on to their Mediterranean colony in the face of unionist insurgents, 'Small Wars' details the impact of this so called minor military intervention on the lives of the everyday people involved; in this case Major Hal and his wife Clara Treherne. As the story unfolds Jones' reminds us that there is no such thing as a small war. The fact the book takes place in the 50s doesn't make it any less topical. Jones is one of those wonderful breed of writers (all of whom seem to be women) who master the art of credible dialogue. Beneath the ellipses and the apparent banality of the conversations whole worlds are changing. The strain of army life on the Treherne's marriage and the toll it takes on Major Hal's moral and emotional well-being is conveyed fantastically well through Jones penchant for the minutiae. What could be boring, irrelevant detail if handled badly is used by Jones to great effect to show the importance of the ordinary in life. It's the absence and rupture of these things when disaster strikes that can be so devastating.
As has been stated in other reviews book is paced well. Jones knack for characterisation is indisputable. Even those of minor importance jump off the page with whole back stories one can easily imagine even if not apparent on the page. The character of Lewis is particularly fascinating and I would have liked him to feature more, particularly towards the end of the book; or at least a stronger resolution to his story.
My only real criticism is the long, drawn-out denouement of the novel. It seems to meander and drag its way to the end. Admittedly the turn that the narrative takes would have made it difficult to end abruptly. Nevertheless the book lost some momentum and I think the ending could have been a lot more succinct.
Still, Jones is proving to be one of the most consistent of new writers. Although I was not as taken in by the story in 'Small Wars' as I was with 'The Outcast' it's a solid read. Meticulously researched, Jones brings colour and texture to a genre - the war novel- that I would normally give wide berth. You can trust Jones to elicit the humanity from just about any topic. Her gift as a novelist comes so naturally as to appear effortless. I am already looking forward to her next one.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In opting to address the Cyprus Problem and some of the events that led up to the Nicosia shootings from this perspective, the author has made a brave and refreshing choice. Deeply insightful into the experiences, bonding rituals and personal isolation of service families stationed abroad, ths book goes straight to the core with its honesty. Introducing Hal, the career soldier and the conscript Davis, the author peels away the sharply contrasting outer layers of these two apparently very different men, to reveal the same inner struggle between duty, (whether self imposed, or imposed by others) and the desire to operate free will. Their contrasting personal reflections on boyhood games and the quiet of university life are equally heart-tugging as each soldier struggles to remember who he really is. Clara, bringing her baby daughters to a hostile world not of her own choosing, with her efforts to make the best of things and not compain, is highly evocotive of the lot of the service wife. The end of the book is a work of art. Appearing to meander toward its close it suddenly builds to a final climax which ought to jerk the reader back to the edge of their seat. This story is so well written and so readable that only when you have finished reading will you fully realise how good this book is.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Simmering emotion
Set in 1950s British-occupied Cyprus, this is an elegantly crafted story, with deep and dark emotions simmering under a cool British reserve. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Dhun Silverstein
Great Read
I bought "Small Wars" having never heard of Sadie Jones' first book "The Outcast". I have since read both and much prefer "Small Wars" I can not remember how I stumbled upon this... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Miss C. Thomson
Balance between war and humanity
Sadie Jones has managed to strike a clever balance with this book - between the military life of Hal and the domestic life of Clara (pronounced Cl-air-a), his wife. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Janie U
Could have been better
This was an itriging story largely spolied for me by poor background research on the troubles of Cyprus
and military life. Read more
and military life. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mr. Mark Simmons
Another great Sadie Jones
I loved it! The moral dilema which slowly unfolded during this novel was shocking and surprising. It challenges your expectations.
Published 14 months ago by Elaine Graham
A very well written and powerful novel
This is not a grand novel or a long novel but within the specific confines of the troubled times in Cyprus after the second world war, it encapsulates the human anguish faced by... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Eileen Dover
Totally Gripping
I have taken my time to finish this book, because, I LOVED IT! Just like The Outcast, I was completely gripped. Read more
Published 19 months ago by son of spiderman
War and families
A fast moving story about how his work in the nasty colonial war in Cyprus in the 50's affects an English officer's relationship with his wife. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Dr. David J. Blomley
Its OK..
I read Outcast and absolutely loved it and depend on that experience bought this book but I was disappointed, it was quiet boring..
Published 22 months ago by I. Khan
A deeply moving novel
I was not disappointed with Sadie Jones' second novel. Like the first novel, she seems to get right into the head of her central character, Hal Treherne, and his difficulties in... Read more
Published 22 months ago by cm63
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