Rating:  ☆☆☆1/2

Recommended by:   

Author:   Jojo Moyes

Genre:  Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance

369 pages, published August 20, 2013

Reading Format:  Audio Book

 

Summary

The Girl You Left Behind tells the stories of modern day Liv Halston and early twentieth century Sophie Lefevre and how their lives intersect through a portrait of Sophie.  In 1916, French artist Edouard Lefevre leaves his wife Sophie to fight for France in World War I.  When her town falls into German hands, his portrait of Sophie stirs the heart of the local Kommandant and causes Sophie to risk everything – her family, reputation and life—in the hope of seeing Edouard, her true love, one last time.  Nearly a century later and Sophie’s portrait is given to Liv by her young husband shortly before his sudden death.  Its beauty speaks of their short life together, but when the painting’s dark and passion-torn history is revealed, Liv must make a momentous decision about the thing she loves most.

 

Quotes

“the ability to earn a living by doing the thing one loves must be one of life’s greatest gifts.”

 

“I wanted to live as Edouard did, joyfully, sucking the marrow out of every moment and singing because it tasted so good.”

 

“Do you know how it feels to resign yourself to your fate? It is almost welcome. There was to be no more pain, no more fear, no more longing. It is the death of hope that comes as the greatest relief.”

 

“I know it’s been tough. But we’re terribly proud of you, you know.” “For what?” She says blowing her nose. “I failed, Dad. Most people think I shouldn’t have even tried.” “Just for carrying on, really. Sometimes, my darling girl, that’s heroic in itself.”

 

“I thought the world had actually ended. I thought nothing good could ever happen again. I thought anything might happen if I wasn’t vigilant. I didn’t eat. I didn’t go out. I didn’t want to see anyone. But I survived, Paul. Much to my own surprise, I got through it. And life…well, gradually became livable again.”

My Take

The Girl You Left Behind is the third book by Jojo Moyes that I read this year (the first two were After You and One Plus One) and it was my least favorite of the three.  However, I still liked it and recommend it (even though the voice work on the Audio Book version that I listened to sometimes detracted from the story).  While The Girl You Left Behind has a lot in common with The Nightingale in that both books involve the struggle of two sisters in war torn France, The Nightingale is the superior book.  Nevertheless, Moyes knows how to tell a gripping story and I found myself very interested in the characters and plot of The Girl You Left Behind.