Bird's Eye View

My mother served in the U.S. Women’s Army Corps in WWII. She told me many stories, but “Bird’s Eye View” expanded on those by inspiring me to think of things I hadn’t before, like homesickness and everyday relationships with those who served with her, which were certainly good and bad, like we all have with coworkers.I want to give particular mention, and thanks, to the narrator, Francine Brody. She embodies the lead character of Rose beautifully, bringing her to life in a way that made me care deeply, sometimes painfully, about any difficulties she may be experiencing, and even greater joy when celebrating Rose’s triumphs. She does equally as well with the many other characters in the book, not just with a variety of voices, but imbuing each with a distinct and memorable personality. I’ll be looking for more works narrated by Ms. Brody.

I am a 75 year old guy , still working full time , and much of my reading is work related or about my various hobbies. Other than work I tend to read factual accounts of World War Two. Elinor Florencefrequents a forum I read on that subject so I thought I would give it a try. I was in the middle of another book but curiosity got me so I started "Bird's Eye View" and finished it before going back to the other book. It read to me like a memoir or diary kept by a bright lively young woman....though I have never read one, I guess it inspired my imagination. Many of my guy friends do not like women messing up their movies and books about war but in fact thousands of women served in WW II as well as all previous wars. In the 20th and 21st centuries they were recognized with uniforms and rank and this book does an excellent job of introducing many to that. Wars tend to greatly affect emotions of all people, participants and civilians alike , home life, work, separation, love, anxiety, rations, the list is endless so it seems natural it would affect the relationships of young men and women caught up in it. I think Ms. Florence has described these emotion exceedingly well. I consider myself fortunate to have spent a good bit of time exploring the UK by foot, car and rail, in cities, villages as well as the countryside and think the author has caught those places quite well in her descriptions, it brought back many memories and should introduce those less traveled into an accurate imaginary "England" and I might add "Canada" . Oddly I taught aerial photography labs as a graduate student and can confirm that those activities described within the book also accurately portrays the war time mission . I would imagine the life of a very young rural Canadian girl, her first time out of the country and being introduced to a military life would have been stressful, complex, demanding and exciting and all those feelings come through here. A few things felt to me that they did not seem exactly right, I had to smile as I thought back over my years and realized life is not exactly right, especially in war. I applaud Elinor Florence's understanding of life, intentionally or not.. A very nice mix.In short this is a lovely book, holds your attention and a pleasure to read. If a 75 year old, sometimes grumpy man, can enjoy it so then it should appeal to a large range of people. My highest recommendation.. I hope she forgives me my run on sentences !

I purchased the Kindle edition and a few sentences scattered through the book were lost in the transfer to my mobile device. It didn’t spoil the book for me but I would definitely recommend reading it in print.This book truly deserves the 5 stars it has been given by reviewers so far. Elinor Florence has avoided the clichés of so many wartime novels; Rose’s experiences aren’t glamourized, nor are they romanticized, the story draws you in and I couldn’t put the book down. It is clear that the author has spent a great deal of time researching this era, and her ability to place her characters both in place and time is exceptional. I was transported along with Rose from Saskatchewan to wartime England and back again, picturing every moment in my mind. The only aspect of the story that struck me as written from a 21st century perspective was Rose’s opinion of the fire-bombing of Dresden, but this doesn’t detract from the book at all and is certainly debatable. I would recommend Bird’s Eye View to anyone.

This novel is a very well researched historical fiction story that introduced me to the contributions that Canada made during WWII. I absolutely LOVED the main character, Rose, who is a young Canadian growing up on a farm. She is finally able to find a way to go to England and help with the war effort by using her photography skills in Intelligence work. Ms. Florence was able to write her characters so that at times I forgot that this was a work of fiction, although I'm sure that many of the details were based on actual historical events. The author's writing reminds us of how brutal and emotionally draining it was for those in England during the war. And she also doesn't shy away from describing the heartbreaking deaths and destruction that both England and Europe endured during this terrible war. The characters were so "real" to me; I both laughed and cried and was sad to reach the end of Rose's story. I'm looking forward to reading more from Ms. Florence in the future!

The story of Rose's experiences during the Second World War had me engaged from the start. The characters are charming and likeable, and drew me in to the time and place easily.I'm not a history buff, and I find the only way I can get interested in reading about history is through individual narratives, whether real or fictional. This book gave me the exact mix of personal tale and accurate historical details to keep me entertained but also improve my knowledge along the way. Rose's job as a photographic interpreter sounds absolutely fascinating and was an aspect of war work about which I previously knew very little.Naturally there are plenty of moments of confronting sadness and the horrors of war, but there was also hope, humour and happiness to balance it out.I thoroughly enjoyed Bird's Eye View, and would recommend it to anyone after an engaging personal narrative about WWII that doesn't require you to already know your history to enjoy it!

The novel is well written; well crafted and very interesting. Set during the Second World War, we follow the life of Rose Jolliffe as she sets sail from her home in Canada, having joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, becoming a photographic interpretor, studying aerial photographs. Stationed at Medmenham, a grand and imposing former country home, she learns very quickly, becoming skilled at spotting 'discrepancies' in the landscape, viewing from above. One of her discoveries just happens to be the V1 rocket.Having also said 'goodbye' to her childhood friend, Charlie, in Canada when he joined the RCAF, she bumps into him in England, where he is now a pilot with a bomber crew. Their last farewell had involved a kiss at the station but only because Rose sensed that was what Charlie was hoping for. But now, seeing him again, she discovers a new side to him. He's grown up, he's changed and he's rather good looking. He's also very polite and caring and very good company.Rose eventually comes to her senses, leaving behind a very bad choice of a relationship with a married man and finally falls for Charlie. Will it be a happy ending? You'll have to read it and see,There are some excellent plot lines and the characters are all very well drawn. Place is also excellent and the reader is transported back in time, both in Canada and England. The author has clearly done her research on everything and this is very evident throughout the novel.The protagonist, Rose, is in a sense naive, but not for long. She grows up quickly like so many of that generation, facing the brutal reality of war and of loss. The novel is well paced and propels you forward, willing you to read on.I've read dozens of historical fiction books (probably hundreds) and 'Bird's Eye View' really does deserve its own niche in the book store, and is by far a deserving read.As an historical fiction book, it is truly worth taking a gamble on as it's interesting and there's the hint of romance thrown into the mix. And you never know, you might learn something new. I did.

I read so many WWII themed novels during this COVID-19 pandemic that I've became jaded by cliche & tiresome predictability. Elinor Florence's "Bird's Eye View" totally breaks that tedium. Once started I couldn't put this book down. When I finished reading it, I wanted to read it again. The book has a very satisfying ending, but I wasn't ready to say goodbye to intrepid Rose. That character is so well defined I feel like I know her. The authentic detail in this story is what I always hope for in a historical novel but seldom get. I can hardly wait to start Florence's next novel tonight!

Another gem of historical fiction from Dundurn. Bird's Eye View by Elinor Florence tells the story of a naive Saskatchewan farmer's daughter joining the ranks of the WRAF after her RAF pilot is killed flying in the Commonwealth Training Program. Rose sails to Britain, and serves as an interpreter of images taken by bombers over Europe. She has a natural eye for detail in this demanding work.But the book is much more than this. It is a coming of age story in the best tradition. Rose suffers homesickness, culture shock, military rules, and class snobbery. She makes mistakes, falls for the wrong man, is badly injured in a London bombing, and suffers severely during her convalescence.The author has created a compelling story with excellent research underpinning it all and a very believable protagonist. Though I knew something about the work of photo interpreters, this book filled me in on this fascinating and vital work. I was fully engaged with Bird's Eye VIew from beginning to end. It's a page turner.Highly recommended for those who enjoy good historical fiction and also perhaps for some military history buffs.

I enjoyed Bird's Eye View by Elinor Florence very much. Being a Saskatchewan girl myself, I could easily visualize the landscape of Touchwood Hills. But, even if you weren't from the prairies, Elinor's descriptive words would certainly take you there. The war years are brought alive from the view point of Rose, a young woman eager to serve her country, even before it was possible. Once in Britain, her life becomes alive with love, death, friendships of varying degrees and her work in deciphering photographs for Europe. There is never a dull moment and I found myself reading too late into the night. I did wish for one more chapter, but having thought more about that, I believe I know enough about Rose and her situation after WW2 to make up an ending for myself. The book ended where it should have and I can continue with my thoughts and ideas for ever.

Excellent information for a number of us that were not aware of this part of Canadian history! Including myself being born in London 1936 and had the full experience at the receiving end of WW2 and although too young to fully understand the blitz do remember the nightly air raid sirens warning us to go to the bomb shelters and later the W1's (we knew them as 'doodle bugs' which were slow enough to be seen and guessed as to their target) and W2 rockets (these were faster, larger and landed with such a huge flash that it was surprising if there was anything left in the vicinity of the explosion).I also was completely unaware, even to this day, how aerial photography was used and interpreted (by Canadians also) with such clever and imaginative results.The story was so well written that at the beginning of the read wondered if it was in fact an autobiography. Thoroughly recommend.