France in the 1940's - depressing as depressing can be - but it does make for a good novel

Just read this review on Amazon: "Unfortunately, the horrors of the Second World War are not described with the clarity or power present in his earlier book."

This is the first Sebastian Faulks book I've ever read - I know this is the third of an acclaimed "France" trilogy for him. I found this book to be similar to Black Dogs by Ian McKewan in that it just presses on you like a heavy hand on your head. It's more like living, or trying to live, day to day in a terrible war zone. You try to get by - you may laugh some days, you may laugh every day. It doesn't take away from the horrors of war; they are always present.

I loved the book - it will never win the Booker Prize, but it's a great story that for some women and men held more "truth" than the great war stories of the time, of which there are many.