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We think it’s the perfect book club choice and asked Keith to write a set of questions for book clubs to use when discussing the novel! That’s a glowing review, Annika. I know the feeling of rushing through a book, only to get upset when it ends. What is it?’ I groaned, turning away from her, pulling the blankets up and over my head. She switched on her bedside lamp.
The Frequency of Us by Keith Stuart | Waterstones The Frequency of Us by Keith Stuart | Waterstones
I do enjoy stories that feature two timelines weaved together, as one of the characters slowly uncover some mystery of the other. This was similarly enjoyable, though I did feel more invested in one pov for majority of the book (Laura), so non Laura pov chapters felt a little bit of a bore but the prose was smooth so they were still easy to get through.
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It’s hard to say any more without including spoilers but after a very promising start, the book left me feeling a little disappointed. I was invested in Will and Elsa’s romance though and that kept me reading until the end. It is wartime, April 1942 and Will Emerson and Elsa Klein’s love affair has only just begun when the bombing raids of the city hit their home at Avon Lodge, Bath. Wireless research engineer Will and Austrian music lover Elsa are separated, a blinding light a precursor to the bomb falling, with Will glimpsing the shadow of his lover in the doorway of the kitchen just before he loses consciousness. Found in his garden and taken to the Royal United hospital Will is more concerned about the safety and whereabouts of Elsa and a young boy David he was trying to protect when the bomb fell. Discharging himself and waking up to the reality of the devastation around him, Will finds Avon Lodge miraculously still standing but where is Elsa? The house holds no clues as to her whereabouts, and disconcertingly no evidence remains of her existence. How can Elsa have disappeared without trace? The Frequency of Us is the story of one man’s lifetime journey to discover the truth. Keith standing outside the Labour Exchange on James Street which was hit by shrapnel from a bomb blast Seventy years later, social worker Laura is battling her way out of depression and off medication. Her new case is a strange, isolated old man whose house hasn’t changed since the war. A man who insists his wife vanished many, many years before. Everyone thinks he’s suffering dementia. But Laura begins to suspect otherwise . . .
The Frequency of Us (Audio Download): Keith Stuart, Katy
Author Keith Stuart writes mental health issues as harsh and debilitating as they often truly are. He shows the true nature of what someone with them goes through, sometimes it isn’t an easy read, but it is essential to the story. Laura becomes Will's carer, tasked with the job of deciding whether he is capable of living alone or whether he should be taken into care. He's a great character, but Laura is a good match for him. The main character Laura, who is currently working as a care worker, has been assigned an elderly gentleman living on his own in Bath to assess and see if he can stay in his home despite showing signs of dementia. Laura had her fair share of problems and difficult times herself, but getting through to Will, the man to whom she is assigned, is certainly not an easy task.
I can confess I hadn’t heard Of Keith Stuart before. So, The he frequency of us is my first book from the author that I have read. I also found evidence of the bombings– buildings with great chunks blasted out of them, areas of pavement scorched pink by fires, and of course, great sections of the city flattened by the bombs and then rebuilt in the 1960s. These little details were crucial to capturing the terror of those two nights when Bath was targeted by German bombing planes. I spent days wandering about to find the perfect place for Will’s home, which is where most of the story takes place, and eventually found it on Lansdown Road, the long winding, steep lane leading out of Bath toward the racecourse. It has excellent views of the city and is close to an area of intense bombing (Julian Road, just behind the Assembly Rooms) so it’s a historically plausible place for him to have lived, and to have been directly affected by a blast.
What is the Frequency of Us? | Hachette UK
Will’s collection of old wireless radios plays a big part in the book, but it is not until about three quarters of the way through, that the title of the book starts to make sense. There are many twists, and just as you think everything is sorted – some new information comes to light. The plot was very engaging. I cannot claim to know the scientific accuracy behind the concepts mentioned in this book (It's not very heavy, don't worry) but I liked the plot and the story. It made sense to me. It also served the purpose of feeding me a good, entertaining, heartwrenching, and satisfying story. Am good with that. Now 87 years of age Will’s health and safety, given Avon Lodge is now more or less a death trap, is the prime concern of social services. Laura James, working for Regency Home care agency is tasked with assessing Will’s suitability to remain at home and it is thanks to her appearance in his life and her belief in him that he can finally reconcile the past. Hints of her own troubled upbringing coupled with her ability to listen to the ramblings of an elderly man suggest Laura is well placed to help decide Will’s future. Eat, Drink, and Be Merry: The Ultimate Guide to Celebrating Christmas with the Best Drinks Books On The Shelves David,’ I said. I spoke quietly, calmly, so as not to startle the lad, but I was aware we had to get out. ‘David, what on earth are you doing here?’
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from your review i could also feel the way Laura likely experienced coping and finding wellness amidst wounds from the past and the supernatural or specialness of her current adventure with Will. I loved Will, Elsa and Laura, they were fabulous characters who I believed in and wanted the best for. I sympathised with Laura as she struggled to make sense of Will’s situation. Was he telling her the truth or was the dementia making him make everything up about Elsa? Writing is very approachable and good. I didn't have any trouble following through the timelines nor did I find the characters' names or stories confusing. I am surprised I haven't read this author before. An author with excellent potential indeed.
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