Think of Me tells the story of James Acton, a vicar. One strand is set in 1974 when he feels compelled to move from his comfortable parish to the more remote one of Upton and Barrow End. The other is from the point of view of his late wife, Yvette, whom he met in Eqypt when he was a Hurricane pilot during the war.

One of the reasons I was drawn to this book was James's role as a vicar in a small village setting, and as expected this was my favourite of the two narratives. I enjoyed his arrival in Upton, his meeting his new parishioners and the realisations he came to along the way. I hesitate to speak of characters going on a journey but that's exactly what James does, both physically and emotionally.

I particularly enjoyed the way he explored his faith and how it was tested more than once throughout his life. Anyone would be tested by what he experienced during the war but it's put into perspective by one of my favourite characters, Archdeacon Ronald Frobisher, a man James is initially averse to but who undergoes something of a transformation in James' mind throughout the book.

Think of Me is told at an unhurried pace and is beautifully and thoughtfully written. Its intricate detail and depiction of trauma, loss, grief and bravery meant it could not be rushed and nor did I want to rush through it. Ultimately it's the story of James and Yvette's love for each other and how secrets from the past challenge the love that James recalls for his late wife.

I've only just realised that Liardet's previous book, We Must Be Brave, features at least a couple of the same characters and I would like to read it and see them from a different angle at some point. I enjoyed this intense and satisfying read. ( )

Well written book. A very interesting book about grief, faith, love and recovery. Starts off in Egypt during WWII but moved to England. ( )