Doris by H.O.WARD
Doris
by H.O.WARD
Doris by H.O WARD was published in 2020.
It has been a privilege to read this lovely story of love and humanity that Howard gifted to me in exchange for an honest review and yes Howard this is an honest review.
A COMPELLING AND VISCERAL STORY THAT TOUCHES THE DEPTH OF HUMAN HEARTS
Synopsis
Based on a true encounter by the author, H.O.WARD, presents his character Doris as a homeless vagabond on the streets of London in 1966, where she has the misfortune to fall ill and be taken to hospital by her street friend Harry.
It is Harry who continues the story of Doris, a tender and caring Queen Alexandra Nurse, telling of her journey through military training in Inverary, SCotland, her experience of war torn Italy in Anzio, and her romance in Florence, before her forced return to London, England.
As with all lives , they should not be judged on the merits of the surroundings in which the person is first encountered, but by the complete understanding and quality of the person, if they should then be judged at all.
My Review
Following on from a wonderful conversation with Howard, a local author, at the No Limits Festival at Normanby Hall near Scunthorpe I left with a gift of Doris to read and give an honest review of.
I started the book when I got back from the festival yesterday afternoon and, apart from a break for a good night's sleep I couldn't put it down. The storyline is very emotive in all its elements showing a depth to Doris and the people she meets that will move you many times throughout the telling of her story by Harry. It is a story that also serves to remind us that you never judge anyone on what you first see as you do not know anything about their story at the first encounter.
The language and description used in the story as you are taken back to Doris' time as a Queen Alexandra Nurse, who is determined to do her duty for the maimed and injured throughout the second world war, serves to create an incredible image of this selfless woman and the nurses she works with who risk their own lives to try and save others. I was totally engrossed in the development of Doris and her history from the very first page, where we also meet , and lose Joe, the true life character within the book.
One aspect you will take away from the story is that there is love and humanity all around us - it just takes some looking for at times and you shouldn't prejudge what you first see. There may be times in many peoples lives when they are down on their luck - it doesn't mean it has always been this way and we should all be there to show some compassion and support like Harry.
It goes without saying that there are times when you will feel emotion and the ending brought a lump to my throat. This is a story that is humbling , for the right reasons, and will stay with me for a long time. It has been an absolute privilege to have been asked to review Doris and , in my opinion
5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 isn't enough.
About the Author
I began to write the story of Doris while I was working in India. It was my first attempt to write a novel after following a writing course. I remembered an encounter with a vagabond in a London bar; and this gave me the theme for my story, as per the writing course guidance. The thing I learned most from talking with Joe … Joe is the vagabond I met … was that he was not a down-and-out drunken tramp. Although he was drunk, he was, as he was, because of misfortune, and this provided me with a message to demonstrate in my story about Doris.
Having begun writing I quickly realised that what I was writing needed to be correct factually and not just fantasy from my imagination, so I stopped writing and spent three years researching the facts and visiting the places Doris visits before continuing to write. By this time, I was working in China and I had woven an engaging fictitious story amongst the tapestry of factual events and places. Curiosity got me thinking; being alone in my work environment, and I wondered if my story was suitable for publication.
Today I am retired, with a little more free time, and curiosity has grabbed my attention again. I feel that my story about Doris deserves an opportunity to reach its potential. Therefore, I have reviewed and improved the manuscript, provided the story with a nice title and cover in preparation for publication. I am pleased to say, and thankful for Daisa Publishing having faith in my work, has provided the opportunity for my book DORIS to achieve its market potential.
Buying links.
Amazon link
Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55700760-doris?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=voxDvWyyZA&rank=2
Waterstones
https://www.waterstones.com/book/doris/h-o-ward/9781916225152
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