Reader Reviews
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Thank you Ray Evans, 4 Dec 2008Lynn Caddick, Fence, Lancashire, England
Lovely book and such an easy read, funny but also sad, my heart went out to the little boy he must have felt so abandoned and so alone especially when his brother left and he was completely alone with strangers. I was so glad to read of his return to Wales as a man, it must have been an emotional time but I guess wonderful to see Mrs Williams again.
What a brave man to write such memories, I would imagine it was very distressing to relive some of the awful times. Thank you Ray Evans for sharing your memories.
I can highly recommend this book, it is a joy to read and suitable for young and old.
A good read, 9 Aug 2006Big Dave “gibbo” – West Yorkshire, England
This work by Ray Evans is a moving account of a young lads progress through his early life. I don’t think anyone reading it could fail to be impressed by the authors tenacity when faced with all he had to put up with during those turbulent years.
Fortunately the book ends on a happy note when the author finds some happiness and a lasting relationship with his adopted family. It is also pleasing that the author himself seems to have come through it all with a sense of humour.
Awesome , 12 Jul 2006Adrienna, Williamsburg, VA, USA
I had the pleasure of reading “Before the Last All Clear” and found it to be thought-provoking, insightful and most amazingly, real. We who are removed from these atrocities find it hard to believe that we are, in fact, reading about the actual experiences of the author and not some imaginings of a fictional writer. While reading, I found myself fighting with Ray to survive, cheering his minor victories, and admonishing those who caused him pain… all the while thinking could I have had the strength to walk in his shoes. The strait forward, “plain talk” style of the author made this a book I not only couldn’t, but didn’t want to put down. Thank you, Ray, for sharing your story.
It can’t just end there……., 10 Jul 2006MizValerie – Williamsburg, VA, USA
I couldn’t put it down. I read the whole thing in one afternoon. It touched me. I laughed, and cried. My heart hurts for the women and children of war. Ripped from their families and mistreated. What a world we live in. If people don’t share these stories, it could all happen again. Thank you Ray. For sharing your experience.
A beautiful read, 5 Mar 2006EuroSally – Italy
Every British person born post World War 11 should read this book, when I was at school we were taught about both World Wars, but we were never really told about the suffering of children. These are the memories of one man; thousands must have stories just like him. This book should be introduced into our schools. A truly wonderful read and simply written. I felt I was on an emotional roller coaster sometime I would cry laughing and sometimes I would just cry. Such beautiful book. Looking forward to his next one.
Evocotive,Sorrowful, Uplifting, 27 Feb 2006Foxysusie (UK)
Although I have not read the book by Ray Evans, I read the serialisation in the Daily Mail newspaper. I thought the story was so true to that era, although it was way before my birth in the mid sixties. It read as if it was my Father telling me his wartime memories of a young child having to leave home. I found the script immensely moving and it moved me to tears more than once in the short piece that I read. My father is not a book worm like me, but was born in 1938 and has told me how he could identify with Mr Evans memories and he too was emotionally moved to tears whilst reading the piece in the newspaper, in fact he was so moved by it he has since told me this is the one and only book that he has ever yearned to read cover to cover! I am sure when he gets around to turning the pages there will no doubt be a few more tears. All in all its a wonderful warm tale of a young boys survival. Mr Evans has done himself proud!
before the last all clear, 28 Nov 2005Carole Farnsworth
A very true and well written book on the war years for civilians.It is interesting to read for all ages, those who remember the war, those who like myself was born after the war but was told of these stories and also the younger generation who have no idea what went on in the war. It will have you in tears of sorrow and tears of joy. I have passed it on to a few different people in all walks of life and they too have enjoyed it.I look forward to his next book. Well worth reading
