The book was archived before our group could download it. We are sure that we would have enjoyed the book judging from the reviews it has received.

I didn’t enjoy this book at all.
It wasn’t written well at all and the ending was non existent.
A poor read

An interesting story set in 1940 and 2005...... did Guillaume die in the explosion or not? Loubna wants to find out and sets about solving the mystery of her grandfather. I loved the descriptions of Casablanca and the book had some great characters but I was disappointed with the ending

I was not able to get interested in this book and I did not finish it. The characters and the plot were not able to catch or keep my attention.

Well, that is six hours of my life that I'll never get back.

That is my first thought upon finishing THE SAILOR FROM CASABLANCA. I was so disappointed to reach the end, not because I didn't want it to end, but because I wanted it to end! It has no ending. How can that be? What the hell happened, I have no idea but the entire story I had spent the past six hours being swept away by just fell flat in the end.

It's 1940 and 21 year oldGuillaume Straub gives his shore leave to friend Felix where their warship has been docked in the Casablanca harbour for the past two years. He has things he must attend to, he assures Felix, and waves him on his way. And then, the unthinkable happens. A massive explosion from their ship taking the lives of all those remaining onboard...including Guillaume. Felix is breathless. That should have been him. Guillaume had shore leave; he didn't. So he should have been aboard the ship when it exploded. But he wasn't...and Guillaume was.

Devastated at the loss of his friend, Felix travels to France to the Somme where Guillaume's family live to deliver a letter from their captain and his words of condolence. The depth of their despair was almost too much for Felix to endure so instead when they invited him in he shared with them stories and amusing anecdotes of their brilliant and ambitious son. Guillaume, who joined the French Navy at aged sixteen because he wanted to see the world and the Navy was his gateway to it.

But as time goes on Liliane, Guillaume's sister, travels to Paris to see her brother's grieving beloved Ginette only to learn that she has fled the city with "him". Him? Surely not Guillaume? He's alive? That would make him a deserter but he's alive? She cannot wait to return home to share this news with her parents. But it is no longer safe. The Germans have arrived and are taking over the country as their own and with Felix by her side, she flees to his sister's some many miles away (a French place I cannot remember the names), where she will be reunited with her parents. But energised with the hope that Guillaume is alive.

In 2005 in modern day Casablanca, Loubna (I'm not sure we even learnt her surname) has always longed to learn more about her grandfather of whom she knows nothing about. Her father died when she herself was a baby and was unable to impart any knowledge though thankfully her "adopted" grandmother Zayna could. Sadly, all that she could share was that her grandmother uttered Guillaume's name as the father of her newborn son, Tarek, before she herself passed away. Zayna herself didn't even know the woman's name who had given birth in a military hospital and she was merely the nurse who attended her. With no one left to care for the child, Zayna took him home and brought him up with her husband as their own.

Now Lounba is determined to uncover the truth about her grandfather and who both he and her grandmother were. During her quest for answers, she stumbles upon some information that sparks her curiosity about her family history and in digging deeper, she discovers more than could have imagined about her grandfather and the question mark over his death.

Having come into possession a suitcase full of love letters written to the charismatic sailor, Loubna is given an insight into the man that was her grandfather and his escapades. It turns out that Guillaume was something of a Lothario, charming a different woman into his bed every night and then discarding them once they have outlived their use. Was one of these women her grandmother? Is she able to unravel the mystery behind the man and discover the truth about her grandfather once and for all?

I actually thoroughly enjoyed the story and how it was presented to the reader through a series of what is almost like diary excerpts from the various people in Guillaume's life. From his mother, his father and his sister to his childhood sweetheart, his lover and his friend Felix. I love how we are given a perspective of Guillaume through their eyes even if he appears as someone else to another. And I especially love how Guillaume is the main character/feature of this story without ever having to offer his own narrative. The story is told completely through the eyes of all those around Guillaume but never Guillaume himself. It is a very clever concept and immediately draws the reader in. And it makes Guillaume seem more of an enigma, adding to the mystery that surrounds his life and his questionable death.

The setting being Morocco is also such a different concept. But the war was just as alive there as it was everywhere else in Europe, Britain, Africa, Italy and so forth. And the author brought it alive with atmosphere from the harbour to the cinema Guillaume was so enamoured with to the red light district. And then to give it that almost ghostly feel in the modern day Casablanca where everything seems just out of a reach. The streets of Casablanca seemed almost deserted that I could only picture Loubna there, along with whichever friend accompanied her. It was a strange sensation to feel it had once been alive and it now it seemed dead. Although that is not true of the place, which no doubt is generally bustling with tourists and locals, but that is the feeling I got throughout Loubna's narrative...how empty Casablanca felt without the truth of her heritage.

Originally written in French, THE SAILOR FROM CASABLANCA has been translated and despite this I didn't feel as if anything had been lost in translation. I was completely swept away with the story. I couldn't wait to discover the truth and have all the answers to not only my questions but those of Loubna as well. I thought the ending would give me all the answers I was looking for but unfortunately it didn't. Not even a hint. So I am far from satisfied. The ending should wrap, while not everything, enough to give the reader closure and a satisfying conclusion. Of which I have neither. By the time I read the final words I thought - that's it? That's all you have to give me after spending hours lost in this story? I felt robbed and cheated out of a proper ending. And that spoiled the rest of the book for me.

THE SAILOR FROM CASABLANCA is largely and enjoyable story. It's the ending that ruins it...in the fact that there isn't one. I am still just as clueless as I was beginning the book.

I would like to thank #CharlineMalaval, #NetGalley and #HodderAndStoughton for an ARC of #TheSailorFromCasablanca in exchange for an honest review.

The sailor from Casablanca by Charline Malaval

A book set in Morocco during world war 2. Following the life of Guillame, an 18 year old sailor and his friend Felix.

An interesting story with intrigue and family secrets about whether Guillame died in an explosion in 1940 or not.

This story goes from then to now . Therefore it does jump about in the timeline which was a bit annoying.

However Reasonable story but a bit slow .

I really enjoyed this book which was a family mystery set in 1940 and 2005 in both France and Casablanca.

Loubna in 2005 starts a quest to find out more about her family, as her father was born in a military hospital to an unknown woman.

Her quest takes her back to 1940 and her grandfather, Guillame, who are in the navy. But was he a spy, a deserter or something else?

The book was full of suspense as little bits of information were uncovered with each chapter helping to put the whole story together.

I really enjoyed this book and although I did not read it in one sitting, I could have done. It is full of mystery, romance and history. I did feel that Felix in particular and one or two of the other characters felt that Guillaume could do no wrong, he was put on a pedestal by those characters and it took a great deal to shift their good opinion of him.

The book explores what it must have been like to be in the French Navy or any Navy just before the start and at the beginning of World War II. The friendships and changes in individuals and attitudes that developed over those two years from 1938 - 40.

The book's narrative is told by different characters both in the war years and then by Loubna in 2005, who has set out to find out more about her grandparents. Cleverly the author rarely gives both sides of an event, but does tell how different characters reacted to some of the events. The intricacies of the story intertwine and slowly the reader begins to see the whole, something the characters do not do. There are questions left at the end, with one interesting twist, to ask them here would count as a plot spoiler. It is a sad, poignant tale and also uplifting at the end. The descriptions of Casablanca in the war years mirror so much that we know about it today influenced by the film of the same name. This link with black and white films is clever and adds to the charm of the book.

I will certainly look out for more books by this author.

In 1940, a sailor in the French Navy, Guillaume, is presumed dead when there is an explosion on his ship. His body is never recovered.

In 2005, his granddaughter knows nothing about him but is determined to find out the truth behind who he was and who her grandmother was.

The book is split into chapters which are told from the viewpoints of different characters, both in 1940 and in 2005. All of them are trying to work out what happened to Guillaume. I like the fact that although Guillaume is really the main character in the book, none of the story is told from his point of view. This leaves him as rather a mysterious character and adds to the unknown quality he has. He seems to have many secrets, and none of the other characters truly know who he is.

This is quite well written and easy to get along with. I was expecting it to be quite a romantic tale so I was quite pleased that this isn't actually at the forefront of the story. It is a good mixture of drama, romance and is also a story of the war and of how families, and everyone really, suffered during that time. It also gives some insight into the lives of the sailors themselves whilst in active duty.

i really enjoyed the mystery elements in the book and found the characters to be interesting and fully developed. I look forward to more from the author.

18 year old Guillame was out to conquer the world when he set forth on his travels and landed in Casablance. Sadly cut off in his prime by an explosion that was the end and the year was 1940.

Fast forward to 2005 and the discovery of a whole lot of love letters leads to the surprising conclusion that Guillame could very well be alive and with one of his many girl friends.

Each chapter is told by someone who is trying to unearth the mystery of Guillame but none by himself so that he remains fairly enigmatic throughout.

A mix of genres which added to the interest - lots of actual history, then family stories and romance as well.

This book includes realistic characters and an engaging plot. The greatest strength of this novel is its thoughtful and detailed descriptions of the locales in the story. The action alternates among characters and also past and present day. This is a fun and engaging read, recommended for book groups and discussions.

I received this novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion expressed here are entirely my own.

Set in World War II in Morocco, the tale begins with the lives, and loves of Guillame and Felix - two sailors in the Navy who become firm friends. When their ship explodes, Felix is given the task of breaking the news of Guillames death to his family.

Sixty five years later in 2005, Loubna dreams of opening her own cinema and after a flippant remark from a potential investor - she starts digging into her family's history to find out who exactly her father, and grandfather (Guillame) were. Aided by her friend, Anis he manages to "borrow" letters from the navy archives that hints that Guillame was either a traitor or a deserter, and even the possibility that he didn't die in the explosion.

Flipping between 1940 explaining the effects of Guillames death on his family members and friends and 2005 with Loubna searching her history, this tale is of love and desperation,

The book was a little slow starting and you do need to persevere with it, although the ending was still a little disappointing. A good read though

I volunteered to read this book, through netgalley in exchange, for an honest review. This book is well written and the characters are described well. The way the author describes Casablanca, Morroco it makes me want to visit that country. Guillaume is my absolute favorite character and I adore Felix's character. It talks about how families feel when they lose a loved one far to young to the war. I enjoyed how it goes from the past then to modern day Morroco. This book is in stores now for $9.99 (GBP).

Casablanca in world war 2 is a heady setting, full of exotic intrique. Did he die a hero or a traitor, or was it more complex? A story told through many eyes, and different times, so it doesn't answer all the questions, and is not the smoothest of reads. If you don't know anything about 1930s films, some of the references don't mean much. Was the author sacrificing story to try and be literary?

I've just finished The Sailor from Casablanca. I wasn't sure at the beginning but I stuck with it and I'm so pleased I did. Telling the story from many different angles is a stroke of genius. I was intrigued to find out what happened to The Sailor from Casablanca!

If you like a dangling denouement, then you might enjoy this story. I prefer to have everything neatly resolved without questions still standing.

I was disappointed with this story, which had so much potential and could have been so much better and perhaps even longer. And I loved the cover.

I found the first third to be quite hard-going and had to start it twice to maintain my interest. I found the multiple viewpoints confusing and also repetitive when Felix and the Straubs all go over the same events. And the continuity was lacking in places.

For example, when Felix turns up we have Mrs Straub collapsing to the floor and howling, yet only a few paragraphs later, Felix is amazed at how dignified both Straubs were and the most that Mrs Straub did, during two versions of the event, was let out a strangled cry.

There is a big difference between falling to the floor howling and merely letting out a strangled cry.

Then we move to Casablanca and when Loubna and Ali are on the roof of a building in the very early hours of the morning, they are blinded by the sunlight reflecting off the white building opposite. Then again, only a few paragraphs later, they are sitting in darkness watching the dawn creep across the sky.

Was the sun already up, or wasn't it?

And then, one or two incorrect translations should have been picked up by a good editor or proofreader.

The middle third was much better, by which time I'd got into the rhythm of the different viewpoints and timelines. It built up the mystery and subterfuge as well as bringing out the character of Guillaume, and I thoroughly enjoyed the way that wartime Casablanca was brought to life.

The final third felt quite rushed with new players suddenly introduced in the Moroccan business moguls. And then, after all of his/her hard work and loyalty at staying the course, the reader is left dangling.

We don't know what happened to several characters, we never went back to the Somme region, we never returned to Loubna's dream building, and there are too many loose ends.

Finally, the title is also a bit of a misnomer in that the sailor wasn't from Casablanca at all. He was merely stationed there. I would have ignored this had there not been so many other things that disappointed me.

And so, as a reader, I felt cheated in that I'd put in all of this work, struggled to get through much of it, only to not receive due reward at the end. But I did enjoy being taken through the various locations.

I really struggled with this.
With too many people telling the story it felt disjointed.
I found it very difficult to relate to the characters.
This was not for me.

I enjoyed this book especially the way that it moved from one time period to another. An interesting read, recommended.

Thank you to Netgalley, Charline Malaval and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC in return for my honest review. I have to say, the cover is off-putting and when I was invited to read this novel, I was dubious as I thought it wouldn't be for me. However, I'm delighted that I read it as it's a completely different book that I had first thought. I really enjoyed this one and would recommend. Perfect for fans of Dinah Jeffries and Fiona Valpy.