The Postmistress, Sarah Blake

I read a review of this book, after I had finished it, and was really surprised to find out I had totally forgotten how it started-at a dinner party, as a question for discussion. And then I read the notes on how the author had written this story, which was fascinating, The first half of the book develops the main characters slowly; the action speeds up toward the end of the book, introducing the central characters to each other. Although liberty has been taken with some details, there is a clear picture of life around the edges of the battlefields of World War Two, and life for those who stay at home (in New England).