Title: As Time Goes By
Author: Jerry Borrowman
Publisher: Covenant Communication, Inc.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Year Published: 2007
Number of Pages: 375
Binding: Hardbound
ISBN-978-1-59811-324-2
Price: $22.95

Reviewed by Marilee McQuarrie

"As Time Goes By" by Jerry Borrowman is an historical novel that takes place during WWII. It takes us through the Battle of Britain and into various naval battles in the Atlantic Ocean, the English Channel and the Mediterranean Sea. It is the story of a fictional family, Philip and Claire Carlyle, and their children, Michael, Dominic and Grace, and their historical experiences. Since this story is based on a British family we are able to learn more about these battles and experiences from their perspective..

Philip, a viscount in the House of Lords, is asked to be a part of Winston Churchill’s staff. Churchill is a new member of the cabinet as First Lord of the Admiralty. Philip is asked to be the overseer of the cabinet’s secret facility where the war room is. Claire escorts the two younger children, Dominic and Grace, to her sisters home in Arizona, then returns to England to be with Philip in London but late goes to their home in the country and opens it up to those who have lost their homes in the bombing raids. Michael joins the navy and is assigned to the HMS Hood. He serves there but is transferred to a motor torpedo boat patrolling the English Channel. Dominic, who causes trouble for his aunt and uncle in Arizona, moves to New York where he is drafted into service in England. Grace eventually ends up back in England helping her mother at the manor.

This book is very enlightening as far as the historical aspect goes and very well done where the family is concerned. I found it to be interesting because there is so much that I didn’t learn or didn’t pay attention to in high school history class. I love reading about English history and this was very well written. It will appeal to anyone who is a reader of historical fiction. I do have one question, though. Was it common practice for a commanding officer, Commander Prescott in this case, to call his men by their first name? Several times (see page 240 for an example) he calls Michael by his given name and I was just wondering about that.

I know it happens in Star Trek but this is supposed to be real life. Just wondering.