The story is told through the eyes of the woman who lived it, while it took around the same time, each one had an individual and unique experience. While the synopsis might sound like a fairytale (falling in love, crossing the ocean, etc.) the reality was much harsher and difficult.
The story takes place over a course of about 12 hours, but much of the story is told in flashbacks and memories which are triggered by external events which the protagonist, a flier named Leslie Mason, experiences. Mason is experiencing a profound sense of loss almost every waking moment due to his luck of having survived many missions, but loosing many friends who did not have such good fortune. In his depressed state, Mason is concerned only with the present and survival, not concerned about past or future.
I did enjoy the premise of the story, which seemed to be edited heavily to the point where character development took a second seat to length. A quick, quirky read with a noir feel about a feisty lady and a soldier, both trying to make a difference out of place.
A few years ago I read a wonderful book called Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand I highly recommend the book to everyone.
Check out this trailer below, looks fantastic, hopefully it would do a bit of justice to the story and the man.
The novel touches on several subjects which are important even in today’s world. The division of Berlin, the relationships between the victorious Allied personal who are now trying to align themselves with the political wishes of their leaders as well as the German people and the effects of the Berlin blockade.
Mr. Harding wrote a strong, thought provoking, fascinating book which, most important of all, is a family heirloom and an homage to a relative who has passed away. I found the book to be well researched, an easy read and a window into a time where the ideal of right and wrong was clearly defined.
The story revolves around the French roundup of Jews during WWII. A little girl, named Sarah, which escaped death and the search for her little brother whom she locked in a cupboard before the French police took their family away.
It seems as if Mr. Barry put great thought into the narrative of this book. Each of us, I’m sure, can go back and point to events which, in our opinion, were either a turning point or crossroads in our linear path even though we did not know it at the time – this is what McNulty is writing about.
The Eternal Nazi: From Mauthausen to Cairo, the Relentless Pursuit of SS Doctor Aribert Heim by Nicholas Kulish is a non-fiction book detailing the trials and tribulations of Nazi hunters following an elusive criminal.
The story is more of a romance and very predictable, I found myself skimming through the last half of the book.