Last night with little fanfare we celebrated two years of our book club, The Page Turners. I think we read the best book to date. Unfortunately, there were only four of us in attendance. It would have been great to have everyone there to discuss this book.
For our November book, everyone in the club nominated a book and we voted on the one we wanted to read. The winner was, Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. It was suggested by Kirby. She did good. I never would have picked up this book on my own. It is a true story about a World War II Vet. I do not read books about wars. Louis Zamperini was an Olympic runner. He flew in an Army Air Force bomber. This is the story of his youth. His quest to run in the Olympics. His Air Force Training. Louis is in a bomber that crashes in the Pacific. He survives 40 days in a raft until he is captured by the Japanese. It is hard to read about his treatment as a POW. The torture he endured and survived is unimaginable. This is an amazing story of how Louis survived being held prisoner and how he reclaimed his life after he was released.
I learned so much from this book. I was shocked by how many Americans lost their lives in training for the Air Force. It was horrific to read about the torture Americans endured in Japanese camps. More men died in Japanese camps than any other.
The story made me look at the bombing of Hiroshima differently. I can see how it not only ended the war but saved American lives. The account of the POW's watching the end of WWII from camps was an interesting look at history.
I can remember when I was a child hearing prejudice against Japanese. Reading this book gave me insight into why that generation had so much anger towards the Japanese. I have read a few books about the treatment of Japanese Americans during the war. It surprised me that our country would treat our citizens so poorly. Now I have another perspective.
I gave this book a 5. So did the other Page Turners at the meeting. I cannot compare it to other books that I rated high. It is non-fiction. It is about a subject I would normally not read. The author was able to tell the story without it feeling like a history lesson. I stayed interested. I had a hard time putting it down. Most importantly, I enjoyed reading it.
If there is a male in your life that likes to read, (Millhouse I am looking at you), this would make a great Christmas gift. Or, just buy it for yourself. Wrap it up and put it under the tree.
Congratulations to The Page Turners for two years of great reading. (Well, not always great. There was that book about the pig!) Looking forward to many more good books.
I hope they make this into a move. I would love for Hubby to share this book. He would only do it if it was in a movie version. He loves World War II movies. I do not. I would watch this if it were put on the big screen.
2 comments:
I read this book this summer. My Father was a WWII Vet. My mind just kept going back to my childhood as well remembering what my parents would say about the war. The coolest part is how he turned his life to the Lord and continued on with his life. He made a difference in this world of ours. It truly was a book that was hard to read sometimes but also hard to put down. To all Veterans and their families, thank you for our freedom.
The Mrs. Mom
Well put Mrs. Mom. You should be in Page Turners.
My husband's Aunt was a Lutheran Missionary that was captured by the Japanese and held as a POW in the Phillipine's. That was a strong. generation.
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