THE BOYS IN THE BOAT by Daniel James Brown, published by Penquin Books copyright 2013. Finished this book on Sunday, just in time for my book club. I really enjoyed the book for several reasons; I really enjoy reading history, especially those set in the time period of the Great Depression and War World II. This is the second book that I have read dealing with members of the American Olympic team and there traveling to Germany. I am amazed that Hitler was able to hide his agenda so well from everyone. There is a statement in the book that the Americans make on returning from Germany that the author puts in the book "As for this man Hitler....Well, I believe we should all like to take him back to America with us and have him organize there just as he has done in Germany."(page 360) Of all the books I have read and the documentaries I have seen, the killing and imprisonment of people in their towns were just completely ignored.
The other reason is that I like books teach me about things that I know nothing about, especially sports. I have friends who have done crew. In fact, one of my friends in book club, did crew and she was impressed by the how well the author did with the details. Knowing that they won in the Olympics,, Daniel Brown still had me on the edge of my seat with his descriptions of the races. Especially, the races at home, but more specifically the race in Germany. Very well written.
Then there is the life of Joe Rantz, who beyond all the hardships he endured he worked his way through life without bitterness. He may have had some self doubt but instead of saying 'Woe is me,' he did all that he could to survive. It was a different world, but leaving your 13 year old to fend for themselves, egad. Could you imagine what kind of news story we would have about this?
A great book, I would highly recommend it.
Showing posts with label Olympics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Olympics. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Monday, March 2, 2015
Review: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
I just finished UNBROKEN by Laura Hillenbrand, paperback version, published by Random House, Trade Paperbacks. Originally published in 2010, this copy was published in 2014.
Wow, so many emotions went through me as I read this book. I thought I would pick it up, read a few pages, put it down and just finish it before book club at the end of the month. However, what happened is I picked it up this weekend and could not put the book down. I wanted to be there to support the men fighting for there lives. I cried several times throughout the book. Anger for the treatment of the POW's. Two days later and I was finished with the book, but there are pictures and stories that will haunt me, just as pictures of captives in Germany make me sad. So thin, so gaunt, so hungry.
We always hear about the tragedies in Europe, but this book brought information that I never realized, one being the amnesty granted to war criminals, for the price having allies. I knew that we did something, but I did not realize it was that. It makes me sad to think that these people were allowed to live their lives as if they did no harm. But I think all war time crimes are intolerable, no matter who participates. All the people who go to war do it for the reason they deem important, it is always one groups and in some instances one persons philosophy that pulls whole nations into war.
When we fight wars is there ever, really a clear winner. In this book we "won", but so many died, so many lost their way, so many families changed. But then we saved so many people. War is always a bitter pill to swallow. Thank you Laura for bringing this side of the WWII to the masses.
Wow, so many emotions went through me as I read this book. I thought I would pick it up, read a few pages, put it down and just finish it before book club at the end of the month. However, what happened is I picked it up this weekend and could not put the book down. I wanted to be there to support the men fighting for there lives. I cried several times throughout the book. Anger for the treatment of the POW's. Two days later and I was finished with the book, but there are pictures and stories that will haunt me, just as pictures of captives in Germany make me sad. So thin, so gaunt, so hungry.
We always hear about the tragedies in Europe, but this book brought information that I never realized, one being the amnesty granted to war criminals, for the price having allies. I knew that we did something, but I did not realize it was that. It makes me sad to think that these people were allowed to live their lives as if they did no harm. But I think all war time crimes are intolerable, no matter who participates. All the people who go to war do it for the reason they deem important, it is always one groups and in some instances one persons philosophy that pulls whole nations into war.
When we fight wars is there ever, really a clear winner. In this book we "won", but so many died, so many lost their way, so many families changed. But then we saved so many people. War is always a bitter pill to swallow. Thank you Laura for bringing this side of the WWII to the masses.
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