Scan barcode
daralexandria's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, War, Genocide, and Confinement
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Antisemitism
ppmarkgraf's review against another edition
3.0
I love war-related books, as they often show the strength of the human spirit during perilous time. More often than not, I learn something that I had never known. I wish this had been a historical fiction rather than non-fiction, as I seem to find that so much care is wrapped up in making sure the facts are correct, that the story is often buried under much too much fact. This WAS a good story, but far too many players were introduced without descent character development, that I often found myself saying, "Now, who the hell is this?". I really wanted to love this one, but I often found myself feeling lost in translation
asey's review against another edition
4.0
A well written account of a relatively unknown man and his family. This was an excellent story and one which people would do well to know about to show the meaning of sacrifice.
dawnh's review
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
3.5
I wish the author had given more background on some of the people. It was a good book for an intro into the French Resistance and this time period.
jessicabrazeal's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. I love a WW2 book, but this one was kind of boring. How do you make spies in WW2 boring???
samanthameyer's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
laheath's review against another edition
4.0
I love the stories of resistance efforts during WWII. This one looks at a family in which the father is an American doctor and the mother is a Swiss nurse. After deciding to stay in Paris rather than return to America, they quickly become involved in resistance efforts when it seems that most of the French are allowing the Germans to invade without putting up a fight. Their new neighbors are German officers, but despite the risk to their safety, they are able to save many people, especially downed Allied pilots. Eventually they're discovered and arrested, along with their teenage son. They're separated and sent to different camps, where they endure terrible circumstances. I appreciated how this book continued into the period after the war, looking at who was tried for war crimes and how they tried to justify their actions.
Advance e-book furnished by the publishers at NetGalley.
Advance e-book furnished by the publishers at NetGalley.
eileen9311's review against another edition
4.0
Heart rending and wrenching, yet uplifting, Alex Kershaw’s account of quiet heroism transports the reader to the streets of Paris during the Nazi occupation. Sumner Jackson, an American surgeon, was living in Paris with his Swiss wife Toquette and young son Phillip when the war was imminent. Their beautiful home was located on Avenue Foch, a street which would come to be associated with unspeakable horrors in the days to come. Many neighboring homes were subsequently seized by the SS for use as Gestapo headquarters and torture chambers. Despite the chilling German presence and increasingly oppressive atmosphere, a choice was made to remain in the city where Dr. Jackson could continue his practice as chief surgeon at the nearby American Hospital. What befalls this heroic family and countless other brave souls who elect to risk joining the French resistance is chronicled here. The contrasts are many – the beauty of Paris in the spring, the sheer sadism, the appalling horrors, the ever-present terror of betrayal, the grim details of concentration camps, the unsung courage of so many! The author acknowledges that both Philip Jackson and his daughter were instrumental in bringing the book to fruition. My fascination with this genre continues! As usual, I had some difficulty keeping the names straight, but that was minor. Overall, I found Avenue of Spies absorbing and very moving!
michelle_leitheoir's review against another edition
3.5
Kershaw's writing style was very approachable and easy to follow, which makes this little volume of history a quick yet informative read. He really captured the human element of such a scary time in history, and I always love when authors can bring that heart-pounding, white-knuckled grip to nonfiction.
I will say that one item in particular in this book FRUSTRATED THE CRAP OUT OF ME, but it was through no fault of Kershaw. It's just the way history went, unfortunately, but JEEZ. So unfair. So, sadly, that's the last feeling I left with this book. But I'd still recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good and easy book to help them dig into some WWII history.
I will say that one item in particular in this book FRUSTRATED THE CRAP OUT OF ME, but it was through no fault of Kershaw. It's just the way history went, unfortunately, but JEEZ. So unfair. So, sadly, that's the last feeling I left with this book. But I'd still recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good and easy book to help them dig into some WWII history.
magicalshelves's review against another edition
4.0
My first non fiction book read outside of my studies. Super interesting account of an American spy and his family during the Nazi take over of Paris.