Reviews tagging 'War'

Chasing Shadows by Lynn Austin

1 review

mikaela_wade's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I didn’t want this audiobook to end! I keep going to play it and remember it is over :( it was 14.5 hours long and I loved every minute! 

Lynn Austin did an amazing job with the story telling & Stina Nielsen’s narration had me lost in the worlds of these 3 main characters! Highly recommend this audiobook. 

Summary:

This Book Follows 3 women through World War II from 1939 to 1945 in the Netherlands. The book covers so much and it was refreshing that whilst there was romance throughout it was never the focus of the story and while I love a hallmark romance this was really nice to focus on the war and really feel the grit and devestation, fear and sorrow, small joys and purpose, faith and miracles, questions and disappointments. It felt realistic to me without being gory. 

Main Characters:

This book is written from the P.O.V. of three women 

Lena De Vries - Lena is a Christian Dutch farmers wife and a mother of 3, Ans, Wim & Maiike, she is married to Pieter. And her father is the local pastor and full of wisdom. Lena likes to be in control and has trouble trusting God with her family. 

Ans De Vries - Ans is the eldest of 3 children and 19 at the start of the book, she is a rebellious teen and wants to leave the farm and religion she was raised with and move to the big city.

Ans finds a boyfriend in the big city, he is a police officer who is forced to join the Dutch Nazi Party

Ans works as a live in companion for Eloise who struggles with melancholy and trauma from WWI. Ans processes her faith in God and her role in the war. 

Miriam Jacobs - Miriam is a young German Jew who flees to the Netherlands excited for the freedom this country will hold for her and her father. Miriam struggles with Anxiety and her violin is a gift to her to express her emotions and calm her panic

Miriam meets Avi in refugee camp when she arrives in the Netherlands and they marry and have a beautiful baby Elisheva aka Bep

Series:

Stand alone. 

Content:

I really liked the biblical exploration that so naturally flowed through the characters as they asked questions of “what is ok?” “Can I lie?” “Should I protect myself?” Etc. These are all things I’ve wanted to understand and I loved how much this book impacted me and my own faith journey! 

Book recommendations:

Reading this book reminded me of the first book I ever listened to by Lynn Austin and what made me love her writing: Candle in the Darkness by Lynn Austin and the whole refiners fire series! It’s about the civil war. 

Other similar books by Lynn Austin that I’ve liked
A woman’s place set in early 1940s and follows 4 woman

And If I Were You about 2 women during WWII

Audio Performance: 9/10

Lovely to listen to, she brings the characters uniquely to life. 

Author: Lynn Austin

Narrator: Stina Nielsen

Length: 14hrs 38mins (Unabridged) 

Released: 8-June-2021

Publisher: Recorded Books Audio

Platform: Scribd

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War

Minor: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Gun violence, and Panic attacks/disorders

Suicidal Thoughts Expounded, (none-minimal spoilers)

Ans is a companion for Eloise who has suffered trauma from WWI and as a result battles with meloncholy and suicidal thoughts (non-descript) Ans and Eloise’s husband are always keeping an eye on her to avoid her harming herself. Tastefully written.

Panic Attacks Expounded, (none-minimal spoilers)

Miriam can also struggle with anxiety and panic, she turns to her violin for comfort.

Expounded, (none-minimal spoilers)

A family member (who you grow to know and love) is shot by the nazi’s - family hear it all.

This book doesn’t sugar coat the war so there is loss & death & separation scattered throughout the book.