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rickijill's review against another edition
5.0
Today I finished reading The Crooked Path by Irma Joubert. It's yet another World War II historical that I've read this year, but this one is very different because there are two settings: Italy and South Africa. I can't recall ever having read one based in South Africa before, and I enjoyed it because of the unique setting and culture.
There are several sections in this novel, and I enjoyed the sections featuring Marco and Lettie together. Reading about the Afrikaans culture is very interesting, but there isn't as much politics in the book as I anticipated. One thing that bothers me about the book is that Lettie and her friends seem vapid (even when they were older), focusing way to much on their looks rather than their intelligence (most of them are smart women). However, Lettie is very brave, and no one's perfect. I love the faith element in the book, and it's apparent that Irma Joubert is a former history teacher because she inserts a lot of history into not only the plot but the characters' dialogue as well. She also includes a Cast of Characters, a glossary for words that can't be easily translated from Afrikaans to English, and a bibliography. I highly recommend this novel if you're looking for WWII fiction with an interesting setting and historical accuracy.
Disclosure: I received a copy of The Crooked Path from the publisher via TLC Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.
There are several sections in this novel, and I enjoyed the sections featuring Marco and Lettie together. Reading about the Afrikaans culture is very interesting, but there isn't as much politics in the book as I anticipated. One thing that bothers me about the book is that Lettie and her friends seem vapid (even when they were older), focusing way to much on their looks rather than their intelligence (most of them are smart women). However, Lettie is very brave, and no one's perfect. I love the faith element in the book, and it's apparent that Irma Joubert is a former history teacher because she inserts a lot of history into not only the plot but the characters' dialogue as well. She also includes a Cast of Characters, a glossary for words that can't be easily translated from Afrikaans to English, and a bibliography. I highly recommend this novel if you're looking for WWII fiction with an interesting setting and historical accuracy.
Disclosure: I received a copy of The Crooked Path from the publisher via TLC Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.
remyk10's review against another edition
4.0
I have read The Girl From the Train by the same author and loved it. I also really enjoyed this book, although it is quite a tear-jerker throughout much of the novel. My only dislike, is how it nearly spans an entire lifetime so it is sometimes hard to follow. The characters are well-developed, and it is story many can relate to. I hope the author translates more of her novels into English, because I do enjoy her work.
kristi518's review against another edition
5.0
After reading The Girl From the Train I knew I wanted to read more from this author. I was happy to get this book and start reading it. Little did I know it was going to take me on a journey that I probably wasn't prepared for but glad I got to experience. This story will have you feeling sad, tired, and angry. It will also have you feeling happy, optimistic, and relieved. Simply put, this book will make you feel.
While Lettie is the main character in the book there is a host of others. Each is a complex character who is relevant to the overall story and has their own story to tell. While we meet Lettie while she is an awkward young girl we get to see her bloom into a confident and attractive adult. Lettie is one of those characters that is impossible to not like because she is so realistically created and there is a bit of Lettie in all of us.
Meeting Marco was a bit difficult. Reading about his life during the war and the sacrifices he made for the girl he loved and her family was a wonderful example of what true love is. I must admit that reading about his time as a prisoner in the camps was hard and I think for the first time I was able to understand what it was like for those that found themselves in these horrible conditions.
I love this author's writing style. Her descriptions made me feel as if I were there along with the characters and her way of telling a story is just excellent. She knows how to pull readers in and keep them interested in the story until the end. Even though this book is 400 pages I found it to be a quick read. Once I started reading I couldn't put the book down.
The Crooked Path is a story of growing up, friendship, love, and heartache. It is a well-written story that fans of historical fiction are sure to love. This book is the third in the trilogy but is a true standalone. In fact, I didn't know the book was part of a series until I was finished with it. I definitely recommend this book!
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions are mine.
While Lettie is the main character in the book there is a host of others. Each is a complex character who is relevant to the overall story and has their own story to tell. While we meet Lettie while she is an awkward young girl we get to see her bloom into a confident and attractive adult. Lettie is one of those characters that is impossible to not like because she is so realistically created and there is a bit of Lettie in all of us.
Meeting Marco was a bit difficult. Reading about his life during the war and the sacrifices he made for the girl he loved and her family was a wonderful example of what true love is. I must admit that reading about his time as a prisoner in the camps was hard and I think for the first time I was able to understand what it was like for those that found themselves in these horrible conditions.
I love this author's writing style. Her descriptions made me feel as if I were there along with the characters and her way of telling a story is just excellent. She knows how to pull readers in and keep them interested in the story until the end. Even though this book is 400 pages I found it to be a quick read. Once I started reading I couldn't put the book down.
The Crooked Path is a story of growing up, friendship, love, and heartache. It is a well-written story that fans of historical fiction are sure to love. This book is the third in the trilogy but is a true standalone. In fact, I didn't know the book was part of a series until I was finished with it. I definitely recommend this book!
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions are mine.
blackngoldgirlsbookspot's review against another edition
3.0
Irma Joubert is a name I have not heard of and as a reader of Christian fiction, I haven’t really seen much publicity on online forums either. It’s quite unfortunate. While The Crooked Path left me with mixed feelings, I was so happy to read a book set in Italy and South Africa. I loved the change of scenery! The American Christian fiction market definitely needs to travel more!
As I noted, I have mixed feelings about the story in general. I absolutely loved the first parts of the book. Both Lettie and Marco’s stories from adolescence through WWII and beyond were simply heartbreaking, both in different ways. Lettie’s struggles with body image as a teen in South Africa and Marco’s fight for survival in the Italian mountains and later in a concentration camp were the parts of their stories that really socked me in the gut. After that, The story really lagged and seemed to try too hard. I felt a distance from the characters, which sucked since the first few chapters were so gripping.
That said, The Crooked Path was a unique read in the Christian genre. I’m glad to have read it and wish more stories had such great settings! If you enjoy stories set during WWII and the years that follow, you might want to pick up this book.
~ My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars ~
*I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.*
As I noted, I have mixed feelings about the story in general. I absolutely loved the first parts of the book. Both Lettie and Marco’s stories from adolescence through WWII and beyond were simply heartbreaking, both in different ways. Lettie’s struggles with body image as a teen in South Africa and Marco’s fight for survival in the Italian mountains and later in a concentration camp were the parts of their stories that really socked me in the gut. After that, The story really lagged and seemed to try too hard. I felt a distance from the characters, which sucked since the first few chapters were so gripping.
That said, The Crooked Path was a unique read in the Christian genre. I’m glad to have read it and wish more stories had such great settings! If you enjoy stories set during WWII and the years that follow, you might want to pick up this book.
~ My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars ~
*I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.*
ayzil's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
kimib79's review against another edition
4.0
Wonderful story, although a little hard to remember things from the very beginning later on.
unsophisticatedreader's review against another edition
4.0
This is the second book by Joubert that I've read and I gotta say, I'm a fan. She writes such beautiful coming-of-age stories about girls in South Africa and I just love the characters and the history.
rlangemann's review against another edition
2.0
While it had some good historical aspects and I liked that it has a lot of the same characters as The Child from the River, this was a rough read for me...pretty heavy and so sad at times, though hopeful.
fiction_aficionado's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve been wanting to read one of Irma Joubert’s books for some time now, so when I was given the opportunity to review The Crooked Path, I snapped it up. I’ll admit it took me a couple of chapters to get into the story, because it begins with a lot of narrative that provides a summary of Lettie’s childhood through to attending university during WWII. It may have been partly the fact that this novel is translated to English from the original language (Dutch or Afrikaans—I’m not sure which), but the writing in the opening chapters felt abrupt to me and even detached.
But then, in the third chapter, we meet Marco Romanelli, and although he is introduced in much the same way, I was quickly drawn into his story as a young Italian man in love with a Jewish girl as war breaks out in Europe. It was eye-opening to know just what some people went through to survive the war, and as his story progressed, I began to get an inkling of how his path might eventually cross with Lettie’s, and by then I was hooked.
Lettie’s mother once told her that life sometimes leads you along a strange crooked path, but in the end it will always take you where you’re supposed to be. On the other side of the world, as the political unrest heightens in Europe, Marco observes: “Even a crooked path has to lead somewhere.” This book takes us along those crooked paths with Marco, Lettie and Lettie’s friends Klara, Christina, and Annabel over a span of some thirty or forty years, navigating life’s important relationships—friendship, romance, and parenthood—and both the joy and the sadness encountered along the way. And although there are obviously times when the books skips large sections of time, there is continuity in the path the story takes through those years.
I really don’t want to say anything more about the plot—that’s best left to the book itself—but there was a sense in which this story came full circle by the end. I would have liked a bit more of a dénouement, as there wasn’t really any time to enjoy the ending once we got there, but this is an engaging story for those who want to experience life in a different time and place, and be reminded that even when we don’t get what we want, even when life takes unexpected detours, there is beauty to be found on a crooked path.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
But then, in the third chapter, we meet Marco Romanelli, and although he is introduced in much the same way, I was quickly drawn into his story as a young Italian man in love with a Jewish girl as war breaks out in Europe. It was eye-opening to know just what some people went through to survive the war, and as his story progressed, I began to get an inkling of how his path might eventually cross with Lettie’s, and by then I was hooked.
Lettie’s mother once told her that life sometimes leads you along a strange crooked path, but in the end it will always take you where you’re supposed to be. On the other side of the world, as the political unrest heightens in Europe, Marco observes: “Even a crooked path has to lead somewhere.” This book takes us along those crooked paths with Marco, Lettie and Lettie’s friends Klara, Christina, and Annabel over a span of some thirty or forty years, navigating life’s important relationships—friendship, romance, and parenthood—and both the joy and the sadness encountered along the way. And although there are obviously times when the books skips large sections of time, there is continuity in the path the story takes through those years.
I really don’t want to say anything more about the plot—that’s best left to the book itself—but there was a sense in which this story came full circle by the end. I would have liked a bit more of a dénouement, as there wasn’t really any time to enjoy the ending once we got there, but this is an engaging story for those who want to experience life in a different time and place, and be reminded that even when we don’t get what we want, even when life takes unexpected detours, there is beauty to be found on a crooked path.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
amandathebookish's review against another edition
2.0
The Crooked Path by Irma Joubert
Synopsis:
From the bestselling author of The Girl From the Train, comes another compelling coming of age story of delayed love, loss, and reconciliation in WWII-era South Africa.
Lettie has always felt different from and overshadowed by the women around her– this friend is richer, that friend is more beautiful, those friends are closer.
Still, she doesn’t let this hold her back. She works hard to apply her mind, trying to compensate for her perceived lack of beauty with diligent academic work and a successful career as a doctor. She learns to treasure her friendships, but she still wonders if any man will ever return her interest.
Marco’s experience in the second world war have robbed him of love and health. When winters in his native Italy prove dangerous to his health even after the war has ended, he moves to South Africa to be with his brother, husband to one of Lettie’s best friends. Marco is Lettie’s first patient, and their relationship grows as she aids him on the road back to restored health.
In the company of beloved characters from The Child of the River, Marco and Lettie find a happiness that neither of them thought possible. With that joy comes pain and loss, but Lettie learns that life—while perhaps a crooked path—is always a journey worth taking.
Facts:
This book was Published by Thomas Nelson
It released November 7th, 2017
It's 398 pages
I got it free from Harper Collins BookLook Bloggers program in exchange for a review. (thanks!) My thoughts are my own, as always.
Here are a couple places you can buy it or learn more:
Goodreads | Amazon | Thomas Nelson
I love history, and I love historical fiction. I don't tend to gravitate toward war stories later than the Civil War, because it just hurts too much. That said, I realized that The Crooked Path was a story about World War Two, and I was okay with that.
This story, unlike many well-told stories of war, seemed completely emotionless to me. It was as if the narrator or author's voice was a monotone. This story was slow. It was boring. And it felt like nothing mattered.
This is a story about love, and loss, and war, and horrible things, and IT FELT EMOTIONLESS.
While I dislike war stories because they're so full of emotion, I think I dislike war stories told this way even more.
My rating: 2 stars.
Synopsis:
From the bestselling author of The Girl From the Train, comes another compelling coming of age story of delayed love, loss, and reconciliation in WWII-era South Africa.
Lettie has always felt different from and overshadowed by the women around her– this friend is richer, that friend is more beautiful, those friends are closer.
Still, she doesn’t let this hold her back. She works hard to apply her mind, trying to compensate for her perceived lack of beauty with diligent academic work and a successful career as a doctor. She learns to treasure her friendships, but she still wonders if any man will ever return her interest.
Marco’s experience in the second world war have robbed him of love and health. When winters in his native Italy prove dangerous to his health even after the war has ended, he moves to South Africa to be with his brother, husband to one of Lettie’s best friends. Marco is Lettie’s first patient, and their relationship grows as she aids him on the road back to restored health.
In the company of beloved characters from The Child of the River, Marco and Lettie find a happiness that neither of them thought possible. With that joy comes pain and loss, but Lettie learns that life—while perhaps a crooked path—is always a journey worth taking.
Facts:
This book was Published by Thomas Nelson
It released November 7th, 2017
It's 398 pages
I got it free from Harper Collins BookLook Bloggers program in exchange for a review. (thanks!) My thoughts are my own, as always.
Here are a couple places you can buy it or learn more:
Goodreads | Amazon | Thomas Nelson
I love history, and I love historical fiction. I don't tend to gravitate toward war stories later than the Civil War, because it just hurts too much. That said, I realized that The Crooked Path was a story about World War Two, and I was okay with that.
This story, unlike many well-told stories of war, seemed completely emotionless to me. It was as if the narrator or author's voice was a monotone. This story was slow. It was boring. And it felt like nothing mattered.
This is a story about love, and loss, and war, and horrible things, and IT FELT EMOTIONLESS.
While I dislike war stories because they're so full of emotion, I think I dislike war stories told this way even more.
My rating: 2 stars.
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