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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really liked it, stuck with me & would recommend
Set in the South Pacific during WWII, this book tells the story of English musician, Norah Chambers and Welsh Australian nurse, Sister Nesta James after they are captured by the Japanese and held in one of their notorious POW camps.
I loved this story about endurance, survival, bravery, sisterhood and loss. The sacrifices these women made to hang on through the war was deeply moving. I especially was appreciative of learning about another less explored aspect of the war and some of their coping mechanisms, the most notable being a voice orchestra to boost morale.
This book was pure historical fiction, based on real women. I read it pretty quickly and definitely got quite emotional in parts. I loved the author's note at the end about the real people behind the characters and what became of their lives after liberation.
The narrator, Laura Carmichael, did a great job, her voice was so soothing during some of the harder parts, and I loved the addition of the music to bring the voice orchestra to life.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and author Heather Morris for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Sisters Under the Rising Sun is out October 24, 2023.
Set in the South Pacific during WWII, this book tells the story of English musician, Norah Chambers and Welsh Australian nurse, Sister Nesta James after they are captured by the Japanese and held in one of their notorious POW camps.
I loved this story about endurance, survival, bravery, sisterhood and loss. The sacrifices these women made to hang on through the war was deeply moving. I especially was appreciative of learning about another less explored aspect of the war and some of their coping mechanisms, the most notable being a voice orchestra to boost morale.
This book was pure historical fiction, based on real women. I read it pretty quickly and definitely got quite emotional in parts. I loved the author's note at the end about the real people behind the characters and what became of their lives after liberation.
The narrator, Laura Carmichael, did a great job, her voice was so soothing during some of the harder parts, and I loved the addition of the music to bring the voice orchestra to life.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and author Heather Morris for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Sisters Under the Rising Sun is out October 24, 2023.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
so moving, a WW2 story that feels different from what i’ve read before
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Incredibly heartbreaking & inspiring
Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris
#historicalfiction
#netgalley published 10/24/23
Just an amazing story of survival from just the women from Australia, England and Netherlands that have been captured and gathered into P.O.W. camps in Sumatra for 3-1/2 years. Starting off with 65 Australian Army nurses and ending up with only a fraction of them in the end.
This story is based on the real life pint-sized Australian woman, Sister Nesta James, who becomes the nurse in charge and 2 sisters one of which is real life English classically trained musician Norah Chambers who were on a ship that has been shot down and sunk by the Imperial Japanese Army. Nesta keeps the bodies of women as heathly as she can while Norah takes care to keep their minds in a happier place with her music. The music is also lead by a Sister Margaret who becomes and important person in the camp. Together they create a "voice orchestra".
The story shows so many of the struggles they went through during those times. It pulled me in from the very beginning. It was very easy to read. And I wanted to continue reading to see what happened next and to see who would survive until liberation by the Allied forces. Wonderful book on a horrible topic as per HM's typical MO.
#stmartinspress
#basedonatruestory
#bookstagram #bookrecommendation #booknerdsbookreview #bookreview
#historicalfiction
#netgalley published 10/24/23
Just an amazing story of survival from just the women from Australia, England and Netherlands that have been captured and gathered into P.O.W. camps in Sumatra for 3-1/2 years. Starting off with 65 Australian Army nurses and ending up with only a fraction of them in the end.
This story is based on the real life pint-sized Australian woman, Sister Nesta James, who becomes the nurse in charge and 2 sisters one of which is real life English classically trained musician Norah Chambers who were on a ship that has been shot down and sunk by the Imperial Japanese Army. Nesta keeps the bodies of women as heathly as she can while Norah takes care to keep their minds in a happier place with her music. The music is also lead by a Sister Margaret who becomes and important person in the camp. Together they create a "voice orchestra".
The story shows so many of the struggles they went through during those times. It pulled me in from the very beginning. It was very easy to read. And I wanted to continue reading to see what happened next and to see who would survive until liberation by the Allied forces. Wonderful book on a horrible topic as per HM's typical MO.
#stmartinspress
#basedonatruestory
#bookstagram #bookrecommendation #booknerdsbookreview #bookreview
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loved this book! One of my favorites of 2024. Still keep thinking about all the strong, tenacious women who died & experienced this horrible tragedy.
In the midst of World War II, an English musician, Norah Chambers, places her eight-year-old daughter Sally on a ship leaving Singapore, desperate to keep her safe from the Japanese army as they move down through the Pacific. Norah remains to care for her husband and elderly parents, knowing she may never see her child again.
Sister Nesta James, a Welsh Australian nurse, has enlisted to tend to Allied troops. But as Singapore falls to the Japanese she joins the terrified cargo of people, including the heartbroken Norah, crammed aboard the Vyner Brooke merchant ship. Only two days later, they are bombarded from the air off the coast of Indonesia, and in a matter of hours, the Vyner Brooke lies broken on the seabed.
After surviving a brutal 24 hours in the sea, Nesta and Norah reach the beaches of a remote island, only to be captured by the Japanese and held in one of their notorious POW camps. The camps are places of starvation and brutality, where disease runs rampant. Sisters in arms, Norah and Nesta fight side by side every day, helping whoever they can, and discovering in themselves and each other extraordinary reserves of courage, resourcefulness and determination.
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Another incredible, heartbreaking novel.
How do I begin? Sisters Under Rising Sun is not the first book that I read by Heather Morris ; I should know that I would fall in love again. I have read most of Heather Morris , and there wasn't one I could get out of my head. I am not going to forget this one. I was excited when I found out Morris was writing a new book, and even happier when I came across ARC on NetGalley. I had to request it; I couldn't give up a chance to read it ahead of time. Heather Morris writes emotional books, but the World War is a challenging subject to write about. World War I/II is my favorite to read about in historical fiction. Reading historical fiction taught me a lot, and I thought I knew everything. I was wrong. Reading Sisters Under Rising Sun , I learned much more. I want to go back and re-read it to discover it all again.
How can I even begin to describe the emotions in this book? There were so many of them. I finished reading the book this morning, yet I cannot get it out of my mind. Sisters Under Rising Sun is a story that should be read by everyone who loves historical fiction. This book is one of the reasons that I love historical fiction. I knew I would fall in love, but I didn't know how much it would affect me. Of all her books that I have read so far, this is my favorite so far. You can tell that this is the genre she is passionate about and how much research goes into her novels. I love the author's note towards the end of the story; it made the book much more accurate. There is much more I can say about her writing, but that would take me all day.
There is so much that I can say about the characters. I don't have a favorite main character because I love them all. Norah, Sister Nesta James. Two brave women. After reading the book, I wondered how they had survived for as long as they did. Sisters Under Rising Sun is a story about war, friendship, bravery, survival, and hope. I loved that no matter what they had to endure or go through, they were always there for one another. Their friendship reminds me of a few of my closest friends, the ones I would do anything for.
Highly recommended, be prepared for the ride of a lifetime.
Sister Nesta James, a Welsh Australian nurse, has enlisted to tend to Allied troops. But as Singapore falls to the Japanese she joins the terrified cargo of people, including the heartbroken Norah, crammed aboard the Vyner Brooke merchant ship. Only two days later, they are bombarded from the air off the coast of Indonesia, and in a matter of hours, the Vyner Brooke lies broken on the seabed.
After surviving a brutal 24 hours in the sea, Nesta and Norah reach the beaches of a remote island, only to be captured by the Japanese and held in one of their notorious POW camps. The camps are places of starvation and brutality, where disease runs rampant. Sisters in arms, Norah and Nesta fight side by side every day, helping whoever they can, and discovering in themselves and each other extraordinary reserves of courage, resourcefulness and determination.
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Another incredible, heartbreaking novel.
How do I begin? Sisters Under Rising Sun is not the first book that I read by Heather Morris ; I should know that I would fall in love again. I have read most of Heather Morris , and there wasn't one I could get out of my head. I am not going to forget this one. I was excited when I found out Morris was writing a new book, and even happier when I came across ARC on NetGalley. I had to request it; I couldn't give up a chance to read it ahead of time. Heather Morris writes emotional books, but the World War is a challenging subject to write about. World War I/II is my favorite to read about in historical fiction. Reading historical fiction taught me a lot, and I thought I knew everything. I was wrong. Reading Sisters Under Rising Sun , I learned much more. I want to go back and re-read it to discover it all again.
How can I even begin to describe the emotions in this book? There were so many of them. I finished reading the book this morning, yet I cannot get it out of my mind. Sisters Under Rising Sun is a story that should be read by everyone who loves historical fiction. This book is one of the reasons that I love historical fiction. I knew I would fall in love, but I didn't know how much it would affect me. Of all her books that I have read so far, this is my favorite so far. You can tell that this is the genre she is passionate about and how much research goes into her novels. I love the author's note towards the end of the story; it made the book much more accurate. There is much more I can say about her writing, but that would take me all day.
There is so much that I can say about the characters. I don't have a favorite main character because I love them all. Norah, Sister Nesta James. Two brave women. After reading the book, I wondered how they had survived for as long as they did. Sisters Under Rising Sun is a story about war, friendship, bravery, survival, and hope. I loved that no matter what they had to endure or go through, they were always there for one another. Their friendship reminds me of a few of my closest friends, the ones I would do anything for.
Highly recommended, be prepared for the ride of a lifetime.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
An interesting story about female prisoners of war in Sumatra during World War 2. Based on true stories which the author researched. Notes from family members are included at the end of the book and even some photos.