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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Just read the synopsis here and that is basically the whole book. Uninspired writing and lots of filler to get to the 400 pages.
This is a historical fiction novel about several women who were captured during WWII and sent to live in a POW camp. This was a different story from all the other WWII historical fiction novels that I’ve read and it shed some light on the terrible conditions in these camps that I had not known about. The story follows Norah and her sister Edna who are civilians that lived in Singapore and get separated from their families and a group of Welsh nurses that were enlisted to help the Allied troops. It’s a story of sisterhood, strength, and resilience.
I really liked Heather Morris’s The Tattooist of Auschwitz, so I was looking forward to reading this one. While it was a unique telling I did struggle with the constant swapping of characters, I never was able to absorb myself in their storylines because of it. The conversations didn’t feel natural and were a little devoid of emotion. Due to this I had an overall hard time connecting with the characters which made it difficult to want to continue to read at times.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher St. Martins Press for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I really liked Heather Morris’s The Tattooist of Auschwitz, so I was looking forward to reading this one. While it was a unique telling I did struggle with the constant swapping of characters, I never was able to absorb myself in their storylines because of it. The conversations didn’t feel natural and were a little devoid of emotion. Due to this I had an overall hard time connecting with the characters which made it difficult to want to continue to read at times.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher St. Martins Press for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
The audio version of this book is amazing and brings the music to life.
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I will read anything that Heather Morris writes! I love how her books are inspired by actual events, especially ones that people may not have heard of before. I really appreciated Sisters Under the Rising Sun because the Japanese POW camps are not a typical topic for WWII fiction. These women truly inspired me through their survival and friendship. So, so good!
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Wow. Heartbreaking and inspiring in equal measure.
A fictionalised account of the imprisonment of women and children who were captured by the Japanese whilst fleeing from Singapore in February 1942, and interned in the jungle until August 1945. I have read factual accounts, which are much more detailed, especially about the women's voice orchestra, and this novel attempts to bring to life the emotions of the imprisoned women during this time. It is successful up to a point, as the author interviewed relatives of the survivors and did extensive research.
I think anyone who came fresh to this story would want to investigate further.
I should add that although some events narrated are quite harrowing, the reality was even , to the extent that some witnesses in the war crimes trial after the war were instructed not to mention certain crimes committed by the Japanese. Perhaps after all some things are best left to the imagination.
I think anyone who came fresh to this story would want to investigate further.
I should add that although some events narrated are quite harrowing, the reality was even , to the extent that some witnesses in the war crimes trial after the war were instructed not to mention certain crimes committed by the Japanese. Perhaps after all some things are best left to the imagination.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No