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4.48k reviews for:
Unbroken (Movie Tie-in Edition): A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
Laura Hillenbrand, Laura Hillenbrand
4.44 AVERAGE
4.48k reviews for:
Unbroken (Movie Tie-in Edition): A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
Laura Hillenbrand, Laura Hillenbrand
4.44 AVERAGE
Don't want give too much away but Hillenbrand does an excellent job telling Louis Zamperini's tale of his troubled childhood, his running career through the Olympics, his military service, his survival in WWII and ultimately his recovery and forgiveness later in life. You really get a good insight how dangerous it was to serve on the B-24s during WWII even in non-combat time. and it gives you good perspective of what was going on in the Pacific Theater during WWII since a lot of the history classes were so focused on the war in Europe. Also this guy was an amazing athlete, you wonder how far his career would have gone if it weren't for the war. Truly an inspirational story.
I won Unbroken though a giveaway on Goodreads.
I must be one of a smallish group that read Hillenbrand's Seabiscuit because I knew the story of the horse. In fact, I ever had read the children's book that Hillenbrand cites as partial inspiration for her own book, and I agree with her assessment of the older Hollywood movie (not the one based on her book, but one out decades before). I enjoyed Seabiscuit very much. Because I knew about the horse, I was never certain if my enjoyment of Hillenbrand's prose was entirely due to her talent or simply my enjoyment of the subject matter.
This book answers that question.
Unbroken is the story of Louis Zamperini and his experiences during the Second World War. This book proves beyond doubt that Hillenbrand can write, can really write. The reader knows simply by reading the back of the book that Zamperini lives to tell the tale, but the prose is so wonderful, so vibrant, so filled with Hillenbrand's love for what she is writing about that it causes the reader to forget. The reader not only cares, but worries. It is impossible to put this book down. It physically hurts when you have to.
Mr. Zamperini was a track star who most likey would've won an Olympic Medal if World War II hadn't occured. He joined up, eventually become part of the crew of a bomber that flew missions over the Pacific. At one point, the plane he was on suffered 594 holes due to attacks while on a bombing run, a run which injured most of the crew and killed one member. Later, Zamperini would be one of three surivors when their bomber crashed into the Pacific. Zamperini would be eventually picked up by the Japanese and sent to more than one POW camp.
The bulk of Hillenbrand's book focuses on the experiences of Zamperini in the war, in particular during his imprisonment under the Japanese. At times the book is heart-breaking, at times awe-inspiring. Usually the reader is carried by Hillenbrand to Zamperini's trials, on the tip of the seat, unable to look away, even knowing that he lives. Zamperini's will comes though just as clearly as his suffering.
This past week, there was a story on NPR that dealt with the overuse of the word "hero". An ex-service man believed that the term was too widely used and as such either diminished those who were truly heroic and/or made serviceman feel unmanly or unheroic when they suffered PTSD. I'm not entirely sure where I stand on the debate. I'm a coward; I think anyone who works while guns or bombs are being shot or thrown in their direction is worthy of my respect and that the government should do much more to take care of them after it's all over. I do know that Zamperini and all those that suffered in the POW camps are heroes. Therfore, this book is about a hero, though he might not like being called one. It is, in fact, about more than one hero. Time is given to the families as well as the servicemen, allowing for a more encompassing idea of the whole history of the war.
I knew a little about how POWs were treated in the Japanese camps, but not as much as Hillenbrand reveals in her book. American history books are somewhat quiet on that part of the war, due no doubt to the atomic bombs. It isn't surprising considering how American history is taught that many students today feel the dropping of the bombs was a war crime.
They should read this, among other books. Hindsight is always 20/20, and we live in a politically correct world, remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki more acceptable than remembering Nanking. Hillenbrand presents Zamperini's story in the context in which it occured, and while the atomic bombs are mentioned, each getting a chapter, they are not the focus. Hillenbrand, however, does put into context not only with suffering of the POWs, but by mentioning the fact that women were being trained to fight, that children were being trained on to use guns. She doesn't get into a dicussion of the dropping of the bombs, but simply presents them in context.
Hillenbrand focuses more on just Zamperini, and I found the story of Allen Phillips to be just as intersting. It provided a nice balance to Zamperini's story and allowed, so it seemed, for Phillips to have his own limelight for a change.
Hillenbrand deserves huge credit for her last section of the book where she focuses on the recovery, of the coming to terms with the abuse that Zamperini goes though. This is not a Hollywood story where the man comes home, cries, tells his wife everything and is better. Zamperini's recovery takes years, and during that time, he wasn't nice to everyone. Hillenbrand shares that with us, and it is important that she does.
This book reads like a movie. The prose descriptions, show not tell. Hillenbrand paints the picture, acknowledges that readers have brains and lets go. It is a wild and at times tragic ride but an inspiring one. No doubt this book will be opted for a moive. A shame really, the only thing the book needs to become a movice is the reader's mind.
I must be one of a smallish group that read Hillenbrand's Seabiscuit because I knew the story of the horse. In fact, I ever had read the children's book that Hillenbrand cites as partial inspiration for her own book, and I agree with her assessment of the older Hollywood movie (not the one based on her book, but one out decades before). I enjoyed Seabiscuit very much. Because I knew about the horse, I was never certain if my enjoyment of Hillenbrand's prose was entirely due to her talent or simply my enjoyment of the subject matter.
This book answers that question.
Unbroken is the story of Louis Zamperini and his experiences during the Second World War. This book proves beyond doubt that Hillenbrand can write, can really write. The reader knows simply by reading the back of the book that Zamperini lives to tell the tale, but the prose is so wonderful, so vibrant, so filled with Hillenbrand's love for what she is writing about that it causes the reader to forget. The reader not only cares, but worries. It is impossible to put this book down. It physically hurts when you have to.
Mr. Zamperini was a track star who most likey would've won an Olympic Medal if World War II hadn't occured. He joined up, eventually become part of the crew of a bomber that flew missions over the Pacific. At one point, the plane he was on suffered 594 holes due to attacks while on a bombing run, a run which injured most of the crew and killed one member. Later, Zamperini would be one of three surivors when their bomber crashed into the Pacific. Zamperini would be eventually picked up by the Japanese and sent to more than one POW camp.
The bulk of Hillenbrand's book focuses on the experiences of Zamperini in the war, in particular during his imprisonment under the Japanese. At times the book is heart-breaking, at times awe-inspiring. Usually the reader is carried by Hillenbrand to Zamperini's trials, on the tip of the seat, unable to look away, even knowing that he lives. Zamperini's will comes though just as clearly as his suffering.
This past week, there was a story on NPR that dealt with the overuse of the word "hero". An ex-service man believed that the term was too widely used and as such either diminished those who were truly heroic and/or made serviceman feel unmanly or unheroic when they suffered PTSD. I'm not entirely sure where I stand on the debate. I'm a coward; I think anyone who works while guns or bombs are being shot or thrown in their direction is worthy of my respect and that the government should do much more to take care of them after it's all over. I do know that Zamperini and all those that suffered in the POW camps are heroes. Therfore, this book is about a hero, though he might not like being called one. It is, in fact, about more than one hero. Time is given to the families as well as the servicemen, allowing for a more encompassing idea of the whole history of the war.
I knew a little about how POWs were treated in the Japanese camps, but not as much as Hillenbrand reveals in her book. American history books are somewhat quiet on that part of the war, due no doubt to the atomic bombs. It isn't surprising considering how American history is taught that many students today feel the dropping of the bombs was a war crime.
They should read this, among other books. Hindsight is always 20/20, and we live in a politically correct world, remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki more acceptable than remembering Nanking. Hillenbrand presents Zamperini's story in the context in which it occured, and while the atomic bombs are mentioned, each getting a chapter, they are not the focus. Hillenbrand, however, does put into context not only with suffering of the POWs, but by mentioning the fact that women were being trained to fight, that children were being trained on to use guns. She doesn't get into a dicussion of the dropping of the bombs, but simply presents them in context.
Hillenbrand focuses more on just Zamperini, and I found the story of Allen Phillips to be just as intersting. It provided a nice balance to Zamperini's story and allowed, so it seemed, for Phillips to have his own limelight for a change.
Hillenbrand deserves huge credit for her last section of the book where she focuses on the recovery, of the coming to terms with the abuse that Zamperini goes though. This is not a Hollywood story where the man comes home, cries, tells his wife everything and is better. Zamperini's recovery takes years, and during that time, he wasn't nice to everyone. Hillenbrand shares that with us, and it is important that she does.
This book reads like a movie. The prose descriptions, show not tell. Hillenbrand paints the picture, acknowledges that readers have brains and lets go. It is a wild and at times tragic ride but an inspiring one. No doubt this book will be opted for a moive. A shame really, the only thing the book needs to become a movice is the reader's mind.
A great story complemented by excellent writing and a nice pace that carries you through the early years of Zamperini's life. Hillenbrand writes in an easy to read style that doesn't detract at all from the emotion or drama in the story. I'll be adding 'Seabiscuit' to my list of must reads, as she can certainly put the pen to paper with the best of them. I always enjoy non-fiction books, and this story coupled with her writing style form a near perfect book. This book also provides us with reminder of thanks we need to provide our service men and women, as well as the cruelty of war to all mankind.
Wow! I resisted reading this book for quite a while and now I'm sorry I did. This story was amazing and I learned so much about WWII, which as a person who essentially majored in it, I found surprising. While I was shocked at the treatment of POWs by the Japanese it made me wonder how we treat our "enemy combatants" now. I like to think our treatment is better but what do we really know about the conditions they are kept in. I also found the history of Japanese culture of that time, especially in the military fascinating. And then at the end the unexpected connection to Rev Billy Graham was a twist I didn't see coming. Louis is an amazing person. Just wow.
Love this author! She takes a non-fiction story and sucks you in to the point of not eating or sleeping until the book is finished. I wish I knew how she did it!
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
This book took me on an emotional journey. The story of Louie Zamperini's remarkable first 33 years is, in a word, riveting.
Unbroken is my first Hildebrand book. I can see why Hildebrand is famous for her biographic novels. The writing is clear and interesting. In Unbroken, we follow the life of ex-Olympian turned WWII bombardier Louie Zamperini. The book breaks his story down into thirds:life in Torrence, CA/the olympics, the war, and post war years. I throughly enjoyed the story and highly recommend it to anyone interesting in WWII history. My only gripe is that the story made me angry at the Japanese for their treatment of Zamperini and I'm not sure if that was the intent of Hildebrand. I mean the constant abuse that Zamperini experiences is overwhelming at times. I know that war crimes occurred on both sides, but reading this story makes me ask why? Why denigrate a human being to the point of losing their dignity? Overall, a great read that informed the film version.