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A review by mstufail19
The Bride of Almond Tree by Robert Hillman
3.0
I mostly read this book while my kids were watching Bluey so my mind had no trouble narrating in an Australian accent.
I thought this was a beautifully written book that explored many concepts surrounding post-WWII. Beth and Wes are from the same small town. He's Quaker who was a noncombatant soldier in WWII. She's a young idealist who has embraced communism and Soviet ideals wholeheartedly. Wes loves her from the very beginning of the book when he returns from the war and sees her again for the first time. Beth loves politics and Communism and Stalin and doesn't have time or desire for a romantic relationship. Beth as a character is a bit exasperating but Wes is good and sympathetic and you can't help but root for them because you want HIM to have a happy ending.
A side storyline is that of Patty, Wes' sister who is a nurse in Hiroshima, taking care of victims of the bomb. Her story was more compelling and sympathetic to me. Her mission to help as many people as she could and her struggle with her decision to have children or not knowing that they likely would be affected by radiation were beautiful, and at times hard to read (I definitely had tears in my eyes at some points). Her character was also sort of fun and irreverent and down to earth, despite the solemnity and import of her mission.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. I've never read Hillman before but it was beautifully written, the characters were well developed into real and flawed people, and the ending was appropriate for Wes and Beth's story.
I received this book as an advanced copy from the publisher.
I thought this was a beautifully written book that explored many concepts surrounding post-WWII. Beth and Wes are from the same small town. He's Quaker who was a noncombatant soldier in WWII. She's a young idealist who has embraced communism and Soviet ideals wholeheartedly. Wes loves her from the very beginning of the book when he returns from the war and sees her again for the first time. Beth loves politics and Communism and Stalin and doesn't have time or desire for a romantic relationship. Beth as a character is a bit exasperating but Wes is good and sympathetic and you can't help but root for them because you want HIM to have a happy ending.
A side storyline is that of Patty, Wes' sister who is a nurse in Hiroshima, taking care of victims of the bomb. Her story was more compelling and sympathetic to me. Her mission to help as many people as she could and her struggle with her decision to have children or not knowing that they likely would be affected by radiation were beautiful, and at times hard to read (I definitely had tears in my eyes at some points). Her character was also sort of fun and irreverent and down to earth, despite the solemnity and import of her mission.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. I've never read Hillman before but it was beautifully written, the characters were well developed into real and flawed people, and the ending was appropriate for Wes and Beth's story.
I received this book as an advanced copy from the publisher.