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inhonoredglory's reviews
341 reviews
U-Boat Adventures: Firsthand Accounts from World War II by Melanie Wiggins
5.0
This book was a real eye-opener to me. It changed my perspective on war and sacrifice and on what soldiers die for, namely, their families and their nation, not necessarily their leader at that time.
The numerous examples of nobility was so beautiful to see. Imagine a German submariner saving a British pilot that his own sub had downed? Or victorious Allies giving U-Boat prisoners their (loaded) weapons so that the latter could show them German parade formations? Or the people of the German countryside tuning in to BBC when such an act was penalized by death?
Not everyone of a regime is represented by the leader of that organization. Many may be fooled, but there are still some good people who have a heart and can be trusted. This book showed me that I cannot generalize the other side as one-dimensional enemies; they are people, like you and me; have a heart, like you and me; and sometimes didn't like the people on top, yet still loved the land which was inherently theirs - much like you and me.
The numerous examples of nobility was so beautiful to see. Imagine a German submariner saving a British pilot that his own sub had downed? Or victorious Allies giving U-Boat prisoners their (loaded) weapons so that the latter could show them German parade formations? Or the people of the German countryside tuning in to BBC when such an act was penalized by death?
Not everyone of a regime is represented by the leader of that organization. Many may be fooled, but there are still some good people who have a heart and can be trusted. This book showed me that I cannot generalize the other side as one-dimensional enemies; they are people, like you and me; have a heart, like you and me; and sometimes didn't like the people on top, yet still loved the land which was inherently theirs - much like you and me.
War Stories III: The Heroes Who Defeated Hitler by Oliver North
5.0
Another personally life-changing book. This was the first book I read on World War II history, and its combination of large-scope summary and interspersed personal narration made for a perfect insight into the solemnity, terror, and inspiration of that time. The best history is told by those who lived in it, and this book further proves that point. It loosely follows the lives of a score of men, from their shipping out to the end of the war. It is a great book, and I highly recommend it.
Patton, Montgomery, Rommel: Masters of War by Terry Brighton
4.0
A very interesting, revelatory book! The mingling of the three biographies was a nice mix, and I felt good about myself for having learned about three important figures in WWII in one book. It taught me more about the general timeline of the European theater than any history textbook or article I'd read. A personal perspective, such as those found in biographies like these, always aids in the learning of the big picture.
Love Stories of World War II by Larry King
4.0
What a wonderful little book! Although the writing could use some polishing, the sheer adventure, humor, and true-to-life-ness of the tales themselves offset any stylistic lacking. The stories are heart-warming, bittersweet, comforting, saddening, frightening, enlightening, and always struck with the down-to-earth declaration that these things did take place - once upon a time. Personal accounts are always the closest way to history's heart, and this book is no exception. For a real experience of life on the home front, at the USO dances, amid longing and love, letters and leaves, this book is great. Through it, I learned little pieces of history that otherwise would drift past my notice - the doubt that women faced when dating soldiers, the fact that their letters go often to more than one man overseas, the fate of Germans and Italians in America during WWII, the danger experienced by those non-military sailors who faced U-Boats in their transport of supplies to the Allies, the horrors of the Germans against Italian townspeople in the waning days of the war. And of course, the sudden love and lasting commitment of many of the romances peppered out of the field of battle. Yes, some stories were not fantastic, may not have been so surprising or inspiring, but they were real, and they happened to real people who each had something heart-felt and honest to say. I learned many things from this book - little things like how people felt, how they lived, and how individual lives were subtly or abruptly affected by so far-reaching an event as the Second World War. The war may have broken the hearts of mothers who saw the last of their sons, it may have shocked its young soldiers, but it also brought together at least two people who owe to it the chance of their meeting and the far-reaching joy of togetherness that they often afterward enjoyed. This book shows that side of the war. Not the bloodshed and the battle, but the love and the longing, which was just as real and deep.
Jesus Under Fire: Modern Scholarship Reinvents the Historical Jesus by The Zondervan Corporation
5.0
A great, great, great book on the questions raised by the Jesus Seminar and others on whether the traditional view of Jesus coincides with the historical evidence. The chapters cover the common questions and are answered by known scholars in the field. The style is easy to read for the layman, yet comprehensive enough (by its pages of footnotes) for someone who wishes to search further.
The Pleasures of God: Meditations on God's Delight in Being God by John Piper
5.0
What a powerful book! It brought me closer to God and inspired me to live for Him in all honesty and strength. It's one I should read over and over again, just to recharge my soul in its emotional fuel. Christians, rejoice that there exists such books as these that expose God's glory in its shameless entirety.
Forever a Soldier: Unforgettable Stories of Wartime Service by Tom Wiener
5.0
Stories here have moved me, inspired me, thrilled me, and set me thinking of the seriousness and strength of our fighting men and women. Because it tells the stories of individuals, it is incredibly personal and powerful. Some stories I would never want to forget. There is much to learn here and much to remember. I'll definitely be reading this again.
The Nazi Officer's Wife: How One Jewish Woman Survived the Holocaust by Edith Hahn Beer
5.0
Read this book when you’re alone, the wind around you drowning out the world, the sunlight and air isolating your mind so that it will only be you and Edith, you and her story. So you can feel who she is and where she went with all the realness of being there.
It will be well worth it. It certainly was for me.
Firstly, I must mention that I love personal stories, that I love experiencing other people’s lives, and that I forgive most failures in storytelling because I know a real person had made it, not necessarily a professional writer, and most certainly not a professional writer creating a fictional tale that can be so easily modified for irony and suspense. That being said, I love Edith’s story. I find her experiences moving, sad, hopeful, and deep. I seem to forever be searching for a word that conveys the depth and danger, interest and didacticism, sadness and optimism that I find in the best stories. I would describe Edith’s memoirs with that word.
Similarly, I cannot say I enjoyed the story, for in it there was much sadness and fear. I cannot say I was fascinated and interested, for there was much more than those shallow, impersonal pleasures. I can say I was moved, but there was also so much more. There was learning, feeling, hoping, and crying.
Edith explains her life from her childhood to her trials during World War II. She lays down the most intimate details of her life, unedited, to give us a whole and perfect image of her personality, her dreams, and her life longings. Through her details, we come to know her as a real person and we come to understand everything she does and to feel those same emotions that she did throughout her ordeal. We can feel both her torture sand her triumphs intimately.
About the writing style: At first, it made me pause. Edith occasionally addresses the reader in the second person. But I think in the end, this is not a factor in the quality of the storytelling. In fact, it can be a great aid in bringing her closer to you, in making her story that much more personal.
Besides this, the narrative style is perfect. The emotions of real life are recreated with as much storytelling devices as real life can maintain. Scenes and dialogue are recreated with a perfect balance of immediacy and summary.
//Potential spoiler//
And on its title: Some may wonder why her book is titled the way it is, without her being the wife of a Nazi officer except for a short time in the story. But I think no word could describe a person wholly through life and that something must be used to symbolize the story presented. “The Nazi Officer’s Wife” fulfills this latter reason. In her incredible experience, Edith had to live a life like the rest of the Nazis. She had to pretend to be someone she was not, pretend to be a Nazi. In many ways, she was wedded to this lie, this incredible lie of agreement with monsters. This is how the title symbolizes her struggle.
//Potential spoiler//
What an incredible book, an incredible story, an incredible woman.
It will be well worth it. It certainly was for me.
Firstly, I must mention that I love personal stories, that I love experiencing other people’s lives, and that I forgive most failures in storytelling because I know a real person had made it, not necessarily a professional writer, and most certainly not a professional writer creating a fictional tale that can be so easily modified for irony and suspense. That being said, I love Edith’s story. I find her experiences moving, sad, hopeful, and deep. I seem to forever be searching for a word that conveys the depth and danger, interest and didacticism, sadness and optimism that I find in the best stories. I would describe Edith’s memoirs with that word.
Similarly, I cannot say I enjoyed the story, for in it there was much sadness and fear. I cannot say I was fascinated and interested, for there was much more than those shallow, impersonal pleasures. I can say I was moved, but there was also so much more. There was learning, feeling, hoping, and crying.
Edith explains her life from her childhood to her trials during World War II. She lays down the most intimate details of her life, unedited, to give us a whole and perfect image of her personality, her dreams, and her life longings. Through her details, we come to know her as a real person and we come to understand everything she does and to feel those same emotions that she did throughout her ordeal. We can feel both her torture sand her triumphs intimately.
About the writing style: At first, it made me pause. Edith occasionally addresses the reader in the second person. But I think in the end, this is not a factor in the quality of the storytelling. In fact, it can be a great aid in bringing her closer to you, in making her story that much more personal.
Besides this, the narrative style is perfect. The emotions of real life are recreated with as much storytelling devices as real life can maintain. Scenes and dialogue are recreated with a perfect balance of immediacy and summary.
//Potential spoiler//
And on its title: Some may wonder why her book is titled the way it is, without her being the wife of a Nazi officer except for a short time in the story. But I think no word could describe a person wholly through life and that something must be used to symbolize the story presented. “The Nazi Officer’s Wife” fulfills this latter reason. In her incredible experience, Edith had to live a life like the rest of the Nazis. She had to pretend to be someone she was not, pretend to be a Nazi. In many ways, she was wedded to this lie, this incredible lie of agreement with monsters. This is how the title symbolizes her struggle.
//Potential spoiler//
What an incredible book, an incredible story, an incredible woman.