Monday, January 3, 2011

Unbroken: Amazing!


Just before Christmas I started Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. I didn't get very far into it, even though I was enjoying reading about Louie Zamperini's early life. Then Louie joined the army. I became less interested, mostly because I don't really have enough background information on military life. When different types of planes are being talked about, it sort of goes right over my head. I was also trying to read this while we were at my in-laws for Christmas. There were a lot of interruptions. I knew I would come back to this one, but I set it aside because I had other library books that were due back. Yesterday I picked it up again and began reading - and reading - and reading. Finally late last night (which I will be paying for today) I finished off Unbroken. The one word I have to describe this story is amazing. Louie's ability to survive everything that happened to him is amazing. To summarize quite quickly: Louie was a runner, looking to compete at the Olympics. World War II derailed those plans and after his plane went down during the war, he and a few other men floated in a raft for a LONG time subsisting on very little food and water. When they were rescued, they were then taken as POWs where Louie suffered much abuse for years. Today Louie is a 93 year old man who has forgiven all that happened to him.

Laura Hillenbrand's ability to tell Louie's story is also amazing. The amount of research that went into this story, and Louie's ability to recall these events decades letters is incredible. Had I finished this one in 2010, it would certainly have made my "best" list for the year. Now I will be recommending it to everyone - it is truly a remarkable story, reaffirming one man's will to survive and his eventual ability to make peace with his past.

5 comments:

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

Glad u loved this one as I did. (I never expected to).

Meg @ write meg! said...

Sounds like a truly inspiring read! Glad to hear you enjoyed this one so much. My dad read it recently, too, and loved it. It's going in my TBR stack!

Anonymous said...

Tina, I'm glad to hear your good experience with this book. I read very, very little non-fiction, but something about this one just spoke to me. I bought it for my Kindle and look forward to reading it this year.

Gerbera Daisy Diaries said...

Yay!! I got this for Christmas but haven't started it yet. I've committed to finishing all the library books I've checked out before I dive into my own -- this will be the first I start!

Serena said...

Just wanted to let you know that participants in the challenge have a few giveaway options available on the war blog...for those completing their reading goals and those reading 5 books at least or at least 2-4 books. We hope you'll enter and spread the word to other participants