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Beside a Burning Sea
Beside a Burning Sea
Author: John Shors
12 cds 14.5 hours
Audio Books swap for two (2) credits.
ISBN-13: 9781436174879
ISBN-10: 1436174872
Rating:
  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
 1

5 stars, based on 1 rating
Publisher: Recorded Books
Book Type: Audio CD
Other Versions: Paperback, Audio Cassette
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Beside a Burning Sea on + 43 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
This book is now a sentimental favorite! There is so much that made this book a wonderful experience for me. Between each chapter was a haiku. They were beautiful. My favorite...
The earth is burning.
Blackened by machines and men.
Raindrops are lost tears.

This book takes place during WWII so there was death and war, but when death strikes the characters by heart broke. I loved each and every one of them (except the traitor). It actually made some of the parts hard to read, just because I did not want to know what was enevitably going to happen. I loved the love stories... husband and wife, the love that crossed the bounds of race and war, and a man and a boy comforting each other.

A beautiful story.
reviewed Beside a Burning Sea on
Helpful Score: 2
This is one of the most beautifully written books I have read. Ranks right up there with Angela's Ashes. It is like floating through a poem!
reviewed Beside a Burning Sea on + 89 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
John Shors has followed up his debut novel, BENEATH A MARBLE SKY with n equally wonderful book in BESIDE A BURNING SEA! This one is set during WWII on a remote island in the South Pacific. It begins with an American hospital ship being torpedoed and sunk by the Japanese with only nine survivors. Seven are Americans by birth, one is Figian and the last is Japanese.

With this group, Shors builds a story that includes love, hate, treachery, treason and joy in the midst of fear and desperation. The story of survival is amazing (yes, the 5 star word!).

When I started this book, I could sense that it would be good, but I could not conceive of just how riveting it would become and how totally invested I would become in it and the characters. I just loved it!
Cattriona avatar reviewed Beside a Burning Sea on + 200 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I really wanted to like this book, as I enjoy WWII era stories as well as Japanese culture and haiku. Unfortunately, I didn't have the same literary experience other reviewers seemed to have. I got fed up with the seemingly spineless main characters and flung the book at the wall around page 50. I didn't finish, and I cannot recommend it.
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reviewed Beside a Burning Sea on + 628 more book reviews
During WWII, in the Solomon Islands the hospital ship, the Benevolence was sunk. I don't know whether there were actually any survivors. This is the fictionalized account of the 9 who survived and their relationships. Really good characters, plenty of action and plot twists. I learned a lot about the war and would definitely recommend it. There is a romance, of course, but the story and charter keep it moving. I would not not qualify this as "chic lit"
bellasgranny avatar reviewed Beside a Burning Sea on + 468 more book reviews
John Shors has stolen my heart. This is the third book that I have listened to on audio. Mr. Shors takes the reader on an incredible journey each and every time. This one has it all - loss, love, war, valor, patriotism, deception. Very highly recommend.
reviewed Beside a Burning Sea on + 4 more book reviews
Terrific book by a great author.
bellasgranny avatar reviewed Beside a Burning Sea on + 468 more book reviews
This is one of my favorite authors. The audio versions of his books are extremely enjoyable. John's books are a treasure that are well written and have a wonderful story line. He always takes me on a wonderful adventure and I always look forward to his next effort. He always responds to reader's comments on Facebook. Quite delightful!