Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
Author:
Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, History
Book Type: Hardcover
Author:
Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, History
Book Type: Hardcover
Stephanie S. reviewed on + 168 more book reviews
This is one of the best-written books I have ever read. Laura Hillenbrand is an amazing writer. And subject, Louie Zamperini, had one more miracle added to his incredible life when this writer was chosen to tell his story.
Every word, every sentence seems perfectly chosen to move the story forward. As a youth, Louie was a troubled juvenile delinquent, directionless and unharnessable, until his devoted older brother Pete wrangled him in by introducing him to track and running. Running and racing gave Louie focus, and winning (and having a recognized talent) gave him a dream: the Olympics.
My fear in reading this book is that race after race would be have to be chronicled in order to tell Louie's early story, and that the repetitiveness would become dreary and infuriating. Well, at least 20 races significant to Louie's story were told here, and remarkably each one is memorable, different, enthralling and important. This is where Hillenbrand's magic comes in. A lesser writer would have been incapable of so engagingly telling the minutely varying details of running 20 different races. For me, the pages kept turning and the art of her story-telling was put on full display again and again. What a writer!!
But also, Louie's incredible journey is worthy of such a beautifully rendered biography. Louie's story takes us through World War II where he flew missions as part of a bomber crew. He survived a crash and endured two months drifting at sea on a life raft. He was rescued by the Japanese, and then taken as a prisoner of war, where he was tortured and starved for the duration. Afterwards, he suffered years of undiagnosed (back then ) PTSD. His running career was crushed. But one step at a time he survived, ultimately thrived, and he lived to have a long and mostly happy post-war life. Most miraculously, he ultimately came to forgive his captors.
Louie's story is one of resilience, great faith and determination. We all struggle, and are sometimes laid down for the count--but surviving is victory. I cannot recommend this book more highly.
***** Five stars!!
Every word, every sentence seems perfectly chosen to move the story forward. As a youth, Louie was a troubled juvenile delinquent, directionless and unharnessable, until his devoted older brother Pete wrangled him in by introducing him to track and running. Running and racing gave Louie focus, and winning (and having a recognized talent) gave him a dream: the Olympics.
My fear in reading this book is that race after race would be have to be chronicled in order to tell Louie's early story, and that the repetitiveness would become dreary and infuriating. Well, at least 20 races significant to Louie's story were told here, and remarkably each one is memorable, different, enthralling and important. This is where Hillenbrand's magic comes in. A lesser writer would have been incapable of so engagingly telling the minutely varying details of running 20 different races. For me, the pages kept turning and the art of her story-telling was put on full display again and again. What a writer!!
But also, Louie's incredible journey is worthy of such a beautifully rendered biography. Louie's story takes us through World War II where he flew missions as part of a bomber crew. He survived a crash and endured two months drifting at sea on a life raft. He was rescued by the Japanese, and then taken as a prisoner of war, where he was tortured and starved for the duration. Afterwards, he suffered years of undiagnosed (back then ) PTSD. His running career was crushed. But one step at a time he survived, ultimately thrived, and he lived to have a long and mostly happy post-war life. Most miraculously, he ultimately came to forgive his captors.
Louie's story is one of resilience, great faith and determination. We all struggle, and are sometimes laid down for the count--but surviving is victory. I cannot recommend this book more highly.
***** Five stars!!
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