Reader Suggestions
In the past few days, I’ve had two readers suggest books to me. One of the books is Sisters Under The Rising Sun, by Heather Morris. Not just another World War II book, this story is set on a remote island in the Pacific inside an infamous Japanese POW camp. Immediately, I asked my daughter, who told me about the book, if it was hard to read. She replied that is was in some places, but that it was “SO GOOD” it was worth getting through the difficult parts. Heather Morris also wrote The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Three Sisters, both based on true stories.
Sisters Under The Rising Sun is based on real life Australian nurse Vivian Bullwinkel. Bullwinkel and a handful of other nurses endured more than three years of misery before they were rescued. The book centers on how they managed to stay alive and even form a women’s choir in the camp. While some victims of such abuse would return unable to lead a normal life, Bullwinkel became the Director of Nursing at a hospital in Melbourne. She earned many honors and awards for her work toward honoring her fellow nurses who did not survive the war.
Bullwinkel testifying at a war crimes trial.
Absolution, by Alice McDermott, is another book set during wartime. The war is the Viet Nam War (think The Women by Kristin Hannah). The women in the story are living in the Saigon of 1963, not as nurses but as wives of men who work there. After the war, the story continues with the same characters corresponding with one another to reflect on their time in Viet Nam. This book is not an ‘action’ novel but rather a character study that focuses on unintended consequences from which the women involved seek absolution.
In addition to my friend’s recommendation, Absolution has been voted a ‘best book of the year’ by NPR, The L. A. Times, Oprah Daily and other reviewers. I have not read any of Alice McDermott’s other books so I would like to hear from any of you who have. McDermott is currently a professor at John Hopkins University and lives outside of Washington, D.C. with her husband and three children. She is a highly regarded author of literary fiction so I think I should certainly read at least one of her books! Absolution looks to be a good choice.