One of my favorite authors, Lynn Austin, has released a new novel called Long Way Home. This title is fitting for a novel that is about World War II and the aftermath of veterans dealing with the effects of war on the human mind.
From the Back Cover:
A young woman searches for the truth her childhood friend won't discuss after returning from World War II, revealing a gripping story of courage, friendship, and faith.
Peggy Serrano couldn't wait for her best friend to come home from the war. But the Jimmy Barnett who returns is changed so drastically by his experience as a medic in Europe that he can barely function. When he attempts the unthinkable, his parents check him into the VA hospital. Peggy determines to help the Barnetts unravel what might have happened to send their son over the edge. She starts by contacting Jimmy's war buddies, trying to identify the mysterious woman in the photo they find in Jimmy's belongings.
Seven years earlier, Gisela Wolff and her family flee Germany aboard the passenger ship St. Louis, bound for Havana, Cuba. Gisela meets Sam Shapiro on board and the two fall quickly in love. But the ship is denied safe harbor and sent back to Europe. Thus begins Gisela's perilous journey of exile and survival, made possible only by the kindness and courage of a series of strangers she meets along the way, including one man who will change the course of her life.
My Thoughts:
I've come to appreciate well-written novels that can transport me back in time in order to gain a new viewpoint of a different time period. Lynn Austin's novels always accomplish this for me. She has an amazing way of telling a story that will have you seeing history from a new perspective. In this novel, Lynn takes the reader down the path of two women's stories, one from America and another from Germany. Each has her own hardship that must be overcome to survive. Although compared with each other, the life of the one in America certainly doesn't compare to the life of the other in Germany. The two stories are interesting as they encounter the horrors of war and the lack of understanding of mental health. I appreciated this book and how it helped me empathize with the Jewish people and the veterans of WWII. It can be challenging for us as American citizens to understand all the veterans and Jews experienced since we are so far removed from such atrocities.If you're looking for a good story that will widen your understanding of WWII, pick up Lynn's new book and experience a greater appreciation for all that our veterans have done for our country.
***I received this complimentary book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
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