By Kelly Bridgewater
In this gripping portrait of war and its
aftermath from bestselling author Lynn Austin, a young woman searches for the
truth her childhood friend won’t discuss after returning from World War II,
revealing a 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 much different
from the Jimmy who left, 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, sensing the rising tide
against her people, 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:
Long
Way Home by Lynn Austin is a historical look into PTSD
after World War II. From the first pages, I was captured at the storyline. The
story follows two characters chronological through World War II as they
struggled to survive and one character as she tries to bring her friend out of
PTSD. The characters are crafted with deep hurting and deep pain for the
struggles through World War II. It was unique and different to see how the war
affected the Jews as they tried to escape. I have never heard of the ship that
actually came to Havana and was told to return to Europe with all its Jewish
passengers. Why American and South America would not take these passengers
makes me scratch my head in wonder. There is romance, but nothing really
overarching the hurt on the pages. The story does have a young love from
couple, but they try to stay together through all the hurt and damage to their
daily lives. I'm still amazed by how much research goes into a World War II
novel and what makes it shine on the pages as if I am struggling alongside the
characters as they try to survive the horrors done to them by the Nazi's.
Austin does a fabulous job at digging deep into their fear as the Nazi's try to
take over. Overall, Long Way Home is
a unique look at PTSD before it was actually called that. I enjoyed this novel
and want to add it to my forever shelf.
I received a complimentary copy of Long Way Home by Lynn Austin from
Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
My
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Purchase Long Way Home
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