Book Description
"Do you know why I write so much? Because as long as you read, we are together."
-- Raizel Garncarz (Sala's sister),
April 24, 1941
Few family secrets have the power both to transform lives and to fill in crucial gaps in world history. But then, few families have a mother and a daughter quite like Sala and Ann Kirschner. For nearly fifty years, Sala kept a secret: She had survived five years as a slave in seven different Nazi work camps. Living in America after the war, she kept from her children any hint of her epic, inhuman odyssey. She held on to more than 350 letters, photographs, and a diary without ever mentioning them. Only in 1991, on the eve of heart surgery, did she suddenly present them to Ann and offer to answer any questions her daughter wished to ask. It was a life-changing moment for her scholar, writer, and entrepreneur daughter.
We know surprisingly little about the vast network of Nazi labor camps, where imprisoned Jews built railroads and highways, churned out munitions and materiel, and otherwise supported the limitless needs of the Nazi war machine. This book gives us an insider's account: Conditions were brutal. Death rates were high. As the war dragged on and the Nazis retreated, inmates were force-marched across hundreds of miles, or packed into cattle cars for grim journeys from one camp to another. When Sala first reported to a camp in Geppersdorf, Poland, at the age of sixteen, she thought it would be for six weeks. Five years later, she was still at a labor camp and only she and two of her sisters remained alive of an extended family of fifty. In the first years of the conflict, Sala was aided by her close friend Ala Gertner, who would later lead an uprising at Auschwitz and be executed just weeks before the liberation of that camp. Sala was also helped by other key friends. Yet above all, she survived thanks to the slender threads of support expressed in the letters of her friends and family. She kept them at great personal risk, and it is astonishing that she was able to receive as many as she did. With their heartwrenching expressions of longing, love, and hope, they offer a testament to the human spirit, an indomitable impulse even in the face of monstrosity.
Sala's Gift is a rare book, a gift from Ann to her mother, and a great gift from both women to the world.
Customer Reviews:
A gift to mankind.... individually few would be worthy.......2007-10-10
I was so moved by this book I will include share my heartfelt comments to the author.
Just want to THANK YOU for such an amazing book! Your decision to share your mothers personal life with readers who benefit so from your investment of labor and emotion is generous and to be admired! When you were complete it must have looked like E=Mc squared did to Einstein! Simple on the surface with the complexity of the universes author within. My highest regards to you and Sala Kirschner.
Glenn from Tampa Fl and sometimes Lake Tahoe Nv
EXCELLENT........2007-08-16
I picked this book, figuring it would be an interesting read. It is, hands down, one of the best books I have read regarding the Holocaust. What a wonderful book! Where other books have let me down, this book did not. It is a must read.
Unforgettable Story!.......2007-08-03
I read an article in the Ladies Home Journal and wanted to read more about this amazing woman. I bought the book and my mother and I have both just finished reading it. What an unforgettable story - and what a strong and courageous woman is Sala! Thank you, Ann, for bringing this to the rest of the world and for all the incredible extra research you have done to fill in the spaces. It is the story of a life that is much too important to be kept in a box. My husband will read this beautifully and lovingly written book next and I have recommended it to my book club. Thank you! Thank you!
Beautifully Moving and Reflective.......2007-07-17
The author's mother is a woman of courage at many levels. In the Nazi work camps it was forbidden to keep letters. Her defiance and courageous evasion of this rule has given us a rich history of life for the ordinary Polish Jew as arrests, deportations and deprivation grinds down the survivors. We are drawn into her family in an intimate and caring way.
The book is beautifully written. It flows through a story that could be disjointed or monotonous in the hands of a lesser writer. There is so much to learn about love and friendship. How a life is saved when a moment of luck and courage intersect. How new "family" is formed from the fractured remnants of old ones. When hope and succor come from surprising places. The ominous shadows that draw over friendships as the precious lifeline of correspondence with cherished ones grows silent one by one. The network of support and care as new friends build each other up. The courage and hope and the path to a new life after the horror.
I am grateful for Mrs. Kirschner's courage now to open such a tightly sealed vault of pain to us. On a return visit in the 90's she leaves the threshold of her old home in Poland and says "I am so much more now than when I left. " So are we, dear readers. Thank you, Mrs. Kirschner, for your gift to us.
Excellent, informative, moving.......2007-07-09
I am grateful that this loving daughter took the time and energy to compile this very moving and informative story. i felt tremendous compassion for both the mother and the daughter. A wonderful read!
Book Description
The "inspirational" and "extraordinary" memoir of one of the most courageous of the greatest generation, Louis Zamperini: Olympian, WWII Japanese POW and survivor.
A juvenile delinquent, a world class NCAA miler, a 1936 Olympian, a WWII bombardier: Louis Zamperini had a fuller than most, when it changed in an instant. On May 27, 1943, his B–24 crashed into the Pacific Ocean. Louis and two other survivors found a raft amid the flaming wreckage and waited for rescue. Instead, they drifted two thousand miles for forty–seven days. Their only food: two shark livers and three raw albatross. Their only water: sporadic rainfall. Their only companions: hope and faith–and the ever–present sharks. On the forty–seventh day, mere skeletons close to death, Zamperini and pilot Russell Phillips spotted land–and were captured by the Japanese. Thus began more than two years of torture and humiliation as a prisoner of war.
Zamperini was threatened with beheading, subject to medical experiments, routinely beaten, hidden in a secret interrogation facility, starved and forced into slave labour, and was the constant victim of a brutal prison guard nicknamed the Bird–a man so vicious that the other guards feared him and called him a psychopath. Meanwhile, the Army Air Corps declared Zamperini dead and President Roosevelt sends official condolences to his family, who never gave up hope that he was alive.
Somehow, Zamperini survived and he returned home a hero. The celebration was short–lived. He plunged into drinking and brawling and the depths of rage and despair. Nightly, the Bird's face leered at him in his dreams. It would take years, but with the love of his wife and the power of faith, he was able to stop the nightmares and the drinking.
A stirring memoir from one of the greatest of the "Greatest Generation," DEVIL AT MY HEELS is a living document about the brutality of war, the tenacity of the human spirit, and the power of forgiveness.
Customer Reviews:
Couldn't put this one down!.......2007-07-12
This tale reads like Candide or Forest Gump, but of course this isn't fiction. The life of Louis Zamperini is, in a word, incredible; it's no wonder that they know as the Greatest Generation. Anyone who is interested in WWII, military service, or survival tales will enjoy this story. This is a must read!
Worst Book I've Ever Read.......2007-03-16
This book has no plot and constantly repeats itself. He alo takes much of the time to promote the books of his other POW friends. The only touching pat of the book is one passge that lasts about a page. DON'T READ!!! I had to read it for a histroy class, but I had such a hard time staying focused on such a bad book!
Devil at My heels.......2006-01-23
Having received this book as a Christams gift from a buddy of mine , it is an absolutelly astonishing and wonderful read!
A great story of a one of what we now call "The Greatest Generation".
My buddy was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association's crew that travels with a world war two bomber called FUDDY DUDDY, and while at Van Nuys California airport , he met Louis Zamperini personally and told me Mr Zamperini just kind of "hung out" with the FUDDY DUDDY crew in April 2005 for about three days and shared his stories with them.
So my buddy bought two copies from Louis Zamperini and asked him to autograph them, so I received mine for Christmas 2005.
What a great story and hope someday I can meet Louis Zamperini!
He is truly an American Hero!
This review written by
Edward DeBolt
Grabill, Indiana
Testimony to the Apex of Human Forgiveness.......2006-01-20
What More can be said or added to the astonishing account of survival by Louis Zamperini. After enduring forty-seven days in a life raft, being shot down in the middle of the Pacific, he prevailed for two more years as a POW in a Japanese prison camp.
Following his release and being welcomed home as a war hero, Zamperini sank into despair and heavy drinking,only to be rescued from the depths of hopelessness through the ministry of the great evangelist Billy Graham.
His story is at once extraordinary and inspiring-a powerful testimony to the stalwartness of the human spirit, particularly in light of the fact that upon revisiting the site of his tortuous existence he found it in his heart to forgive his brutal captors.
Even if one is only remotely inclined to revisit events that occurred surrounding US POW's in the Pacific during WWII,the reader will find this narrative the best of the best. This reader salutes you, Louis, and others like you for reminding us that the "greatest generation" continues to illuminate and enkindle.
a great story, a mediocre book.......2005-06-06
As you can see from the other reviews, Zamperini's story is absolutely amazing. The book is worth reading to hear it. Still, I couldn't rate the book very highly because it never really felt like Zamperini was the one doing the talking. I guess you'll get that feeling in almost any ghosted autobiography (except maybe Lance's "It's Not About the Bike"), but when Zamperini talks about some of his less-credible emotions, such as his absolute graciousness in defeat when he lost a race to Norman Bright, or his complete forgiveness for the guard, "The Bird", who sadistically tortured him in POW camps, I would find those much easier to believe if I knew I was getting it straight from Zamperini, rather than channeled through a professional writer who makes sure everything is pretty and organized.
There's a lot of great things about this book. As far as I can tell, it pulls no punches and tells the truth. Zamperini is not afraid to speak his mind. He admits his faults. He shares his innermost thoughts. The book paints a very real picture of a man. Even if the book had an ulterior motive, Zamperini goes about spreading his message in a very non-threatening way. I'm an atheist and I don't forsee that changing in the near future, but unlike most proselytizing, this book managed not to tick me off.
With the straightforward manner of storytelling and the "don't mess up your life like I almost did... you can get back on the right track" message, the best audience for the book is probably 14-year olds.
Book Description
Originally published in 1955, As Far as My Feet Will Carry Me has seen international success ever since. It has been translated into fifteen languages, sold more than 12 million copies, and is the basis for an award-winning German entry at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival. Recounting an incredible real-life adventure, it tracks the destiny of German soldier Clemens Forrell who, in the aftermath of WWII, was sentenced to twenty-five years of forced labor in a lead mine in the barren eastern reaches of Siberia. Subjected to the brutality of the camp and the climate, Forrell dreamed continuously of escape—and then daringly effected it. From East Cape across the vast trackless wastes of Siberia, for thousands of miles and three years, with fear as his most intimate companion, Forrell fled treachery and endured some of the most inhospitable conditions on earth. In a long series of taped interviews with esteemed German author Josef M. Bauer, Forrell unfolded his remarkable story of survival. Bauer not only reconstructs Forrell’s arduous journey to the Iranian frontier and freedom; he also poignantly evokes the emotional content of Forrell’s brave quest—emerging as an affecting portrait of a man who strove and triumphed against all odds.
Customer Reviews:
Don't even think of buying this junk.......2007-09-22
I was very, very dissapointed with this book. After having read the amazing story of Theodor Kröger (a German who survived not only the Tsarist prisons but also the communist gulags) I wanted more of this and so I ordered this book. But what I got was a kind of telegram-style book with so much ommisions in the story, that you wonder why did somebody write it at all. If you can't get the story right, then don't tell it. Also, this is supposed to be a non-fiction story, but the dialogues between the lead character and his captors and/or fellow-prisoners are put on paper like they were held yesterday. If you're looking for a Papillon story, you better look somewhere else. I didn't even finish the book, it was a waste of my time.
a wild ride.......2007-07-26
I found this book to be inspiring and motivational. It is the amazing tale of a daring escape and a treacherous journey across the frozen Siberian north. They only thing that disappointed me was that the ending was anti-climactic in my opinion. Just a simply amazing book, there is a reason why it has been translated in to 15 languages and sold more then 12 millon copies.
Amazing .......2007-05-07
All the superlatives belong to this tale: remarkable, daring, unbelievable, amazing, incredible, beyond belief, extraordinary. That a person could 1. escape from a Soviet labor camp, 2. in the dead of winter, 3. from the farthest eastern point of Siberia, 4. after suffering from hunger and brutal treatment for three years, and still 5. make it home to Germany safely after another three years is a story for all lovers of survival dramas. The author expertly and faithfully chronicles Josef Bauer's account without glossing over the details of what it took to survive. I didn't come to like Mr. Bauer from this telling, however, I did feel a deep respect for his perseverance and stamina. Two other books of escape and survival that I recommend even more highly are: The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom by Slavomir Rawicz and We Die Alone: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance by David Howarth.
As Far as my Feet will Carry me.......2007-01-29
Incredible story of survival and the will to live.
This book was excellent, I couldn't put it down........2006-04-28
As for the other half negative reviews, like it being for a young reader, don't pay any attention to that. Obviously those reviews are written by people that can't look or think beyond their own egos nor actually try to imagine what it must have been like, what the permanent affects were after such an altering event, and obvious emotional scars that must have continued on and on... After I finished the book, I re-read the preface and understood why there seemed to be pieces "I" wanted answers to, but understood why they weren't there.
I recommend this book to anyone of all ages. It's absolutely an amazing account of someone accomplishing a journey home with EVERYTHING against him and the beckoning door of death at every turn. How he survived? It's beyond me....
Now, I will hunt for the DVD....if anyone knows where I can find the DVD, please find a way of letting me know. Thanks!
Book Description
In 1941, Mary Matsuda Gruenewald was a teenage girl who, like other Americans, reacted with horror to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Yet soon she and her family were among 110,000 innocent people imprisoned by the U.S. government because of their Japanese ancestry. In this eloquent memoir, she describes both the day-to-day and the dramatic turning points of this profound injustice: what is was like to face an indefinite sentence in crowded, primitive camps; the struggle for survival and dignity; and the strength gained from learning what she was capable of and could do to sustain her family. It is at once a coming-of-age story with interest for young readers, an engaging narrative on a topic still not widely known, and a timely warning for the present era of terrorism. Complete with period photos, the book also brings readers up to the present, including the author's celebration of the National Japanese American Memorial dedication in 2000.
Customer Reviews:
Powerful and Personal.......2007-07-13
I loved this book. As a Sansei, 3rd generation Japanese in America, I learned so much from reading this book. Both of my parents were interned during the war, but in all these years, they've only shared bits and pieces or vague generalities of their own experiences. Reading Mary Matsuda's vivid and detailed account of her own experience gave me a much greater appreciation and understanding of this traumatic, stressful period, along with a better understanding of basic Japanese customs and beliefs that have guided my own life. It has been a powerful step towards better understanding my own family's history, and I so appreciate that this story was shared by the author. It was beautifully written. I highly recommend this book to all.
Looking Like the Enemy: My Story of Imprisonment in Japanese American Internment Camps.......2007-06-14
A must. Extremely readable. Should be required reading for Junior or High School students. Evokes a sense of what it felt like to be Japanese during that infamous time.
Eye Opening.......2007-02-14
My family was also sent to internment camps, actually some of the same ones as this author. We came from the same beloved Vashon. Being a child of a parental figure who came from that era and having had aunts and uncles, grandparents and great grandparents who had lived that experience but never spoken of it, this book has opened my eyes and helped me understand the severity of it all. I can understand now the turmoil emotionally and physically that they under went. I cried with this author. For even today, in this wide spread nation, I can still see the ripples of underlying current made from this time period and the choices made by our leaders. This is a wonderful book. You'll learn something, and if you don't, you should ask yourself some hard questions.
Strongly recommended to all Americans.......2007-01-28
Even if one is aware of the internment of the American Japanese, I doubt that most people can form any real idea of what it was like without reading a personal chronicle like this. It is difficult to express how painful it is to read, and I already knew the basic story. Sure, now we know that it didn't turn into a second Holocaust, but the people in the camps didn't have that comforting foreknowledge. One needs to be reminded that although the intense portions of a tragedy may be long over with, the ramifications for the people who suffered through it can last all their lives, even for those who didn't lose everything that they had owned before the catastrophe.
Jeanne Wakatusi Houston also wrote a classic memoir: Farewell to Manzanar, and it is well worth reading both of the books for the similarities and differences between the two experience. Houston was perhaps 8 or 10 years younger than Mary Matsuda, and her family dynamics were quite different, so they really complement one another. Being older, Mary Matsuda had to confront personally and directly issues that Jeanne Wakatusi Houston didn't, although of course her family members did. JWH tells us more about her life after the camps; MMG ends her books in 1945, with only an afterword summarizing the later lives of the Matsudas.
I found the book very vivid. I could easily imagine how I would feel having to destroy so much family history, even being afraid to keep a set of dolls lest it add fuel to the anti-Japanese fervor. And I feel that I have some inkling of what it was like to live for years under constant strain, not knowing what would come next, or if it would ever end. I was close to crying at points, which is unusual for me. The Matsudas lived on Vashon Island in the Puget Sound, which should make the book all the more interesting to fans of Guterson's Snow Falling on Cedars.
The book includes a bibliography, a glossary and numerous black-and-white photographs of the Matsudas and the camps.
Brings back old memories.......2006-07-05
Although I have never met the author, I did know her brother Yonichi. I also know his 4 daughters. This book brought back memories of my time in the relocation camp in Minidoka, ID.
Average customer rating:
- Poignant memoir
- A tragic story written beautifully
- Wonderful Book Thea!
- A Message of Appreciation From John Halo
- Important part of history
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Not Even My Name: A True Story
Thea Halo
Manufacturer: Picador
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ASIN: 0312277016 |
Book Description
Not Even My Name is the unforgettable story of Sano Halo's survival of the death march at age ten that annihilated her family-as told to her daughter, Thea-and the poignant mother-daughter pilgrimage to Turkey in search of Sano's home seventy years after her exile. AUTHORBIO: Thea Halo, shown here with her mother, Sano, at age eighty-nine, is a writer and painter who has won awards for her poetry and essays, and has exhibited her paintings in galleries in New York City and elsewhere. She lives in New York City.Sano Halo is a recipient of New York State's Governor's Award for Excellence in honor of Women's History Month, "Celebrating Women of Courage and Vision."
Customer Reviews:
Poignant memoir.......2006-09-26
This poignant memoir written in such astonishing detail is an unforgettable story that will capture the reader from the start. Sano is like a small but sturdy flower growing in the most unlikely and least advantageous of garden spots. In her we see goodness and love survive heart rending loss and the cruel displacement of senseless war. I could not put the book down once I began to read it.
A tragic story written beautifully.......2006-05-28
This is not a book to read if you want to be cheered up, yet I will never forget the story. I wept off and on reading of the author's mother's experience on the death march. I have traveled to Greece and Turkey twice yet had no knowledge of the genocide of the Pontic Greeks. I thank the author for the courage to live through her mother's amazing journey as she told her unforgettable story.
Wonderful Book Thea!.......2005-10-22
I am also of Pontic Greek and Assyrian origin. Even though our lands were taken away, our people still exist, we still maintain our language, and the gospel is still spreading which is a blessing. I am glad to see someone wrote a book on the Greek/Assyrian/Armenian Genocide. The Turks tortured and massacred millions of Greeks, Assyrians and Armenians. I am happy to see you raise more public awareness about this. I pray for the Greeks, Assyrians and Armenians still living in Asia Minor that deal with constant persecution for their Christian faith. Great Book Thea!
A Message of Appreciation From John Halo.......2005-10-22
I am John Halo the brother of Thea Halo. I am very proud of my sister for writing such a wonderful book, NOT EVEN MY NAME, that depicts such an accurate account of my mothers life, that discribeds the pain that my wonderful mother endured in her childhood and throughout her life. Thea Halo is a champion and a woman with a beautiful hart and a loving sole that deserves the recognition of a grate author, and I hope someone will relize the value of this true story and make a movie and documentary so to educate our generation and future generation from repeating this horror. I would also like to let everyone know that my mother was so grateful and proud that Thea wrote this book and is also grateful to all of the wonderful people that came to see her speak. And last I would like to say how proud and thankful I am of my sister Thea Halo for being my sister.
Sincerely
John Halo
Important part of history.......2005-07-08
The subject is of great interest and great importance to the present situation in the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. It is well written and quite engaging. As it is a book I want to keep permanently in my library, I only wish it were printed on higher quality paper.
Book Description
The riveting story of one hero who defines courage under fire.
Experience the deadly din of modern warfare and the inspiring leadership and courage of legendary First Sergeant Brad Kasal in this riveting new book. It's a page-turning, first-hand account of Kasal's courageous mission to rescue fallen comrades under intense enemy fire during the Battle of Fallujah-actions that earned him the distinguished Navy Cross, America's second highest military award. This stunning, unforgettable account shows an American hero rising to the challenge of world events with leadership, valor, and loyalty.
Customer Reviews:
PRAISE FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY WARRIOR.......2007-08-27
I just finished a very tough read: "My Men Are My Heroes - the Brad Kasal Story." A tough read because it is pretty unstinting about what battle really is like but Kasal is such an inspiring fellow, uncompromising Marine material, besides being very handsome! I feel like he belongs to all of us now.
As a child I was fascinated by TV series such as "Victory at Sea" and "Crusade in Europe" and suppose I've seen most every documentary on war and warriors done since. I've read the dispatches from Ernie Pyle and, of course, watched a multitude of movies with military themes. But nothing in any of these gave more than a sanitized glimpse of combat.
The book actually has a photo of what Kasal's shot-up leg looked like when he was at the aid station. Not knowing the photo would be there, I literally yelped when I saw it and quickly closed the book and laid it aside. Then after a few minutes I opened it again because I thought to myself, "No, he did this for you and you must look." Really powerful stuff. Kasal is completely deserving of being awarded the Navy Cross.
This old gal is going through a major case of hero worship at the moment and I went on the Internet to find more about him and found photos of his Navy Cross ceremony. What a great guy. He is so respected and loved by his men and the other marines at Camp Pendleton. And I love all our men and women who are giving everything for us. As a nation, we are really not doing enough for them or giving them the respect they so richly deserve.
When you finish the book you know you've been in the presence of an extraordinary man and Marine. Absolutely throw aside the thought that the writing could have been better and get into an appreciation mode for the kind of warriors our nation is producing at this critical point in our history and stand up and salute.
Left me wanting more...from the Devil Dogs!.......2007-08-27
This book was very nice reading. I read it in one sitting and I was left very impressed with 1stSgt Kasal's harrowing experience fighting in Al-Falluja. As a former Marine I am biased towards the special mission of our Marines. However, the story of the fine men that were involved in this battle, was riveting.
As 1stSgt Kasal explains that the Marines haven't been involved in urban warfare since Vietnam's battle of Hue city, the Tet offensive. As Marines, or any trained ground combat forces know, fighting in close quarters is the most dreaded situation any combatant can encounter. And as always, it is up to the ground pounders, the grunts, to weed out the enemy and destroy them. No bomb from the sky(conventional anyways),ever works completely. It didn't work in Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo, or Okinawa, history has shown that to be true. That is why Marines, are all trained to be marksmen or riflemen, meaning, learned men/women that set their sights on the enemy and shoot to kill in every situation.
The best at this profession are the highly trained and motivated Infantry units of the Marine Corps. And 1stSgt Kasal, along with his men, where doing just that in Iraq. Killing insurgents, who for the most part are a threat to the security of The United States Of America.
Al-Falluja was a show down ready to happen, and the Marines were ready and willing to fight it out with the Jihadist who were taunting and killing Marines, service men, and foreign contractors in and around that area.
If we don't fight them in their territories then they will bring the fight to the States, it's just that simple. It happened during 9/11 and it will not stop until radical Islamist conquers the world for their form of Islam. History is full of these examples, like the Almohades in Sefarad (Spain) during the 13th Century. That is why we should all thank G-D that their are Marines willing to suffer, kill the enemy or be killed, so that we can keep our way of life.
1stSgt Kasal, through his heroism, has entered into the annals of Marine Corp lore that only a select few can be proud to be remembered by. Men like, Chesty Puller, John Bastilone, Dan daily, who with their extraordinary acts of heroism have fulfilled the mission of being called United States Marines.
When I first saw that famous photograph of 1stSgt Kasal being helped by his Marines, all bloody, but defiant holding his 9mm Beretta, I almost lost it. Why, because I know that they are over there fighting and dieing for our freedom. This by no means is an easy job, nor one that should be taken lightly. Being shot at and hated, for the sake of differences of opinion and lifestyles is no easy mission. The Marines go to the troubled areas of the world, because they are sent and they follow orders. They represent the American people, in more ways than one. They represent freedom, democracy, and the American why of life. For that, they are despised and bloodied every day by people who hold little value for our ways of life.
In this book you see the real depravity of war, as seen through the 1stSgt's eyes. He shares with us the professionalism, the high standards of American fighting men. Yet, you also hear about the boredom, the ceaseless loneliness, the fatigue of being deployed overseas in a hostile area. I found this book to be a real heartfelt attempt to verbalize the agony of combat in the 21 Century. The pain of recuperation after you been maimed for your Countries sake. The fighting spirit of the American way of life that says, no matter what I will not quit, my men and my country need me, and I need to get up for my own sake and for theirs. I proudly recommend this book for anyone who wants to know about what it takes to be a Marine.
Semper Fi and G-D bless the Marines!
Great Story.......2007-08-24
What a great story!! I would most definately recommend this book to anyone that wants to read a true story about a true american hero.
We use the term hero far to often in American society, but Sergeant Major Kasal is the real deal, not only in Combat but in his outlook on life in general and through his recovery.
Again a wonderful story.
Don't judge a book by its cover.......2007-08-23
This book is very poorly written. I's say its the reading level of someone in middle school. I was very disappointed by this book. SgtMaj Kasal is no doubt a cream of the crop leader and Marine and this book almost plays him down and doesnt give him enough respect because all it does is excessively praise him. The book should just tell it like it is, and leave the reader to judge SgtMaj Kasal's character. No one needs some random person's opinion on SgtMaj Kasal.
My Heroes also!.......2007-08-16
Great book about our great young men who are all heroes making it possible for me to live in a free Country.
Book Description
War with Britain's former colony looms on the horizon, and Admiral Sir Richard Bolitho must lead a squadron against the powerful new ships of the United States navy. Supported by his loyal crew, Bolitho must use all his ingenuity to defeat one of America's great naval commanders, Nathan Beer.
Customer Reviews:
Overly Sentimental.......2007-05-07
I'm a big fan of the Bolitho series but the later novels seem to be much more about sentimental relationships rather than naval action. In this one, Bolitho doesn't even go to sea until page 151. There's still good stuff here, but it's getting harder to wade through all the tear jerking.
A Romance Novel for Men.......2002-12-21
No kidding, this is a romance novel for mature husbands and wives to enjoy. It focuses on the trials of aging love when politics and war eventually force the lovers-Lady Somervell and Admiral Bolitho-apart (but also Adam, Keene, and Allday-familiar series characters-from their loves, too). Why, the story is a real tearjerker in the most honorable sense, and has uncommon psychological depth. What it doesn't have is much naval action-Bolitho doesn't even put to sea until half way through. He then experiences the wrenching responsibility of conscientious command, a theme of this series and especially in these later books. The title of this story has special meaning of a "just war" to Bolitho, but also to Kent's many American readers, for this is a story from late in the Napoleonic world war when a young America took up arms against the ruler of the seas. It is a story particularly instructive for Americans because it exposes the internal rifts and conflicts of conscience within the ranks of the faceless British in the War of 1812.
A hallmark of Kent's style is the smooth transition between the thoughts of one character and another, a style of presenting multiple viewpoints not even attempted by most authors. While Kent is "second-rate," I don't agree with another reviewer that Parkinson is one of the best: his prose is wooden and his sailors seem to end up doing a lot of land soldiering.
Not up to par!.......2001-08-13
While I enjoyed this book, I don't feel that it was up to par with the rest of the books in the series. The story seemed a bit too contrived and there was not enough action in the book. In addition, the action sequences were not up to par with what has been written in previous books. In summary, the story seemed a bit forced.
Tired formula writing.......1999-03-28
There really is no point in straying beyond O'Brian, Forrester, Parkinson or Showell Styles. Kent and Pope are in the same mould; poor research, improbable characters, formula writing. Don't waste your time on this book.
Customer Reviews:
Honor, Respect, and Dignity - I am in AWE of HT, Jr!!!.......2006-01-09
I am so glad for this book. It's undoubtedly a story about a true hero who inspires me as I'm sure it does others. I was saddened to hear he passed. On Friday Jan 6 he moved on. Many of us, can't, and will never forget what your memory means to us. God Speed Hugh, you have many friends here still on the earth very proud of you.
Col. Tom Kolditz, head of the U.S. Military Academy's behavioral sciences, said, in honor of Hugh, "There are so many people today walking around alive because of him, not only in Vietnam, but people who kept their units under control under other circumstances because they had heard his story. We may never know just how many lives he saved."
Read the book, it's inspirational, and we need not ever forget. Our values we hold dear as human beings are all we have, and when we leave, it's all we leave behind. Never compromise them. Never.
Honor, Respect, Dignity.
I can only hope this story is told even more widely so we have less chance this memory of such a great man ever fades.
GOD Speed Hugh, light a candle up there, we'll be there soon!
Important Book About Courage and Integrity.......2005-12-21
If all of us followed the example of Hugh Thompson at My Lai in Vietnam this would truly be the land of the free and the home of the brave.
"The Forgotten Hero of My Lai" tells an inspiring story of a piece of our history. While many people still remember the horror of the massacre at My Lai, few know about the true heros who risked everything to end it. Though their stand came too late to help most of the villagers of My Lai, it eventually ended the policy that targeted the civillian populations of other villages. We'll never know how many lives they saved.
Although I found it awkwardly written, the power of the story far outweighs any considerations about style. I highly recommend this shining example of what one person can do to protect the values that make life meaningful.
The Forgotten Hero of My Lai: The Hugh Thompson Story.......2002-03-02
From what I have seen written on the pages exhibited, I am asking our librarian here in Sandwich, NH to purchase this book. Hugh Thompson has always been a hero to me, and represents the helicopter pilots who were in Vietnam quite well. We were all brash, and ballsey, and would stand up to a lot of things we didn't think too swift. His deed outshines us all. I flew UH-1D's in the Delta, and have written about my experiences there in OUTLAWS IN VIETNAM.
Being a helicopter pilot in this war was the best job one could wish for--it was the best year of all of our lives! Hopefully, more of these excellent aviators will be profiled in the future.
My librarian finally purchased the book after these initial notes, and I have been reading it nonstop. This should really shed some light on the horror of the Americal Division higher-ups who authorized this bloodletting by Lt. Calley and others of Charlie Company that day. They had been ordered to commit the atrocities we all know about today, and as I continue the book, it is interesting to me to experience the angst that Hugh Thompson and his crew felt that terrible day at My Lai. He is most human, and painfully so. The author discloses all this helicopter crew went through then and since; well done!!
Heroic act, yet a so-so book.......2002-02-20
There is absolutely no doubt that Hugh Thompson, Glenn Andreotta, and Larry Colburn did an unbelieveably heroic thing on March 16, 1968. Let there also be no doubt that Trent Angers should be commended for his research and efforts to bring yet another angle to this horror known as the My Lai Massacre. I have just one criticism, and unfortunately it is decisive: It is a poorly written book.
I am not suggesting that one not read the book, because it does perform as a vehicle to bring to light the events surrounding the massacre, its aftermath and Colburn's and Thompson's return to My Lai 28 years later. However, it takes form more as a children's book than it does as an examination of an important historical event, or even as a third-person narrative intended for adult reading.
Don't expect an abundance of three or more syllable words, inspired imagery, or thought-provoking passages. For instance, page 77, "He seemed to take a particular liking to the older woman." Seemed to who? Could you tell the reader how this was apparent? No indication whatsoever is offered in the text. Or, page 102, describing an American casualty as being "blown to bits." Is that what was written on the After Action Report? If so, there's another book in there somewhere. Or, page 103, "The cows were mooing to be milked." For a minute there I thought I had opened "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by accident.
There is never a mention of exactly what kind of helicopter Hugh was flying...a Kiowa? Cayuse? Defender? Souix? Loach? The first indication of this simplistic approach to the subject matter is right on the dust jacket, as it is a simplistic, amateurish illustration of Thompson in an exaggerated heroic pose (arms outstretched, shirt unbuttoned, no flight helmet, no flak jacket, dog tags swinging in the wind, in front of a small huddled mass of Vietnamese). It looks much like the artwork that adorned the Harcourt Brace Jovanovich children's books published in the late '70s.
One more note: if you're going to write a book wherein the principle character is a helicopter pilot, at least have the courtesy to refrain from calling helicopters "choppers," as most pilots despise the term. Unless, of course, you're writing for children, who find it analogous - for obvious reasons.
Anyway, you get the picture. Still, I say God bless Hugh, Larry, Glenn and Trent.
But Trent, at the very least, get a new copy editor.
Hero above and beyond the call of duty.......2001-01-14
This book was given to me by the authors' brother, Gerald Angers. The book so instired me that I asked Gerald Angers if his brother (Trent Angers, the author) would sign the book for me. He not only had his brother sign it but also had Hugh Thompson sign it. This book is not only an inspiration to all Americans but also a guide for showing us the diference between right and wrong. In a time when America is bombing countries for attrocities and ethnic cleansing, we need to take a long look at ourselves. I'm not real sure we would like what we see. Thank you Hugh Thompson for sharing this story with us and for Trent Angers for allowing us to have it in print. War shouldn't turn us into animals. We should use our own judgement regardless of what our supperiors tell us to do. God bless you both and keep up the good work. You will be blessed.
Average customer rating:
- Devoured It!
- If you DON'T like Sad Endings--DON'T READ THIS!!!
- John Marsden be my friend
- Part of a great series
- Best Book Series Ever
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Darkness Be My Friend (Tomorrow)
John Marsden
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Tomorrow #2: The Dead Of Night (Tomorrow)
ASIN: 043985802X |
Amazon.com
There are only five of them left now. Ellie and her four friends, Lee, Homer, Kevin, and Fi, have reluctantly returned to New Zealand from Australia to lead more guerrilla attacks on the enemy (who invaded their country in the previous book, Tomorrow, When the War Began). The group has staged raids on their captive hometown Wirrawee from the wilderness sanctuary they call Hell, blowing up and burning enemy headquarters and bridges and supply depots, and killing with their bare hands when they must. By the end of the two sequels, The Dead of Night and A Killing Frost, they are strong and resourceful, but tired and soul-sick with the pervasive violence. Two of them have been killed, and one has killed himself in despair. When they were rescued and airlifted to New Zealand, they thought the nightmare was over. But now they have been sent back to Wirrawee to guide a party of adult raiders on a planned sabotage of a strategic airfield. Something goes wrong; the adults never come back from the raid, and Ellie and her friends are again left on their own to do what they can--and must--to survive.
Like John Marsden's other books, this story is immersed in darkness and dread. It's packed with almost unbearable suspense and breathtaking action, as the personalities and relationships of these decent country kids are eroded by the imperative for violence. Marsden fans will elbow each other aside for a copy of this one, and will look forward to the three new installments on the way. (Ages 12 and older) --Patty Campbell
Book Description
Five months into World War III, Ellie and her four remaining friends have barely escaped the Australian town of Wirrawee with their lives and their sanity intact. But as the next step becomes clear, they realize they must once again sacrifice their hard-won comfort and safety. A group of soldiers has recruited the kids to guide the way to the Wirrawee air base. What could possibly motivate Ellie and her friends to return? This risky sabotage mission may be their only hope of rescuing their families, too.
Customer Reviews:
Devoured It!.......2005-10-19
Huh? I don't understand some of the negative reviews. I've been reading this series in order and I think this book is as good as the rest. I would have read it in one sitting if I didn't have to get up to go to work the next day. I'm not a fast reader either, but I finished it in record time. There's plenty of action and lots of tension, so you won't be bored. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in this series.
If you DON'T like Sad Endings--DON'T READ THIS!!!.......2004-08-01
This book is OKAY, I mean, Book I and Book II are the BEST books in the Tomorrow Series.
Anyway, I thought this book was rather boring and it didn't have as near as much good stuff in it that the first three had. When, I finished this book, I was greatly dissapointed because I HATE books with sad endings. It just tears my heart away.
This is the last book I read in the series because it got SO boring when I got half way through the 5th book. And, I hate the way the series ends (I took a sneak peak in the last book and found out what happened--lol). So therefore, I advise you, if you DO NOT like books with sad endings, don't read this!!!
John Marsden be my friend.......2003-12-14
Although not as action-packed and satisfying as the previous books in the series, Darkness Be My Friend stands out as one of the best. It would be a mistake to say the book is slow, however-there are still several suspensful scenes of action. This book may let readers down by lacking a huge, explosive victory from our protagonists, but this serves to make the series even more realistic. Darkness Be My Friend also contains what is surely the saddest scene in the entire series. This is a must-read, of course, for anyone who enjoyed the previous books.
Part of a great series.......2003-08-17
This book is an essential part of a great series. From reviews the series can look really 'bad' with too much action, but once you get past the back cover and onto the reading, no one i know has been able to put it down - and that goes for the whole series. Once you have read the first book, everyone just wants to read them all. If you are reading the reviews after having read the first books, what are you doing? Just order the rest of the series and devour them. I have read all the books through at least 5 times in 2 years, all my friends have read them too. One bit of advice: buy the hardback version so that the spine doesn't bend so much from use that you can't read the titles! These are all great books, with 'realistic' storylines - because whp knows what would/could really happen? These books are so good i phoned my cousin in Oz to make sure it wasn't real. When you read any one of these, you feel like you're sitting on Ellie's shoulder, and that you are feeling and experiencing every feeling (physical and mental) with her. Everytime you read these books, the feelings will get stronger and harsher as you feel like you actually know the characters; if you haven't cried at least twice by the end of the series, what's wrong with you? Everyone should read these, and then think about how you would feel if someone invaded and occupied your home, destroyed your life and hurt you irreparably. War will never seem the same again, it may be necessary but it will always seem evil. We've just seen Iraq being invaded, in order to get rid of Sadaam right? Well when you watch the news and there are people in the background, imagine yourself as one of them. Bombs falling around your ears, people you can't understand shouting and waving guns at you, and expecting you to understand and change every thought and feeling you have been brought up to have. That's what happens to Ellie. Just think about it as real and then i dare you not to feel the pain with her.
Best Book Series Ever.......2002-02-11
I am an avid reader, but this book series is defaitnly the best I have ever read. I bought the first book once it came out, but had to put it down, because of required reading for school. Over teh summer, I started reading it again, and was down before the second day. I rushed out to buy Dead OF The Night.. And waited impatently until my bookstore could have The Killing Frost shipped in. I am now waiting for teh next inslatment, and am very impatient!
Book Description
"I am just one of many who experienced life on a submarine during World War II. Silent Running is a story sincerely toldâfree of any revisionism or cynicismâand I commend Vice Admiral Calvert for sharing this dramatic personal account of that difficult and exciting time." âPresident George Bush
"Hardened old sub vet that I am, I still felt the need for two weeks R&R after reliving Jim's only too realistic war patrolling adventures." âC. W. Nimitz, Jr., Rear Admiral, USN (Ret.)
"I believe it is the best personal account yet written on U.S. submarine operations in the Second World War. [Calvert] writes with lucidity and a rare candor. We get an extraordinary sense of what it was like, feeling the tensions and emotions, sharing the successes and disappointments, ... This is a true story with teal people, always gripping and sometimes tender. It is exciting to read and hard to put down. âJ. L. Holloway, Admiral, USN (Ret.) President, Naval Historical Society, Chief of Naval Operations, 1974-1978.
"I knew Jim Calvert Throughout the war, and in this book he has told the submarine story in a way that catches the flavor and tang of the real thing. This is the way it really was." âFrederick B. Warder, Rear Admiral, USN (Ret.) Legendary W.W. II skipper of the Seawolf.
Customer Reviews:
WWII action at it's best.......2005-06-04
This book is a real page turner. I couldn't put it down. Calvert really pulls you into the action. I picked up this book after reading "The Terrible hours" and found that I enjoyed reading about submarines. I've also just started playing "Silent Hunter III" and wanted to delve into the WWII submarine environment. This books definitely puts right along-side Calvert. I really enjoyed the growth that the book follows as Calvert graduates from the Naval Academy, gets assigned to a new submarine as it is being contructed. His writing style that takes you from a young green officer to an experienced submarine warrior is a very nice touch. This really portrays the building of his character. After reading about Swede Momsen and James Calvert, I am ready to start building a WWII submarine library.
Excellent.......2005-04-12
I'll echo much of what has already been written. This book is an excellent account of one man's experience with WW2 submarine operations. The author made it to the level of executive officer on a sub by the end of the war (and went on to even more interesting events as told in his other book "Surface at the Pole").
The author writes clearly, interestingly, and honestly. The author covers most of his patrols (of nine if I remember correctly) in detail and even some of his personal events while on shore. He covers everything from the horror of being depth charged to the boredom and tedium of patrol.
Overall the author provides an interesting and enlightening account of US Submarine operations and what it was like to serve on a US submarine in WW2.
Outstanding .......2005-03-22
Great read.
As the only prior reviewer who failed to give it five stars noted , it is written in a very straightforward style. Most of the discussions regarding emotions are off the boat. It is not Tom Clancey but rather an account of real heros, fighting an extremely dangerous war, 8,000 miles from home and often hundreds of miles from any friendly ship.
I found the book captivating but it does require the reader to put himself into the account rather than having the book reach out to the reader with pages of descriptions of fear soaked sweat dripping from frightened sailors.
It is a book about the true meaning of being a warrior at sea, combat leadership, life aboard one of the best attack submarines, wartime love and the emotional conflicts and the technology of the era.
The book is also about the endurance of the men who sailed on the submarines. Although the author does not dwell on the issue, due to the importance of their effort the subs were only allowed to remain in port for the few weeks it took to attend to the most critical reparis and replenishment. Then they returned to a very dangerous mission which began almost as they left port.
It's also a reminder of how much the strategy of submarine warfare has changed as our WW2 subs had very limited range and speed while submerged.
The author's story of their premature entry into Tokyo was great.
He only devotes a few words in the afterword to cover the balance of his distinguished military career which had seemed doomed by their prank trip to Tokyo.
This one really stands out........2005-01-26
This memoir is particularly well-written. It accomplishes the expected by displaying day-to-day life on a US submarine in WWII, but it does more by really capturing the voice of an innocent young man who still has a lot to learn about the world.
Calvert went on to quite a distinguished career in the Navy, but this book never hints at that, instead it paints a portrait of a very specific period of time in the author's life and doesn't bog the reader down with too much 20/20 hindsight and reflections, instead relaying the feeling of being in your early 20s and being involved in one of the highest-stakes contests ever fought in human history.
If you like memoirs, history, or WWII, this is a very well-told story that will appeal to you.
Gripping and Emotionally Moving.......2004-06-14
This could have easily been a dull and difficult read, but Calvert was not a dull man. To the contrary, this story puts you right in the action. Just like the AAF's B-24 Liberator bombers, the naval subs were often just as dangerous to our soldiers as the enemy was. Especially at the beginning of their service, Calvert shares how the Jack had many problems with its engines, at one point nearly getting stranded with no operable engines. On top of that, they had to endure intense depth charging. With all of this action, it's hard to relax - even while in the comfort of an armchair.
More than just a military tale, however; Silent Running has a real human side. Calvert takes the reader deep into his personality, allowing us to share in his fear and his courage. It is also a story of love and a sailor's struggle to stay faithful to his wife while facing death in a cruel war far from home. As he prevails over all, we are shown the tremendous character and tenacity of the men and women that fought and won the "Greatest War".
If you like this book, you must rent/buy/watch Das Boot (The Boat) directed by Wolfgang Petersen. Although, it is told from the perspective of the German submarine crew, it is a great aid to visualizing the experience of 1930-40's submarine warfare conditions and technology. It is, also, considered one of the greatest WWII movies made to date.
Books:
- Shark Life: True Stories About Sharks & the Sea
- Soldat: Reflections of a German Soldier, 1936-1949
- Some Even Volunteered: The First Wolfhounds Pacify Vietnam
- Starship Troopers
- Storm of Steel (Penguin Classics)
- That Devil Forrest: Life of General Nathan Bedford Forrest
- The American Practical Navigator: "Bowditch"
- The Bomber War: Arthur Harris and the Allied Bomber Offensive, 1939-1945
- The Effective Executive in Action: A Journal for Getting the Right Things Done
- The Old Man and The Sea
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