Published by Macmillan audio, St. Martin's Press Genres: Adult Fiction, Fiction, Historical Fiction, War
Format: ARC, Audiobook, eBook
Survival and friendship.
Women being held in a notorious Japanese POW camp during WWII is another frightening example of brutalities that occur/occurred during wartime. I had both the book and the audiobook versions but mainly listened to the audiobook. I recommended the audiobook as the female characters form a chorus during their time in the POW camp and their singing/orchestra voices is played during at one point during the audiobook.
During the war, many tried to escape and find a safe refuge not only for themselves but for those that they loved. Some of the women enlisted as nurses to help the allied cause. One of which was Sister Nesta James, a Welsh Australian nurse, who boarded the Vyner Brooke as Singapore fell to the Japanese. Also on board was Norah Chambers, an English musician and mother. Two days into their voyage, their ship was hit and sank. Nesta, Norah and others survived in the sea for 24 hours and once they found a remote beach, were taken prisoner by the Japanese and put into a POW camp. There they met other prisoners of war and formed strong bonds and friendships.
Their plight is a hard one and many did not survive. What shines was their bonds, their determination, their bravery, their singing, and their sacrifices. I enjoyed how the women used their voices to form an orchestra which lifted their spirits and entertained others.
This book, like Heather Morris’s other books, is well written, well thought out, and depicts a horrific time in history. I appreciate that she based this book on the real life Nesta James and Norah Chambers, along with 500 hundred other women who were kept in POW camps in the jungle. Parts of this book may be difficult for some to read but know that the scenes are not graphic.
While this was not my favorite book by Heather Morris, I still found it to be impactful, moving and gripping. Knowing that this is based on real people and events in history, makes it even more powerful.
Well written, moving and depicting deep female bonds.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.