Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
In boyhood, Louis Zamperini was an incorrigible delinquent. As a teenager, he channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics. But when World War II began, the athlete became an airman, embarking on a journey that led to a doomed flight on a May afternoon in 1943. When his Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean, against all odds, Zamperini survived, adrift on a foundering life raft. Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would answer desperation with ingenuity; suffering with hope, resolve, and humor; brutality with rebellion. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would be suspended on the fraying wire of his will.
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Readers say *Unbroken* is a gripping and inspirational account of Louie Zamperini’s extraordinary survival during WWII, praised for its vivid storytel...
It's complicated to review a book like Unbroken. The novel itself is beautifully written, but the text within is not for the faint of heart. Hillendbrand, much like she did with Seabiscuit, takes the reader deep into a life that most people couldn't create in their worst nightmare.
Louis Zamperini, a wild and rambunctious young boy, goes from turning tricks as child to turning his stomach inside out as a prisoner of war in multiple Japanese camps during World War II. As a bombardier, he and his crew crash into the ocean and only three of them survive. It's a challenge alone not to be eaten by sharks (a not uncommon death to soldiers during WWII unbeknownst to me), but when finally rescued (and I'm using the word loosely) from the open sea, Zamperini and his mates experience horrors unknown. An enemy plane spots them adrift after failed searches by their own brothers in arms.
While the happy ending of a true rescue does eventually come, Zamperini is plagued with REAL PTSD (sorry - its so overused now as an excuse so I can't help but note the actual realness of his psychological trauma) and his life as he knew it as a man, an Olympian, a son, a brother, is crushed under the ashes of his broken head and broken heart. Through a spiritual awakening from the renowned Billy Graham, Zamperini is finally able to piece his life back together.
He is a true testament to American heroism - his is a story worth telling.
Louis Zamperini, a wild and rambunctious young boy, goes from turning tricks as child to turning his stomach inside out as a prisoner of war in multiple Japanese camps during World War II. As a bombardier, he and his crew crash into the ocean and only three of them survive. It's a challenge alone not to be eaten by sharks (a not uncommon death to soldiers during WWII unbeknownst to me), but when finally rescued (and I'm using the word loosely) from the open sea, Zamperini and his mates experience horrors unknown. An enemy plane spots them adrift after failed searches by their own brothers in arms.
While the happy ending of a true rescue does eventually come, Zamperini is plagued with REAL PTSD (sorry - its so overused now as an excuse so I can't help but note the actual realness of his psychological trauma) and his life as he knew it as a man, an Olympian, a son, a brother, is crushed under the ashes of his broken head and broken heart. Through a spiritual awakening from the renowned Billy Graham, Zamperini is finally able to piece his life back together.
He is a true testament to American heroism - his is a story worth telling.
This is an amazing story of human endurance, will to live and in the end, compassion. The film does the book justice and I highly recommend both!
What an amazing book. I lost many hours of sleep reading this as I could not put it down. This is a book I will be recommending for many years to come. What an inspirational story of courage, strength, resiliency and finally faith. Absolutely beautiful.
This is very long, but an incredible story. I think this was well written and very well researched. Also had seen the movie prior to reading the book.
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