Unbroken: A WWII Tale of Courage, Strength and Redemption

Alison Whittaker: Great delivery time and book was in excellent condition. Thank you!

Canada on Sep 17, 2023

R. C.: This book revealed a great deal more about the incredible dreadful situations faced by POW's in Japanese Prisoner Camp in WW 2. It is a must read for anyone seeking the truth.

United Kingdom on Aug 13, 2023

Joy Finder: I loved the movie but found the book very difficult to complete.

India on Jun 03, 2023

P. Blevins: Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Resistance is by Laura Hillenbrand. This book is the story of POWs in Japan and about Louis Zamperani, an Olympic athlete and hero of World War II.
Louis Zamperini was born to Albert and Louise Zamperini, Italian immigrants, in Olean, New York on August 26, 1917. Second child and second son. From time he could walk, he was constantly moving and in trouble. Family moved to California when he was two. He ran from one end of train to the other, his Mother was very worried and told him someone would fall off train if he wasn’t careful. To her chagrin, he did run off the end of the train. Then, he calmly walked along tracks until train returned for him. Told his Mother, he knew she would come back for him. He was a clever, resourceful, bold child and always optimistic.
Louie idolized his older brother Pete, twenty months older. Pete was the “golden child”. He seemed to always do what was right, was respectful and courteous, and never in trouble, or so it seemed. Many times, he could be seen with Louis when he performed his pranks. He helped Pete look out for their sisters, Sylvia and Virginia.
Louis got in major...

United States on Dec 30, 2020

Niki E.: I finished this one a few days ago, but have put off writing a review. Part of me wants to rate this 5 stars because the story of everything Louis Zamperini went through deserves 5 stars. Unfortunately, I found myself really not enjoying the writer's writing style on quite a few different parts throughout the book. Honestly, while it was a really good book, I think it could have been even better in the hands of another writer. (Example: I have no interest in sports whatsoever. However, The Boys In the Boat was one of my favorite books that I read last year. Author Daniel James Brown was able to take a subject I have no interest in and make it enthralling.) There were times when I felt the author was unnecessarily vulgar in her writing.

The subject matter of the book was interesting and definitely won't be leaving my mind for a long time to come. However, it won't rank up there as one of my all time favorite nonfiction reads simply because there were times when I didn't care for the writing itself. It's definitely one worth reading, though, because they things that bothered me may not bother other readers. I do recommend checking out the Young Adult edition as well simply...

United States on Aug 15, 2018

Alexander Bryce: I very much enjoyed Sea Biscuit by Laura Hillenbrand, but this one is way ahead of it in every way. The life of a young Italian American tear away saved from a life of crime by a loving brother and the discovery of a talent for and love of running. In his teen years he breaks all the age group records for middle distance running and makes the US Olympic team for the 1936 Berlin games.He does well in the 5000 metres ,but his target is the 1940 games 1500 metres and the strong possibility of being the first to run a sub 4 minute mile. Alas the war takes over his life.
He ditches in the Pacific and with 2 others drifts with virtually no rations for 47 days. The irony is that he was not shot down , but was on a search and rescue flight in an unairworthy plane that failed.
After his heroic survival he is picked up by the enemy Japanese and so begins years of absolute hell at the hands of sadistic guards who beat and starve their captives without mercy . In particular a masochistic , pervert , the Bird who by unrelenting torture tries and almost succeeds in breaking Louis' spirit.
The war over Louis can not adjust to freedom and domesticity and descends into alcoholism to...

United Kingdom on May 11, 2014

Mark Loughridge: Stunning. That sums this book up in a word.

I had read a brief summary of Louis Zamperini's life in Don Stephens' excellent book  War and Grace  and was fascinated to see a much longer version. I wasn't disappointed.

Some authors struggle when they are faced with a welter of facts, details, interviews - they either smother you with them, thus losing the storyline, or they ignore them, thus depriving the story of colour, depth and character. Laura Hillenbrand has mastered her homework without it mastering her. She strikes a perfect balance, and delivers an engrossing, engaging read.

From Zamperini's early days as a tearaway, to his success as an athlete, through his American Air Force career, to the POW camps in Japan, to his return from the 'grave', to his even more amazing transformation by God's grace - all is superbly told. It is hard to find a point at which to put the book down.

The story captures the horror of air combat, the sickening losses even before combat, the sheer awfulness of the POW camps and the trauma the men faced on returning to 'normal' life. The characters are very real, their fear, courage, humanity, anger, bitterness...

United Kingdom on Feb 21, 2011