If you like tales of survival and stories about real life events and acts of heroism, then Unbroken is a book for you. The book is written about a man named Louis Zamperini who’s fighter plane was shot down over the south pacific during world war 2. The author Laura Hillenbrand actually got to spend time with the family of Louis Zamperini and the man himself I believe. This fact makes this story all the more impactful because most of the facts probably came from the Veterans mouth, or those close to him.
The book takes you quickly through the beginning of Zamperini’s life, through his basic childhood and adolescence, but the story actually begins once he is flying missions over the South Pacific Ocean during World War 2. This is very much a story of survival against insurmountable odds and about perseverance. I won’t give up any of the main story but not much goes well for Louis during those years as a captured POW.
What I liked about the book.
The main character himself could be fictional but it makes the tale all the more exciting knowing he was an actual living person. I don’t know why I find that time period so fascinating. The World War 1 and 2 eras impress, and irk me at the same time. I have been fortunate enough to travel and tour some of the famous memorial sites throughout Europe and Japan both. The whole concept of a “World War” is a terrifying reality to our human culture. You can arguably say that those wars gave us the modern drive for industry and capitalism, and still to this day, play a big part in the world economy.
I enjoyed this book because it doesn’t stop once you start reading it. There aren’t really many slow parts so to speak. The book takes you on the full ark of his experiences during the war itself, and then continues on to detail the healing that takes place among the soldiers coming home from those conflicts. I can’t imagine having to go through some of the ordeals that him and his crew had to go through, or the sheer terror of being stranded on the open ocean. So many experiences happened to Louis Zamperini yet he stays sane and even grows from the experience. A true testament to the will of man and the unyielding drive that some can develop to stay alive.
I love stories like this but it may not be a good one for people who are sensitive to detailed depictions of torture and survival.
I enjoy anything to do with WW2 and that time frame. I believe everyone should know something about the era all of our grandfathers and grandmothers lived through.
Definitely read this book if you like tales of survival and details about lesser known facts about WW2. Unbroken is a thoroughly engrossing story of a man who wouldn’t give up. Some good lessons and humanity in these pages, I definitely recommend.
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