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The Resistance Bakery by Siobhan Curan

Sep26

Smoke & Mirrors

The Resistance Bakery by Siobhan Curan is a powerful dual timeline historical novel that totally consumed me.

The action is set in Paris during the Nazi occupation from 1940 and also in America in 1984. Chapters alternate between the two time periods which are linked by a granddaughter hearing of her grandmother’s wartime exploits.

We see that not all Germans are Nazis who agree with Hitler. “I was … taken aback by how normal they [Nazis] looked.” Evil does not look so different from anyone else.

As young French and German people mixed in a hotel kitchen, hatred did not come easily. They were all united in their love of cooking. “The whole point of war is to get us to hate each other, but for what?” War seemed even more futile when the enemy was just like us.

A young French pastry chef is conflicted in her mind between the dreadful treatment of her Jewish friend and also the kindness of a German cook. Her emotions are tossed by the wind.

The non-Jewish pastry chef shows her loyalty to her Jewish friend by wearing the star of David on her clothes too. “I’m choosing not to see it as a target … I’m choosing to see it as a sign of how much I love you.” Resistance comes in many forms as seen when the two women dress up in their posh frocks, wear a smile and sing.

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A Promise To My Sister by S E Rutledge

Sep1

Looking Towards Tomorrow

A Promise To My Sister by S E Rutledge is a powerful, heart breaking historical novel that was all consuming.

The novel begins in Poland in 1961 before going backwards to 1939. Along with the leading characters we ‘experience’ Nazi occupied Poland from the ghetto to Auschwitz. We ‘hear’ of the horrendous evil and wonder how anyone could survive hell on earth.

The leading characters are two sisters who mascaraed as mother and daughter. They need luck to survive, as well as finding little pockets of kindness amongst the depravity as we see that not all Germans were evil Nazis.

Hope is needed – a hope for a brighter tomorrow. “If we survive today, we will be free tomorrow” was uttered on a daily basis. Without hope, the people will perish.

Strength of character is seen. Remaining alive to tell the world of the great evil is a goal of some.

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The Resistance Sisters by Anna Stuart

Aug23

To Live & To Love

The Resistance Sisters by Anna Stuart is a powerful historical novel that is grounded in fact. It is the fourth book in Women Of War series but can be read as a stand-alone.

The book is set over the summer of 1944 in Warsaw, Poland. It surrounds a family with three daughters and a teenage son. We hear of the resistance of Warsaw and witness the incredible bravery of ordinary citizens trying to save the city that they love. “Not all resistance is with guns.” Resistance comes in many forms as we follow the siblings as they try to disrupt the evil Nazi regime.

Warsaw is a much-loved city. It is heartbreaking to see it destroyed. “Buildings can be rebuilt. It’s the spirit of the nation that we are fighting to keep and you girls are a vital part of that.” The Poles are loyal to the city that they love. From the youngest to the oldest resident, resistance is in their blood. Some will die. There will be sacrifices by all but their will and their love will live on.

Although the Nazis take lives without a thought, we see that the sisters recognize the value of life. “Treat the dead with respect… He may be a Nazi but he’s still someone’s son.” Soldiers on all sides have mothers who will grieve their loss.

Despite the hardship and cruelty, the Polish people retain their humanity. “We’ve done the fighting… Let’s pray to God that we can now do the living and the loving.”

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Embers In The London Sky by Sarah Sundin

Aug7

Searching & Sacrificial Love In Action

Embers In The London Sky by Sarah Sundin is an absolutely wonderful Christian historical wartime suspense. It captured my imagination from the start, engaging me till the very end.

The novel opens in Nazi-occupied Holland in 1940, continuing to London and finishing halfway through 1941. Sarah Sundin waves actual events into the novel. We ‘see’ the total devastation caused by the Nazis in central Europe – lives and dwellings broken or disrupted by the Nazi war machine. We ‘witness’ the evacuation from Dunkirk in May 1940. “Soldiers plucking cheer and courage from the cauldron of defeat.” Many lives were lost.

The reader follows the lead character, Dutch born Aleida as she travels to London in search of her young son. Aleida speaks up for those whose voices are unheard. Whilst her personal search continues, she researches the lives of the evacuated children. Prejudices raise their ugly head as foreign-born children are given to institutions and not families. Their stories need telling. We see that though humans may forget others, “God would never forget her.” God sees all. His heart breaks for injustice and war. “Surely His [God] heart broke at the suffering and destruction Hitler caused.”

There are those within the novel who suffer from disabilities. These are hidden away for fear of being treated as ‘less-than’, or in the case of a cruel father, for embarrassment or disgust. The reader’s heart breaks for a young boy and his mother, both of whom are subject to domestic abuse.

A grown man hides his asthma for fear of being seen as a label. “When people know, they no longer see me, only the asthma. They treat me as an invalid.” His fears are unfounded. People see him and they care.

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