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A review by daniela_is_reading
Angels of the Pacific: A Novel of World War II by Elise Hooper
5.0
My first 5 star read of 2023.
I love an informative, yet emotive fictional war novel. Angels of the Pacific gave me this and more. A novel that focuses and gives an insight into the experiences of American nurses and Filipino women during the Japanese Imperial Army invasion in the Philippines capital, Manila, during WWII.
It's hard and confronting to read and learn of the privation, destruction and sadism that occurred during this time. But, as I've said in other posts and reviews, I do think it's important to be informed of the realities of what went on during this period of history. So much was left unsaid for far too long.
It always amazes me how resilient a human being can be when faced with the unimaginable, and even more so, what can be achieved when one comes together with others to fight against the evil acts and hate occuring during war times. The bravery, guts and risks that many who fought back in the underground resistance, is humbling to say the least. Personally, I probably wouldn't have survived the first 24hrs. However, Hooper says it best when she writes;
"If we were going to survive in this place, we needed a plan and purpose"
"... but more than anything, I knew I had these women to thank for my survival...... we all saved each other"
"It was possible to both mourn the sorrow and pain of the past, but also view it as a time of growth and discovery,............grief and gratitude can exist side by side".
I recommend this book to those who want to know.
I love an informative, yet emotive fictional war novel. Angels of the Pacific gave me this and more. A novel that focuses and gives an insight into the experiences of American nurses and Filipino women during the Japanese Imperial Army invasion in the Philippines capital, Manila, during WWII.
It's hard and confronting to read and learn of the privation, destruction and sadism that occurred during this time. But, as I've said in other posts and reviews, I do think it's important to be informed of the realities of what went on during this period of history. So much was left unsaid for far too long.
It always amazes me how resilient a human being can be when faced with the unimaginable, and even more so, what can be achieved when one comes together with others to fight against the evil acts and hate occuring during war times. The bravery, guts and risks that many who fought back in the underground resistance, is humbling to say the least. Personally, I probably wouldn't have survived the first 24hrs. However, Hooper says it best when she writes;
"If we were going to survive in this place, we needed a plan and purpose"
"... but more than anything, I knew I had these women to thank for my survival...... we all saved each other"
"It was possible to both mourn the sorrow and pain of the past, but also view it as a time of growth and discovery,............grief and gratitude can exist side by side".
I recommend this book to those who want to know.