Long way Home by Lynn Austin #Book Review #Historical Fiction #Tyndale House Publishers #Lynn Austin

 

MY THOUGHTS AND BOOK REVIEW

This is a WW2 novel which is a warm and heavy read. Stories of two women are being told in a cozy manner, it's about Peggy in 1946 in New York and Gisela in 1938 to 1946 in Europe and elsewhere. Jimmy Barnett's father, Mr. Barnett owned a Veterinary clinic by side on Blue Fence Farms, Hudson valley, sixty some miles from New York city. Jimmy like his dad had been studying to be a veterinarian before that awful December day when the Japanese bombed the Pearl Harbor.

Peggy Ann Serrano the girl who lived across the road from his clinic in the apartment above the auto-repair garage took veterinary rounds sometimes with Mr. B. 

Mr. Barnett had been a veterinarian in the Great War, back when they still used horses in the cavalry. Jimmy was a medic in this war and took care of soldiers, not horses. Jimmy arrived home from the war more than a month ago, and all that time he barely spoke to anyone.

The Barnett's lived beside the veterinary clinic in a comforting white farm house with bay windows in front and a frilly porch that wrapped around the front and sides. Before Jimmy went to war, that Porch used to overflow with his friends on warm summer evenings. Mrs. Barnett had been so excited when Jimmy wrote that he was coming home. Mrs. Barnett was Peggy's friend too and more of a mother to her.

 

Peggy was imagining how Jimmy lived all through that war, went through all those terrible battles in dangerous places with barely a scratch. She was going to find a way to help him and not going to give up until he is better. Peggy tried so hard to get Jimmy tell them what was wrong. They thought something terrible must have happened to make him so depressed.

Peggy loved Jimmy Barnett and she loved his parents too. Their home once held so much life and joy and she wanted it to be that way again, for her own sake as well as theirs. During the war, Peggy worked at the IBM plant across the river, building aircraft cannons. Over the years that Peggy has been working at Mr. Barnett's clinic, she not only cleaned the dog kennels and horse stalls, But Mr. Barnett showed her how to feed the animals and keep watch over the sick ones until they had enough to go home. 

This is my first Lynn Austin novel I read this summer and the Christian faith historical fiction has exceeded my expectations. 

Jimmy used to believe in God and in Prayer. Peggy wondered if he still did. The question “where is God when there's evil in the world?” gave me thoughts in this book along with many biblical scriptures quoted by Lynn Austin. 

Jimmy gets admitted in the VA hospital, suffering from battle of fatigue and depression. He tries to end his life. Jimmy's friends thought he was one of the most courageous men they ever met. He could crawl around in the thick of battle, taking care of his wounded men even though mortar rounds were coming in and shrapnel and bullets were flying all over. His friends found it very hard to believe that Jim would try to take his own life. "That's why Peggy was trying to bring his story together and figure out what happened to change him so much. Peggy wanted to contact these men friends, Chaplain Bill who were Jimmy's closest Mitch 'O Hara and another medic named Frank Cishek." Peggy asked Bill about the woman Gisela's picture from the bag. 

Through her characters, the author has reminded me that even during trials and temptations trust god by faith.  

Gisela meets Samuel Shapiro on St Louis Ship and knew how fond she was growing of Sam. Gisela and Samuel Shapiro was helplessly in love after spending few days to weeks exploring the prison ship. They were free from the Nazi's reign of terror a thousand of miles. They pledged to love each other by joining hands on top of their family's prayer book. It was not just a shipboard romance. Very much these incidents reminded me that only god can love you perfectly, it's god's love and kindness I could see in the events of this book. Gisela and her family were Jews fleeing Germany during the WW2, Nazi's were at war with Jews and going to United States was out of question for Gisela's and Sam's family. The novel unfolds not only the heroic incidents on Luxurious St. Louis ship through dual characters Peggy and Gisela but also shows courage, faith and friendship in them.

      

I just reviewed Long Way Home by Lynn Austin. #LongWayHome #NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for the advance copy of the book for an honest review.

                              About the author Lynn Austin

Lynn Austin is the American author of many Christian fiction novels and holds the record for most Christy Awards won: eight. One of her books, Hidden places was turned into a Hallmark Channel movie. She and her husband have three children and live in Holland, Michigan.

Book Description

In this gripping portrait of war and its aftermath from bestselling author Lynn Austin, a young woman searches for the truth her childhood friend won’t discuss after returning from World War II, revealing a story of courage, friendship, and faith.

Peggy Serrano couldn’t wait for her best friend to come home from the war. But the Jimmy Barnett who returns is much different from the Jimmy who left, changed so drastically by his experience as a medic in Europe that he can barely function. When he attempts the unthinkable, his parents check him into the VA hospital. Peggy determines to help the Barnetts unravel what might have happened to send their son over the edge. She starts by contacting Jimmy’s war buddies, trying to identify the mysterious woman in the photo they find in Jimmy’s belongings.

Seven years earlier, sensing the rising tide against her people, Gisela Wolff and her family flee Germany aboard the passenger ship St. Louis, bound for Havana, Cuba. Gisela meets Sam Shapiro on board and the two fall quickly in love. But the ship is denied safe harbor and sent back to Europe. Thus begins Gisela’s perilous journey of exile and survival, made possible only by the kindness and courage of a series of strangers she meets along the way, including one man who will change the course of her life.

Disclosure of Material: I have received a review copy of this book by the publisher in the form of e-book from NET GALLEY as Advance Reader Copy. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”