Helpful Score: 4
This book is now a sentimental favorite! There is so much that made this book a wonderful experience for me. Between each chapter was a haiku. They were beautiful. My favorite...
The earth is burning.
Blackened by machines and men.
Raindrops are lost tears.
This book takes place during WWII so there was death and war, but when death strikes the characters by heart broke. I loved each and every one of them (except the traitor). It actually made some of the parts hard to read, just because I did not want to know what was enevitably going to happen. I loved the love stories... husband and wife, the love that crossed the bounds of race and war, and a man and a boy comforting each other.
A beautiful story.
The earth is burning.
Blackened by machines and men.
Raindrops are lost tears.
This book takes place during WWII so there was death and war, but when death strikes the characters by heart broke. I loved each and every one of them (except the traitor). It actually made some of the parts hard to read, just because I did not want to know what was enevitably going to happen. I loved the love stories... husband and wife, the love that crossed the bounds of race and war, and a man and a boy comforting each other.
A beautiful story.
This is one of the most beautifully written books I have read. Ranks right up there with Angela's Ashes. It is like floating through a poem!
Helpful Score: 2
John Shors has followed up his debut novel, BENEATH A MARBLE SKY with n equally wonderful book in BESIDE A BURNING SEA! This one is set during WWII on a remote island in the South Pacific. It begins with an American hospital ship being torpedoed and sunk by the Japanese with only nine survivors. Seven are Americans by birth, one is Figian and the last is Japanese.
With this group, Shors builds a story that includes love, hate, treachery, treason and joy in the midst of fear and desperation. The story of survival is amazing (yes, the 5 star word!).
When I started this book, I could sense that it would be good, but I could not conceive of just how riveting it would become and how totally invested I would become in it and the characters. I just loved it!
With this group, Shors builds a story that includes love, hate, treachery, treason and joy in the midst of fear and desperation. The story of survival is amazing (yes, the 5 star word!).
When I started this book, I could sense that it would be good, but I could not conceive of just how riveting it would become and how totally invested I would become in it and the characters. I just loved it!
Helpful Score: 1
I really wanted to like this book, as I enjoy WWII era stories as well as Japanese culture and haiku. Unfortunately, I didn't have the same literary experience other reviewers seemed to have. I got fed up with the seemingly spineless main characters and flung the book at the wall around page 50. I didn't finish, and I cannot recommend it.
One of the best written books I have read. John Shors is now one author I won't miss getting his other three books. So refreshing to read a love story & war, without all the nasty words & explicit sex. This was done with such taste & dignity. Good for Mr. Shors to refrain from the F word & other crude language. I was spellbound with the story & read this in one day. ( Less sleep, but well worth it)A real page turner. This story will stay with me a long time as well as the characters. A book not to miss. Can't wait to read his other three.
The author moved it right along with something happening thru each page. I loved that the writing was in the 1940's style and stuck with the concept thruought out the book. I was moved back to the war era with every word.
Terrific book by a great author.
John Shors has stolen my heart. This is the third book that I have listened to on audio. Mr. Shors takes the reader on an incredible journey each and every time. This one has it all - loss, love, war, valor, patriotism, deception. Very highly recommend.
I loved this book from the first page to the last. Read it in two days. Who hasn't dreamed of being on a deserted island and falling in love? I wish John Shors would write another book about what happened when everyone made it back to safety and had to face the real world in the years when mixed marriages were really frowned upon, especially when we were fighting them during the world war.
During WWII, in the Solomon Islands the hospital ship, the Benevolence was sunk. I don't know whether there were actually any survivors. This is the fictionalized account of the 9 who survived and their relationships. Really good characters, plenty of action and plot twists. I learned a lot about the war and would definitely recommend it. There is a romance, of course, but the story and charter keep it moving. I would not not qualify this as "chic lit"
Very interesting, fast moving, hard to put down.
This is one of my favorite authors. The audio versions of his books are extremely enjoyable. John's books are a treasure that are well written and have a wonderful story line. He always takes me on a wonderful adventure and I always look forward to his next effort. He always responds to reader's comments on Facebook. Quite delightful!
this book could have been so much better if the author had not gone for the obvious. that being said, i enjoyed the book of 9 survivors of a blown up hospital ship in the South Pacific during WWII. there is action,adventure a love story and finaly a rescue...but you would know that because it was obvious.
Wonderful. Engaging. Timeless. Surprising. Thought provoking. Beautifully written, the right amount of everything make this book a must read. It was a pleasure to read and enjoy. Just a wonderful story and characters-except Roger.
This is the first book by John Shors that I have been thrilled to read and am eager to read his book "Beneath a Marble Sky." The characters in "Beside a Burning Sea" are brilliantly developed as they escape the sinking of their World War II hospital ship "Benevolence" and fight to survive on a deserted island for eighteen days. I was absolutely captivated by the love story between Akira, an injured Japanese soldier, and Annie, an American nurse, which I felt was the most beautiful part of the book. Each chapter had a haiku poem at the beginning that seemed to be written by Akira. I won't give away the ending but it was very dramatic. There were points when positive outcomes in the story were unrealistically created by having items miraculously washing up on the beach at the right moment. I also wondered why the characters weren't worried that they might not get off the island. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and found it to be an engaging and enlightening book about the dangers and heartbreak of serving on a hospital ship during World War II. Highly recommend this!
