Review of War is Just a Word
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Sherrie Boggio
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- Latest Review: War is Just a Word by I.J. Gysen
Review of War is Just a Word
[Following is a volunteer review of "War is Just a Word" by I.J. Gysen.]
War is Just A Word by I.J. Gysen is an in-depth look at World War II from a German family's perspective. The author invites the reader into the lives of Ludwig, Marta, and Ana Bauer, who are first-hand witnesses to the brutality and horrors of war. We see how war causes each of these individuals, their friends, and their families to make choices that are difficult to read about. They draw us into their lives and as a reader; we cheer them on when they survive against all odds and we cry with them as they live through the destruction and chaos that comes from not only the Allies but also their government. Gysen gives us a glimpse of how a nation believed in its leaders, only to find that they were lied to and betrayed by those same leaders. These German citizens also show us how courageous they truly are in their response to rebuilding their lives following the war.
Gysen begins by giving us the backstory of Ludwig and Marta. We learn Marta works in a bookstore in the city and that Ludwig comes from a very wealthy family. These two fall in love and have a daughter, Ana. Their love for each other is palpable and unbreakable. Both Marta and Ludwig will give up much to protect their young daughter. For example, Ludwig, who is recruited into the war as a Nazi officer, must make a drastic decision on whether to visit his own loved ones before being shipped off to Poland. It is a decision that will cause great persecution at the hands of his own government. Marta must also make life-and-death decisions when she and Ana find themselves trapped in the rubble of their apartment building following an Allied bombing. Marta and Ana’s bond is tested time and time again when they must travel miles to safety. Ana, who is bound by a love so deep for her mother, must develop a sense of courage to face the fears she has of the horrors of the war, the fear of losing her mother, and in time, family scandals to overcome. These are just some ways this author brings depth and life into her book.
The only negative aspects of this book that I could find were the author’s tendency to be repetitive in telling her story. For example, the author describes how Marta felt guilty about not leaving the city for the country before the bombing began, and in the next chapter says the same thing again. This happens multiple times throughout the book, but I did not find it distracting.
I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I would have given this book 5 stars if it had not been for some sections of the book being repetitive as described in the negative aspect section above. This was a well-written book and very thought-provoking. The author paid special attention to fleshing out each of the main characters. She provided excellent background on both Marta and Ludwig so that we knew much about each of them before their marriage. For example, Marta’s association with the Hitler Youth and Ludwig’s bumpy history with his father provide a backdrop of who these two are prior to the war and help us understand how determined they are to reunite once separated by the war. This backstory also helps us to understand the relationship changes between Ludwig and his father once the war ends and also serves to underscore how important family is to both Ludwig and Marta in the face of a family scandal. While one would think that the author of this story would be focused on the adults involved, Marta and Ludwig, the author, showcase Ana, their young daughter, as well. Ana is shown to us as a young child in the early days of the war and it is throughout the book that the author enlightens us how much of an impact the war, family and friends influence Ana as she grows older. For example, when Ana first encounters the small village that her father’s parents live in, she is shy and scared, but over time the author recounts the impact of family and stability of the village life has on Ana. Her love for her family and country are never more clear than when she is shipped off to boarding school. I cried with her but also hoped that she could transition without fear of losing her mother’s love.
I would recommend this book to any age group. There is no profanity and no sexual content that would prohibit younger readers from enjoying this account of what it was like to be a German citizen during World War II.
******
War is Just a Word
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
War is Just A Word by I.J. Gysen is an in-depth look at World War II from a German family's perspective. The author invites the reader into the lives of Ludwig, Marta, and Ana Bauer, who are first-hand witnesses to the brutality and horrors of war. We see how war causes each of these individuals, their friends, and their families to make choices that are difficult to read about. They draw us into their lives and as a reader; we cheer them on when they survive against all odds and we cry with them as they live through the destruction and chaos that comes from not only the Allies but also their government. Gysen gives us a glimpse of how a nation believed in its leaders, only to find that they were lied to and betrayed by those same leaders. These German citizens also show us how courageous they truly are in their response to rebuilding their lives following the war.
Gysen begins by giving us the backstory of Ludwig and Marta. We learn Marta works in a bookstore in the city and that Ludwig comes from a very wealthy family. These two fall in love and have a daughter, Ana. Their love for each other is palpable and unbreakable. Both Marta and Ludwig will give up much to protect their young daughter. For example, Ludwig, who is recruited into the war as a Nazi officer, must make a drastic decision on whether to visit his own loved ones before being shipped off to Poland. It is a decision that will cause great persecution at the hands of his own government. Marta must also make life-and-death decisions when she and Ana find themselves trapped in the rubble of their apartment building following an Allied bombing. Marta and Ana’s bond is tested time and time again when they must travel miles to safety. Ana, who is bound by a love so deep for her mother, must develop a sense of courage to face the fears she has of the horrors of the war, the fear of losing her mother, and in time, family scandals to overcome. These are just some ways this author brings depth and life into her book.
The only negative aspects of this book that I could find were the author’s tendency to be repetitive in telling her story. For example, the author describes how Marta felt guilty about not leaving the city for the country before the bombing began, and in the next chapter says the same thing again. This happens multiple times throughout the book, but I did not find it distracting.
I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I would have given this book 5 stars if it had not been for some sections of the book being repetitive as described in the negative aspect section above. This was a well-written book and very thought-provoking. The author paid special attention to fleshing out each of the main characters. She provided excellent background on both Marta and Ludwig so that we knew much about each of them before their marriage. For example, Marta’s association with the Hitler Youth and Ludwig’s bumpy history with his father provide a backdrop of who these two are prior to the war and help us understand how determined they are to reunite once separated by the war. This backstory also helps us to understand the relationship changes between Ludwig and his father once the war ends and also serves to underscore how important family is to both Ludwig and Marta in the face of a family scandal. While one would think that the author of this story would be focused on the adults involved, Marta and Ludwig, the author, showcase Ana, their young daughter, as well. Ana is shown to us as a young child in the early days of the war and it is throughout the book that the author enlightens us how much of an impact the war, family and friends influence Ana as she grows older. For example, when Ana first encounters the small village that her father’s parents live in, she is shy and scared, but over time the author recounts the impact of family and stability of the village life has on Ana. Her love for her family and country are never more clear than when she is shipped off to boarding school. I cried with her but also hoped that she could transition without fear of losing her mother’s love.
I would recommend this book to any age group. There is no profanity and no sexual content that would prohibit younger readers from enjoying this account of what it was like to be a German citizen during World War II.
******
War is Just a Word
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: War is Just a Word by I.J. Gysen
