Please Note: I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions of my review in any way.
Synopsis (From Goodreads):
Elise Sontag is a
typical Iowa fourteen-year-old in 1943--aware of the war but distanced
from its reach. Then her father, a legal U.S. resident for nearly two
decades, is suddenly arrested on suspicion of being a Nazi sympathizer.
The family is sent to an internment camp in Texas, where, behind the
armed guards and barbed wire, Elise feels stripped of everything beloved
and familiar, including her own identity.
The only thing that
makes the camp bearable is meeting fellow internee Mariko Inoue, a
Japanese-American teen from Los Angeles, whose friendship empowers Elise
to believe the life she knew before the war will again be hers.
Together in the desert wilderness, Elise and Mariko hold tight the dream
of being young American women with a future beyond the fences.
Review:
There's an old saying, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." This quote, written over one hundred years ago, is attributed to philosopher George Santayana. When I read the gripping historical novel, The Last Year of the War, by Susan Meissner, I couldn't help but think how timely her story was.
Written from the viewpoint of a fourteen-year old girl forced to live in an internment camp, this book brings to light the mistreatment of some German-Americans during WWII. With strong historical details, and heartbreaking characters, this novel seized my attention, and did not let go. I only wish the book was a little longer.
What I Liked:
Settings:
The settings of the internment camp, Germany in the midst of WWII, and post-war California are full of details that put me in the character's shoes. The author does an excellent job of using all the senses (sounds, taste, smell, touch) that bring a moment to life. You can tell that she did extensive research on each setting.
Characters:
Elise:
I loved the journey that Elise takes throughout this book. Starting as a teen where she has no control, we see her evolve to a point where she gets to decide for herself what will make her happy. I liked that she realized that she was relying on others to rescue her, and determined that she could rescue herself.
Elise's Parents:
I liked that both of Elise's parents, Otto and Freda were fully formed characters. When they were repatriated back to Germany, Otto and Freda were mortified for their children and racked with guilt. Yet Otto looked forward to returning to his birthplace.
Female Friendship:
I loved the bonds that formed between Elise and Mariko, her fellow American-born internee. These are two girls who saw each other as just American teenagers, not German or Japanese. They shared dreams about the future, and helped each other when their families went through tensions.
Relevance to Current Events:
While I don't want to get too political in a book review, I couldn't help but draw parallels between what happened in the book and what is happening to some immigrant families in the United States today. I was appalled that Elise, an American citizen who doesn't speak German, could be forced to leave the U.S. Similar situations are occurring right now.
Message:
The message of the book, that everyone is trying to find where "home" is, resonates with me. Some people, like Elise's father, identify with a specific physical location, such as his childhood vision of Germany. Other people are more connected to specific people. Elise feels she could call anywhere home if Mariko were there. Perhaps it is the struggle of youth to figure that out for oneself?
What I Was Mixed About:
We never do find out the true reasons why a certain character wants to marry Elise. I wish the author would have been more clear about this person's motivations, as they really affected Elise's self-confidence (please excuse my own vagueness, as I don't want to put spoilers in this review).
I also wanted to have more Mariko in the book. She had an equally compelling story that I think should have been explored more. I do understand though. Elise, and what happens to her, is the main focus of the book.
Trigger Warning for Sexual Violence
Rating:
Release Date: March 19th, 2019
Author: Susan Meissner
Publisher: Berkley Books
Genre: Historical Fiction
Page Length: 400 pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-book
Recommendation: A timely reminder of the mistreatment of immigrants during WWII. Strong historical details and characters would make this an excellent choice for a book club.
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Synopsis (From Goodreads):
Thirty-three-year-old
Shea Rigsby has spent her entire life in Walker, Texas—a small college
town that lives and dies by football, a passion she unabashedly shares.
Raised alongside her best friend, Lucy, the daughter of Walker’s
legendary head coach, Clive Carr, Shea was too devoted to her hometown
team to leave. Instead she stayed in Walker for college, even taking a
job in the university athletic department after graduation, where she
has remained for more than a decade.
But when an unexpected
tragedy strikes the tight-knit Walker community, Shea’s comfortable
world is upended, and she begins to wonder if the life she’s chosen is
really enough for her. As she finally gives up her safety net to set out
on an unexpected path, Shea discovers unsettling truths about the
people and things she has always trusted most—and is forced to confront
her deepest desires, fears, and secrets.
Thoughtful, funny, and brilliantly observed, The One & Only
is a luminous novel about finding your passion, following your heart,
and, most of all, believing in something bigger than yourself . . . the
one and only thing that truly makes life worth living.
Review:
While I was looking for a fun romance to delve into a friend graciously let me borrow this book. This was just the ticket. The characters were compelling, and unique, and the setting (college football) was new to me. And it was very romantic, as well.
What I Liked:
Characters:
Shea Rigsby is a fun-loving woman who is not desperate to find a husband and start a family. I found this to be so refreshing! She does have relationships with men, but she is just enjoying her life. I love how smart and strong Shea is, as she questions some of her safe life choices. But she does have her faults. For a woman in her thirties, she seems to behave more like a college student, getting drunk several times in the book. This leads to some situations that I feel are far-fetched, given how mature Shea is.
I found the Coach to be more than a stereotypical man's man. He works hard and has many people looking up to him. But being stuck standing on that pedestal is lonely. He sees in Shea an opportunity to relax and be himself. He is also not perfect. As the head coach of a major college football program, he may have looked the other way when some of his players have done unethical things. But why? And does that automatically make him a terrible person?
Domestic Abuse:
I thought the author handled this difficult issue very well. She showed how easily the victim (and even bystanders) makes excuses for the abuser. If the person is someone well regarded in the community, most people will choose not to see the obvious. She also shows the aftermath of how the victim blames herself, and how the abuser promises and promises to change.
Romance:
At first, I was put off by where I thought the book was going in the romance department. But I think my discomfort was actually beneficial to my reading experience! What happens when you are attracted to someone you know all of your friends and family will object to? Do you have the courage to follow your heart? Does that person also have the guts to let the chips fall where they may, and stand up for love? That uncomfortable dread I felt was what the character felt, and it made me empathize with her.
Sports:
Shea is the ultimate football fan. She memorizes stats, playbooks, and even all the Heisman trophy winners! Reading about her obsession is contagious, and makes me want to pay attention to college football in the future!
What I Didn't Like:
TMI:
I am not a fan of explicit sex scenes in books, and there are one or two of these in this novel. I didn't find them too offensive, but I think if you are looking for a "clean" romance book, you should look elsewhere. Which is a shame. I don't think these scenes added much to the story. Thankfully, they were not a frequent aspect of the book, so that is why I am only subtracting half a star from my rating.
Rating:
Release Date: May 20th, 2014
Genre: General Fiction
Trigger Warning: This book does have scenes of domestic abuse.
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Length: 432 Pages
Source: Borrowed from a friend
Format: Paperback
Recommendation: This is a fun romance that will keep you entertained, especially if you enjoy football!
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