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A review by thereadingmum
To Sing of War by Catherine McKinnon
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I heard about this book at the beginning of the year and chose it to feature in my book subscription box immediately. I am happy to report my faith in Catherine McKinnon's work is absolutely founded.
"It is now, in the middle of this thought, that a light, brighter than the sun, shatters the sky, and in that moment, for as far as the eye can see, all life vanishes."
We follow six point of views over the same time period in three different locations. Each person is crafted so well that I had no problem distinguishing or remembering their story. Lotte and Virgil are a nurse and soldier reunited in Papa New Guinea, bound by a past that split them apart years ago. Yet the feelings, buried resurface in the tragedy of war, helping each of them to cling to hope. Robert Oppenheimer and his wife Kitty are the only real historical figures. Their story is about their relationship and posits their feelings about what they were doing at Los Alamos. Mim is one of hundreds of scientists who were working at the site at that time. She is young, enthusiastic and brings out that campus society quality to the situation. Lastly, we get a glimpse into the life of Hiroko, a mother of two daughters in Myajima, trying to survive while her husband is fighting the emperor's war in an unknown land.
Oddly, I've been reluctant to watch Oppenheimer. It seems very male to me. Perhaps because the focus has been on the actors throughout its hype. Here, with the spotlight on two female characters, the story is much more than just building a weapon of mass destruction, or even one of the best and worst scientific breakthroughs.
It is rare for a book to reel me in so completely right from the start. It is rare for a book to combine a powerful story, excellent writing and wonderful characters. There are no real monsters or bad guys here because war is both ugly and beautiful.
The only reason I didn't give this five stars is that I will not read it again. A perfect book for me makes me want to read it all over again, if not right away, then at some point in the future.
"It is now, in the middle of this thought, that a light, brighter than the sun, shatters the sky, and in that moment, for as far as the eye can see, all life vanishes."
We follow six point of views over the same time period in three different locations. Each person is crafted so well that I had no problem distinguishing or remembering their story. Lotte and Virgil are a nurse and soldier reunited in Papa New Guinea, bound by a past that split them apart years ago. Yet the feelings, buried resurface in the tragedy of war, helping each of them to cling to hope. Robert Oppenheimer and his wife Kitty are the only real historical figures. Their story is about their relationship and posits their feelings about what they were doing at Los Alamos. Mim is one of hundreds of scientists who were working at the site at that time. She is young, enthusiastic and brings out that campus society quality to the situation. Lastly, we get a glimpse into the life of Hiroko, a mother of two daughters in Myajima, trying to survive while her husband is fighting the emperor's war in an unknown land.
Oddly, I've been reluctant to watch Oppenheimer. It seems very male to me. Perhaps because the focus has been on the actors throughout its hype. Here, with the spotlight on two female characters, the story is much more than just building a weapon of mass destruction, or even one of the best and worst scientific breakthroughs.
It is rare for a book to reel me in so completely right from the start. It is rare for a book to combine a powerful story, excellent writing and wonderful characters. There are no real monsters or bad guys here because war is both ugly and beautiful.
The only reason I didn't give this five stars is that I will not read it again. A perfect book for me makes me want to read it all over again, if not right away, then at some point in the future.