An Amazing Story Full of Hope

by Briana Jeffers

July 18, 2012

@brigonia

An amazing story full of hope!

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand is the amazing story of Louis Zamperini. The story begins with his early years, moves through his teens, military career and ends with his life after World War II. Louis went to the Olympic Games before the war and actually met Hitler. During the war he served as a bombardier on a B-24 in the Pacific. He survived a plane crash at sea only to fall into the hands of the Japanese and suffer through POW camps. You will also learn how he dealt with returning to life as "normal" back in the U.S. and how he chose to use what he went through to help others after he became a Christian.

This book caught my attention and held it until the end. To see what Louis went through and how he didn't lose hope and actually survived made me wonder at the capability of the human body and mind to survive under the worst circumstances. Hillenbrand took a heartbreaking story and infused it with Louis' hope and zest for life. You know he will survive even as you are appalled at what people will do to others when given unrestrained power over them. Woven into Louis' story are the stories of those he served with and survived POW camp with. Unbroken is so skillfully written that you will "see" what life was like for Louis. This book is hard to set down! I highly recommend it but be warned, much of the account of his life as a prisoner is disturbing. Five stars!