Unbroken

Yes, the story of a track star, a 1936 Olympian who becomes a WWII POW, survives and converts to Christianity may sound like the ultimate white person Greatest Generation canon fodder. But when it comes right down to it UNBROKEN is simply a masterful act of reporting and storytelling of listening, for years, to the epic story of Louis Zamporini, of authenticating enough historical data for three live times and then having it feel like his story to tell and not the author's. Mr. Zamporini no doubt led an extraordinary life. Lauren Hillenbrand's 7 years of work in telling his story in this magisterial modern classic is just as herioc. 

As I was reading this, I was wishing that the history books I'd had to read for school had been as well-written and interesting as this one. And lo, Laura Hillenbrand has adapted this important story for younger readers.

The plight of Pacific POWs during WWII was compelling and heartbreaking. It is astonishing that anyone could survive such an ordeal. I was impressed with the comprehensive information Hillenbrand was able to convey in such a readable, memorable format. She reminds us of how technologically different the world was during this dark time, how different and many the challenges were.

At the time, the lack of disseminated information kept others ignorant of what was happening to these soldiers, until much later. The statistics about the condition and subsequent welfare of these men are truly horrifying.

Louis Zamperini led a life with so many unforgettable happenings. He traveled to Germany to run …

My attraction to this book, aside from my wife's recommendation is one, Gernot Heinrichsdorfer, a German sprinter in '36, was a landscape architect and gardener we employed in Colo Spr in '81-'82. His best time in the 100 m was 10.4, his prime, as Louie, would have been the '40 games. (Gernot doesn't show up as a 100 m contestant at Berlin, I suspect that he, like Louie, raced at longer distance).returnreturnTo "Unbroken": a compelling read, Hillenbrand draws you forward. The only thing I didn't enjoy was the occasional repetition of facts and impressions. Her narration allows you to assume different futures to the characters and their relationships. So, while certain bits couldn't have been recorded without at least one survivor (I'm reminded of Woodward's recounting of Nixon and Kissinger alone on an elevator!), the raft-ride by Mac, Phil, and Louie does leave a few balls in the air. Hillenbrand …