If you enjoy historical novels set during World War II, you will not want to miss the very moving portrayal of this time period, CHASING SHADOWS by Lynn Austin. This novel gives a vivid look into the lives of those who endured German occupation of the Netherlands. The story not only focuses on the hardships endured by the Jewish population (which were by all accounts horrendous) but also shows how the war affected the non-Jewish citizens of the country. Additionally, the author provides great insight into the resistance efforts of the Dutch people.
CHASING SHADOWS is very well written. The dialogue and story flow nicely from start to finish and it is obvious that the author did a great deal of research. Although there are several main characters in the book, each character is well developed and has a nice depth. I really enjoy how the story is told from three separate character sets and how the author weaves those characters together.
I can’t fully imagine what is like to live in a country that is occupied during wartime. Even though I have read several books with this as its theme, I still feel woefully inadequate to empathize with those who have undergone such privation. I am very appreciative of Ms. Austin for giving me the chance to gain further understanding of what that experience is like without having to actually endure it myself.
This is not an easy book to read. It will play on your emotions and bring you to tears. Yet, it is a book everyone needs to read. It shows the importance of faith during difficult times. It also emphasizes the importance of doing the right things, even when those things are not easy to do.
I highly recommend CHASING SHADOWS to anyone who enjoys great historical fiction.
For fans of bestselling WWII fiction comes a powerful novel from Lynn Austin about three women whose lives are instantly changed when the Nazis invade the neutral Netherlands, forcing each into a complicated dance of choice and consequence.
Lena is a wife and mother who farms alongside her husband in the tranquil countryside. Her faith has always been her compass, but can she remain steadfast when the questions grow increasingly complex and the answers could mean the difference between life and death?
Lena’s daughter Ans has recently moved to the bustling city of Leiden, filled with romantic notions of a new job and a young Dutch police officer. But when she is drawn into Resistance work, her idealism collides with the dangerous reality that comes with fighting the enemy.
Miriam is a young Jewish violinist who immigrated for the safety she thought Holland would offer. She finds love in her new country, but as her family settles in Leiden, the events that follow will test them in ways she could never have imagined.
The Nazi invasion propels these women onto paths that cross in unexpected, sometimes-heartbreaking ways. Yet the story that unfolds illuminates the surprising endurance of the human spirit and the power of faith and love to carry us through.
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