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Dine and Dish

Food blog with family recipes

February 5, 2012

Connect Through Reading – Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

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I finished the book Unbroken – A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption today with tears streaming down my face.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand is a gut wrenching biography / memoir of Louis Zamperini, a former Olympian who was drafted during World War II. After a series of “lucky to still be alive” events, Louis finds himself captured as a POW in Japan. Suffering unmentionable torture and abuse, Louis’ story brings light to the treatment of POW’s in Japan in a way I have never comprehended.

This is a heavy, heart wrenching book… it was difficult to get through yet extremely hard to put down. To sum up my feelings of this book, I think what I put on Twitter immediately after finishing it best conveys my feelings.

Unbroken is more than a war story… it is a book about persevering, faith, and forgiveness.

I will live my life differently, with a much deeper respect for the Veterans of the past and the present, thanks to this book. I highly recommend this book to all of you.

Up next…Fragile by Lisa Unger

What book have you read lately that you’d recommend?

Let’s connect on Goodreads to share book recommendations with each other!

Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Filed Under: Book Review, Previous Tagged With: book review, books, japan, laura hillenbrand, louis zamperini, POW, reading, World War II

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Amanda says

    February 5, 2012 at 5:09 pm

    Well, if it moved you I know it will move me! Thanks for the stellar recommendation! 🙂

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      February 5, 2012 at 9:04 pm

      Let me know if you read it!

      Reply
  2. Debbi Does Dinner Healthy says

    February 5, 2012 at 7:29 pm

    I just read The Hunger Games and Room and now I’m reading The Help. All good books!

    There is another book called Unbroken Will about a WWII man in Germany in the holocaust. EXCELLENT book and I recommend it!

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      February 5, 2012 at 9:04 pm

      The Hunger Games, Room and The Help are all books I read last year and truly enjoyed. The Help is up on the list as one of my faves! Room? I couldn’t put down at all and ignored life completely to get it read!

      I will definitley check out the other Unbroken book. Thanks so much for the suggestion!

      Reply
  3. naomi says

    February 5, 2012 at 7:56 pm

    Wasn’t Unbroken just amazing?????

    I’m trying to get through We Need to Talk About Adam …. kind of a struggle. Kind of deep …

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      February 5, 2012 at 9:02 pm

      Absolutely and completely amazing.

      I started We Need to Talk About Kevin a few years ago and never got through it, but I’ve heard such great things about it. Let me know if you end up finishing it… if you do, I’ll pick it up again and give it a try!

      Reply
  4. Natalie says

    February 5, 2012 at 8:04 pm

    Sean absolutely loved Unbroken. I wish that I could say that I read as much as the two of you. I am more of a summer-time reading gal. You are inspiring me to try to find more time during the fall, spring, and winter, too. 🙂

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      February 5, 2012 at 9:02 pm

      It usually takes me a lot longer to get through a book… I tend to fall asleep no matter how much I like the book. This weekend, I happened to have 10 hours in the car which gave me some extra reading time. Otherwise, it would have taken me a lot longer!

      Reply
  5. Lisa (Authenticsuburbangourmet) says

    February 5, 2012 at 8:55 pm

    We read Unbroken for our book club several months ago and simply loved it. Most recently we read the newest Stephen K ing book – “11/22/63” and loved it. Never read one of his novels before. Currently read “The Mariage Plot”. Will have to check out your next selection. Have a good week ahead.

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      February 5, 2012 at 9:01 pm

      11/22/63 was the book I read the week prior and loved it so much too (It was my first of his novels too).

      I have The Marriage Plot in my to be read pile. I’d love to know how you like it when you are finished.

      Thanks 🙂
      Kristen

      Reply
  6. Deborah says

    February 6, 2012 at 9:11 am

    I love these book posts – I have been re-motivated to read more, even if it means falling asleep with a book in my hands at night! I’ve had both of these books on my “to read” list. Now I can’t wait to read Unbroken! I’m currently reading Magic Hour by Kristen Hannah, and I’m loving it so far!

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      February 6, 2012 at 4:38 pm

      I’m so glad to hear that! I am often times only getting 1-2 pages down before I’m asleep, no matter how awesome the book is!
      I love Kristen Hannah books… I’ll have to check out Magic Hour. Thanks 🙂

      Reply
  7. lifeofamodernhousewife says

    February 6, 2012 at 10:19 am

    I read the Hunger Games Trilogy…which was great. Yes, it’s a young adults novel, but so good. I also suggest, Wild Swans; it’s by Jung Chang. It’s a true story about three generations, all women, in China–starting with Japanese and Russians invading China to current China. Beautifully written and you get a whole new perspective of who Mao really was, and what horrible things he did to that country.

    Reply
  8. camille says

    February 6, 2012 at 6:07 pm

    I think I’ve already mentioned on your last “recommend a book!” post that the novel Winter’s Bone (Daniel Woodrell), on which the amazing movie of the same title was based, is excellent – lyrical and haunting and tense – so I’ll recommend one of my favourites of all time instead. It’s not my #1 favourite because that is so nerdy it isn’t for all audiences, but when I bought a copy for my grandma she said it was the first book ever that she honestly couldn’t put down. But don’t think that means it’s a book for grandmothers! It’s The Piano Man’s Daughter by Timothy Findley. Love, insanity, scandal, and fire. What is not to love?

    Reply
  9. Peach Tobin says

    February 19, 2012 at 9:13 pm

    So well written I could not put it down. I grew up during that war and went to movies where every movie had news reels of the war. My relatives use to go to the movies to see the war reels to find their relatives fighting overseas. . The cruellity I will never understand. What brave men and women and When will we learn war only hurts.

    Reply
  10. Miss B Spence says

    February 23, 2012 at 3:14 pm

    Finished it about a year ago and cried through the whole thing! Overwhelmingly incredible and wrenching….we have no idea what we can handle until we are through it!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. My Favorite Books of 2012 - Dine and Dish says:
    October 28, 2014 at 9:31 am

    […] 2. Unbroken by Laura Hildebrand. Read my review here. […]

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Have you ever been creatively stuck?
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December 2019 my absolute favorite camera lens fell out of the cabinet I keep it in and shattered in a million pieces. I cried for days and days. I barely picked up my DSLR in 2020 because I just felt so uninspired. I couldn’t get the shots I was visualizing in my head with the lenses I had. 
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Three cheers for bursting with inspiration again, after all this time.
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@kimklassen_innercircle #monthofmultiples #meyerlemon #foodphotography #photoinspiration #createeveryday #thesmallthings #everydaybeauty
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Last year I couldn’t believe I was old enough to have an 18 year old. This year I look in the mirror and see someone old enough to have a 19 year old. This past year has been a lot and man, it has physically aged me! But one things solid and firm...I love my kids and am so proud of them! The resilience Jacob has shown this past year has impressed me...”graduating” high school, starting college, all when things have been so up in the air and unsure. And never once complaining about it. My kids haven’t lost a thing this year...instead they’ve gained so much they wouldn’t have gained without this experience. I’m so proud to be their mom. Happy 19th birthday @jacobdoyle02 We are fiercely proud of you and love you so much!
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Alright, alright, alright! It’s time to talk about how we can support our local bookstore during the holidays and beyond! As you consider buying gifts this year, make sure you shop local for all the book people on your list! One unique and super easy way you can support your favorite local bookstores is with an audiobook subscription to @librofm Yes! Audiobooks! With Libro.fm you can financially support your local bookstore AND buy audiobooks all at the same time. Each audiobook purchase supports the independent book store of your choice! Do it for yourself and buy some audiobooks for friends too!
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If you need audiobook ideas, hit me up. I’ve listened to so many great books this year that will make it on my top favorites list, including Greenlights by @officiallymcconaughey It’s narrated by the author and is so worth the listen! Your ears will thank you!
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