Friday, May 30, 2014

Daisies are Forever by Liz Tolsma (Review & Giveaway)


About the book:  Gisela must hold on to hope and love despite all odds in the midst of a war-torn country.

Gisela Cramer is an American living in eastern Germany with her cousin Ella Reinhardt. When the Red Army invades, they must leave their home to escape to safety in Berlin.

However, Ella is a nurse and refuses to leave, sending her young daughters with Gisela. During their journey, Gisela meets Mitch Edwards, an escaped British POW. She pretends she is his wife in order to preserve his safety among other Germans, especially one wounded German soldier, Kurt, who has suspicions about Mitch's identity. Kurt also has feelings for Gisela and tries to uncover the truth about her "marriage."

Their journey to Gisela's mother in Berlin is riddled with tragedy and hardship, but they strive to keep Ella's daughters safe so they can reunite with their mother. During the journey Gisela and Mitch begin to develop feelings for one another beyond friendship. They reach Berlin, but their struggles are far from over. Gisela and Mitch must learn to live for the day and find hope in the darkest of circumstances.

In this moving, historically accurate portrayal of WWII Germany, the characters learn that, even with destruction all around them, some things last forever.

My thoughts: No matter how one tells the story of war or the people involved in war, the pen can not describe the horror of it adequately. No matter which side of the conflict is being chronicled, war and its horrors are unspeakable. The stories of World War II usually tell of the brutality of Germany against those deemed unworthy to live. The plan of Hitler to cleanse Germany and produce a pure nation resulted in horrific acts toward those condemned.

In Daisies Are Forever, the focus is on the peoples of Germany as the war turns in favor of the Allies and against the German war machine. The men, women, and children not involved in the atrocities that made up the war effort of Germany. Their fears. The dangers they faced. The ones who could not flee. The stumbles and falls along the way to flee the sweep of soldiers into their own cities and villages. The hours and days in bomb shelters. The destroyed buildings and lives at the hands of the Allies.

This story milks one of our compassion for a people caught in the throes of war – a people for whom we normally would not feel compassion.  A people who would have rejoiced in victory had the Allies not defeated them. A people who still, even in the face of invading Allies, believed in their Fuhrer and all that his purification of Germany held.

This story is well written and it does show how the ordinary people are caught in the conflict of war.
But you can not paint the story of war – especially so brutal, intense, and hugh a war as WWII was – with a gentle, loving brush. War is brutal. The conquering armies of Germany were not gentle as they swept through Europe. So it is difficult to hold compassion for the people of Germany when the tide of war turn in their disfavor.

It is difficult but it is not impossible. For forgiveness is of God and from His heart we are able to forgive.

I found Daisies Are Forever an interest read but not one that I enjoyed. I could not enjoy a story of such intense emotions, but I could think well of the author and her writing abilities and handling of an intensely conflicting story. I felt she showed a pretty true side of history, but one that none-the-less can be difficult to read.



GIVEAWAY:  A copy of Daisies Are Forever is waiting for one of Chat With Vera's readers. Use the Rafflecopter entry form below to enter. Begins May 31 & ENDS June 20 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT. Open to USA addresses only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
About the author: New York Times best-selling author Liz Tolsma is the author of Daisies are Forever, Snow on the Tulips, and the contributing author of A Log Cabin Christmas. When not busy putting words to paper, Liz enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and children, all adopted internationally.

Connect with Liz: website

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy of Daisies Are Forever in exchange for my review. Opinions expressed are solely my own. I was not compensated for this review.

19 comments:

  1. Vera, thanks for your excellent, well-written review.

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  2. Yes, I do like books about the WW ll era. Because i was in the 9 and 10 age and my oldest brother was over there in that war. Also other kin and friends. I saw how people all worked together at that war to help any way they could. My dad said their was a woman welder working where he worked at the ship yard. NO protesting then like there is now.
    Maxie Anderson

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  3. Vera, This was a good review. Very interesting story sounds like. I would love to win it.
    Maxie Anderson

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  4. Yes, I have read quite a few WWII stories as my parents were in Germany and my mom, aunt and grandmother in a Russian prisoner of war camp.

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  5. This story sounds very much like that of my parents. I would really love to read it.

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  6. yes i love older and futuristic stories

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  7. I enjoy reading books about the WWII era because it was a time of struggle for so many and I like to see how people overcame things.

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  8. I agree that reading a book about the war can be very difficult. With that said, I think it's important for us to remember what those times were like. War is a terrible thing.

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  9. I like to read stories during that period of history because my dad served in that war. I like learning everything about when my dad was just eighteen.

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  10. You're right about needing to see things from God's perspective to be able to connect to the compassion and forgiveness He can give. Thanks for sharing these thoughts and this book at Booknificent Thursday

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  11. This book looks good to me, but I agree with you. I don't think I'd actually enjoy it even though it would be a good read. Thanks for sharing this at Booknificent Thursday! Looking forward to seeing you again this week!
    Tina

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  12. I have to read wartime books in moderation, otherwise I tend to get depressed from them. I read her first book Snow on the Tulips, and it was so inspiring! I'm really looking forward to reading her new book.

    http://heidi-reads.blogspot.com

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  13. Thanks for sharing your honest review. It will be interesting to see how her new book differs from her first which took place in the Netherlands.

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  14. I like reading books in the WWII era because I love history and that was such an interesting time point in history

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  15. I just starting reading stories set in WWII. It was a hard time and its nice to read about the hope and courage of people during such difficult times
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
    Merry

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  16. I enjoyed reading your review and I think it provides a good summary of the book.

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  17. I enjoy WWII historical fiction books because I love history and it helps me understand it better.

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  18. I appreciate your perspective in your review. I can see how this wouldn't fall into the category of an enjoyable read but also how it would be an important book to read to get another perspective of this difficult time.

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  19. Yes, I love to read historical and period pieces.

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