Long Way Home
by Lynn Austin
Austin wrote this book to honor the veterans who fought in
WW2 and innocent refugees whose lives were disrupted by war. One of the main
characters, Jim Barnett, returns from the war unable to resume his life. He attempts suicide and is placed in a VA
hospital by his parents. His friend,
Peggy, seeks to understand how the war has changed Jim and traces his
experiences through the recounting of his comrades. His parents and Peggy are desperate to have
Jim return to them, but it is a long journey home.
I am a fan of Austin’s books and enjoy her writing
style. Even though WW2 was catastrophic
for the soldiers and civilians, she conveys its horrors without graphic
examples. She also laces hope through
the story, which every character needs to survive.
I particularly enjoyed reading about “Peggety” who clings to
hope despite her own unpleasant circumstances and shuns the bitterness she
could have chosen. Peggy grows as a
character and becomes someone to admire.
The author also deals with questions of faith that her
characters wrestle with. I felt she
answered these honestly from both a Jewish and Christian perspective.
Lynn Austin has done much research and gives her readers a
better understanding of World War 2. I
highly recommend this book and am grateful to the publisher for a copy to
review in exchange for my honest opinion.
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