Currently sitting at the top of the New York Times Best Sellers list for non-fiction, Unbroken: a World War II Story of Survival, Resliience, and Redemption, is a page turner. Written by Laura Hillenbrand, who also wrote the bestseller Seabiscuit, the book is the story of Louis Zamperini, an world class runner, who as a bombadier in the Pacific was shot down, endured 47 days on a raft, with little or no food or water, and finally was rescued by the Japanese, only to be placed in some of their most cruel POW camps. The experience was horrific. and when Zamperini was finally released at the end of the war, he rapidly spiraled into a life filled with thoughts of revenge on his captors, and alcoholism. An encounter with evangelist Billy Graham on one of Graham's earliest revivals, turned Zamperini's life around. Zamperini is still alive at the age of 93, and still has the positive life-affirming attitude that he reached after his meeting with Graham.
This book is not an easy book to read. The hardships and torture portrayed are very disturbing, but the book is very well written and researched and the main character is worthy of your interest.
Zamperini comes across as one of the finest examples of what Tom Brokaw called "The Greatest Generation."
I am giving my copy to the library, and it should be on the shelves of the popular reading section in about two weeks.
Ann Noble, Library Director (February 26, 2011)