Impacts of the War on the Human Destinies - Book Report/Review Example

Impacts Of The War On The Human Destinies The full name of the book by Laura Hillenbrand sounded “Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption”. This book depicted the life story of one person called Louis Zamperini, who took part in appalling events of World War II and did know what happened in that period of time. The subject of the book revealed the strong person who was able to survive and who had a right for expiation. Laura Hillenbrand wrote this story to interpret the reality of life in the wartime. She had an intention to bring to light the tribulation of all humanity through the storyline of one person life. Laura Hillenbrand remained to be one of the most popular nonfiction authors in America. She was always interested in history and started to study this subject in Kenyon College in Ohio. This woman began to write in different journals and scientific magazines after her disease when she failed a chance to become a professor of history (Drew, 169). Actually her illness made some hurdles in her career growth but she was able to overcome this and to become a successful writer. This lady was mostly famous by two of her books. It was the “Seabiscuit” and “Unbroken” (Drew, 170-171). While it considered to the nonfiction prose or better to say historical books it was pleasantly convenient to high amount of people. These stories were highly interested to American society, so Hollywood even decided to make movies by the storylines of these books. The book “Unbroken” demonstrated the story of American lieutenant Louis Zamperini which began with the interwar time in late 1920s. “He competed in the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin where he made headlines, not just on the track (Hitler sought him out for a congratulatory handshake), but by stealing a Nazi flag from the well-guarded Reich Chancellery.” (Oney, n. p.). Still the main events of the story rounded on Mr. Zamperini’s serving in the Pacific when the World War II was occurred. He together with his colleague pilot Russell Allen Phillips “huddled aboard a tiny, poorly provisioned raft, subsisting on little more than rain water and the blood of hapless birds they caught and killed bare-handed” (Oney, n.p.). Japanese people found their aircraft and these two American men became prisoners in Japan. The war still continued for two years and their life in Japanese trap was unbearable and painful. Louis Zamperini endured walloping and cruelty, moreover he denied in any medical care. Still, he survived and started to drink alcohol but lately enlightenment had come and he deserved redemption. His wife and native land provided him a helping hand in this difficult affair. Laura Hillenbrand wrote this book for readers to feel and understand the situation which occurred in the age of war. It can be supposed that the first goal was to inform the reader as it is the historical book and events depicted chronologically with real evidences to the past. Still, it should be admitted that emotional plan revealed widely and brightly in the book, so Laura Hillenbrand also had an intention to impress us by the occasion which happened with the main figure of the book and to warn the readers in some perspective through the realization of occurred events. It is a strong conviction that Laura Hillenbrand achieved her goal fully and completely. After reading this book the realizing of the situation and revaluation of World War II events had come. She was able to reinterpret the picture of those days life and developed her thesis appropriately. Only while reading this book one could understand her development, as every chapter and episode disclosed the peculiarities which Laura Hillenbrand was aimed to show. The style of the book was possible to determine as an informative, tragic and illuminative. It was possible to add some note of pain and high pride for American defenders. The informative plan was widely outspread through the book, as it was historical story naturally and there was a demonstration of real historical events. The tragic plan exposed through the straightforward depiction of events: “After mush argument, the overseers brought the men a single, huge ball of rise, then send them back to work. Tragedy was inevitable, and Louie was there when it happened” (Hillenbrand, 284). Illuminative area occurred as the goal of the book was to reveal the veracious facts. What was worth to mention was the emotive plan of the book. Laura Hillenbrand depicted astounding details and fabulous moments. She made an attempt to come closer to these events and transferred readers to this proper place and these proper occasions. Her manner of writing turned on reader’s imagination and encouraged them to make a transmission into the book and deep perception of the story. For example the preface began with the words “All he could see, in every direction, was water” (Hillenbrand, xvii). While reading this sentence the immediately imagined some person or even himself in the place poured with water with no way out. In such a situation emotive plan worked strenuously and even unintentionally. Reader’s unconscious mind encourages worrying about it and interpreting this situation closely and restlessly. This book could be appropriate to any adult person who was interested in history and in World War II events. The young generation who had a desire to be intelligent and interested in historical doings would read this book with great pleasure. As the book attributed to nonfiction style, moreover the story is based on historical events the author tried to be objective in some perspectives. The book was written from the third person, so the narrator remained to show its objective attitude to the depicted events. Still, Oney suggested the fact that Laura Hillenbrand wrote this book from the dialogue with Louis Zamperini who was the principal figure of the book (n. p.). Because of her disease the live conversation was impossible, so they communicated through the telephone or internet. It was interesting to mention that the author had never met with her subject; nevertheless the book seemed to be incredible. The confirmation of this fact came from Mr. Zamperini’s reply after reading this creation: “As I was reading, I had to look out that picture window from time to time to make sure that I wasn't still in Japan. When I got to the end I called Laura and told her she'd put me back in prison, and she said, 'I'm sorry' ” (Oney, n. p.). Hence, the emotion presented and involved in the story that is why this book can be regarded as a subjective to some perspectives. The book consisted of five parts with different number of chapters which were total in number thirty nine. Each chapter represented its own name which related to the content of the given abstract. Also the preface which introduced and involved the reader to the story was present in the book. The epilogue which helped the author to end the story in harmonious way with some evidences comprised in the book. Furthermore, acknowledgements and notes are involved to the book in which Laura Hillenbrand said thanks to people who helped in the creation of the book and explained some unclear or ambiguous moments for the readers or elucidated some historical references. The book comprised photos and pictures which corresponded to the real events which aroused in the story and proved readers that this really happened. Also the map is posted on the first pages of the book to outline the boarders of preceded events and turned on the reader’s imagination. David Margolick in his review in to book “Unbroken” mentioned: “That said, to have written something so ambitious and powerful under such trying circumstances is an act of courage even a Louis Zamperini would admire.” This remark of The New York Times journalist remained to be proper and relevant to the Mrs. Hillenbrand’s creation as this woman despite the hard health status and absence of life conversation was able to convey emotions of those events. This was a kind of book which can impress and leave the memory to all life. While reading it everyone can elucidate and reevaluate our nearest history and reality of our grandfathers, so I completely recommended this book to every person who was really interested in our history. Works Cited Drew, Bernard Alger. “100 Most Popular Nonfiction Authors: Biographical Sketches and Bibliographies.” USA: Libraries Unlimited, 2008, 169-171. Print Hillenbrand, Laura. “Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption.” USA: Random House, 2010. Print Margolick, David.” Zamperini’s War.” The New York Times. Web. November 19, 2010 Oney, Steve. “The Defiant Ones.” The Wall Street Journal. Web. Nov. 12, 2010 12:01 a.m. Reference List: Drew, Bernard Alger. 100 Most Popular Nonfiction Authors: Biographical Sketches and Bibliographies. USA: Libraries Unlimited, 2008. Print Hillenbrand, Laura. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. USA: Random House, 2010. Print Margolick, David. Zamperini’s War. The New York Times. Web. November 19, 2010 Oney, Steve. The Defiant Ones. The Wall Street Journal. Web. Nov. 12, 2010 12:01 a.m. Read More