MILLER, JUDITH
A BOND NEVER BROKEN
Journey inside the peace-loving villages of the Amana Colonies, 1917.
For many years, Ilsa Redlich has helped her parents run a hotel in South Amana. But as the United States enters the Great War, her world begins to change. The residents of the towns surrounding the Amana Colonies used to be accepting of their quiet, peaceful neighbours, but with anti-German sentiment sweeping the country, the Amanans now face persecution from their former friends.
Jutta Scmidt is shocked when several members of the Council of National Defense show up on her doorstep and demand that she return to Amana and report back on any un-American activities. Not daring to disobey government agents, she takes a job at the South Amana hotel, eavesdropping every chance she gets. But if she observes antiwar behaviour, will she betray the people she's come to love?
And when Ilsa's childhood sweetheart is accused of something far worse than Jutta could imagine, can Ilsa, Jutta and the Amana community come to his aid in time?
My Review:
Absolutely fascinating and intriguing. Love the unusual setting and Miller set the stage with such rich details that after reading this book I feel like I am an expert on the Amana Colonies even though I'd never heard of them before! In fact, I became so immersed that I felt like I had slipped back in time and it was jarring to 'come to' when my own life got in the way of my reading pleasure. I've spent the last two days saying "Ja" and "Gut" in conversations with the patrons at the library where I work and they are all giving me odd looks now. A teacher I've known for three years actually said, "I didn't know that you were German." LOL. I had to explain my linguistic lapses to her and now she wants to the read the book too!
Miller opens with a series of emotional punches that left me reeling . In fact, I was enraged before long. Fuming and stewing and all but cursing in parts. Yes I know this is make believe but the author has based her fiction on fact and knowing that this type of thing was an all too common occurrence during the Great War made my blood boil. And we didn't learn from our mistakes for they were repeated during World War II. I guess there will always be mean-spirited people who will leap at the chance to bully whenever it presents itself. What am I talking about you ask? You'll just have to read A Bond Never Broken to find out. It's an amazing story that you don't want to miss.
Reminder: If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Bond Never Broken by Judith Miller, leave a comment below. A draw will be held on Sunday April 24 for all the books I read between April 11 - 23. For more information about the Giveaway check out the April Showers Bring Reading Hours blog posted on March 31.
I would love to win, as I haven't read a book by Judith. And I know nothing about the Amana. And third, it's about WWI. Please enter me. Sounds like a very interesting book.
ReplyDeletedesertrose5173 at gmail dot com
Hi Carmen,
ReplyDeleteYou're in! It definitely is an interesting book and you'll enjoy Judith Miller's writing style -- her words just flow and create another world! Sheer bliss.
Hi Kav,
ReplyDeleteWould love to be entered in this giveaway. I have never read any books by Judith either and this one looks interesting. Thanks!
esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com
Good luck, Charity! You're in the draw.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really intriguing! I'd love to be entered. :) Thank you!
ReplyDelete~Amber
stokes[dot]a[at]suddenlink[dot]net
Good luck, Amber!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteAnn_Lee_Miller@msn.com
'Welcome Ann Lee. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThere is hardly anything fiction written about the Great War, much less the prejudice against the Amish then. I thank the author for taking this subject on. My uncle was German American and died on D Day in WWII. Think prejudice against the Germans may have been strong then too.
ReplyDeleteCarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
I've never read a book about the Amanas. This one sounds very interesting! I'm loving the cover, too!
ReplyDeleteI took German in college, so for years after that I said, "Ja". I still do sometimes. I only took a semester of it, so unfortunately I don't remember much at all. :(
Carol, you're so right. And in the book, the characters are third generation Americans, but that doesn't matter. Human nature is an amazing thing! I'll add your name to the draw.
ReplyDeleteBluerose, I found the whole Amana culture completely fascinating. Even did some research on it after I finished the book. Fascinating. Good luck with the draw!
What an interesting time to write about and such an interesting group of people. I'd love a chance to win A Bond Never Broken.
ReplyDeleteworthy2bpraised at gmail dot com
Good luck, Merry! You're in the draw.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read, thanks for entering me!
ReplyDeletetwinwillowsfarm at gmail dot com
It is a good book, Pegg. Hope you get a chance to read it.
ReplyDelete