The Heart Mender: A Story of Second Chances
4.5
5
48
48
Wonderful for book clubs!
This review was written by Deborah, a member of our book club, who does not use computers. It was such an excellent review, I encouraged her to let me share:
Wow! As soon as the shovel hit the metal, I was hooked. So many things to forgive in this book and not one person's tragedies can compare or be larger than another's. Helen and Josef's pain and confusion, even before they met each other; even Wan (love the name) in NOT getting Helen and his part in the triumph was tragic. But I think the story as a whole totally outshines the trials of the people involved.
After finding out this was true (husband helped me google), I was blown away. How can this happen in our Gulf?! Americans not knowing and such an easy target, and it continues almost a year! I think the biggest heart mending was the American people as a whole against the evil of Nazism. What a resiliant nation we are. I don't know if the quote on page 141 was actual, but the words are so true and so scary.
This book brought me to my knees for America. I wish it was required reading for high schoolers.
PS Danny was just in the story for a happy Light to continually shine.
August 5, 2011
While digging in his back yard, author Andy Andrews finds a rusty tin of Nazi German artifacts. After curiosity gets the best of him, he decides to do some research and find out more about it. The information that he uncovers is startling and becomes the background of this story.Helen lost her husband during WWII. She is lost and angry because of her tragic loss. Josef is a German U-boat officer that washed upon the bank of the gulf shores, who Helen finds nearly dead. Her feelings of hatred make her want to leave him to die, but something changes her mind. Those feelings of hatred develop into feelings of friendship, forgiveness, then healing and love.This is a beautifully written story told only the way that Andy Andrews can tell it. He delivers a very powerful message of forgiveness and what happens when we forgive. This is a story one should not miss and be prepared to have your heartstrings tugged. This is one story I will not soon forget. I highly recommend it!!!This book was provided by Thomas Nelson's Book Sneeze Program for me to review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
September 21, 2010
It is difficult to classify this book, but it is easy to call it excellent. Andy has done it again. He takes truth and mixes it with imagination and weaves them into a story that reads like a novel but feels like an autobiography. It is hard to describe the book without giving away some of the wonders of the story, and I'll not be guilty of writing a spoiler. This is a wonderful, heartwarming book. Read it, you will be pleased you did.
September 16, 2010
The Heart Mender takes place in the time of WWII. It follows the lives of to people, a young American woman, Helen, who has lost her husband due to the war and Josef, a man in the German/Nazi navy. After loosing her husband her aunt in Louisiana asked her to come ans live with her. But shortly after she moved her aunt died. Helen now works in a diner but is very angry. The owners of the diner try to help her work through the anger but mostly just love her where she is at. Josef is in the German navy, assigned to submarine in the Gulf of Mexico, but not devoted to Hitler ,he makes a powerful enemy on board the sub. Through circumstances he finds himself shot and lying on the beach in Louisiana dying when Helen discovers him. She, though she wants to leave him for dead, takes him in and provides him shelter. Both are battling demons from the past but through this unlikely meeting they learn more than they ever hoped for.This book talks of forgiveness and the healing it brings. You learn that this story is not only a wonderful example of how forgiveness can change your life but also all those around you and future generations.I was captivated by this from the first page. The author opens by telling readers how the story was developed and then he delves into the story. He does leave you wondering,until the end, who these people really are but all is explained in the end.I would highly recommend reading this book.
September 12, 2010
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