This book is magnificent an epic novel describing Life under German colonisation in world war 2 and the Indonesian war of independence.A book to rival
The English Patient I was drawn in immediately and surfaced only to sleep and Eat
The book described the horror of war and occupation through the eyes of a young man who survives his teenaged years under German occupation in Holland during the hunger years .As soon as Holland is liberated and before he can relax and become a man in freedom he is conscripted into the Dutch army fighting Indonesian rebels to retain the Dutch hold on their colony .
I found the book deeply moving and upsetting but at the same time the beauty of the Indonesian jungle and of the gentle character of the young man were touching and lovely .
We are not designed for war but some have war forced on them ,this novel describes with deep understanding what this does to shape the emerging personality of this young man .The book has deep anti war sentiment which is strongly held but subtly described
I was lucky to read an early copy on NetGalley Uk the book is published 26 April 2022 by ECW press

A book set in both Holland during WWII and in the Indonesian war of independence (often called “Holland’s Vietnam”), we are treated with Anne Lazurko’s beautifully written novel which shows that nothing is simple when dealing with war.

Sam Vanderberg is conscripted to serve in the move to quell nationalist rebels in Java after having lived through the labor camps during the German occupation of Holland. We see both events unfold through his eyes as he navigates the complexity of human morality and the depth of what makes a flawed human being.

I was not educated on the postwar events in Indonesia and found this novel to be interesting as it detailed this part of history.

Thanks to NetGalley and ECW Press for the ARC to read and review