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There are currently 33 member reviews
for Gifts of War
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Molly F. (Atlanta, GA)
The Truth Shall Set You Free
I found myself drawn into this story gently but surely. The story builds, layer upon layer and you want things to work out, but everyone keeps bumping into the truth.
It is at once a wonderful story about telling the truth and a candid view of the cost of first world war, about which I knew little.
Read it.
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Margaret H. (Springfield, VA)
Gifts of War
Starting with the Christmas Truce in 1914 and continuing through World War I until it's end in 1919, this book uses the life of Hal Montgomery to illustrate the effects of war on participants as well as those left behind. Hal meets a German soldier during the truce and, charged with giving his photograph to his fiancee in England, he instead falls in love with Sam and her son and hides his knowledge of her past. Hal and Sam and their families are examples of all the joys and sadness of war. The reader can come to his own conclusion about the ironic title, Gifts of War. This is a good addition to the recent books on World War, although the reader may become a bit bogged down in some of the information about intrigue.
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Lynn R. (Wautoma, WI)
Gifts of War
When I first started this book, it grabbed me from the start. It is a historical novel taking place during WWI with many actual facts, but not so much to be tedious.
The majority of this book is not from the soldiers point of view, but from the people left behind at home. How life goes on for those who serve behind the lines and for those who have loved ones at the front lines.
A promise is made during the 'Christmas Truce' of 1914 between two enemy soldiers. This promise brought two families together that probably never would have met. The normal stresses that come from love, family, friends and work were heightened by the war. I felt the stresses of family especially were very believable.
The reason that I gave this book a '4-Good' rating is because the end of the story was fairly predictable, although it still threw a little twist that I did not expect. I felt it was a good read.
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Michele G. (Westminster, MD)
Gifts of War
After a slow start, I could not put this book down. Science history, espionage, romance, family issues, Gifts of War has a little bit of everything. Set during WWI in England, it is the story of Hal and Sam which begins at the Christmas Truce. After many ups and downs the end of the story is a complete surprise.
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Kathy G. (Alamo, CA)
Gifts of War
I have always been intrigued with the world wars and in particular the first one. On a personal note, my grandfather was German and came to America just after the first war. I remember talks around the dinner table of his brothers that died during that time.
I was anticipating a fast moving novel after the captivating first few chapters. Instead, I was continually wanting the story to move along and stick to the main subject at hand. There were many plots within the novel, all of which could become a book in itself.
I so admire Mackenzie Fords historical knowledge and loved that aspect of the novel. Gifts of War was tied together well at the end. In my opinion, it just took too many different paths and story lines to get there.
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Marion W. (Issaquah, WA)
"Backstage" during World War 1
Readers who like books set in the time of The War to End All Wars will find this novel replete with social, as well as political, history. To me, the characters sometimes seem too modern in their conversation, broad knowledge, and general candor, than what one might expect from people living in that time period with the restrictions society then imposed upon individuals.
But their story is always interesting to both men and women, and compelling, and the characters are well delineated.
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Brianne S. (Slinger, WI)
Gifts of War - Morals of War
I thought it was a good book but it was difficult to fathom the stretch of morals which were described. I think it would be a good book for a book club as it will generate discussion. In order to understand the book one must have lived through some challenges and have the insight to see the various perspectives.
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