Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Book Review -- Code Name Verity

Code Name VerityCode Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
My enjoyment rating: 5 of 5 stars
Book Source:  Nook (#1 reason I hate my Nook -- I can't pass this off to someone and say, "READ IT!")
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction
Objectionable material:  Graphic language and torture

Espionage. Covert military maneuvers. Torture. Nazi resistance. And a friendship that is truly gift.

There is little more to say than Code Name Verity, by Elizabeth Wein, has been my favorite book to read this year (so far!).

I’m a junkie for WWII fiction/non-fiction – and this story about Maddie (a transport pilot for the RAF) and her friend, “Verity,” a SOE (a British Special Operations Executive) operative, was unlike anything I’ve read recently.

As told from the perspective of “Verity” after she’s been captured by the Gestapo in occupied France, she tells us about her capture, her suffering, her background and training. But she also tells us about Maddie – and those with whom she trained in Britain.

It is fretful from the first page to the last. I even audibly GASPED during “Verity’s” graphic narrative.

Be patient in the beginning. It’s not an easy book to read, and the 1st person/3rd person narration is a bit tricky – but it is well worth it.

Wow.



3 comments:

Amused said...

I love anything set during WWII as well and so I will be adding this to my must read list since you loved it so much!

Margot said...

I really like WW II too. "Best book read this year" tells me a lot. It'a going on my list.

Laura at Library of Clean Reads said...

I just got this one from Netgalley and can't wait to read it after all the amazing reviews it's gotten. I hope the torture scenes won't make me cringe too much.