A heart-wrenching yet beautiful rendering...

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

I feel as if I have read many books set in World War II. 

I'm uncertain what the actual number may be, but it feels like a lot. 

And I never tire of them. Why? 

I think it is because I hope to be part of a critical mass of people who never forget...

that just one despot can kill millions of people in his own country. 

Then get two of them together fighting each other (e.g. Hitler and Stalin) and they can also manage to displace and kill millions from many other countries, too!

Also, check out Noami's review at Consumed by Ink. 
I feel that between the two of us, a comprehensive picture emerges regarding this book. 

The format Sepetys uses reminds me of All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, with the alternating viewpoints, each chapter narrated by one of four main characters: 

Joana, Florian, Emilia, and Alfred.

There is a cast of supporting characters, also: Heinz, Eva, Ingrid, the Wandering Boy...

Together they represent the millions who were hunted and haunted...

Joana by guilt. Florian by fate. Emilia by shame. Alfred by fear.

Though it could be argued each and every one of the people displaced or killed by either the Germans or the Russians suffered from all four: guilt, shame, fear...and fate.

These four conditions are the result of being hunted and terrorized by psycho-maniacs, 

as were these two 'leaders' and the people who perpetrated their evil intent upon others. 

It seems very easy for some humans to become misguided savages with no regard for others.            My hope is that as a species, humanity can evolve to a point where a critical mass of individuals have reached a level of spiritual and emotional development that prevents them being so easily controlled and manipulated by psychotic sociopaths.

Sepetys is excellent at using few words to denote characterization through actions. Her writing is powerful and intense, yet I found it to be subtle at times. A reader is exposed to many horrors of this war and these peoples' trek to purely survive, without feeling too beaten up by it all. Though when I make such comments, I realize that any one of us reading such a book should feel the heartache, abandonment, guilt, shame, and fear that forced our own ancestors to the fate of such total disorientation and displacement. Regardless of our own specific family's involvement, we are one "human family" and all who preceded us are our ancestors overall. I feel as if few of us know our own family's history well enough to know whether we are descended from some of those who were forced to endure such dire circumstances in the history of our world. I myself felt such a pull as Sepetys divulged some of the political history regarding changing borders before and after World War II. My grandmother had always told me her family was originally from Prussia, and although her ancestors immigrated to the U.S. in the 19th Century, it was due to many of the same circumstances--mainly war: forced conscription to fight and kill other human beings as imposed by similarly 'sick and twisted' tyrants preceding the monsters that were Hitler and Stalin. And, of course, unfortunately, in today's world we still have mass migration of peoples escaping persecution and improbably unsafe and deadly environments created by other individuals savagely determined to kill and destroy. I always shake my head and wonder when we will learn...

One aspect of such circumstances is that in order to survive, one must ironically be willing to kill others as necessary. And we learn that something as simple as leaving an innocent note can inadvertently result in the death of your closest friends.

"The Russians have this region surrounded," she said. 

"There are only two escape routes, through the port at Gotenhafen or the port at Pillau. 

We're all headed the same way. It will be safer if we travel together."...

She had no idea. It wasn't "safer" for anyone to be with me. (80)

Though in the end, Florian is safer than he might have imagined, mainly due to his efforts to save others.

                                                   "It's safer for you to stay with the others," he said.

Safer? he didn't realize.

I was already dead. (47)

Emilia had good reason to feel as if she was already dead. Though she would give life to others in many ways. 

Although they make it safely to the port and board the vessel, no one suspects this voyage is doomed. To compound matters, the Nazis overloaded it with roughly 6-7 times the maximum capacity of passengers. As with the Titanic, when it went down, all those below decks were drowned with the ship and all those on deck were immediately dumped into the below freezing water--neither group with a chance of survival. For example, though one girl in a life jacket ended up being pulled into a life boat, she immediately froze to death, unable to get her body temperature high enough to survive. 

Alfred is an example of a sick mind just fit for Naziism. He was forever 'composing' letters to his beloved Hannalore in his head...

Some at home did not appreciate my cleverness or abilities. They saw me as a birdie with a troubled wing that should remain close to the nest. They didn't know the truth.
I am quite confident that no one is aware of my ingenuity and objectives. 
I just might surprise them all, Hannalore. War is full of duty and decision. 
You know I have made that commitment. [Oh, does she ever...]
Yes, life can be lonely for the truly exceptional, darling. 
So I build my own nest and feather it with thoughts of you. (151)

And he continues to muse about her...

And now, years later I am still confused by our final conversation. Do you remember it?

I remember it so clearly. I ran onto the sidewalk as they were taking you away. 

I told them that half of you was part of the master race.
You stopped in your tracks and whirled to face me. "No," you yelled.
And then you screamed so very loud. "I am Jewish!" 
I am certain everyone heard your proclamation. It almost sounded like pride.

And for some reason those words are now caught, like a hair, in the drain of my mind.

"I am Jewish!" (359)

So...as gross as that vision of a hair swirling around a drain is, it isn't as scary as Alfred!  

Florian's reaction to Alfred as he quotes Mein Kampf:

I didn't respond. Small hairs on the back of my neck lifted in warning. 
This guy wasn't a sailor. He was a sociopath in training. (280)

And as such, a perfect Nazi! Though he was as lazy as he was crazy! :)

Florian, on the other hand, had revenge against Hitler on his mind. At one point they must cross a waterway that is frozen over and Joana nearly falls into the water when the ice breaks. (That event involved a catastrophic loss for their traveling party...) Florian muses:

By grabbing the nurse I had saved her life. Why was she angry? It bothered me that she was mad. It bothered me even more that I cared. But I needed her help. 
So I had to say I was sorry. But I didn't have to hold her hand. (158)

True, Florian, you did NOT have to hold her hand...however...you did! :)

I lay back down on the cold tile floor. I reached into my pocket and pulled out her note about the sewing kit. What sort of girl leaves a promissory note in the midst of a bloodbath?

An honest one.

I stared at her pretty handwriting, memorizing it and tracing over her signature with my finger. 
I had slipped the drawing back into her suitcase. Yes, I was that good. (171)

Florian was definitely good...at many things, not the least of which was forgery. Though his father had encouraged him to create, he would rather duplicate...

He acknowledged and praised my talent, but wanted me to produce instead of reproduce. 
"You are so talented, Florian, why not create something of your own, something 
that comes from your imagination? As the philosophers say, 'Life is short, but art is long.' Contribute a piece of art instead of copying others, son."

But I wasn't interested. I loved the idea of restoring old treasures and pieces of art. 

And once in a while, I like copying them too.

Ironically, though it may seem more appropriate to create your own art, these 'duplication' skills are what allowed Florian to escape. Though it was without his 'ill-gotten gain,' he ended up with much more valuable things! He observes to Joana,

You seem happy working with the doctor. I bet you were top of your class."

She laughed. "Yes, top of my class, but what does that mean now? 
Can you believe I used to study instead of going to the beach?" She shook her head. 
"But I do like helping people. and I like being one step closer to my mother." (211)

However, if not for Joana's advanced medical skills, Florian would have died of his wound and the resulting infection! 

Little does Emilia realize how ironic and ultimately grotesque her lullaby would be...

All the little duckies with their heads in the water

Heads in the water

All the little duckies with their heads in the water

Oh, such sweet little duckies. (76)

This is what she thinks as she floats along, first with Alfred for a companion, then alone...until the raft finally beaches on land.

Sepetys does an excellent job of portraying the prejudice and discrimination resulting from stereotyping, even among those who have nothing and are all just trying to survive and make it to evacuation. For example, Eva constantly wanting to abandon Florian whom she assumed to be a deserter, and Emelia due to her Polish heritage! Sepetys describes her years of research and acknowledges the many people who helped her gather information along the way at the end of the book. I am so grateful for those like her who are willing to dig into the past and educate the rest of us about such human tragedies. Let us never forget just how easily we can be turned against one another, for it is still happening in numerous locations around the globe today. 

Powerfully written books such as this and Doerr's lead me into seemingly wild philosophical ramblings as posted here. It requires much time and effort for me to attempt to make it all understandable to myself, let alone others! Hence, the reason why I have yet to distill my thoughts into a full review of All the Light We Cannot See, which is, in my opinion, one of the best books I've ever read. However, Salt to the Sea definitely runs a close second to Doerr's work. Fortunately, since this is a library book and another patron has placed a hold on it, I was unable to renew it, and read it in two days during the workweek! So perhaps this library thing is good for more than just discouraging me from buying more books, but also encouraging me to review books in a timely manner! Whereas I can wait a bit to review those I own--they're not going anywhere! :) I am grateful to that patron and can only hope s/he derives just as much enjoyment and gains as much insight as I feel I have as a result of this reading experience!

Of course, the more I learn about rich American businessmen who made literal fortunes off supplying the Nazi regime with all types of goods, the more I believe wars could simply be a function of the 'rich despots' who may not physically hold seats of power, but covertly manipulate policies and politics for no more than their own financial gain, to the detriment of the world's population. Ah, yes, despite the old adage, greed is definitely NOT good! I strongly encourage you to watch this video! Knowledge of such things makes me so angry and sad beyond compare... But this book, this book, is a beautiful rendering of humanity. 

Simply stated--you should read this book!

I cannot imagine being disappointed!

Literary Wives #12

The Shoemaker's Wife 

  by Adriana Trigiani

     I was correct in my assumption I would like this novel. With all I've read about the author, I felt certain she would be a favorite for me, and now she is! I was mistaken in believing this novel to be the first in a series, as it is a stand-alone. However, I have begun reading Trigiani's Big Stone Gap series as a result of reading this book! And I am loving it, too. Have you read this book? Or any others Trigiani has written?

Image courtesy of author's website

Be sure to check out the other hosting bloggers' reviews:
Emily of The Bookshelf of Emily J
Ariel of One Little Library
Carolyn of Rosemary and Reading Glasses
Kay of whatmeread
Naomi of Consumed by Ink
(Two others are currently on hiatus.)

     One of the main themes that has stuck with me from this book is the reality that following the initial invasion of this land and virtual annihilation of its native peoples, it is the hoards of people who arrived by boat who further developed what would become the United States of America. Native Americans are the only non-immigrants to this land. It always amazes me that certain folks believe themselves to be above others in social status. Hello! Excepting members of indigenous Native American tribes, our ancestors all arrived in the same way as "immigrants," so no one of us is better than the other...but, I digress...
     The first 20 pages of this book described a scene I found heartbreaking and unimaginable--a mother with no choice other than to abandon her two sons to the nuns of a convent. Why? Because her husband is dead, it is 1905 in the Italian Alps, and she is destitute and ill...there were no "social safety nets" back then, if you had no family on whom to rely, you were on your own to survive. Fortunately for Ciro and Eduardo, these nuns were quite kind, caring, and compassionate toward them. However, due to one immoral and unethical priest, they were finally split up in their teen years--Ciro was shipped off to the U.S. to work as a shoemaker's apprentice and Eduardo enrolled in seminary. 
     Ciro had always been a hardworking soul and he not only learned, but very quickly excelled at this trade. Not long thereafter, Enza and her father departed the Italian Alps to work in the U.S., sending every spare bit of money back to build a real house for their family on the mountain: she as a seamstress and he as a laborer. Thus begins the start of several near-misses and actual meetings between Ciro and Enza during their young lives, following that first kiss on their Alpine mountain. (I was reminded of One Day by David Nicholls.) My heart broke for Ciro when he had finalized his preparations over the course of many weeks to properly "court [Enza] with the dream of marriage, when and if that was her desire," only to find she had moved from Hoboken, and he had no idea where to look for her or how to find her. 
     As a result of this disappointment, Ciro enlisted in the U.S. army to "see the world and do his bit." I had not realized that military recruitment at that time was aided by offering citizenship to those who served, making military service the fastest route for immigrants to become U.S. citizens. Simultaneously, Enza begins work at the Metropolitan Opera House, sewing costumes, and meets Vito Blazek, who demonstrates and offers her a luxurious lifestyle previously outside her realm of possibility. Although initially agreeing to marry Vito, she ends up marrying Ciro, traveling with him, Luigi and Pappina, to Minnesota to begin a new life in the U.S. western frontier. And the rest, as they say, is history... (You'll have to read it!)
     Trigiani's characterization and descriptive language are totally engaging and transported me back in time; I felt as if I was there with these characters! Enza and Ciro had an immediate and complete attraction for each other, one that far exceeded surface level; I believe they were indeed "soul mates" as we would currently term it... As they crossed the ocean together, Ciro tells Luigi, "Everyone should have what they want," remembering Enza had shared this belief with him in their brief interactions on "their mountain" just before his sudden departure. She was seemingly always in his thoughts and he in hers, though she tried to deny this to herself many times over. 
     I have always admired the courage of those who choose to relocate outside their country of origin, with no knowledge of the language, culture, or customs of that new country. Of course at the turn of the 20th Century, most people had little to no real knowledge of any country or culture other than that into which they were born. I can barely imagine the reality of landing in a new country, unable to communicate with anyone other than those few who also speak your native language, etc. Now that takes guts! This book truly brought the struggles and successes of such immigrants to me, and I feel as if I have a much better understanding of their challenges. Interestingly, this story was inspired by Trigiani's knowledge of her own ancestors' experiences. 

Now for our "wifely" questions...
1. What does this book say about wives or about the experience of being a wife?        
    Enza and Ciro were both introspective, realistic, and practical people. She realized that "...the life she'd always dreamed of, was about the family, not just two people in love. It was a fresco, not a painting, with details that required years of collaboration to create. A life with Ciro would be about family; a life with Vito would be about her." How insightful! This is why she chose life with Ciro, as she knew it would include caring about and loving others, not just someone loving her. Though as we later learn, Vito married at least three times, so it's quite likely he would not have remained as devoted to her throughout time anyway...or perhaps he was always dissatisfied with anyone but Enza. 
    Being a wife, especially in the early 1900's, was perhaps much more limited in scope than it is now. Although Vito obviously adored Enza, it was almost as if he "worshiped her from afar," without their having developed a deep-down friendship. Enza desired and/or needed much more than that from her lifelong relationship; she wanted to grow and develop as a person by interacting with and caring about others. A life with Vito would not necessarily have offered her such opportunity, but would have been a very self-centered superficial existence by comparison. This demonstrates that being a "wife" can have many different meanings.

2. In what way does this woman define "wife"--or in what way is she defined by "wife"?
     Literally, just as Enza is preparing to enter the church to marry Vito, Ciro arrives on the scene and stops her.
          "You would be mine."
          "This ring says I'm his." She showed him her hand, the ruby and diamond ring sparkled in the sunlight.
          "Take it off. You don't have to marry me, but you can't marry him."
          "Why not?" Her voice cracked beneath the strain of emotion.
           "Because I love you. And I know you. The man in that church knows the American Enza, not 
                the Italian girl who could hitch a horse and drive a carriage. Does he know the girl who sat by 
                her sister's grave and covered it with juniper branches? I know that girl. And she's mine."
           Enza thought of Vito, and wondered why she'd never told him about her sister Stella. Vito only         
                knew the seamstress to Caruso; he didn't know the Hoboken machine operator or the eldest 
                in a family who made it through the winter eating chestnuts, praying they would last until the 
                spring came. She hadn't told Vito any of her secrets, and because she hadn't, Vito was not 
                really a part of her story. Perhaps she had never wanted Vito to know that girl.
           "You can't come back here and say these things to me." Enza's eyes filled with tears. "I have a life. 
                A good life. I'm happy. I love what I do. My friends. My world."
           "What world do you want, Enza?" Ciro asked softly.                   (pages 310-311)
Enza realizes, "There would be such ease to life with Vito!" But in the end, "..she [was] meant to be with a man who understood her, down to her bones..." There were so many things involved in this exchange that revealed so much about these two people. Firstly, Ciro is an extremely kind, caring, and patient person, especially for a male of these times! Secondly, Enza is capable of deep introspection. Although she notes that "Life is a series of choices, made with the best of intentions, often with hope," she realizes those choices have brought her to this decisive point, and that the past does matter to her. I loved Ciro so much for offering his love and reasons, but allowing her to make her own choice, and offering her the option of not marrying either one of them. 
     I was struck by Enza's immediate reaction to Ciro, stating that wearing a ring indicates she belongs to a man--"I'm his." For the times, the idea of a wife belonging to a man or being owned by her husband was perhaps still quite acceptable, but for me, this was a shocker! Although Ciro was declaring some type of "ownership," it was based upon their shared experiences, heritage, and intimate knowledge of each other. Obviously, Enza desired to be much more than just a "wife" in these terms, as she was quite proud and satisfied that she could contribute her own money and work to a genuinely collaborative lifelong partnership with Ciro. 

If you've read this one, what was your reaction to it? What did you learn from it?

Image courtesy of
Macmillan website

Be sure to join us February 2, 2015, for our reviews of The Last Wife of Henry VIII by Carolly Erickson!

This one sounds fascinating!