Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Boys in the Light:
No finer company.
Quick synopsis:
The story of the intersection between some American soldiers in World War II and the author’s father, a concentration camp survivor.
Fact for Non-History People:
Germany had over 1,000 concentration camps.
Fact for History Nerds:
Approximately 1.65 million people were kept in those camps.
My Take on The Boys in the Light:
There is a danger in over-familiarity in subject matter. When I had finished The Boys in the Light by Nina Willner, I was both satisfied with the central narrative but very let down about other aspects. Let’s start with the very good.
Willner is telling the story of three men in World War II. One of them is actually her father and the other two American G.I.s. I won’t spoil too much about each of their journeys, but Willner hits all the notes you want from this type of narrative. It is harrowing and emotional with proper payoffs for all involved. It is also very straightforward, so if you haven’t tried a book like this before then I highly recommend it.
The bad is mostly Willner’s handling of the greater societal stories around World War II, specifically on the American front. Willner tries to condense a lot into a small amount of pages and falls into the trap of both oversimplification and outright errors. Her summation of FDR, the New Deal, and Charles Lindbergh made me cringe. (Side note: If you read the book and don’t see the problems, please read America First by H.W. Brands.)
However, when I looked at the book overall, I still felt that Willner did an excellent job with the story she was trying to tell. While I wish these other aspects were as insightful as the rest, most people will not notice, and it doesn’t directly affect the main story. In summary, World War II nerds may scratch their heads a few times, but there is still a lot to love about this book.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by NetGalley and Dutton Books.)
Verdict:
A very good story especially for World War II newbies. Buy it here!
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.