the SOUND of LIGHT, by Sarah Sundin, 2023, Revell (Baker Publishing Group)

The Sound of Light
The Sound of Light

The sound of light. It’s a play on words. Lyd-af-Lys, in Danish. The 10-mile-wide strait of water between Denmark and Sweden, reflecting ever-changing sparkling light.

It’s the theme of Henrik Ahlefeldt’s life. In fact, he’s taken on the persona of Havmand the merman, inspired by the little mermaid Havfrue, whose statue sits on a rock gazing to sea.

But all of that is hidden beneath his cover name and person–Hemming Andersen. Why? Because the Nazis have taken over Denmark, and he has life-threatening secrets. But alas, he meets an attractive scientist, Dr. Elsebeth Jensen. A physicist from California working for Nels Bohr at the Institute for Theoretical Physics in Copenhagen.

She attempts to keep peace by silence, but Hemming teaches her to speak out. And Hemming, who has given up his voice, must judiciously speak out again. They, together with the majority of Danish people, participate in saving Danish Jews from deportation and death.

Sarah Sundin reveals this important history and makes it personal to readers. As I read, I identified with the characters and learned along with them. Sometimes it’s brave to keep silent, but sometimes it’s actually cowardly. There are times when one must accept the risks and speak out in order to help others. Not only speak out, but take action.

I chose The Sound of Light from Revell so I could write my unbiased review. I had wanted for years to read one of Sarah Sundin’s WW II novels, and am so glad I finally did. Thank you to Revell for the beautiful paperback.

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Read other reviews on Goodreads at: The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin | Goodreads.

Visit the author at www.sarahsundin.com to learn more about her, her awards, research and novels.

The Paris Library, by Janet Skeslien Charles, 2021, Simon & Schuster Canada

Authentic History Portrayed in a Dual Timeline Novel

The Paris Library

The Paris Library is based on the actual American Library in Paris. The author worked there as Programs Manager in 2010. She now divides her time between Paris and Montana, the other setting in the book.

The story is effectively written as a dual timeline novel. Young Lily, growing up in smalltown Montana, is fascinated by the mysterious Odile, the widow next door. They become fast friends, and Odile’s story of working in the Paris library during WWII emerges. Amazingly, the dedicated staff and volunteers kept the library open throughout the war. The Author’s Note at the end of the book fills in more details about the real people she based the characters on, plus other facts about the library that she didn’t include in the story.

The Personal WWII Within Each of Us

The Paris Library is about so much more than history, though. It’s about relationships–family, friends, lovers. Coworkers and community. Betrayal and forgiveness. The power of the tongue, for good and for evil. Most of us reading The Paris Library have not lived in the centre of a major war. Although the blatant evils of war are obvious, we often fail to see the evil in ourselves, caused by just a few words of betrayal that slip out of our mouths unintentionally. The war opened Odile’s eyes to her own guilt, and she is able to pass on the awareness to Lily before she ruins her own relationships.

I was lucky to find The Paris Library in a little free library on the roadside. Thank you to whoever left it there. Such a worthwhile read.

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Learn more about the author at JSkeslienCharles.com.