When It Was Our War: A Soldier's Wife on the Home Front

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Summary: A World War II Experience
Review: Suberman has managed to combine a love story, historical account of World War II and a view of bigotry in America into a wonderful book. The history is an unadulterated view of what life was like in those war years. It is a must for those who lived through these years as the book provides an opportunity to rekindle the many memories of that time. For the younger group, it presents a picture not available in the current sanitized high school textbooks. No attempt was made to be historically comprehensive but rather to present the events that effected the lives of Stella, her husband Jack, their family and the other people around them.
The tendency would be to read this book quickly, but one must take the time to relate and savor the memories.
The writing is done with intelligence, emotion and wit. She is a refreshing voice in current literature.

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Summary: If you haven't discovered the GEM
Review: that is Stella Suberman, you must read her books. Absolutely delightful writer--the kind of person you wish was a personal friend. Flawless, seamless, writing that will wrap you into her narratives. Glorious.

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Summary: World War II told vividly and forthrightly
Review: This book deals with World War II from the personal angle. What is different about the book is that it is not just a glowing account of sacrifice but is a truthful and honest telling of the whole story. I read the author's THE JEW STORE and loved it. This is a kind of sequel and I loved it just as much.

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Summary: A Memoir That Reads lLike A Novel
Review: This book tells the story of World War II the way you want to read about it. The war is well and truly told but with a narrative slant that is most appealing. The love story of the narrator and her husband-soldier is one that gripped me, though that is only one aspect of the book. Like any good book it is written with an eye to suspense and tension and fully-rounded characters. For a memoir to accomplish this is truly amazing. Now I want a sequel.

Rating:
Summary: A Memoir That Reads lLike A Novel
Review: This book tells the story of World War II the way you want to read about it. The war is well and truly told but with a narrative slant that is most appealing. The love story of the narrator and her husband-soldier is one that gripped me, though that is only one aspect of the book. Like any good book it is written with an eye to suspense and tension and fully-rounded characters. For a memoir to accomplish this is truly amazing. Now I want a sequel.

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Summary: a book hard to put down
Review: This was a book I didn't want to end. It was a most readable book, and it held me from the very beginning through the last page. I learned, I laughed, and I cried. There was a reality to the book that made the World War II years come alive. I cannot recommend it too highly.

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Summary: starred Kirkus Review
Review: When I finished reading this book, I held it my hands for a moment for I didn't want to let it go. I knew I wanted to write something about it and when I looked at the dust jacket, I saw what I wanted to say. The book had received a star from Kirkus Reviews and the review says, "Suberman's engaging memoir...is, at once, a touching romance, sharp social history, and a subtle diary of intellectural discovery. A remarkable story that resonates with intelligence and insight." My sentiments exactly, except to say that it also "resonates" with humor and warmth.

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Summary: A straightforward autobiographical tale of perseverance
Review: When It Was Our War: A Soldier's Wife On The Home Front is the personal story of Stella Suberman, a Jewish-American woman who was still a teenager when America declared war on Germany and Japan. Stella watched her husband join the Army Air Corps and bid him farewell, not knowing if or when he would return. A straightforward autobiographical tale of perseverance, dealing with anti-semitism, enduring love, and offering a personalized look into the hopes and daily life of soldier's wives, When It Was Our War is unforgettable reading and an original contribution to the growing library of biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs of "the greatest generation".

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Summary: A Memoir That Hits Home
Review: Whether or not you remember WWII, you will love this book, which in a way is a sequel to "The Jew Store," the author's previous book, which is one of my favorites. This one gives a picture of America in the WWII years from a personal viewpoint that is both revealing and honest. The author's early years in Miami Beach makes for fascinating reading. When I noticed that Publishers Weekly had made it its Editor's Pick, I trusted their judgment and got the book. I have not been disappointed; in fact, I couldn't stop reading it. I think it is the best book I have read in a long, long time.

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Summary: Publisher's Weekly Editor's Pick
Review: Your Booklist entry does not do justice to this book. It is more than just adventures. It is a book filled with humor and deep insights. If Publisher's Weekly named it their Editor's Pick, and they did, you know it is an outstanding work. It is filled with all the things about World War II you will want to read about. It's dramatic, funny, and engaging.