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Unbroken

a World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
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mcmahonn
Aug 09, 2016mcmahonn rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This is an extraordinary historical account of survival in times of war under unimaginable circumstances. This story demonstrates how courage, strength and faith can overcome any obstacles. My favorite part of this amazing story was not all the unthinkable trials he went through, but the admirable way he reacted to it all and his miraculous journey to forgiveness and healing. It inspired me not to give up and reminded me that in spite of adversity and even when I’m are not aware, there's a divine being that is present and gives strength to endure and to forgive. It is remarkable, moving, intense, exceptional and encouraging. I highly recommend that people read this book sometime in their life, it’s not just a story, but an unforgettable experience. Brief Recap The story illustrates the life of Louie Zamperini and the atrocities of war. When he was a young boy he was delinquent. Eventually he became a runner and participated in the Berlin Olympics. Later he became an airman, then his plane crashed into the ocean and he was stranded for 47 days surrounded by sharks. After this, he was captured by Japanese forces and became a prisoner of war that endured horrible dehumanizing treatment. Favorite part After his unbelievable ordeal he finally returns home, but the war wasn't over in his heart. He remained chained to the memory of his captors, his mind became his new tormentor. It was difficult for him to live life, he was self-destructing. His desperate wife took him to a Billy Graham Campaign where he had a spiritual awakening and found redemption. As he stood there surrounded by the chairs and people, he suddenly had a flashback. Everything disappeared and instead he was in the open sea again. He remembered the day he admired the still beauty of the ocean and the sky, it felt like a gift to him, and at that moment he believed that his surroundings were the work of someone bigger. That day he forgot his terrible circumstances and only felt gratitude. As he came back from that memory, he felt uneasy and wanted to leave the campaign, but as he was walking towards the exit he had another flashback of the raft at sea. He saw his dying friends, the sun beating on them and the sharks swimming around them. He remembered how desperate he was for a drink of water and how in that moment he whispered: "If you will save me, I will serve you forever". The following day it poured and they survived. As his flashback ended it started to rain outside as well, that's when he decided that instead of leaving he would go to the front. There he experienced a spiritual rebirth and believed, his mind would never torment him again. After this experience he returned to Japan to see his captors, not to seek vengeance, but to forgive them. As he saw them, all he felt was compassion and he realized the war in his heart was finally over. He finally had peace, he was finally set free. Favorite Quotes: “Dignity is as essential to human life as water, food and oxygen." (page 183) "Awed to silence, forgetting his thirst and his hunger, forgetting that he was dying, Louie had known only gratitude. That day, he had believed that what lay around them was the work of infinitely broad, benevolent hands, a gift of compassion" (page 374) "What God asks of me, said Graham, is faith. His invisibility is the truest test of that faith. To know who sees him, God makes himself unseen"(page 375)