1969. When Mattie Taylor’s twin brother was killed in Vietnam, she lost her best friend and the only person who really understood her. Now, news that her mother is dying sends Mattie back home, despite blaming her father for Mark’s death. Mama’s last wish is that Mattie would read some old letters stored in a trunk, from people Mattie doesn’t even know. Mama insists they hold the answers Mattie is looking for.
1942. Ava Delaney is picking up the pieces of her life following her husband’s death at Pearl Harbor. Living with her mother-in-law on a secluded farm in Tennessee is far different than the life Ava imagined when she married only a few short months ago. Desperate to get out of the house, Ava seeks work at a nearby military base, where she soon discovers the American government is housing Germans who they have classified as enemy aliens. As Ava works to process legal documents for the military, she crosses paths with Gunther Schneider, a German who is helping care for wounded soldiers. Ava questions why a man as gentle and kind as Gunther should be forced to live in the internment camp, and as they become friends, her sense of the injustice grows . . . as do her feelings for him. Faced with the possibility of losing Gunther, Ava must choose whether loving someone deemed the enemy is a risk worth taking, even if it means being ostracized by all those around her.
In the midst of pain and loss two women must come face-to-face with their own assumptions about what they thought they knew about themselves and others. What they discover will lead to a far greater appreciation of their own legacies and the love of those dearest to them.
- Publisher : Tyndale Fiction (October 1, 2024)
- Genre: Historical Dual Timeline Fiction/Historical Fiction/Southern Fiction/Suspense Historical Fiction
- Language : English
- Paperback : 368 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1496484177
****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****
The cover of this book caught my attention, and soon I was immersed in a powerful story. This dual-timeline novel seamlessly shifts between 1942 and 1969, allowing the reader to see how the different timelines intertwine. At its heart are family secrets, centered around Ava, whose story unfolds in the 1940s, and her daughter Mattie, whose narrative takes place in the late 1960s. We also meet Gunther Schneider, a German immigrant in America studying to become a doctor, who faces the challenges of wartime and imprisonment during World War II.
All We Thought We Knew explores events from both World War II and the Vietnam War. Having learned about these wars in college, I noticed the contrasting attitudes towards them, especially in terms of acceptance and support for soldiers. The book poignantly conveys the sorrow and brutality of those times.
The novel is rich in emotion, showing how each character is shaped by the wars and their decisions, highlighting how some choices can tear a family apart. It delves into themes of acceptance without prejudice, the impact of our actions on others, and the struggle to process grief and loss. It also touches on Christian themes of faith and the questioning of why misfortunes befall good people, providing many thoughtful insights, particularly for Mattie.
This story resonated with me deeply, especially as I related to Mattie's experience of watching her mother suffer from cancer and preparing for her death—something I went through myself in January 2023 when I stood by my mother's side as she passed. The character development is remarkable as they learn to forgive and support each other through difficult times. With Michelle Shocklee’s beautiful writing, this novel is heartfelt and lingers in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page. It’s a must-read for fans of historical fiction and anyone seeking a well-crafted, emotional tale of family love and forgiveness.
Michelle Shocklee is the author of several historical novels, including COUNT THE NIGHTS BY STARS, winner of the 2023 Christianity Today Book Award in Fiction, and UNDER THE TULIP TREE, a Christy Award and Selah Award finalist. As a woman of mixed heritage--her father's family is Hispanic and her mother's roots go back to Germany--she has always celebrated diversity and feels it's important to see the world through the eyes of one another. Learning from the past and changing the future is why she writes historical fiction.
With both her sons grown, Michelle and her husband make their home in Tennessee, not far from the historical sites she writes about.
Michelle loves hearing from readers! Connect with her at www.MichelleShocklee.com
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