REVIEW: The Year of Counting Souls by Michael Wallace

The Year of Counting Souls
by Michael Wallace

Publisher: Lake Union
Page Count: 332
Release Date: June 6, 2017
Format: E-Book ARC

How got: GoodReads giveaway

First attention getter: subject matter

Synopsis:

From GoodReads:

As Japanese forces attack the Philippines in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, US army nurse Louise Harrison waits to be evacuated from Manila. But with the enemy closing in, Louise is forced to flee with a handful of wounded soldiers to a field hospital deep in the mountains.

Isolated in an unfamiliar country amid desperate conditions, Louise strikes up a friendship with Sammy Mori, an injured Japanese soldier with a secret. Deemed a traitor for reporting on the atrocities in Nanking, Sammy is being hunted by his brother, Yoshiko, a member of the feared Japanese military secret police.

When Yoshiko discovers the hospital camp, Louise and her patients find themselves in even greater danger. Caught between new loyalties and old, Louise and Sammy must trust their unlikely bond to sustain them through deprivation and chaos. It’s a bond that inspires unexpected acts of courage and sacrifice—a light of hope shining through the darkness of war.

My Thoughts:

Star Rating - 5

I’ve read other books from this time frame, even a few set in this general location, but this one seemed to stand out as a very well rounded look at the material. It’s this historical material that made me take notice of the book to begin with. I had high expectations and they were all met.

Wallace has a real skill with giving us a balanced, three dimensional look at both sides to this conflict. He makes his characters extremely human, showing us the faces of each side in a dark/light way. We get to see the murderous in Frankie, the poetic in Sammy, the resilient in Louise, and the fanatical in Yoshi. I appreciated the fact that one side wasn’t “good” and the other “bad”. There was cruelty/betrayal and compassion on both sides of the divide.

I felt a real connection with our lead heroine, Louise. She’s a gutsy gal with a ton of common sense and a dedication to her patients that any nurse can appreciate. She never lets her situation, no matter how bleak or scary it might get, deter her from her goals or her boys. I also appreciated the fact that the author didn’t make her the focus of a love interest either. While I could see some hints here and there, the main focus was always on Louise’s struggle for survival and her growth through her ordeal.

I also appreciate the time frame explored here. I’ve read a couple works of WWII in this area, one even with captive nurses in the Philippines, the other in Japanese occupied Singapore. I really liked this one, though, as it explored a bit the guerilla activites of the Filipinos during this timeframe and the way in which some American servicemen who were left behind helped them. The reader gets a real sense of the danger of the times as told through Louise’s eyes.

I enjoyed Louise’s journey through the rough landscape of Japanese controlled Philippines. Her, and her men’s, struggle to survive kept me spellbound. The author did an incredible job in the characterizing and story departments. He also took the time to get the historical setting and details as well. An author whom takes the time to get all these areas right is an author to check out. Highly recommended for lovers of WWII fiction or gritty survival stories with great characters.

Note: Book received for free from publisher in exchange for an honest review via GoodReads Giveaway.