Island of Saints
A Story of the One Principle That Frees the Human Spirit
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4.7 • 27 Ratings
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- $3.99
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- $3.99
Publisher Description
While digging up a withering wax myrtle tree beside his waterfront home on the Gulf coast, author Andy Andrews unearths a rusted metal container filled with Nazi artifacts and begins an intriguing investigation that unlocks an unspoken past that took place in his backyard . . . literally . . .
. . . In the summer of 1942, as the country gears up for a full-scale commitment to WWII, German subs are dispatched to the Gulf of Mexico to sink U.S. vessels carrying goods and fuel for the war. While taking a late-night walk along the coastline, Helen Mason-recently widowed by the realities of war-discovers the near-lifeless body of a German sailor. Enraged at the site of Josef Landermann's uniform, Helen is prepared to leave the lieutenant to die when an unusual phrase, faintly uttered, changes her mind.
Set in a period simmering with anger and suspicion, Island of Saints offers the very real chronicle of a small town preparing itself for the worst the world has to offer. As cargo from torpedoed ships begins to wash up on the beach, Josef and Helen must reconcile their pasts in order to create a future.
Blending his unique style of historical accuracy with unparalleled storytelling, New York Times best-selling author Andy Andrews offers a tale of war, faith, and forgiveness-illuminating the one principle that frees the human spirit.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Bestseller Andrews provides another round of light historical fiction, with themes similar to his last book, The Lost Choice. This time the person finding historical artifacts in his yard is Andrews himself. (Fact or fiction? It's tough to tell, and some readers may find that confusing.) While trying to dig out the roots of a dead wax myrtle tree, Andrews's shovel hits a tin containing WWII artifacts buttons, photos, a badge and medal from a German U-boat officer. Andrews, who lives on a Gulf Coast island, immediately begins researching U-boats in the Gulf of Mexico during the war. Who did these items belong to? How did they end up buried in his yard? What happened to the German officer and the family shown in one of the pictures? The questions lead him to uncover the past: a U-boat officer washed ashore, critically injured; a desperately bitter young war widow; a crazed Nazi; and a cast of characters from a sleepy undeveloped beach town. The underlying theme concerns the necessity and nature of true forgiveness, portrayed through the story and in occasionally didactic dialogue that may grate on some readers. But many are sure to love this sweet tale, simply told.
Customer Reviews
Island of saints
This book is amazing must read!!!!
And this is coming from someone who does not like to read at all.
Love it
One of my favorite Andy Andrews books. Such a unique story told so brilliantly. No one genre is sufficient enough to describe this story, it has a little of everything. I've never read anything quite like it. Perfect for everyone and anyone.