Review: The Blue Door

The Blue Door by Lise Kristensen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a non-fiction book provided as part of my November Book Buddy box from Elena Reads and what another amazing selection.

This is the story of a young Norwegian girl called Lise who is living with her family in Java during the second half of World War II when the Japanese invaded the country and placed a lot of men, women and children in prison camps and work camps.

This follows Lise's very personal journey and perspective of her life prior to imprisonment and her ability both mentally and physically to keep both herself, mother and siblings going during these dire times.

From the unfathomable treatment bestowed on the women and their children by the Japanese soldiers (who denied their part after the war in the atrocities), disease, work parties and so much more.

This courageous young ladies words had me rooting for her from the very first page to the last. She truly has a strong spirit which enables her to compartmentalise the atrocities she see's and experiences.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough, this is a little documented part of World War II and unless your as old as I am and remember the BBC's tv adaptation of Tenko, the most exposure we've had to this area and time frame is from the perspective of the male work camps in the profoundly moving film The Bridge over the River Kwai with Alec Guinness.

With this month being Non-Fiction November, what better time than to learn something new and from the perspective of a profoundly humbling individual.

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