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A sweeping World War II saga of thwarted love, murder, and a long-lost painting.
In the summer of 1942, twenty-one-year-old Anne Calloway, newly engaged, sets off to serve in the Army Nurse Corps on the Pacific island of Bora-Bora. More exhilarated by the adventure of a lifetime than she ever was by her predictable fiancé, she is drawn to a mysterious soldier named Westry, and their friendship soon blossoms into hues as deep as the hibiscus flowers native to the island. Under the thatched roof of an abandoned beach bungalow, the two share a private world-until they witness a gruesome crime, Westry is suddenly redeployed, and the idyll vanishes into the winds of war.
A timeless story of enduring passion from the author of Blackberry Winter and The Violets of March, The Bungalow chronicles Anne's determination to discover the truth about the twin losses-of life, and of love-that have haunted her for seventy years.
csingh
Posted April 18, 2012
Fantastic! The less I write about how great this book is, the more coherent and sane I will sound. Sarah Jio has a knack for pulling the reader into the story. She writes so eloquently that it's easy to picture yourself in the surroundings she writes about, whether its an apartment in an assisted living center in the present, a beautiful beach in a Pacific paradise, or a war ravaged hospital in Europe during World War II.
This book brought tears to my eyes. It's not a light read, of course the subject material is no laughing matter either. I dare you to read it and not be moved and not be amazed by how awesome this book is.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.BookReflections
Posted March 24, 2013
Anne feels a little closed in by the expectations of her parents and her pending marriage. Wanting to make a difference and really experience the world, Anne signs up for the Army Nurse Corps on the Pacific Island with her best friend Kitty, leaving her fiancee Gerald behind. Once Anne arrives in Bora-Bora she gets the experience that she wanted but doesn't count on finding love, drama, a mystery, and heartbreak.
Oh wow, this read had a little bit of something for everyone. Anne is a girl/woman before her time. She wants to work as a nurse but she knows if she marries Gerald her nursing degree will mean nothing. So she signs up. During WWII, many women were allowed to take certain jobs held by men and they obtained certain amounts of freedom because the men were gone. But Anne goes above and beyond that... I mean... she ends up in Bora-Bora. It was really refreshing to see her outside the mold even more than expected. The drama was very intriguing and though I guess certain aspects, there were many more that took me by surprise. This is a book where the characters change and grow; though, sometimes it isn't for the better. I turned every page with anticipating and found that this story really stuck out from the rest in this genre. Even when I reached the last chapter, I was still hanging on to the edge of my seat, not really knowing how everything would work out.
At the same time, I would say that this is a summer read and it isn't too intense in terms of sadness and tragedy. If you are looking for a summer read, this would be your pick.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.RaeOH
Posted January 10, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the setting of WWII combined with today's world. There's love and mystery - a good combination and well played out. I don't like to give too much away so will just say I was satisfied at the end.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 8, 2012
Beautifully written. Great time period. The ending had me in tears
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 31, 2011
Loved it!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted November 30, 2012
Great book. I'm happy to have a new author to follow.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.qltnbe
Posted November 2, 2012
I highly recommend reading this one. It kept you interested the whole way through. Kind of a "Titanic" love story ending.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 31, 2012
Really good, quick read!
Brooks632
Posted July 30, 2012
I had to push through the first few chapters as the characters were so WWII cliche (right down to the names) and the dialogue was so predictable. However, I did get sucked into the story and overall really enjoyed it. A good easy summer read with a deccent story line.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I have heard a great deal about Sarah and her books. I was delighted that Penguin gave me the opportunity to share The Bungalow with you.
Synopsis:
Anne and Kitty sign up for a tour of a lifetime in the summer of 1942. Both have studied to be nurses and decide to further their experience by signing up for a tour with the navy as nurses. Kitty is going for adventure and to get away from her life in Seattle. Anne feels the need to support Kitty her best friend. Anne is also engaged but not satisfied to settle down and raise a family. She discovers more than she dreamed on the island of Bora Bora. Will their friendship with stand the test of this trip? How will it change them?
My Thoughts:
The critics are right! Sarah is a great writer. I very much enjoyed the book. I got close to the end and could not put it down. Sarah’s writing has been described as life changing. I couldn’t agree more. I love a good historic story. I loved how the story developed what you got to learn about both Anne and Kitty along the way.
Friendship is one of the main themes of this book. Anne and Kitty‘s relationship changes throughout the book. It is hard when friends grow and change. Have you ever experienced a friendship change? How has that affected you? I felt that Sarah really honored this relationship in the book.
Anonymous
Posted June 27, 2012
A true love story with a beautiful setting. I can't say enough good things about this book. It's a MUST READ!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Bookworm40FL
Posted June 26, 2012
I loved this book! It was recommended by Jen Lancaster (another MUST READ author) and I am so glad that I read it....I didn't want to put it down. I immediately ordered her first book "Violets of March" and can't wait until her new one is published.
As another reviewer said, it's not a light read, but it is a fantastic book. You feel like you are actually in the middle of the story!
jmek27
Posted June 25, 2012
I so enjoyed this book!. Sarah Jio is a great suthor Violets of March was also an excellent book. Cannot wait to read more from this author. Recommend to anyone who loves to read!!!!!
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 2, 2012
A beautiful, beautiful story! I love it!!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 10, 2012
Thought it was pretty schmaltzy.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 24, 2012
We read this book in our book club and it was unanimously voted to be a waste of our time. If you like predictable love stories, this is for you. If you prefer books that are deeper and you are dissapointed when you get to the end, then don't bother with this.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Ras9808
Posted April 13, 2012
Highly recommend
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 29, 2012
Beautifully written. I couldnt put it down!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.lovebird724
Posted February 29, 2012
i devoured this book in a single day, and was moved to tears by the ending. it is an incredible period book, and it completely transports you along with the characters. highly recommend!
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 10, 2012
All the details in this book make it so realistic and once you start reading it you can't put it down! I loved all the characters in this book!
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Overview
A sweeping World War II saga of thwarted love, murder, and a long-lost painting.
In the summer of 1942, twenty-one-year-old Anne Calloway, newly engaged, sets off to serve in the Army Nurse Corps on the Pacific island of Bora-Bora. More exhilarated by the adventure of a lifetime than she ever was by her predictable fiancé, she is drawn to a mysterious soldier named Westry, and their friendship soon blossoms into hues as deep as the hibiscus flowers native to the island. Under ...