The Boat Runner audiobook

So many books tell of the magnitude of WWII - taking so many lives, impacting so many people, the Holocaust, the death, losses of loved ones and homes . This is the story of one town in Holland, the story of one family, representative of so many families in occupied countries and how their lives were forever changed by the loss of loved ones, by the loss of their lives as they knew it . We first meet 14 year old Jacob Koopman, who lives a comfortable life with his parents and brother Edwin shortly before the German invasion and subsequent surrender of Holland. They become caught in the the middle of the German occupation with their lives, their work taken over and the British bombing to get the Germans who have taken over the lightbulb factory owned by Jacob's father. This is tough to read at times. It's heartbreaking, gruesome at times and relentlessly sad. Four years pass and Jacob at 18 can't be sure who the enemy is, who he should hate - the Nazis who took over his country and his life or the British RAF who bomb his town and take so much more away from him. His moral ambiguity charts a dangerous course for him. The writing drew me in immediately and it is so impressive for a debut novel. The characters are developed so fully . We come to know well not only Jacob, but his brother Edwin and his love of art, his father's drive to protect his business in belief that it will protect his family, his mother's love of her family and her music and his Uncle Martin who ultimately becomes the beacon of hope for Jacob to find his way to redemption. An amazing ending brought tears and hope to me with its relevancy for today. Highly recommended.I received an advanced copy of this book from HarperCollins through Edelweiss.

It's 1939 in Holland and war is about to erupt. Two young Dutch brothers, Jacob and Edwin, are sent to a German camp in order for their father to secure German business. Then, the war starts and they are separated and their lives are never the same again. The weight of the war, the sense of revenge, the loss, the helplessness. Jacob turns to joining the german forces as the allies have destroyed his life. Naive and too young to serve, he enters blindly feeling conflicted about his loyalties. A coming of age story wherein lies his truth.Another isolated story of so many we don't hear about- the risks people took to rescue others; the children, learning at such a young age of hate; of loss; of war. 4⭐️

5 original and emotionally tender stars to The Boat RunnerI read quite a bit of World War II fiction; so much in fact, I have to make myself read other books in between at times. What I have read runs the gamut with different locations, perspectives, and characters. The Boat Runner offered something new. Holland just before the war broke out was where it all began. Jacob's family lived in a town near the water, and his father owned a lightbulb factory. Early in the story, Jacob and his brother are sent to a "camp" in Germany, some would say was training boys and teens to be soldiers. After that, Jacob and has family experience tragedy and loss over time, and this is portrayed with authenticity and tenderness. Some of the things that happened to Jacob and his family, as well as decisions that he made, in turn made me question my own beliefs and what would I have done if I had been in his shoes. It was a heavy book, thought-provoking, innovative, well-written, and a first-rate debut. This was a Traveling Sister read, and as always, I enjoyed how the discussion added to my feelings about this book. For the combined sister review, please visit Brenda and Norma's amazing blog: https://twogirlslostinacouleereading....

4.5 stars! This was a gripping, heart wrenching and heart pounding WWII story. I am emotionally exhausted after finishing this book. This novel follows Jacob, a 14 year-old Dutch boy who lives through countless wartime atrocities. He is forced to make major life decisions with a conflicted heart and mind. I grew attached to each and every character throughout Jacob’s journey – the author, Devin Murphy, did an outstanding job with character development. I was completely captivated by Jacob in this coming-of-age story – I was rooting for him from start to finish. I found myself fully immersed in his situation, feeling his pain over the many personal losses he faced, contemplating his confusing life changing decisions, struggling to find the strength to have hope and continue on. Murphy did a phenomenal job pulling me right into the emotion of this devastating, yet engrossing journey. My heart was pounding with intensity during several parts of this traumatic and unforgettable debut novel.There were a couple sections that started to drag (only very slightly) but they picked right back up soon after. This story was a slower paced build up, but well worth the wait!A big thank you to Edelweiss, Harper Perennial and Devin Murphy for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review! I am already highly anticipating this author’s next work!I read this book with some of my Traveling Sisters and we had some wonderful discussion. To see this review along with the other Traveling Sister reviews, please visit Brenda and Norma’s fabulous blog at:https://twogirlslostinacouleereading....

This is a book I will not soon forget. A read perfect for fans of All the Light We Cannot See, City of Thieves, and The Nightingale. Full review and giveaway on my blog: http://www.thebookwhisperer.org/2017/...

I read this book a thousand times...while writing it!

Boat Runner follows the story of a Dutch boy named Jacob as he grows up during WWII. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Devin Murphy deftly balances character development and interiority with a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat story. This is the best kind of literary fiction--one that doesn't fall short on storytelling but has depth, beauty, and heartwrenching revelations. I loved being on this journey with Jacob as he comes of age in wartime. The difficult decisions he has to make. The moral ambiguity of wartime choices. His pain as he watches his family fall apart. Even the terrifying way in which ordinary people were beguiled into the Nazi machine. This is a wonderful, well-told debut.

A stunning debut with a completely original and riveting take on the European WWII genre.Thanks to Edelweiss, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this digital ARC.A month ago, I declared that I would be DONE with European WWII novels given that they were all seeming the same and I was completely burned out on them. Enter Elise Hooper, the author of THE OTHER ALCOTT, urging me to try this one, as she had been on an author panel with Devin Murphy at ALA and that I'd love it. I contacted Murphy and he had his publisher provide me with a digital ARC. And OH MY GOODNESS I am so glad I found this book! I will be shouting it from the rooftops as the newest must-read WWII novel for the following reasons that make it fresh, original, and necessary:1) Set in Holland, NOT France, Germany or Poland2) Male narrator3) Maritime premise4) NO ROMANCE - I'm sick of romance sweetening up the horrors of death and war5) An eerie look into Nazi mentality and the ease at which they indoctrinated youth6) Hope within the devastation7) A very relevant message about refugeesI have already put this on hold at my public library for my husband, since I told him he MUST read it. He's excited about it, and I can't wait to hear what he thinks of it. The only thing I wish for is an author's note describing how much of the story is based on fact, since I rely heavily on these pieces to help me in further reading on the topics. I am hoping there is one in the finished edition, otherwise I will be searching it out piece by piece! EDITED TO ADD THIS NOTE DIRECTLY FROM THE AUTHOR: There is an authors note essay in the back of the final version all about how and why I wrote the book. Required reading for lovers of historical fiction and WWII narratives.

Another WWII book, that has been compared widely with The Nightingale and All The Light We Cannot See. It is unquestionable that all three books show us a slice of the war from a European perspective; however, The Boat Runner is different in that the main character, Jacob Koopman is more of a combatant than the other books' protagonists, even if he was an unwilling one. This novel is also more gritty than the others and therefore felt more authentic as a war novel. Jacob's father is a factory owner in a small Dutch town, selling headlights to Volkswagen in the late 1930's. Jacob and his older brother are sent to a German indoctrination camp, but when the Nazi's invade, his family is wrecked, and Jacob joins his Uncle Martin, who seems to be a collaborator. When Jacob learns the truth, he joins the German war machine, earning distinction, and shortly thereafter, self-loathing, causing him to desert. On his way to freedom, his eyes are finally opened and his penance is both quite real and believable.

This is an honest book. Sure there are allies and enemies in war, there has to be, but this novel is a painful and honest look at survival. It is dynamic in its story and the pace never let up. The language was poetic & poignant. Although it is being compared to some heavy hitting novels such as All the Light and The Nightingale, it is in a category of its own for lovers of poetry, story telling and history.

This book is one of my all-time favorites. I love epics that run your through all of your emotions as the pages fly by and the world changes. This was done beautifully in The Boat Runner. Many of the chapters stood on their own like little short stories; and when they joined together, they delivered a powerful and harrowing journey for the main character Jacob Koopman. This is a definite must read.