Synopsis

1943
Twenty-four-year-old Bernhardt Lang is swept along by the currents of war until an unexpected ally helps him live a life of his own making in a place he could never have imagined himself existing.

1965
Twelve-year-old Joseph Holliman is drowning in a life no one should have to endure. When he crosses paths with Frank Gardner, everything he thinks he knows about the meaning of family is changed.

Between the Clouds and the River is a journey from the burning sands of war-torn North Africa to the mountains of Montana and British Columbia, an emotional tale of deception, revelation, identity, and belonging that reminds us all that, in the end, love is the only truth.

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Review

A tale of time, friendship, family, and war.

This novel spans approximately 30 years but bridges the gap quite easily as the story is relayed to us across the decades. The story focuses on several characters – Bernhardt Lang, Joseph Holliman, and Frank Gardner. We learn of Lang’s life during WWII as a German soldier and the trials he experienced once captured and sent to a POW camp in the USA. We connect with Joseph and Frank about 25 years later in a small town in Canada. The stories all of the characters share are rooted in emotion, both good and bad. But they form bonds that are rivaled by those around them. Not everything is easy or smooth sailing, but the experiences build the characters, who they are, what they believe, and how they act.

This is the second book by this author that I have read, and it was quite enjoyable. I got lost in their worlds and adventures. There are heartbreaking moments that are probably all too common. There are also many happy moments for the characters. The scenes and situations are real life, something many will or have experienced. Frank is gruff but has a heart of gold. Joseph is trying to find his way with a domineering father. The friendship these two formed was a pleasure to read, and I immersed myself in their world.

My only issue is that there were times when the book changed character and time frame in the middle of a chapter with no warning. It would have been nice to have a break in the chapter to indicate that it was changing voices, scenes, or time periods. I still enjoyed the story; this just slowed my reading a little bit.

We give this book 4 paws up.

About the Author

Born in England and raised in Canada, Dave Mason is an internationally recognized graphic designer and cofounder of a number of software companies. His first novel, EO-N, is the recipient of twenty-one literary awards including The Hemingway Award for 20th Century Wartime Fiction, and has been acquired for film and television. He divides his time between Chicago, Illinois, and Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

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