Honestly, I don’t like non-fiction. Give me plot, dialogue, metaphor! When I flop into bed at night, I want an escape, not facts. But that’s the great thing about a Book Club– it forces you to read books you might not choose on your own. So, since “the club” picked it, for the past few weeks, I’ve plowed my way through Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (author of Seabiscuit).
Unbroken doesn’t give me great dialogue, but it does give me an extraordinary character, Louie Zamperini. This amazing man grew up fighting the world around him- he stole, pranked, and caused mayhem as a kid in the small town of Torrence, California. Nothing could contain him. As a teen, he channeled his boundless energy into running (specifically long distance), and he earned fame competing for America in the 1936 Olympics and the 1938 NCAA Track and Field Championships. After his spectacular showing at those events, experts predicted he would run the mile four minutes, and Louie planned to prove them right.
Then World War II interrupted his training plans.
Unbrokenchronicles Louie’s experiences on the Pacific front of WWII, something I never learned much about in history classes. I’m aware of it mostly because my father spent several years of his young life as a POW in a Japanese camp in Indonesia. I can only hope the conditions were better for him than they were for Louie.
Louie launched bombs from cumbersome planes, survived a horrific crash, floated for weeks (let me repeat, WEEKS) in a poorly stocked life raft on the Pacific, and suffered for years in various POW camps.
This isn’t lighthearted reading.
But, I read not only for entertainment but also inspiration. And Louie inspires me. I don’t necessarily enjoy the gory details about air battles or the beatings in POW camps, but stuff like this causes me to pause and think:
Though they (Louie and his pilot friend Phil) both knew that they were in an extremely serious situation, both had the ability to warn fear away from their thoughts, focusing instead on how to survive and reassuring themselves that things would work out.
I’ve never faced anything as challenging as Louie did. The struggles that currently push me to my limits seem mild and petty compared to Louie’s, but I still can learn from him. By the end of Unbroken, I understood that Louie’s perception of his experiences ultimately determined how much power they had over him. During this season of Lent, I appreciate the potent reminder I can control my reactions to the stresses of life, and through the graces of humility and perseverance, I can attain peace.
Do you have a favorite inspiring character, either fictitious or real? Can you recommend another inspirational read for the rest of us? Please add your thoughts by clicking on comments below, and thanks for stopping by!
Julia
I don’t like non-fiction that much either. But I do love an inspirational read! I feel like all books inspire me in some way but I’m having trouble picking one 🙂
Yes, all books inspire me in some way too- that’s one of the many perks of reading, right?
LOVED Unbroken – one of my favorite reads. It made me want to read Seabiscuit. I also was amazed how wonderfully easy and fast it was to read, being nonfiction. Another great inspirational read: Rise to Rebellion by Jeff Sharra. He made the revolutionary war fascinating and real. All the characters – Ben Franklin, John Adams…oh, it’s so good.
Thanks for the suggestion!