Captain Dem the second's Reviews > Bluebird

Sharon Cameron did it again.
America with a little bit of Berlin, World War II with a little bit of its consequences.
This was marvelous.
Amazing.
Another favorite story of mine.
A little bit darker than what she usually writes but equally perfect.

So--
(Sorry no quotes in hand)
WHAT I LOVED

~The point of view

So, we have seen WWII from the side of Jews, we have seen it from Jew-suporters and helpers (I am talking about my experience with books) and other stories about survivors. What I have never seen again was the side of a Nazi.
We have that girl, that is born in a Nazi home with parents that love Hitler and his ideas. A girl who was taught how to be the perfect Nazi. We don't get a heroine who has an open mind, that doubts everything. We have a normal heroine who has accepted her environment and has accepted her lessons as truth. And it was the most amazing thing seeing how that state of mind changed. How she would see, observe, understand new things and change her opinions. I was so thrilled to see her find the truth.
The moment her life is altered is a shocking one, because it feels so true and at the same time it is shocking because you actually realise that you have never thought of that position before. I had never thought about what happened to the Germans after the war. What they went through. How it would be to find out your whole life and all your beliefs were a big lie.

~The main characters

So we have Eva, a girl who has seen too much and has learned too many truths in such a small period of time. She sees her self changing so rapidly and she loses her true self, ending up wondering who she truly are. The one her father was telling her she was? The one she turned herself into? Or something else entirely? It was an experience like no other, reading her thoughts while they were changing, to see how her mind was working out the new information it was receiving.
Another amazing thing about htat character was her selflessness. She would do anything for the ones she loves even let them hate her if that meant they were safe. She would reach the extreme just so she can do the right thing. Her character was a huge inspiration and a source of deep thought about many things. About what is justice, what is right, who has the right to judge, what it means to love someone.

Another stunning character is, of cource, Jacob. He was so surprising and sharp, with his mind racing when his interest was picked. The heroine was described as dull and small and uninmportant. Yet, he saw beyond that and saw that there was something hiding and that he should dig a little deeper. He was a part of a charity house and he would go out of his way to help people, even if it was eating up all his time. The way he approached the heroine was so endearing and you can't help but like him. And he knew everyone, having helped everyone and he had such a lovely mother.

The charity ladies were another awesome addition. In the beginning the truth is that I found them a little bit over the top kind but as the book progressed I could believe it and I could see that how their character was built. I ended up liking them like everybody else in this book.

Briggit... I can't say much about her but she was an intriguing character. One that made me think for quite a while after finishing this book.


~There was no one-sided view

In many book you might see that when having as a theme WWII we have the germans and the good guys. Whoever is the liberator from the Germans is good. But in this book you realise that that's not quiet true. We have the Communists who helped in the liberation. Where they all good? Nope. We have the Americans. Most of the books enthrone America as the one to bring the salvation. In this book we dig a little deeper. We see that everything has many sides to observe. That everyone has a motive. That war brings out the worst in people.
I appreaciated that view so much and I am glad that I now know more things about what took place during that time.

~THE ROMANCE

I sometimes think that Sharon Cameron is unable to write a bad romance. She has yet to prove me wrong. I hope she keeps on doing what she is doing because it's perfect.
I loved their chemistry so much. How the one would act and the other would follow through just so they can be together. There were lies and msyteries and hurtful words but those two knew how to talk things out. They knew how to work as a team and how to protect each other. They had a unique way of communication, talking with words, with glances and even through a twitch of one's expression. The way they would coax one another into doing the right thing, in being better, in choosing rather than being forced into a situation only because it feels like the right thing to do. And they had the advantage of the 50s setting that is a favorite of mine, with its songs and its swings and its twists. I could imagine them dancing and singing and strolling through old streets. Jumping on fire escape ladders, climbing on roofs. (I don't think I will ever find another author who likes characters climbing on roofs as much as me), driving cars in light speed, being chased and chasing after people. Hiding, doing maneuvres to escape, running through back doors and jumping on moving vehicles. This romance was epic. (view spoiler)[And what a wonderful monologue did Jake have in the ending. I could feel my heart breaking. (hide spoiler)]

~The action

And, among everything else, Sharon Cameron is able to write perfect action scenes too. I felt like I was in a movie, seeing the heroine ride that car, as fast as she could, through alleys, through trees, through building trying to escape. With her, breaking into buildings, jumping on roofs, the hero scanning for who is following, with them slipping away, hiding things in lockets. I can't say much but you get the idea. I was constantly at the edge of my seat.

~The mystery

From the very first chapter you are intrigued. And that is because even the heroine doesn't tell you everything. It's like she knows someone else hears her thoughts and hides the important part from them. At some points she was so convincing in her thoughts that you would be confused as to what was happening in her brain only to realise that in order to pretend to be someone else she would even alter her way of thinking. It was amazing. And when you sit down and you think about it you see the extent of that trait.
The whole plot was a mystery, always finding something else, new questions popping out from every chapter, new discoveries and new loses.

~THE ENDING

WHAT AN AMAZING ENDING!
If I had written this review the moment I closed this book I would have filled the page with mentions of it. And probably a ridiculous amount of exclamation marks.
It was amazing. The ending I am always looking for. A combination of heart-breaking, heart-warming, joyful feeling that lets you enjoy the rest of your day with so many positive thoughts. Sharon Cameron shares so much hope through her books. She made my day brighter and I am glad for it.
This book was heavy, don't get me wrong. It deals with difficult topics and sensitive situations, with sorrow and pain but at the end of it all there is always a bright side.

~The topic of Justice

I am surprised to find how so many of my thoughts are epxressed through Sharon Cameron's heroines and heroes. In this book what surprised me was the way justice was depicted. What is justice? Who decides what is right and what is wrong? Who is able to be the judge? And the heroine answered these questions the way I wanted her to. And the hero led her down that road. I won't let anything slip but I am so glad for morally correct MCs. (view spoiler)[I am so sick of vengeance. Everyone in books look to enjoy following that road as if it is their life's purpose and in the meantime they don't realise they actually lost precious time from their life. In this book we don't have anything like that. (hide spoiler)]


There is only one thing that actually bothered me and that was a single scene. In a busstop. Read it and you'll understand. (view spoiler)[I found it out of character for Jake to leave her alone in the night there. Sure, she wanted to be alone and stuff, but still it was a bit weird . (hide spoiler)]


READ IT. DON'T WAIT.