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An unforgettable portrait of suffering, hope, and love in post-World War II France, this cinematic debut novel uncovers the secrets of a little-known era.
French Riviera, April 1945. The Second World War is coming to an end, but spring has a bittersweet taste. Millions of mines still lie in wait underneath the land, on every beach. While the authorities scramble to manage this deadly threat, soldiers and families attempt to resume their normal lives, even as it becomes increasingly obvious that things will never be the same again.
Vincent anxiously returns from a German prisoner-of-war camp, with only one goal in finding Ariane, the woman he loves, who disappeared without a trace. Is she dead or in hiding? When he learns that she was forced to work at the Nazi headquarters in a nearby castle, he joins a mine clearing crew with German prisoners of war now used as cannon fodder.
In his desperate quest for information, Vincent encounters a memorable cast of characters, all scarred by the war in their own Saskia, a Jewish girl with eyes full of ghosts; Fabien, an expert minesweeper eager to bury painful memories in the sand; as well as soldiers like Lukas, Hans, and Mathias, who seem to know more than they can tell about Ariane.
French Riviera, April 1945. The Second World War is coming to an end, but spring has a bittersweet taste. Millions of mines still lie in wait underneath the land, on every beach. While the authorities scramble to manage this deadly threat, soldiers and families attempt to resume their normal lives, even as it becomes increasingly obvious that things will never be the same again.
Vincent anxiously returns from a German prisoner-of-war camp, with only one goal in finding Ariane, the woman he loves, who disappeared without a trace. Is she dead or in hiding? When he learns that she was forced to work at the Nazi headquarters in a nearby castle, he joins a mine clearing crew with German prisoners of war now used as cannon fodder.
In his desperate quest for information, Vincent encounters a memorable cast of characters, all scarred by the war in their own Saskia, a Jewish girl with eyes full of ghosts; Fabien, an expert minesweeper eager to bury painful memories in the sand; as well as soldiers like Lukas, Hans, and Mathias, who seem to know more than they can tell about Ariane.
448 pages, Paperback
Published April 29, 2025
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91 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 4, 2025
Una obra maestra que muestra cómo ver la vida desde muchos prismas. Sencillo pero, a la vez, impactante.
June 24, 2025
It started well,intriguing,but it turned into over the top melodrama,and too much lecturing. Clichéd.
I did learn about demining after WWII,a subject I'd no idea of.
I did learn about demining after WWII,a subject I'd no idea of.
January 10, 2025
With rich, vibrant prose, Claire Deya tells the story of a team of deminers made up of Frenchmen and German prisoners who remove thousands of landmines from the beaches of the Rivera. This real-life situation of unavoidable explosions is the perfect metaphor for life in France at the end of the war. A gorgeous, heart-pounding debut!
Fans of historical fiction, especially readers interested in World War II, this is a unique view on the war by a French author. It shows how little separates us at times, and how different we are at others.
Only three percent of books in the US are translations, so it is important to try to read books in translation. This novel is beautifully translated from the French by Adriana Hunter. I hope that you will check it out!
Fans of historical fiction, especially readers interested in World War II, this is a unique view on the war by a French author. It shows how little separates us at times, and how different we are at others.
Only three percent of books in the US are translations, so it is important to try to read books in translation. This novel is beautifully translated from the French by Adriana Hunter. I hope that you will check it out!
February 17, 2025
I have read more than my share of Holocaust novels, but this is the first one that focuses on the destruction that was left behind after the war was over. Blast is the story of the men who cleared the mines in France.
It also relates that against Geneva Convention Rules, German prisoners of war were used along with civilian volunteers to do this life-threatening work. These deminers, sworn enemies at the onset, learn to have faith and respect for one another while enduring this process.
Based on at least two real people, this book is definitely worth reading
Thank you to Penguin Random House for providing me with this informative ARC.
It also relates that against Geneva Convention Rules, German prisoners of war were used along with civilian volunteers to do this life-threatening work. These deminers, sworn enemies at the onset, learn to have faith and respect for one another while enduring this process.
Based on at least two real people, this book is definitely worth reading
Thank you to Penguin Random House for providing me with this informative ARC.
December 29, 2024
Great storytelling this award winning book. Gripping characters, especially Saskia. I loved it!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews