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libwinnie's review against another edition
3.0
The French Resistance during World War II brings together this sizable cast of characters. The plot is fast-moving, but character development and setting suffer a bit from its brevity.
kanejim57's review against another edition
4.0
This work features one of Furst's trademarks in this series: the return of characters in former installments of the series. I think that this adds some wonderful richness to the series.
andrew1987clarke's review against another edition
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
greybeard49's review against another edition
4.0
Catches the atmosphere and realism of Occupied France superbly. His plot is subtle with no histrionics or far-fetched heroics. Style is excellent - a quality read.
jacki_f's review against another edition
5.0
Paris, 1941. Mathieu (not his real name) leads a small group of Resistance fighters. They help British airmen stranded in Occupied France to make their way to the South of France, from where they can cross into Spain and return to England. It's dangerous work. Mathieu has to rely on his instincts to know who he can trust and who he can't trust. He needs to build a network of people he can rely on and be able to rapidly improvise when things don't go according to plan (which is pretty much every time). Meanwhile, a top German detective has arrived in Paris tasked with identifying and arresting members of the Resistance.
Reading this book is almost a cinematic experience. If authors could win awards for best cinematography, surely Furst would be a candidate. His writing style is deceptively spartan. He strips all unnecessary words from every sentence, but still manages to make his books rich in atmosphere and detail. He even writes the conversations in such a way that they feel they could have been translated from French. I felt like I was transported to wartime France and I was kind of startled when I looked up from the book to find myself here in 2016. If you've read other books by Furst you'll know that his books, while standing alone in their own right, feature many crossover elements and part of the pleasure in reading them is recognising elements that he has used before - Brasserie Heininger, British agent S Kolb.
I notice that many of the other reviews for this book are quite critical of the absence of a coherent plotline, but the meandering plot structure is very typical of Furst and in fact I thought it was less true of this book than of several of his others. What it gives you is a clear sense of how one Resistance Cell might have operated, of how the English and the Germans may have reacted to it, and of the constant stress and danger that its members operated under. I also really liked the way he brought things together at the end. Several reviews also comment that the characters are caricatures, but while it's true that they may only have small roles I feel like they are rounded and real people. In a book like [b:The Nightingale|21853621|The Nightingale|Kristin Hannah|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1451446316s/21853621.jpg|41125521] for example, the characters are more filled out but to me they are much more caricatures than Mathieu and his crew.
If you enjoyed this book, I recommend [b:Trapeze|13000865|Trapeze (Marian Sutro, #1)|Simon Mawer|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1333580751s/13000865.jpg|18161766].
Reading this book is almost a cinematic experience. If authors could win awards for best cinematography, surely Furst would be a candidate. His writing style is deceptively spartan. He strips all unnecessary words from every sentence, but still manages to make his books rich in atmosphere and detail. He even writes the conversations in such a way that they feel they could have been translated from French. I felt like I was transported to wartime France and I was kind of startled when I looked up from the book to find myself here in 2016. If you've read other books by Furst you'll know that his books, while standing alone in their own right, feature many crossover elements and part of the pleasure in reading them is recognising elements that he has used before - Brasserie Heininger, British agent S Kolb.
I notice that many of the other reviews for this book are quite critical of the absence of a coherent plotline, but the meandering plot structure is very typical of Furst and in fact I thought it was less true of this book than of several of his others. What it gives you is a clear sense of how one Resistance Cell might have operated, of how the English and the Germans may have reacted to it, and of the constant stress and danger that its members operated under. I also really liked the way he brought things together at the end. Several reviews also comment that the characters are caricatures, but while it's true that they may only have small roles I feel like they are rounded and real people. In a book like [b:The Nightingale|21853621|The Nightingale|Kristin Hannah|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1451446316s/21853621.jpg|41125521] for example, the characters are more filled out but to me they are much more caricatures than Mathieu and his crew.
If you enjoyed this book, I recommend [b:Trapeze|13000865|Trapeze (Marian Sutro, #1)|Simon Mawer|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1333580751s/13000865.jpg|18161766].
richardwells's review against another edition
3.0
I've read all the Night Soldiers volumes, and they all rise to a certain level of competence, and some of them soar with moral dilemmas, musings about war and humanity, and a deep sense of noir.
A Hero of France is a good story, and essential to the batch. It's straightforward, but doesn't have the depth that marks the best of the series.
It's still a good way to spend time, and I don't want to damn it with faint praise. Don't take a pass just because it's not the best, because if definitely adds to the saga.
A Hero of France is a good story, and essential to the batch. It's straightforward, but doesn't have the depth that marks the best of the series.
It's still a good way to spend time, and I don't want to damn it with faint praise. Don't take a pass just because it's not the best, because if definitely adds to the saga.
spaffrackett's review against another edition
3.0
Brief glimpse into dramatic lives lived during WW2. Read of few of these now and they haven't disappointed.
doobyus's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastic book that really creates an authentic atmosphere of Nazi occupied Paris. The story of a resistance leader and his cell over several months batters on and keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The book reads like dramatised history and is rivetting. I havent read anything by Furst before but i'm delighted to hear he's written loads!
The book reads like dramatised history and is rivetting. I havent read anything by Furst before but i'm delighted to hear he's written loads!
ladysadiereads's review against another edition
3.0
Alan Furst is an author often suggested to me for my tendencies towards spy thrillers - especially those with a historical bent. I tried one before but it did not strike me and I set it aside for later. This week through Green Mountain Library Consortium (shout out to the excellent ebook lending library my state has!) I was able to pick up this one and see how I felt about it. Now after a tiny bit of internet research I learned that, similar to Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad books, Alan Furst's books all are related but not necessarily a series. There are minor characters who appear but it is not the same narrator or same core group at any time. Which led me to trying this novel which is his most recently published "Night Soldiers" book. (I am excited to read some other's of his books to see who I recognize from "Hero of France.")
Another reason for my interest in this book was because I am feeling in need of a book about resistance. My escapism into fiction helps to fuel my ability to function in the world but I needed some inspiration on how to continue to fight even when the fight feels already lost. Furst definitely addresses that and it was inspiring and enjoyable to read.
I was immediately engaged in this story purely because it read like oral history. There are lots of side notes and additions of information to the character's narrative which makes the book feel less like a novel and more like a storytelling. I adored the "main character" Mathieu and his patriotism and fight that did not stray too far in to trope hero status. I was curious about some of his backstory which was never really shared with the reader. I did find that I was curious about the other minor characters (one of whom seemed important and then barely showed up again, maybe he is for another volume?) and wanted more of them. This was a quick read but it did at times feel short; I was just disappearing in to this world it felt like and all the sudden it was over. Overall, I thought it was enjoyable and well written. The prose are lovely without being too flowery for it to have any fight. I look forward to reading more of his work in the future and enjoying more resistance fighters and their world perspectives.
Another reason for my interest in this book was because I am feeling in need of a book about resistance. My escapism into fiction helps to fuel my ability to function in the world but I needed some inspiration on how to continue to fight even when the fight feels already lost. Furst definitely addresses that and it was inspiring and enjoyable to read.
I was immediately engaged in this story purely because it read like oral history. There are lots of side notes and additions of information to the character's narrative which makes the book feel less like a novel and more like a storytelling. I adored the "main character" Mathieu and his patriotism and fight that did not stray too far in to trope hero status. I was curious about some of his backstory which was never really shared with the reader. I did find that I was curious about the other minor characters (one of whom seemed important and then barely showed up again, maybe he is for another volume?) and wanted more of them. This was a quick read but it did at times feel short; I was just disappearing in to this world it felt like and all the sudden it was over. Overall, I thought it was enjoyable and well written. The prose are lovely without being too flowery for it to have any fight. I look forward to reading more of his work in the future and enjoying more resistance fighters and their world perspectives.
leavingsealevel's review against another edition
3.0
These are entertaining and well-written and atmospheric and lots of good things...but it might be time to read something that passes the Bechdel test. Once I'm done with the one I just started, of course.