(Read by Edward Hermann, Random House Audio, 11 CDs, 14 hours)
This compelling story recalls to collective memory the suffering of those who endured World War II prison camps and the fortitude it took to rebuild their lives. In Unbroken, Hillenbrand, the author of “Seabiscuit,” chronicles the ordeal of Louis Zamperini, a juvenile delinquent who became an Olympic runner and then a World War II airman whose bomber crashed in the South Pacific. Surprisingly suspenseful for nonfiction, the story is rife with memorable characters and well-researched history, though the family anecdotes in the beginning sound a bit sketchy. Narrator Herrmann has a mellifluous voice and a well-seasoned delivery that maintains a perfect pace and just the right amount of energy to keep the story humming along. Grade: A
