Book Review: 1949: Starlings of Peace

Reviewed by Addison Ciuchta

A testament to humanity found in the aftermath of war

The first in an expected trilogy, 1949 by Catharine A. Deever follows eight individuals throughout the titular year in the aftermath of World War II. 

Changing perspectives between the characters, readers follow the lives of people impacted differently by the same war, those who fought in it like pilot Captain MacDonald or those who fled from it like Rene, a Jewish translator. Along with a Senator’s daughter and a reporter and his wife, the characters’ paths converge at a little bed and breakfast run by Sebastian, a former German soldier and prisoner of war looking to make a new start for himself in the hotel business with his friend Heidi. 

Living amongst each other and trying to cope with the trauma of war while they move forward, the eight navigate differing perspectives, troubling political developments, and blooming intimacy between each other. 

“The war was over, and she was still hearing explosions that left more rubble to clear.”

1949 may be on the longer side with over 400 pages, but the author does a great job of breaking up each page with dialogue and action and steers clear of big chunky paragraphs. The narrative doesn’t feel too long either. The book captures the events of an entire year between the cast of characters, each of them going through their own strife and successes. This is a beautifully written novel too. The prose is impressive—succinct but cutting, capturing the exact feeling of a moment in time for these characters and the reader experiencing it along with them.

“Everyone would be wanting a night of anything other than hot wars long over, still smoking from their ashes—not yet as cold as they were going to be.”

It’s very much a character-driven story, focusing on the impact of such a war on each character and how they attempt to both cope and move on. While it is at times grief-filled and tragic, the author does an excellent job of weaving in an undercurrent of soft hope for the characters and their connections to each other. It’s touching the way those with different backgrounds and perspectives can find affection and love for each other in the most trying times. While they may argue or disagree, there is a fundamental level of tenderness for each other that shines through.

“He looked at Heidi with the doubt of a man who was expecting to lose another war.”

You don’t need to love historical or war novels to love this either. While it may help provide context to the backstory of some of the characters, the author includes enough to understand what they went through to dive right in. If you’re looking for a gentle reassurance that peace is out there even in the toughest of times, this is a great read!

Thank you for reading Addison Ciuchta’s book review of 1949: Starlings of Peace by Catherine A. Deever! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

The post Book Review: 1949: Starlings of Peace appeared first on Independent Book Review.