A review by apetruce
The Girl in the Blue Beret by Bobbie Ann Mason

4.0

A perfect example of the difference defining literature and "chick lit." This is literature. Immaculately researched with divine character development and unique observations. Like the difference between a storyteller and a writer. The French Resistance is a topic done and re-done in pop culture as a romantic trope. But here, I learned about it. And there are enough peeks into how chilling and horrific it was as to knock the Casablanca right out of you. I adored how the couple was older -- grandparents and yet little was made of their ages. I loved details, such as Mason's description how memories alter with time -- our hero is shocked to find parks a block away from where he pictured them time and again as he relived scenes his whole life and then, suddenly, there, 40 years later it all morphs back into his head the way it is. There are many writers gems such as this. Excellent description of architecture, clothing, food. Seemingly banal and needless details that somehow fill in the gaps that would exist in a poorly written book on the same topic. The flashback style in the front of the book is flawless, using letters and phone calls to generate them. The grittiness of today's world displaced by the horrific nature of war. What a great book -- it was just published in 2011 and I suspect there are still awards to come.