BESIDE A BURNING SEA

BESIDE A BURNING SEA by John Shors was read for the What's in a Name? 3 Challenge.

From the back of the book:

One moment, the World War II hospital ship Benevolence is patrolling the South Pacific on a mission of mercy.   The next, it's split in two by a torpedo.  A small band of survivors, including an injured Japanese soldier and a young American nurse, makes it to the deserted shore of a nearby island, never expecting the experiences awaiting them....


Akira has suffered five years of bloodshed and horror fighting for the Japanese empire.  Now, surrounded by enemies he is supposed to hate, he instead finds solace in their company - and rediscovers his love of poetry.  While sharing the mystery and beauty of this passion with Annie, the captivating but troubled woman he rescued, Akira grapples with the pain of his past while helping Annie uncover the promise of her future.  Meanwhile, the remaining castaways endure a world not of their making - a world as barbaric as it is beautiful, as hateful as it is loving, and as forbidden as it is seductive....

This book has been sitting by my reading chair for the longest time.  For some unknown reason, I kept pushing it aside in favor of another book.  I'm sorry I waited to read this as it is a beautifully written book.  Each chapter dealt with a day on the secluded island, building to a suspenseful ending.

Part love story, part mystery, with well written characters.  There were two that probably could have been developed a little more, but they were mostly in the background of the story.  The character Akira wrote haikus and each chapter began with one and there were some included throughout the different chapters.

I've read one other book by Mr. Shors (BENEATH A MARBLE SKY) and have another on the shelf to read.  This time I won't take so long to get to it.

This book was the last book for the What's in a Name? 3 Challenge (body of water) so I can call this challenge completed.  Another one that I've enjoyed, I hope to see this challenge again next year.