The ending pulls the book together marvelously. The author’s notes about the ‘fiction’ and ‘non-fiction parts were interesting. Mark is one of the most gifted and successful novelists of our generation. His ability to weave drama, morality, and emotion through wonderfully captivating stories of the human spirit puts him among the greats.” — Tony Robbins, #1 New York Times bestselling author and the nation’s #1 life and business strategist This time, the story starts in Ukraine. The Martels are Volksdeutsche, sixth generation Germans brought to the Ukraine by Catherine the Great to share their agricultural skills. Of course, under Stalin, they became personae non gratae and Adeline’s father was sent to Siberia. During the war, the land was taken over by the Germans. Now, in 1945, the Germans are in retreat from the Russian Army and the Martels must make a choice whether to follow the Germans or stay behind to be destroyed by the Russians. The Inside Flap Podcast: “‎The Inside Flap: Inside Chat: War And Bees With Mark T. Sullivan on Apple Podcasts”

The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan – Karen K is reading The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan – Karen K is reading

If God giveth, Stalin taketh away,” Emil mumbled, and refused to give the home he’d built any more attention. In his mind and in his heart, the house had already crumbled to dust or been burned to ash. What do you think is the author’s message to readers of The Last Green Valley? What did you take away from her book? As Sullivan continues to enthrall me with the story of, as he says, “insane hardships and failure,” I am reminded that The Last Green Valley does indeed represent a philosophy of life, the ability to be resilient and relentless. It is a story that can change the lives of others not just in the substance but also in the telling. There is a very tangible idea of being able to overcome the obstacle in front of you and achieving the dream of what could be.A solid 5 stars from me. Sullivan continues to prove he is a strong story teller. He spotlights stories that need to be told.

Review: The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan | Authorlink Review: The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan | Authorlink

The Martel’s were brought to Ukraine from Germany by Catherine the Great: Empress from Russia - in 1943, to share their agricultural skills with the Russians. By 1945 ….most had lost their farms. The Martel family too, Podcast: https://tbrnetwork.com/podcasts/bookreporter-talks-to/bookreporter-talks-to-mark-sullivan/ Oh the tears! This story, inspired by the Martel family, completely gutted me and also reminded me of the beauty and strength found in love and faith. I think this book is so highly rated because it is a true story about WWII and who wants to give a bad rating to a story like this? But my rating is not because of the story (although what is the story other than suffering) - but about this book. Part of it I am certain is the narrator of the audio version - but the other part is that this story is just so depressing and awful. I never felt a relationship with any of the characters - that again probably was the narration because he is so terrible at female voices. It is during this point in the journey that Haussmann recalls who Emil really is, and while not revealing what he knows, he does everything he can to heap more pressure onto the Martels. The end of the train ride brings them to a camp in Wieluń, Poland. There they are handed new clothes and set up in apartments. Adeline and Emil soon become aware that both the clothes and the apartments had belonged to Jewish families who were dragged away from their homes and sent to concentration camps.Una novela que está escrita con el mas mínimo detalle, una historia que el mismo autor nos cuenta que estuvo investigando durante mas de un año, ya que los hechos históricos son los que son, y la historia de la familia es real salvo ciertas cosas que el autor ha ficcionado (debido a que la propia familia no lo recordaba) My only problem in my reading of this was that the current political situation in Ukraine made this unbelievably difficult to finish. I only hope that those fleeing the present-day war can eventually find the happiness and peace that the Martel family found.