Sisters of the Resistance: The Nuns Who Defied the s by Dennis J. Turner

Sisters of the Resistance: The Nuns Who Defied the s Reviews

• 
  Mandy

  As I understand it, this book was previously published with the title “What Did You Do in the War, Sister?” Now called Sisters of the Resistance it appears at first glance to be a non-fiction work, but is in fact fiction, although clearly based on fact. Taking inspiration from a cache of recently discovered letters and documents, the author has created a fictional American nun as a focus for the story of the real nuns of Notre Dame de Namur and their brave resistance to the Nazi occupation of Belgium. It’s a gripping tale and one that deserves to be told. These nuns were unbelievably courageous and took enormous risks – but why turn their achievements into fiction? Their incredible story seems to me to be diminished by inventing fictional nuns and a fictional order, when their own true-life exploits need celebrating and sharing. It’s a relatively readable and enjoyable novel, if a little melodramatic at times, but it would have been a more fitting tribute to these brave women to tell of their defiance and deception as non-fiction.
• 
  Colette Brennan

  It is said that there comes a point in every woman's life when they are seen by society to be "invisible". Religious sisters can be either invisible or inspire fear, apprehension, respect and questioning. Perhaps these are the reasons that woman can be used in subterfuge without raising suspicion.
  This book describes , through the narrative of Sister Christina and american born Nun in Belgium, the hidden story of the many ways in which the religious sisters contributed to the resistance by hiding, saving and rescuing Jewish Children, Jewish families, Allied airmen and soldiers and German child soldiers. Their quiet devotions and obedience helped them through the difficult times. The story is created from archive letters from the Sister's Of Namur.
  Their story deserves to be told, but the novel in itself underplays the very strengths and characterstics which made their heroics possible. In short, the book sadly underplays their work and is overly simplistic.
  
• 
  AJ Foiret

  Presented as fact on the cover but after buying the book I soon learned the account is fictional. All the people mentioned in the book and the convent etc are made up to provide a narrative for events described in the found letters from the Second World War. Accounts of a nun working out how to flirt with German soldiers to divert their attentions was a painful example of ‘men writing women’. People just don’t stand in front of mirrors and think and act like that! A great shame as it could have been a fantastic non-fiction book if the author had simply published the letters as they were with accompanying information and context. I felt the resistance and bravery the real nuns around Europe showed against the Nazi regime was lost as a result of his poor fiction. I am no more informed about who these women really were than before I read the book.
  
  On a positive note, I did learn a few new things about life under occupation in Belgium.
  
  
• 
  Anne

  This book was originally published as "What did you do in the war, Sister?". I picked this from the history section but really it is memoir / fiction. The author has created a fictional character to drive the narrative. This did not work for me and I didn't get on with the writing style.