Heaven Tempers the Wind

""""Heaven Tempers the Wind"""" is dramatic book that tells a remarkable story. It is the story of Hazel Barker's childhood in Burma during the Second World War. As the Japanese invaded Burma, Hazel and her family retreated out of their reach, undergoing some frightening and disturbing experiences. Hazel's father was a Muslim and her Mother a Catholic, which added even more complications to the venture. It is a well-told account, grim in parts, but exciting to read. .

Heaven Tempers the Wind: Story of a War Child covers the period 1941-1946, in the memoir of Hazel Barker. The realism of her story, combined with the skills of a talented writer, create a moving memoir, both beautiful and tragic. \\r\\n\\r\\nThe narrative begins with Hazel as a young girl excited about the Children's Christmas Party and a visit from Santa. Her descriptions of her privileged and happy childhood in Rangoon, Burma, are delightfully innocent and make you smile. But this life is soon to change with the bombing of Rangoon by the Japanese Army when the family's world is turned upside down and they must flee the city with few belongings and supplies. \\r\\n\\r\\nHazel provides just enough of the broader political picture for an understanding of what's happening around her, leaving out none of the gruesome atrocities of war, but sticks mostly to her own experiences and life which is what makes the book so wonderful. \\r\\n\\r\\nTold with heart, Hazel keeps the freshness of a child just learning of the world sharing her fears, dreams and hopes for the future. \\r\\n\\r\\nI highly recommend this book, which was published in 2016 by Armour Books who kindly provided me with a copy in return for an honest review.

This non-fiction story ideals with memories from childhood of the author's family, friends and those under enemy occupation in the Burma arena of war. \\r\\n \\r\\n It is not an """"easy"""" read but is a very compelling one. Some scenes were so disturbing I had to stop for awhile, but then simply had to read on. I am ashamed that until now I was so ignorant of the war in this area of Asia. The dreadful treatment of prisoners of war forced to build the Burma railway is well-known, but this shows some of the horrors that ordinary people forced to flee the enemy had to endure. \\r\\n \\r\\nFor Hazel Barker to have these memories brought alive again must be very hard and also difficult to share with the world. We owe her a huge thank you for this very timely book. Reading this well written story has really brought home to me in vivid ways, the trials of faith, the horrors and so many other heart-breaking things refugees right now are experiencing in our own 21st century. \\r\\n \\r\\n I highly recommend this book. \\r\\n

When we see images of children refugees on our television news, it's as if we see the true face of war exposed. And this is what the reader glimpses through a reading of Hazel Barker's memoir, which tells of the effects on family and country during the Japanese occupation of Burma (1941-1946). \\r\\n\\r\\nBarker writes with amazing recall for a child not yet eight when the bombs begin falling on her home town of Rangoon. At one moment she's a privileged, youngest child looking forward to a visit from Santa, and the next she's fleeing for her life with her family, with nothing other than bare essentials to sustain their survival. \\r\\n \\r\\nShe doesn't shy from the gruesome degradation war can effect on humankind. Weaving between both family and country at war, on this frightening journey with her, we learn a number of lessons about deprivation and survival that we can only hope is never our misfortune to apply in our lifetimes. \\r\\n\\r\\nAnd yet underpinning it all, as the author grows from child to young adult, we sense that survival for her depends on a strong belief that life can, and will be, better than current circumstances might otherwise suggest. \\r\\n\\r\\nI was given this book to review by the publishers Armour Books. I consider it a 'must read', even if only to understand the plight of so many displaced people currently seeking refuge on our own shores.

Heaven Tempers the Wind' is a gripping and moving account of Hazel Barker's childhood experiences during the Japanese occupation of Burma in World War Two. From the outset, Hazel captured my attention, filling me with foreboding, and, as I read on, she engaged my emotions on all sorts of levels. I grieved for her, as she experiences such chaos and devastation and as the family moves around, struggling to survive. I ached for her as she tries to understand her father's behaviour. I wanted to honour this little girl who manages to keep a gentle heart and hold onto her hope. And I cheered her mother on, as she stays true to her faith in God, despite the clash of religion and culture within her marriage. \\r\\n\\r\\nHazel writes with skill, grace, honesty and deep sensitivity. It is also obvious that meticulous research has gone into this memoir. At times, I felt some detailed facts included and also the back story in Chapters 6-10 tended to slow the story down a little, yet both provide us with greater insight. I also felt some dialogue was a little stilted, although maybe this is a true reflection of how adults spoke in that period and culture. More about the significance of the book's title would have been interesting too. \\r\\n \\r\\nI feel privileged to have read this moving, courageous memoir. Thanks to Armour Books for my free copy, in exchange for an honest book review.