Ryan DeJonghe - The Avid Reader
From Eisenhower and Churchill to the old man pounding the beach and the school kids scribbling “thank you” on the French sidewalks, this book does an awesome job of tying it all together—minute by minute.
At the beginning, author Jonathan Mayo recollects some of his favorite pieces of the D-Day story. Undoubtingly, as you read this, you’ll grab a hold of some of your own favorites, too. Mine: the story of the bible floating in the water, being returned to the soldier’s mother; or, the soldier, having never fired at another human, asking how to say apologize in German (verzeihung-es tut mir leid).
D-DAY, MINUTE BY MINUTE is a completely comprehensive examination of one of the most powerful moments affecting our world. As the author states, this isn’t about troop movements, as much as an overview of the entire scene, as it took place. “Bird’s eye view” doesn’t do it adequate justice. From the “vomit slopping around the deck” to the vegetarian, hypochondriac Hitler popping 28 pills and shots, I’m walking away from this book having learnt an incredible amount of detail.
Mayo keeps the information flowing in an easy to follow format that’s a pleasure to read and learn from—far from boring. Anyone wanting to learn more—not just about D-Day—but about the war in general, will appreciate reading this book.
Some of my other favorite stories: Einsenhower’s wife being completely unaware of what was happening overseas while attending her son’s graduation; the basis for the policy behind the movie SAVING PRIVATE RYAN; the inspirational quotes from Churchill and Patton; the soldier acting out what he saw in a Cary Grant movie; the poem being read over BBC radio as a coded warning to the French. Don’t worry about this ruining any of your own moments: there’s a plethora of detailed accounts contained within that you’ll find many of your own favorites.
Thank you to Atria and Simon & Schuster for providing an electronic review copy of this book. I feel wiser and more aware after having read it.