Copper Fire – Suzanne Woods Fisher
I was asked to read and review Copper Fire by Suzanne Woods Fisher as part of her virtual book tour. This book, as I understood, was a sequel to Suzanne’s earlier novel, Copper Star where we were first introduced to Louisa – one time resistance fighter in Germany during the Second World War – now settled with her new husband and his son in Copper Springs, Arizona. Copper Fire finds Louisa content in her new life until she receives word that her cousin, Elisabeth, is currently alone in a Red Cross camp in Germany and Louisa determines to go and fetch her and bring her back to America.
I found the book very compelling. Even without having read the first instalment, Suzanne made a point to re-craft the characters with care and detail so I never once felt I had missed anything. I took to Louisa quickly, liking her strength and determination in a small town where many of the residents simply had no understanding of what had gone on during the war and what people like Louisa had experienced. It was the kind of book that I found myself thinking ‘I wonder what is going to happen next?’ when I was away from it which meant it was easy to go back to. I do tend to finish books very quickly when I get going (it is generally an indicator of how much I am enjoying it), and this one I had finished within two days of starting it.
I was very surprised that the majority of the story occurred in Copper Springs as I had fully expected it to occur in Germany, but it allowed the characters in the town to develop and a real picture of Louisa’s new life (as opposed to her old life) be drawn. I also found the treatment of the Holocaust and the difficulties anyone who had lived through it were bound to suffer was delicate, honest and well researched. It isn’t often that the aftermath of the war is written into a novel and so it was really good to read about it from a different perspective.
I had expected the underlying religious theme to be more prominent but I was pleasantly surprised that Suzanne didn’t labour the point and as a result didn’t alienate non-Christian readers like myself. It can be difficult when a writer has a passion for something and that then dominates their writing which results in making anyone who doesn’t share that passion feel like they shouldn’t be reading the book. I am pleased to say that Suzanne didn’t do that and as a result I felt like she had considered all readers, no matter what their faith.
The only small criticisms I had were related to a couple of events in the book which didn’t seem to go anywhere and didn’t carry the story forward short of developing the characters a little more. I wondered about incidents such as the argument over Louisa’s pregnancy (sorry for the spoiler) and so was surprised when it didn’t really have an impact on the plot. Rather they felt like snapshots of life, which of course have their own merits, but Suzanne’s plot was very good as it was so I wasn’t sure they were so necessary.
The other minor criticism was I was a little disappointed with the ending – for a book which was so beautifully researched and so fantastically believable, it seemed just a little far fetched. However, I wouldn’t want that to detract from the fact that I enjoyed the book throughout and was really honoured to be asked to review it.
ISBN: 978-0-9815592-0-9
Publisher: Vintage Inspirations
Year: 2008
Date Finished: 28 July 2008
Pages: 289
Challenges:
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It’s always interesting to read thoughts on a book you’ve also read. I enjoyed this book as well. I only wish I had read Book 1 first because I like to read books in sequence.
Thanks for hosting Suzanne during her virtual book tour.
Cheryl