What Did You Do In The War, Sister?: Catholic Sisters in the WWII Nazi Resistance

This is an interesting and fast paced story about the life of a Catholic order of nuns in Belgium during World War ll. The sisters mission was teaching girls at their convent school. As the war progressed, they risked their lives harboring Jews and American soldiers while enduring the perils of bombs, food shortage and discovery by the Germans. The author's forward, afterword and notes make it even more interesting.

This is a fascinating historical novel about a fictional Catholic nun from Ohio stationed in a Belgium convent during the second world war. The author's interesting, well written and researched story was inspired by his review of original documents written by Sisters of Notre Dame De Namur who lived in Nazi occupied Belgium during the war. This intriguing story of Sister Christina examines how she and her fellow nuns helped refugees, downed American pilots, and young Jewish girls survive during the war. After reading about Sister Christina's difficult decisions and her actions when confronted with the possibility of death as she faced the evils of the war and the Nazis, I myself was personally challenged to consider how I might have acted when faced with similar dangers and evils of war. I recommend this wonderful inspirational story about Sister Christina.

It was very interesting to read a book, based on true events, from the viewpoint of an American nun living in a convent in Belgium during World War 2. I’ve read many books set in various countries during WWII, but never one before set in Belgium and learned it was occupied twice by both the Germans and the Americans. Of particular interest to me was the section of “Author Reflections” at the end of the book about the “coincidences” that helped him add to the story.

The author is able to provide surprising details on the activities of these sister's during the war. Their ability to adhere to their beliefs and still provide so much assistance to those in need is amazing. Their strength and capabilities to accomplish so much with so little is a testament to their dedication. Although, the writer added some details to aid in writing the story his ability to adhere to facts and actions that would have been on par for the setting this takes place in and At no time goes off on a separate tangent. Any thanks to the sisters for the letters they left for the story to be written.

This novel is unusual in that there is almost no dialogue. I found the story itself to be fascinating, not least because I was taught for several years when I lived in Columbus, Ohio by nuns from the Order of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. One thing I found odd was the rather casual way Sister Christina decided to become a nun at the start of the book, but perhaps the author, an avowed atheist, had no insights into religious callings.The story moved along well, never dragging, and provided a good glimpse into Belgium in WWII.

Plot - World War II as experienced through the experiences of a young nun from Ohio who dared to hide Jewish children and support the Resistance. It’s fiction but crammed with actual events. The nuns are portrayed as very human with individual strengths and weaknesses including second-guessing their own decisions. It’s not some deep, probing excursion into the Catholic Church and its part in the war, rather a well-written story of some very brave woman trying to be Jesus-with-skin-on in the midst of a world on fire.

I enjoyed the book very much. I was taught by the pre Vatican 2 sisters so that made the book all the more interesting for me. The sisters in Europe suffered and were so brave in helping those who needed it most. I'm glad their story was told. Very informative

This is an important work of history with excellent research that tells the nearly unbelievable story of a small group of courageous and intelligent nuns in a convent during WWII. A gripping tale fraught with danger. They worked as spies and with resistance to slow progress of the NAZIs and protect Allied pilots who were shot down, and Jews. The convent was bombed, and they carried on with great need for material goods, yet always sharing what little they had. A historical fiction nun is created from real letters and factual, historical records. Having read hundreds of books on WWII, this adventure story is unique. It tells the story from the perspective of the life of a nun. Few will be able to stop reading once started.

A wonderful page -turner story, based on events that took place during WWII.Here are some incredibly wise, courageous and loving women who were totally dedicated to their vows and to the wellbeing of their charges. These nuns had nerves of steel, faith and a complete dedication to the wellbeing of those who sought their help.Whether the reader is religious or not, they will find that this book is a triumph of the very best of human nature in some if the darkest places in history.I have already posted the link to my friends, encouraging them to buy and tead5ad this book.

A fictional account of a true story, how these nuns helped to resist the Germans, the risks they took to save allies, Jews and all without concern for their own safety. I think too little was/is known as to how many stories of bravery took place behind walls. A book well worth the read and not overly religious but entertaining & thought provoking with some very sad bits - I am not certain if it had been me that I would have had the strength to cope

I enjoyed this, but did get a bit confused as to what was fiction and what was not. I believe only the main character and dialogue and that sort of thing is fictitious. However, it reads easily and is well documented as far as the war goes and the nuns immense bravery and goodness. I knew nothing about Belgium in WW11. It must have been diffiulct for the author, who is a confessed athiest (I've nothing against that and he's very honest about his views on religion). There is, though, little in the way of the spiritual side of the nuns lives and how they coped with their faith and what was happening in that respect. I don't think he got that part quite right and it would have given further depth into their lives. He does cover everything that makes it readable. I wish the main character had not been fictitious but perhaps there were no survivors of that period when he wrote the book. Well done to him to take on such a huge challenge though and to make such a good job otherwise. It's well worth reading.

Sadly this book did not grab my interest in the first two chapters, lost motivation to read thereafter. Tried speed reading the rest to no avail. Heavy going and hard to tell where fiction ends and facts begin. Not what I expected, given the book is supposedly based on letters actually written. Bitterly disappointed, as I have read many true stories & biographies on same or similar subject and this is the worst I am sorry to say.

Really disappointing. It might have bern based on fact but because the author had taken what he knew and changed it into a novel detracted from it. Disjointed and even worse when he felt the need to explain at each point that he had altered or collected incidents into one. It was dry and quite emotionless. Not helped by being written by a man. He didn't get into the soul of it at all.