“War had bled color from everything, leaving nothing but a storm of gray.”
― Ruta Sepetys, Salt to the Sea
The struggles these refugees faced, the tragic sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff, the fight for survival. This book- Salt to the Sea, has emotionally and vividly captured the harsh and heartbreaking settings of World War 2. Making its way into my top ten list of favourite books, Salt to the Sea has a special place in my heart as the tragic history is imprinted in my mind. Regardless of whether you enjoy historical fiction or not, this book will surely allow you to empathise with the characters’ feelings and situation they are in.
Salt to the Sea is a novel from four different perspectives: Emilia, a teenage Polish orphan; Florian, a restoration artist from East Prussia; Joana, a Lithuanian nurse; and Alfred, a Nazi. Although all of them have different backgrounds, they have a common goal -which is to survive. Later in the story, four of them boarded a German ship, the Wilhelm Gustloff. This cruise ship became part of a massive evacuation for German soldiers and civilians, including refugees from Poland, Lithuania and many more. Just when they thought they were safe on the ship, a disaster struck.
The Wilhelm Gustloff is actually a true tragic story during the World War 2. It carried approximately 10,000 refugees when it was attacked by Soviet submarines. More than 9,000 passengers perished, making it the largest number of lives lost in a ship sinking in maritime history, far surpassing the losses of the Titanic.
Personally, I feel that Ruta Sepetys has described the book so well that I am able to put myself in the refugees’ shoes and understand from their points of view during those times. This is definitely a hopeful yet touching novel with a little bit of romance. I enjoyed this book thoroughly as it broadened my views of World War 2 and has given me more insights on the dreadful history. If you are looking for a heart-wrenching yet meaningful book, this book is truly for you.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_to_the_Sea
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