Extraordinary Things

Diana M. DeLuca
iUniverse (2007)
ISBN 9780595415052
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer for Reader Views (1/08)


DeLuca’s novel “Extraordinary Things” revolves around the war involving England and two women’s lives that are filled with lies and manipulation. One of the interesting aspects of the book is the author’s style which involves flashbacks from young soldier’s entering bomber aircrews to dialogues, between mother and daughter, of one of the young soldiers.

Marilyn, the mother, is controlling and secretive.  She doesn’t want her daughter to have a life of her own and leave her as the men in her life did.  The daughter is curious as to why her mother never talks about her father and their life together. As the mother’s health starts to decline she begins to give her daughter bits and pieces of information about her father. However, she doesn’t give her accurate information and this leads the daughter to search for more information about her father. Her search gives her the opportunity to meet and talk to the surviving crew of the Halifax. What she finds is not the answers she expected nor does she realize that those answers will change her life forever.
 
Initially when starting the book, I was not intrigued with the flashbacks, however I found that it added more depth and meaning to the storyline. Ms. DeLuca’s involvement in the Halifax Aircraft Families Association also lent credence to her writing.  

Although “Extraordinary Things” is fictional, it still provides some thought-provoking questions:  “Does one really need to know all the details to live a happy life?,” and “Is it one’s job to judge what individuals choose to do in war?” I also believe it applies to the wars and unrest of today – “If you were going to die tomorrow, how would you behave?”

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