Of Windmills and War

Of Windmills and War by Diane Moody is a beautiful yet tragic tale set during WWII. It follows an American bomber pilot named Danny and a young Dutch woman named Anya as they both struggle to survive one of the darkest times in history. Danny and Anya first became acquainted through Anya's older brother, Hans, who was Danny's high school pen pal. Tragically, Hans is killed in a freak accident, and his grief-stricken sister and friend begin writing to one another. Their correspondence is halted by the sudden Nazi occupation of The Netherlands, and Danny goes on with his life as best he can, often worrying about his Dutch friend and her family when he watches the news. Fast forward a few years and Danny enlists as a pilot in the Eighth Air Force, flying a B-17 bomber. It's while on a mission flying over The Netherlands that he's forced to parachute out of his aircraft, and he's quickly rescued by Dutch resistance workers. One of the workers recognizes Anya and her family from a photo Danny has kept in his wallet, and soon the two finally meet.

Both Danny and Anya are such compelling characters. Danny, to me, is the typical 1940s guy; respectful, patriotic, and just an all-around good guy with a quiet strength. Anya isn't so typical in that she's a tomboy, not afraid to fight for what she believes in or get dirty. I thought both characters were well-developed, likable, and relatable. Both of them suffered so much loss and went through so many trials, as a result of the war and otherwise, and I loved that they were able to find comfort and hope through each other. Anya especially was torn apart by the war, having lost not only her family but her country. She started to shut down as a result of such devastating losses, losing hope in humanity and God alike after the horrors she witnessed and experienced firsthand. It's through Danny's love and support that she begins to heal, and their journey was a well-written, beautiful one.

I especially loved that the author used her father's real experience during the war in writing this story. As she mentions in the afterward of the book, not many people are aware of what happened in The Netherlands during WWII - the Nazi occupation, killing of countless Jews and other innocent people, and the mass starvation as supplies were cut off. Reading about Operation Chowhound as Danny participated in it was such an emotional experience; the gratitude and joy exhibited by the people who had just experienced 5 years of hell was certainly a tear-jerker. As Moody so rightly points out, may we never forget the absolute bravery and selflessness of the men and women who served during WWII, on the front lines and behind the scenes. Their service should and will be forever remembered and appreciated. Of Windmills and War is a touching and very well-written tribute to those very people, and I highly recommend reading this wonderful work.