DNF - 3 star - Not for me, but of artistic merit

What we need to realize going into this review is that I joined Netgalley and Bookstagram in the spring of 2021. Before joining bookstagram, I searched for books about the human experience, and especially enjoyed ones about people finding love amidst hardship. I requested books accordingly, and really wanted to find some hidden gems that would be the next literary sensation. But what I found was that I am actually, above all things, a romance reader, and once I started reading romance novels, my taste in reading took a complete 180. I am no longer comfortable with graphic displays of violence or acute suffering for the entirety of a novel.

This book is for you if you are looking for a gritty historical fiction about a little known aspect of World War II. The writing style and language makes you feel like you are right on the page with Sam, our main character.

I think it the core of this story is extremely relevant - what happens when the oppressed become the oppressor? And perhaps one day I will come back to this story when I'm seeking some understanding of that idea. For now, I will be seeking out stories of revolutionary happiness, which no one would describe this book as.

Interesting historical fiction to illustrate the post war events in Indonesia. Told from two points of view, one addressing the future and one the past, this novel examines the post-WWII Dutch military buildup in Java to prevent the Javanese independence movement. Sam, just released from a Nazi labor camp, is part of a unit tasked with finding and killing insurgents, a mission that quickly devolves into barbarism and unchecked violence. Numerous secrets and histories come to light over the course of the novel, and in the end, the reader is left to consider the ongoing casualties of colonialism worldwide. The author has woven her father’s experiences of occupation and in Indonesia with other historical accounts and events to write a thoughtful and balanced account which attempts to portray both sides of the conflict in Indonesia fairly. Definitely interesting the impact of the war on all areas of the world this one is focused in Indonesia.

Thanks to Netgalley, author and publisher for the opportunity.

Covering a part of world history that Americans know little about, What is Written on the tongue takes a hard look at war, colonialism, and the justifications for world policing. The plot pacing, the descriptions, and the dialogue show a poet’s sensibilities. In some places, it could use more nuance and less commentary. Even though it is more tightly managed and more effective than usual, I’ve still had enough of the bouncing between points of view and/or time periods. The trend is overdone.

Thank you to Anne Lazurko, ECW Press, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

A fairly standard WWII POW drama - I didn't feel it added much to what I already knew. If you enjoyed Narrow Road to the Deep North you'll probably enjoy this.

The topic sounds interesting but the progress of the story is really slow that I couldn't manage to finish it. There are two stories in parallel, one takes place in the Netherlands during the German occupation in WWII, and another one in 1947 in Indonesia as the Dutch attempted to regain control over what was Dutch East Indies, told from the Dutch point of view. I praise the author's attempt to write this often left-out part of history since the Dutch and Indonesians still view the period between 1945-1949 but somehow the story didn't resonate with me.

This wasnt the easiest read but is well worth persevering with. There is a lot to take in and think about as we explore the life and feelings of Sam during two different periods of his life. Living in the Netherlands under Nazi occupation and enduring life in a forced labour camp and his role on the Island of Java trying to fight against Indonesian Independence. It is a beautifully written well crafted story

It took me a while to get through this one, partly because it was so sad and depressing, but also because the transitions between the two timelines were not as seamless as possible. Despite the heaviness, I am glad I read this book because I learned about a time and place in history, namely the occupation/colonization (?) of the island of Java by the Dutch. While this story is one of fiction, the author based many of the characters on an amalgamation of real people or groups in history, as well as his father's stories of his time in Java. With all that is going on in Ukraine, this story was very believable and realistic. It was definitely not happy.

The story is narrated by Sam, a young Dutchman who survives the German occupation of their land during WWII, only to be thrown into a war in the jungles of Java, where the Dutch are fighting Indonesian rebels to "protect the land and its peoples". Sam's character is very well drawn and you learn much of what he thinks and feels in every situation, whether it's in his past, as a teenager when Germany invaded Holland, or in his current state, trying to figure out if he's on the right side, if there IS a right side, who is a friend or foe. This book took me a long time to read, partly because it was so hard, but around 2/3rds of the way through, I hit a stride and ended up finishing the book in one sitting. I definitely shed some tears during this time, but some of it was over the beauty of his time in the hospice.

There is so much to this book, but it is truly a slow build and those who don't have patience may not find this book to hold their interest. But there were so many layers that I found fascinating, as Sam struggled to make sense of where he was both in the past and in the future and that part of his healing involved writing the stories of each of the people who were part of his life, even if only for a little while. This book covers religion, colonialism, war crimes, philosophy, homosexuality/homophobia, what it means to be a good person, and so much more.

Overall, I'm very glad I picked up this book and persisted in finishing it. It was definitely worth my time.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley and the publisher for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Very interesting insight into a lesser known (to many) piece of our history. The experience of the protagonist in Europe is starkly contrasted with the Indonesian conflict, all demonstrating the terrible impact of war regardless of region. Some shocking content here, but well worth persevering as it is both educational and engaging.

I didn’t complete this - the plot sounded interesting, drawing parallels between the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands and the Dutch colonisation of Indonesia, but the execution didn’t quite live up to promise. It was quite long winded and nothing particularly eventful seemed to happen.

The novel was told on dual timjeline and the story was told through first person by Sam, a teenager during the Nazi occupied Holland,Sam lived in constant fear of being sent to a concentration camp. rough. Through Sam's writing. "my notebook was, a suspicion, as the writings of any teenager the final "chink in the Nazi armor". As the reader, we get the story through Anne Lazurko's dark words the novel was simullar to the novel, The Heart of Darkness. Once the war was concluded, Sam was sent Java in order assist with coloinze the colony.
I normslly enjoy historical fiction; however, I struggled with this novel. I admired the writing, which was very desriptive and I would be open to read more of whet she writes. I tend to focus on the characters and I want to read more of what she writes. I tend to focus on the characters and I want to read where the main character evolves. Sam had no choice but to grow,, if he stayed flat, I do not think that he would have survived. Although this novel was not for me, I cannot in good conscience give this novel anything less than 4 stars. Thank you Anne Lazurko, ECW Press, and NetGalley for the opportunty to read the eARC and post an hoenest view.

Sam Vandenberg’s life in the Netherlands changed when he was thrown into a Nazi work camp for scavenging potatoes, not far from the end of WWII. When the war ended Sam was released and, hungry, mentally traumatized, he made his way home. It wasn’t long and he was sent to the island of Java, where he and his squad were suddenly fighting a guerilla war while attempting to regain control of the Indonesian colony. Suffering from the heat and humidity, the fungal diseases between toes and other areas of their bodies meant the men were continually in discomfort, their moods angry and distressed.

Sam was concerned that his men were turning into the Nazis, with the brutality seeming normal. Sam’s feelings for the beautiful Javanese girl, Sari, were reciprocated, but Sam wasn’t sure who he could trust. With the men in his squad dying and his confusion growing, he wondered if the people of the village were for them or against. Taufik, an orphan child, had attached himself to Sam, doing his limited best to keep him safe.

What is Written on the Tongue by Anne Lazurko is a difficult book to review and was a difficult book to read. The cruelty and brutality, which I found hard to read, were what caused Sam’s confusion about his and the squad’s role in the war. Sam was an excellent character who had lost his youth far too soon – which of course is what happened to all the young men in the world’s wars. Poignant, heartbreaking and powerful, What is Written on the Tongue is an intriguing historical novel which I recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and ECW Press for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

If you are even just a little bit interested in historical fiction about the WWII era, please put this on your to-read list. My favorite part of this book was at the end, after finishing the story, feeling raw and sad, then reading the author’s personal notes. Her sincere revelations make this book mean so much more. She listened to her father as he recalled events. She read and researched what she could, but much about this particular angle of the war isn’t commented on with the depth and scrutiny of better-known events. This story enlightened me; I had no clue how the Dutch were handled, or how they in turn handled the effects of the war. This is a very emotional and deeply moving book about man and war, the profound effects of one on the other.
Sam is in the Dutch military, conscripted to go to Indonesia and fight the mercenaries. There are tremendous parallels between this occupation and America’s occupation of Vietnam. And the results were both dismal.
As Sam is facing each new day in the jungle, fighting trench foot, skin rashes, malaria, heat, and humidity, he flashes back to his earlier years at home with his brother Leo. As the story continues, Sam’s flashbacks bring him closer to the current time, including his time spent as a prisoner of war in Germany.
Eventually, just as you're sure the shock and pain of war can’t get worse for this young man, it does.
The only way he is truly able to heal in the present is to write down and face what he’s ignored in the past.
The only soft spot in his current life in Indonesia is Sari, a nurse in the village. But even his love for her is a double-edged sword once he learns who her father is.
Deeply moving, very informative, sincere, and solemn to the memory of all who were affected, this book really got to me. Its stage is war, but there’s so much more to this author’s writing and manner of conveying, so much human emotion; deep, unspoken, and respectful.
Sincere thanks to ECW Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The publishing date is April 26, 2022.

What happens when the colonized becomes the colonizer, the prisoner becomes the prison keeper? That's the question for Sam, who, as a teen in the Netherlands, is forced to work for the Germans. Immediately after the war ends he's thrown into another when he's drafted and sent to Indonesia to quell an uprising. He's conflicted, he falls in love, he struggles with so much. It's a hard read in spots due to the brutality of the situations but there's also wonderful atmospherics in Indonesia. And the love story. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For fans of historical fiction.

‘It seems that nothing about the war is forgotten, nor forgiven ...’

Sam Vandenberg is a teenager growing up on a farm during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands during World War II. While Sam manages to avoid German attention for much of the war, after he is caught scavenging for potatoes, he is sent to a German work camp. Aged 20, Sam is released from forced labour as the war ends. But Sam is quickly drafted by the Dutch and sent to the island of Java as the Netherlands tried to regain control over the territory which had been occupied by the Japanese during the war.

Having survived war, Sam now finds himself fighting in a guerrilla war, fighting those who are seeking Indonesian independence. He is now one of the oppressors. Sam is caught between his love for Sari, a Javanese woman, and for Java, and his concern for friends in his squad killed by snipers or by tropical diseases in the jungle.

Ms Lazurko takes us deep into Sam’s conflict, and as he recognises the tensions he feels, he thinks about the actions of others he may have judged in the past. Who can he trust? How can he reconcile his own ideals with the situation he is in? He has fallen in love with a Javanese woman, has come to know some of the villagers as friends but also has responsibilities to the squad he is part of.

Ms Lazurko’s novel takes us from the occupation of the Netherlands in World War II to the (then) Dutch colony that is now Indonesia. Sam’s story reminds us of both the horrors of war, and the struggles for post-colonial independence. And where does Sam belong?

This novel held my attention from beginning to end.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and ECW Press for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

I always enjoy historical novels that teach me something new and this one featured a period of history I knew little about. This novel describes not only the persecution of the Dutch under German occupation of the Netherlands during WW2, but also the postwar attempt by the Dutch military to regain its former colony in Java against the Indonesians now fighting for their independence.

The novel is told in two time lines from the point of view of Sam, a teenager growing up on a farm during the occupation. He had managed to avoid the attention of the Germans for most of the war but was caught scavenging for potatoes left behind in the fields after the harvest and sent to a German work camp and then to a German farm where at least the food was a little better. After the war, starving and traumatised he walked home only to be drafted by the Dutch military and sent to the Javanese jungles to fight the Indonesian rebels.

Sam finds life tough in the jungle as everyone suffers from some fungal and tropical diseases and his friends keep dying. His experience of what life was like under an occupying force makes his experience in Java conflicting. He worries that his army are now no better than the Germans trying to oppress another people and is finding it hard to know who to trust amongst his own soldiers and the villagers who could be harmless or could be assisting the rebels. It doesn’t help that he falls in love with an Indonesian woman whose sympathies can’t help but lie with her own people.

I found this a tough book to read, while there is once again war in Europe with cities being wantonly destroyed and civilians being killed in a senseless invasion. It was hard to read about so much destruction and cruelty both in Holland and Indonesia while the TV is nightly showing scenes of bombed buildings and bodies in the street in Ukraine. Nevertheless, it is a powerful book, demonstrating that the lines in war are not always clear. Sam’s character is well drawn with his growing inner conflict sensitively portrayed and one can’t halp but feel his pain at the situation he finds himself in. The novel is beautifully written with very evocative descriptions of the beauty of Indonesia. The author has woven her father’s experiences of occupation and in Indonesia with other historical accounts and events to write a thoughtful and balanced account which attempts to portray both sides of the conflict in Indonesia fairly.

4 historical stars

This is a sweeping historical novel, and I was exposed to two new settings in this one. The first part was Netherlands and the German occupation and then later the island of Java, Indonesia. Our main character is Sam, and we grow to know him, his brother Leo, and his family farm in the Netherlands. Each family member has different interactions with the Germans, his sisters work the farm while his father has to do additional work for the Germans. Leo continues his work at the mines. While the Netherlands setting was new, the hardships and atrocities were similar to other stories set in this time period. We follow Sam as he’s first sent to a camp and then later forced to work on a German farm.

Once the war ends, Sam is drafted and has to head to Indonesia as an independence uprising is underway. I had forgotten that Indonesia was under Dutch control for quite some time. The author did a wonderful job describing the horror and confusion that happens during military campaigns. Which side was everyone on? Was there a right side? It was interesting to read about Sam grappling with the thoughts that maybe the Dutch were being too much like the Germans. What is the right thing to do? As Sam spends more time there and gets to know some of the residents, he becomes increasingly conflicted.

This book did an excellent job of bringing this time period to life and expanding my world view. The author notes at the end were excellent and gave me a greater appreciation.

What Is Written on the Tongue by Anne Lazurko

I wasn't aware of the extent of the German occupation in the Netherlands during WWII. Civilians were forced to work in German labor camps and anyone deemed to be resisting German occupation would be killed or sent to concentration camps. We learn from seventeen year old Sam what it's like living under the thumb of the Germans, the constant fear of taking a wrong step, saying or doing the wrong thing, the punishment for just trying to find enough food to stay alive. Sam loves to write and he puts down on paper everything about this time. We read his story in his own words and it feels like we are there. After being captured for trying to take potatoes from a field, Sam is sent to a German labor camp and later is sent to work on a German woman's farm.

Once the war is over, Sam is sent to the island of Java to help regain control of the colony for the Dutch Empire. He's fighting against the Indonesian independence movement but he really doesn't know exactly who he is fighting and why he's fighting this war. As he becomes more disillusioned he realizes that he may have become like the Nazi's. Is he any better than them, how can he do this to other humans? Sam's mental and emotional health deteriorates as he's forced to do the unthinkable and begins to not be able to see right from wrong, friend from enemy. He also falls in love with a young Indonesian woman but doesn't even know if she is friend or foe. As his body rots from the conditions, his friends die, and he can't tell civilians from guerilla soldiers, Sam loses all hope.

Sam's earlier teenage trials, told in first person, are interspersed with his later time in Indonesia, told in third person, and you can see how his time as the occupied and oppressed has a strong influence on his time as an occupier and oppressor. He wants to escape this life but he knows he can't escape the memories. He also sees that those he once thought of as traitors have sometimes been saviors, too. The lines aren't black and white and often there is no line at all. The story is disheartening and sad but I do think it ends as it must end.

Thank you to ECW Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

I love historical fiction and What Is Written On the Tongue did not disappoint. The story is written in duel time periods but following the same character through two different occupations during war. It was beautifully written and the emotions just jumped off the page. I also loved how original this story was compared to other historical fictions.

After reading What is Written on the Tongue, one cannot help but realize what a masterful novel Lazurko has written.. It is a tale of two occupations--one by Nazis in Holland and another by the Dutch in Indonesia. Occurring in the 1940's, a young Dutch man--not a Jew--is enslaved by the Nazis in his own country and required to perform forced labor. Upon his release, he is sent to Indonesia with his army to occupy that country. The oppressed becomes the oppressor, in a nutshell. As readers, we witness the psychological war of "Sam" as he is shifts from one perspective to the other and to maintain some morality while doing it. This is a brilliant novel, hard to put down!

The summary of this book says it’s reminiscent of The Things We Carried and I can see that to an extent—it’s very detailed on the characters’ surroundings. It forces you to slow down and pay attention to what’s going on, which may put some off if they’re not in the mood, but for character and setting oriented people this might be a good choice.