Norah Chambers and a group of other women become prisoners of war when their escape ships from Singapore are bombed and they are taken hostage by the Japanese. They are kept in the jungle for the duration of World War II. During this time, they deal with all manner of challenges from four of the women amongst them being chosen to "entertain" the Japanese soldiers to hunger and the death of their fellow hostages. By war's end, these women have formed a sisterhood that will remain with them always.

This was a half-and-half book for me. While the true story is compelling and I am glad that I read it and can now speak of and celebrate these women, I found the writing at the start of the book to be sophomoric. While I have no doubt that there was a strong camaraderie between the women, Morris, at times, especially at the beginning of their imprisonment, makes it seem as if the women are at a long-term pajama party. The writing does improve some in the last part of the novel which makes for a fast read. One of the best parts of the book is the brief description of the women mentioned throughout the story. It was wonderful to learn a little about them. The roles women played in World War II are often diminished or never discussed but it is so important that their stories are told.

This is a book that has you reflecting on your own life and hoping you can leave behind even a fragment of the courageousness and fortitude of these brave women. It is one of the best historical fiction novels I have ever read.

For three years and seven months, several hundred women and children were held captive in the jungles of Sumatra during World War II. They suffered starvation, brutal heat, disease-carrying mosquitos and abuse at the hands of the Japanese. Many died of illness and starvation, and those who were able, heroically kept the camp going, whether it be from putting on productions of emotionally charged musical concerts or nursing the ill back to health.

This book is well researched and beautifully written. It portrays the best and worst of human nature. I honestly have no words to describe how much I enjoyed this book. Many, many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of this 5-star book. Publication date is October 24, 2023 and I urge you to grab yourself a copy.

Women in war—Internment by the Japanese 1942-45.

A fitting tribute to the women interred by the Japanese in Indonesia and Malaya during 1942 until liberation in 1945.
Amongst the internees are a group of Australian Army nurses who were not given recognition by the Japanese as members of the armed forces and therefore not prisoners of war according to the Conventions of war. Sister Vivian Bullwinkle is the only survivor of the massacre of a group of soldiers and nurses on Radji Beach, Bangka Island near Sumatra in 1942, after the sinking of HMS Vyner Brooke.
There are a number of civilian prisoners in the camps like Norah Chambers and her sister Ena.
Combined, the story of these women interred under terrible conditions, their struggles and achievements are monumental. Their gifts to their fellows beyond speech. Music plays an important part in uplifting the prisoners’ spirits.
It’s truly a privilege to read about their plight, their vows to each other, and their bravery.
This book charters the human dimension of these women’s strengths, their relationships, the hardships endured, and their hopes, even as they fought to survive.

A St. Martin’s Press ARC invite via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher

Wow. Heather Morris has done it again! I first read her debut The Tattooist of Auschwitz while flying home from the UK when it first came out there and hadn’t yet released in Canada yet. One again she has captivated me with her retellings of little known stories of survival during World War Two. I’ve read very few stories from the Asian Front and found it extremely fascinating. The women she writes of pull such strength through not just their faith during the most awful circumstances. I appreciate the detailed back ground of each character in real life at the end of the novel it is important to know their names and their story so they are not forgotten.

Thank you to Heather, St Martins Press and Netgalley for the eARC

This book was unique in its location and its occupants; the POWs are British, Dutch and Australian (one American) civilians and nurses (all women) on a remote island off the coast of Indonesia and captured by the Japanese. The story of friendship, love, resilience and survival is inspiring and heartbreaking. The nurses helped heal and created a makeshift hospital wherever they went (the camp was moved several times) and with the civilians (including sisters who “adopted” a parentless child) these women worked together to form a semblance of a life while being starved and worked to death by their captors.

I do have some issues with this novel and those issues may be tied with the fact that I am the granddaughter of a WWII POW. From my research POW camps were far more awful than what was presented in this novel, and even with her descriptions I feel that the author was catering to a more sensitive reader. While much is alluded to, I would have preferred things had been more directly addressed. I believe Morris was trying to present a story where the women maintained their kindness and dignity throughout a time of pain and deprivation, but she definitely focused on the kindness and dignity more. This being said, I did enjoy the story and the women and I am glad that I read/listened to it.

3.75
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this ARC for review

One of the best things about historical fiction is learning about a time in history you may know nothing. Such was the case with the experience of the women who were held captive in Japanese internment camps during world war 2. Morris yet again masterfully tackled the stories of the brave women in a way that kept me wanting to learn more. I loved at the end she put the background of the women, making the story of these women even more special. Being a nurse myself I couldn’t imagine the courage these women had and what they had to go thru. I look forward to reading more from this amazing author.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy. #netgalley #sistersundertherisingsun

This was everything I love in a book! Cheered these women on. At times it was hard to see what they had to endure. Highly highly recommend

Heather Morris does it again with the telling of a remarkable story set against the backdrop of the war in the Pacific and of a group of women determined to survive the cruelty of their Japanese captors. Based on a true story, you won’t soon forget these incredible women who came together to life each other up in song and spirit.

Sister Nesta James, an Australian nurse suddenly finds herself being held captive by the Japanese. She’s not alone, her fellow prisoners are other nurses and many civilian women and children who are struggling to endure unsanitary conditions, hunger and disease. All they can do is work together to lift each other up and they manage to do that with a member of the London music scene, Norah and fiery but inspiring missionary, Margaret. Against all odds, these women form a voice orchestra and the music encourages them to keep fighting for another day.

Heather has an incredible knack for bringing forth the little known stories of WWII and cementing them into history so they are not forgotten. The war experience was different for everyone and because it affected so many people around the world…there are so many stories to be told and those that are remembered through story telling are often the ones that we didn’t know about but will carry with us forever.

Thank you so much to St Martins Press and Heather Morris for inviting me to read this story prior to it hitting the shelves. These remarkable women will stay with me for some time to come!!

Sisters Under the Rising Sun is a vivid account of atrocities encountered by a group of plucky women and children during WWII. The historical fiction book is difficult to read in the sense that it describes these atrocities but it is a refreshing look at how survivors manage to live through mental and physical anguish.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I love historical fiction, especially WWII. This book has a unique perspective, as it is the story of POWs taken by the Japanese. It is based on real women in this camp, making it especially interesting.

The main characters are Norah Chambers, who sent her 8-year-old daughter with her sister’s family to safety while she and her husband stayed behind to care for her parents. And Sister Nesta James, a Welsh-Australian nurse, enlisted to tend to Allied troops.

Both were on board a merchant ship that was bombed as they tried to escape the city. After surviving at sea, they are captured by the Japanese on a remote island and held for 3 1/2 years in a POW camp. Their story is incredible, as they formed friendships and fought every day to live, with physical and mental abuse and lack of food as part of their daily lives.

While I loved learning about the hardships that these brave heroines survived, the story just felt remote. And it seemed a little disjointed, like some pieces were missing. It’s more like reading a documentary than an engaging novel. I still enjoyed it even though I didn’t really connect with the characters.

If you enjoy WW2 history this is a great one to add to your list!
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley #SistersUnderTheRisingSun

I read a lot of WWII historical fiction but most of it involves the war in Europe. Because of that, it's easy to forget that there was an equally horrific war going on in the Pacific with concentration camps, cruelty and depravation and there were also strong women who helped other people survive their ordeal in captivity.

As the Japanese army began a siege in Singapore, Norah Chambers and her husband make the decision to put their 8 year old daughter on a ship with Norah's sister. Norah wants her daughter to be safe but has to stay in Singapore to help take care of her sick husband and her parents. She doesn't know if she'll ever see her daughter again but realizes how important it is to get her out of Singapore. When things get worse, Norah, her husband and sister board a ship to safety. When the kamikaze pilots shoot at the ship, it sinks leaving many passengers dead and a number of others struggling to survive in the water. Some of the survivors of the ship were a team of Australian nurses who had enlisted to help the Allied troops but knew that they had to get out of Singapore before it was invaded. After surviving their time in the ocean, the passengers who survived were put into POW camps by the Japanese. The camps were places of starvation and brutality, where sickness of mind and body happened to the people who were trying to survive. The men were sent to separate camps and the women had to band together to survive. In total, this group of women was held captive for over three and a half years and were moved several times to even worse camps. There were many heroic women and nurses who worked tirelessly to make sure that people survived and that the children were taken care of. Often times, the adults would deny themselves food to try to keep the children alive. Among the things that helped them survive was the gift of music. Several of the women were very musical and formed a choir using their voices in place of instruments. Their concerts gave the other women a renewed sense of camaraderie and helped them survive.

Be sure to read the authors notes at the end to read about the women that the book was based on. Most of the main characters were real people and it amazes me that they've never been written about before. The author did extensive research and its apparent on every page. The bravery of the women and their love for each other is something that I'll always remember. Yes, there are some difficult parts in this book but the overwhelming feeling of the book is admiration for the bravery and resilience of these women as they survived a horrific experience. If you enjoy World War II historical fiction, you don't want to to miss this excellent book. It's a book that I won't forget.

Heather Morris has written books I have read, and they left me with knowledge and feelings of what has happened in history during previous wars. I was hoping that this book Sisters Under the Rising Sun would give me the same feeling I had with her other books.
I had to really concentrate while reading this book to keep characters straight and situations clear as to what was happening. The writing for me jumped all over and was hard to make me really care about the women the story was based on.
Thank you NetGalley, Heather Morris and St. Martin's Press for the Arc Sisters Under The Rising Sun. This is my personal review.

Heather Morris has written the historical fiction Sisters Under the Rising Sun so we will get to know and remember these women who were POWs in several Japanese WWII camps. They gave up so much, were separated from family, starved, and abused but took care of each other physically and emotionally. I found this to be a very moving and interesting story.

I was so excited to get to read @heathermorrisauthor newest book Sisters Under The Rising Sun. I have discovered a love for books about the Pacific side of the war and had high hope for this book. My hopes were absolutely exceeded.
Based on the true story of a group of POWs and their incredible resilience under unimaginable circumstances.
After escaping Singapore on a ship at the 11th hour Australian Army nurse Nesta and civilian Norah are hopeful they will make it to safety. Their ship, the Vyner Brooke, is bombed and sinks forcing everyone on board to abandon ship and hope to make it to an island they can see. But the island has also been taken over by the Japanese and they survivors are taken captive where they will wait out the war.
The woman of this camp were incredible. The refusal to give up their humanity and dignity and kindness in a terrifying place with captors who were determined to strip them of all of those qualities is a testament to their incredible strength as individuals and as a group. I cried so many times. This is probably my favourite book that I have read about the Pacific Theatre. I love that this book shines a light on a group of people who’s story has been lost in the shuffle but deserved to be told and remembered.
Thank you so much to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for letting me read this one early in exchange for a review. If you want to pick this one up (and I highly recommend it) look for it Oct 24 2023.
#bookstagram #sistersundertherisingsun #netgalley #readersofinstagram #readersofig #historicalfiction #historicalfictionbooks #fiction #reading #booksbooksbooks #bookreview #bookrecommendations #booklover #bookaddict #reading #readmorebooks #readabook #history #ww2

I first read the book and loved it. Then, I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook. You need to preorder it! I don't have words to do the book justice. It is based on real women and their encampment in Japanese territories. The book gave me goosebumps. It made me cry and cheer. The narration is some of the best. Plus, there are moments of songs. I'm having a serious book hangover. One of the best books I've read and listened to in a long time. It is written by the author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Heather Morris. I wish I could give it more than 5⭐️ Thank you #NetGalley, #MacmillanAudio, #St.Martin’sPress, #HeatherMorris, #LauraCarmichael and #SistersUndertheRisingSun for the advance audiobook for my honest review.

From Heather Morris, the #1 “New York Times” bestselling author of “The Tattooist of Auschwitz,” comes “Sisters Under the Rising Sun,” a story of sisterhood, bravery, and friendship.

In the midst of World War II, Norah Chambers, an English musician, evacuates Singapore on the Vyner Brooke merchant ship, along with her husband, John, her sister, Ena, and her brother-in-law, Ken. Two days later, the ship is bombed by the Japanese and sinks off the coast of Indonesia. Also on the ill-fated ship is Sister Nesta James, a nurse with the Australian Army. Once on land, the survivors are captured by the Japanese and taken to the first of many POW camps, where the women and children are separated from the men. The camps are places of starvation and brutality, where disease runs rampant. For three years and seven months, the women and children live under the harshest of conditions. Sisters in arms, they must fight every day to help each other survive.

Based on real experiences of real women, “Sisters Under the Rising Sun” is a powerful and compelling novel that will stay with me long after reading it. In the Author’s Notes, Heather Morris writes, “I have not told this story so the women…will be remembered. I have told this story so they will be known. How can you be remembered if you’ve never been heard of?” Now that I know of these inspirational and brave woman, I will remember them. Norah, Nesta, Ena, Vivian, Audrey, Betty, Sister Catherina, Mrs. Hinch, Margaret, Dr. McDowell, and so many more. Their suffering and courageousness will not be forgotten. This was a beautiful and powerful story of sisterhood, friendship, found family, bravery.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

WOW!
My father was in WWII with the US Marines
I am kind of ashamed that I had no idea that Singapore and these other island countries were effected by the war with Japan. I learned a lot about the history of this war.
And the amazing men and woman that were POWs
Reading this was felt like I was there living their pain;
Hearing the music and the voices of the woman singing during their concerts
What a group of strong woman they were to endure all that they went through

This book was really written beautifully by Heather Morris !

Thanks again to NetGalley for an ARC of this Heather Morris book! When it comes to historical fiction no one does it quite like Heather Morris. We are again returning to the WWII era, but this time we move locations to a Japanese run POW camp. This is another heartbreakingly true story of Nesta and Norah. This story was beautifully told and shed light on parts of WWII that I was not altogether familiar with. If you are a historical fiction fan definitely pick this one up!

Years ago I read a novel - Guests Of The Emperor - about the interment of women in Japanese camps during WWII which has stayed with me to this day ( I need to find a copy and re-read it) so I was really excited to get an arc for Sisters In The Sun . But the book is unfortunately disappointing . The story is very basic - I couldn’t connect to any of the characters , the dialogue is meh ; and I’m not sure why characters are constantly referred to by their first and last name 🤷🏼‍♀️ there’s also a lot of telling instead of showing … what’s more disappointing is that this is based on real life stories - the only good thing about finishing the book was that there was information on the real life people featured in the book .

I received an advance reading copy (arc) of this book from NetGalley.com and the publisher in return for a fair review. I looked forward to reading this book because I have read Heather Morris's previous books and enjoyed them immensely--especially her last book, 'Three Sisters', which stayed with me long after I finished reading it. Morris's latest book, however, fell a little short for me. The story revolved around a group of Australian nurses who are shipwrecked and end up in a Japanese prison camp. Like the author's other books, it is based on a true story. I found it hard to keep track of the many characters, so I focused on Nesta Gwyneth who seemed to be the main character. Nesta did her best to keep the women focused and hopeful during their 3 1/2 years of captivity. It was also hard to follow some the conversations concerning who said what. The true horrors of war came across vividly, however, and for that I give Morris high marks. The writing, itself just didn't appear to be up to her usual standards. Many times, I felt like I was reading an unpolished draft that was rushed to the printer. The story of the Australian nurses is definitely one that should be heard. Read it for yourself and you be the judge!