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The Boat Runner
The Boat Runner: A Novel | Devin Murphy
11 posts | 10 read | 25 to read
In the tradition of All The Light We Cannot See and The Nightingale, comes an incandescent debut novel about a young Dutch man who comes of age during the perilousness of World War II. Beginning in the summer of 1939, fourteen-year-old Jacob Koopman and his older brother, Edwin, enjoy lives of prosperity and quiet contentment. Many of the residents in their small Dutch town have some connection to the Koopman lightbulb factory, and the locals hold the family in high esteem. On days when they arent playing with friends, Jacob and Edwin help their Uncle Martin on his fishing boat in the North Sea, where German ships have become a common sight. But conflict still seems unthinkable, even as the boys father naively sends his sons to a Hitler Youth Camp in an effort to secure German business for the factory. When war breaks out, Jacobs world is thrown into chaos. The Boat Runner follows Jacob over the course of four years, through the forests of France, the stormy beaches of England, and deep within the secret missions of the German Navy, where he is confronted with the moral dilemma that will change his lifeand his lifes missionforever. Epic in scope and featuring a thrilling narrative with precise, elegant language, The Boat Runner tells the little-known story of the young Dutch boys who were thrown into the Nazi campaign, as well as the brave boatmen who risked everything to give Jewish refugees safe passage to land abroad. Through one boys harrowing tale of personal redemption, here is a novel about the power of peoples stories and voices to shine light through our darkest days, until only love prevails.
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BookNAround
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I think it‘s about time I move this off my unfinished book stack. I had to scroll back 8 months to see when I started it and set it aside. Argh! So I took it to the doctor‘s for my physical today to get stuck back into it. Here‘s hoping I stay focused this time.

RedxoHearts Aw cute reading buddy. I love their eyebrows and beard lol 2y
49 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Margot0817
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Margot0817
Pickpick

A WW2 book written from a much different perspective that made this story that much more interesting. Highly recommend!

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SandyW
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this book, despite some shortcomings. The protagonist had a different viewpoint than I've come across before, and I found it quite thought provoking.

There were some scenes that were truly horrifying, and others that were unimaginable. Even though the story felt YA, and the wrap up felt too quick, I found it gripping and recommend it.

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RebelReader
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Pickpick

An employee pick at Barnes and Noble brought this book to my attention and my library had a copy. Jacob is a young Dutchman who is caught up in WWII. I found his story tragic and heartbreaking. Another aspect or view of the war I hadn‘t read about previously. I would have liked to know more about Uncle Martin‘s story. He was the most interesting character to me.

105 likes4 stack adds
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Aswenson
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Pickpick

Felt like this meandered toward the finish line, but overall enjoyed. I appreciate WWII fiction that shows me a completely different facet of the conflict or another region that was heavily affected. This certainly fit that.

43 likes1 stack add
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Aswenson
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Finished The Good Daughter last night and starting up some historical fiction this morning.
Seamus does not care.

Andrew65 Not heard of this one, looks interesting. 6y
RebelReader My number has come up for this one at the library. Picking it up tomorrow! 6y
56 likes1 stack add2 comments
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MoMogrl
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Been a busy month so far so I haven't been keeping Litsy up to date. We adopted a new kitty. Meet #Jack who has been keeping us busy playing and getting him used to being with another kitty.
Yesterday was our anniversary and we treated ourselves early with a trip to VT and couldn't help but support an indy book store purchasing the tagged book.
The other two I am currently reading. My first Agatha Christie and the prequel to Small Great Things.

32 likes2 stack adds
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Penny_LiteraryHoarders
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Pickpick

What a beautiful debut!! Beautifully written. Heartbreaking story - it‘s amazing the human capacity to survive, fight and be brave during WWII / German occupation. Beautiful story.

36 likes1 stack add
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Penny_LiteraryHoarders
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New up by the fire. The cozy crackling fire has been my friend every night this week. ❤️🔥 (sorry it‘s just a glimpse in the background)

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MPL
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We are excited for this small pile of new books! Particularly for The Boat Runner, which gives a Dutch perspective on WWII.

Cinfhen Sounds interesting ~ you might like this @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Cinfhen yes, it does!! Thank you!!! 💕 7y
6 likes1 stack add2 comments