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Sisters Under the Rising Sun

By: Heather Morris
Narrated by: Laura Carmichael
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Summary

A phenomenal novel of resilience and survival from bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Heather Morris.

In the midst of WWII, an English mother, Norah, places her eight-year-old daughter Sally on a ship leaving Malaya, desperate to keep her safe from the Japanese army as they move down through the Pacific, swiftly overrunning the Allied forces. Norah then flees, knowing she may never see her child again.

In Singapore, a Welsh-Australian nurse, Nesta, has enlisted to tend to Allied troops. But as the island falls to the Japanese she joins the terrified cargo of people, including the heartbroken Norah, crammed aboard the Vyner Brooke merchant ship. Only two days later, they are bombarded from the air off the coast of Indonesia, and in a matter of hours, the Vyner Brooke lies broken on the seabed.

After surviving a brutal 24 hours in the sea, Nesta and Norah reach the beaches of an Indonesian island, only to be captured by the Japanese and held in one of their notorious Prisoner of War camps. The camps are places of starvation and brutality, where disease runs rampant. Sisters in arms, Norah and Nesta fight side by side every day, helping whoever they can, and discovering in themselves and each other extraordinary reserves of courage, resourcefulness and determination.

Sisters Under the Rising Sun is a story of women in war: a novel of sisterhood, bravery and friendship in the darkest of circumstances, from the multimillion-copy bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Cilka's Journey and Three Sisters.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Heather Morris (P)2023 Bonnier Books UK
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What listeners say about Sisters Under the Rising Sun

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A story that needs to be heard

A great read - at first I didn’t grasp it was based on real events - thinking how far-fetched some of the situations were. Once I realised these were true accounts, my heart broke.
As Heather says, how can you remember someone if they are not known? This story should be studied in schools. Let todays children realise what true courage, integrity and troubles really are.
Thank you for telling this harrowing and uplifting story,
The narration was excellent too.

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Heartbreaking story

Being able to hear the music created by Nora at the end really hits home

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heart breaking story of tragedy and resilience

I knew some of the story from reading an article about Vivien Bulwinkel. This book is brilliantly researched and brings the women to life. I cannot imagine the hardships they endured , the book describes vividly their resilience and how they coped when many of them died. For the Japanese to have withheld Red Cross parcels that would probably saved many is unforgivable. I have recommended this book to friends

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Another incredible story from Heather Morris

I cry at the end of every book Heather has written. Why? In awe and wonder of the stories of courage and bravery, and because I do not want the stories to end. Thank you for telling us the story of these sisters.

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Moving story of heroism and suffering

Very well and sensitively narrated.All characters vividly described.Almost felt like being there with them.could picture the scenes

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Amazing story with important historical reference

Couldn't stop listening. Truly amazing. Particularly interested hearing the about the 'lives' after the end

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Another great read from Heather Morris

Loved this book, kept me wanting more. I have really enjoyed all Heather books. i enjoyed the music and the resume of all their lives afterwards.

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Great powerful book

Another great book thank you heather I will add these women and their bravery to my memory banks and share their story with anyone who wants to listen

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Very moving and compelling story of human endeavour

I am a big fan of Heather Morris’s previous books. Her ability to get under the skin of how people cope under extreme hardship is both heartbreaking and inspiring. I felt very emotionally engaged with all of the characters in the book - Mrs Hinch is a firm favourite. The relationships between the women are beautifully portrayed. This is a shameful piece of history that isn’t often told - not since the brilliant BBC drama “Tenko”, which I have started to rewatch. The music is stunning as well. I loved this book.

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Oh my word

This has been an amazing book about awe inspiring exceptionally brave women. I have been in tears listening to their trials and to the beautiful music they produced. This book is a fitting memorial to those wonderful women and it has been beautifully narrated. Thank you Heather for this portrayal which, I’m sure, will stay with me for a long time.

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