Reviews
Advance praise for The Girl in the Blue Beret "A flight through the gripping, war-ravaged past and the discovery of love-Bobbie Ann Mason's moving novel is written with great clarity and insight."-Kim Edwards, author of The Memory Keeper’s Daughter and The Lake of Dreams “Fascinating and intensely intimate . . . a touching novel about love, loss, war, and memory [that] profoundly reveal[s] how the past haunts the present.�- Publishers Weekly “An emotionally powerful story.�- Booklist “[A] haunting novel [with] rich setting, detail, and intimate character nuances . . . for fans of the award-winning author, World War II fiction, and novels with French settings. Highly recommended.�- Library Journal “Bobbie Ann Mason just keeps outdistancing herself. The Girl in the Blue Beret has everything: adventure, intrigue, fear, sorrow, nostalgic ache, regret, romance, and most importantly, love. She writes of the platonic love of one’s fellow travelers, along with romantic love-and what a beautiful love story it is, told with grace and elegance from the point of view of a narrator you won’t soon forget. I loved this book, and so will you.� -Richard Bausch, author of Something is Out There and Peace ; winner of the PEN/Malamud Award for Short Fiction “An elegant and eventually lovely story of war, need and apprehension.�-Roy Blount Jr., author of Alphabet Juice and Long Time Leaving Praise for Bobbie Ann Mason “Bobbie Ann Mason is one of those rare writers who, by concentrating their attention on a few square miles of native turf, are able to open up new and surprisingly wide worlds for the delighted reader.�- The New York Review of Books , about Shiloh and Other Stories “Brilliant and moving . . . a moral tale that entwines public history with private anguish.�- Los Angeles Times Book Review , about In Country “A dramatic triumph . . . Synopsis cannot begin to do justice to the complexity, drama, and ultimate benevolence of Mason’s vision.�- Chicago Tribune , about Feather Crowns “Sitting down with one of these stories may well be the next best thing to going home again.�- The Wall Street Journal , about Zigzagging Down a Wild Trail, Praise for The Girl in the Blue Beret "" The new novel from best-selling author Bobbie Ann Mason will send you dashing to the shelves to devour everything else she''s ever written - it''s that good . … Mason weaves a spellbinding tale of war, love and survival. … The Girl in the Blue Beret is not only a remarkable work of historical fiction, it''s also storytelling at its best ." Associated Press "Ushering her readers back and forth across the decades, she perfectly weaves history with fiction . In many ways the book is a tribute to these unsung civilians whose heroism often was never acknowledged by those they helped. [ A] near-perfect war story ." USA Today "Mason has long been considered one of the finest writers of regional fiction - Kentucky is her home and inspiration - but her affecting new novel takes place in France, and she's just as comfortable and insightful there… once again, Mason has plumbed the moral dimensions of national conflict in the lives of individual participants and produced a deeply moving, relevant novel. " Washington Post "Mason has given us a portrait of a man from a generation whose members were uncertain about the protocols of letting oneself feel. And she has lovingly captured the tone of bluff assertion still shared by veterans of that war. Marshall's banality has the ring of truth; his awkwardness reveals much…. The Girl in the Blue Beret is a work of remarkable empathy ." New York Times Book Review "To Curl Up with: A pilot shot down over France returns years later to search for the jeunne fille who rescued him. Mason's lovely tale , drawn from her [father-in-law's] wartime experience, will resonate for many ." Good Housekeeping "The Girl in the Blue Beret is an impressive novel . Mason writes with confidence about integrity, memory, love, the war in Europe and a likeable man. …Recommended for all historical fiction readers." Historical Novels Review "[An] impressive, impassioned new novel. The unforgettable story, based on the author's father-in-law's wartime experiences, is a gripping tale of redemption ." Miami Herald "A flight through the gripping, war-ravaged past and the discovery of love-Bobbie Ann Mason''s moving novel is written with great clarity and insight ."- Kim Edwards , author of The Memory Keeper's Daughter and The Lake of Dreams "An elegant and eventually lovely story of war , need and apprehension."- Roy Blount Jr ., author of Alphabet Juice and Long Time Leaving "Fascinating and intensely intimate…. A touching novel about love, loss, war, and memory ….profoundly revealing how the past haunts the present."- Publishers Weekly "An emotionally powerful story of the ruinous effects of war."- Booklist "[A] haunting novel... [with] rich setting, detail, and intimate character nuances….for fans of the award-winning author, World War II fiction, and novels with French settings. Highly recommended ."- Library Journal Praise for Bobbie Ann Mason "Bobbie Ann Mason is one of those rare writers who, by concentrating their attention on a few square miles of native turf, are able to open up new and surprisingly wide worlds for the delighted reader."- The New York Review of Books , about Shiloh and Other Stories "Brilliant and moving . . . a moral tale that entwines public history with private anguish."- Los Angeles Times Book Review , about In Country "A dramatic triumph . . . Synopsis cannot begin to do justice to the complexity, drama, and ultimate benevolence of Mason's vision."- Chicago Tribune , about Feather Crowns "Sitting down with one of these stories may well be the next best thing to going home again."- The Wall Street Journal , about Zigzagging Down a Wild Trail, Praise for The Girl in the Blue Beret "" The new novel from best-selling author Bobbie Ann Mason will send you dashing to the shelves to devour everything else she''s ever written - it''s that good . … Mason weaves a spellbinding tale of war, love and survival. … The Girl in the Blue Beret is not only a remarkable work of historical fiction, it''s also storytelling at its best ." Associated Press "Ushering her readers back and forth across the decades, she perfectly weaves history with fiction . In many ways the book is a tribute to these unsung civilians whose heroism often was never acknowledged by those they helped. [ A] near-perfect war story ." USA Today "Mason has long been considered one of the finest writers of regional fiction - Kentucky is her home and inspiration - but her affecting new novel takes place in France, and she's just as comfortable and insightful there… once again, Mason has plumbed the moral dimensions of national conflict in the lives of individual participants and produced a deeply moving, relevant novel. " Washington Post "Mason has given us a portrait of a man from a generation whose members were uncertain about the protocols of letting oneself feel. And she has lovingly captured the tone of bluff assertion still shared by veterans of that war. Marshall's banality has the ring of truth; his awkwardness reveals much…. The Girl in the Blue Beret is a work of remarkable empathy ." New York Times Book Review "To Curl Up with: A pilot shot down over France returns years later to search for the jeunne fille who rescued him. Mason's lovely tale , drawn from her [father-in-law's] wartime experience, will resonate for many ." Good Housekeeping "The Girl in the Blue Beret is an impressive novel . Mason writes with confidence about integrity, memory, love, the war in Europe and a likeable man. …Recommended for all historical fiction readers." Historical Novels Review "[An] impressive, impassioned new novel. The unforgettable story, based on the author's father-in-law's wartime experiences, is a gripping tale of redemption ." Miami Herald "A flight through the gripping, war-ravaged past and the discovery of love-Bobbie Ann Mason''s moving novel is written with great clarity and insight ."- Kim Edwards , author of The Memory Keeper's Daughter and The Lake of Dreams "An elegant and eventually lovely story of war , need and apprehension."- Roy Blount Jr ., author of Alphabet Juice and Long Time Leaving "Fascinating and intensely intimate…. A touching novel about love, loss, war, and memory ….profoundly revealing how the past haunts the present."- Publishers Weekly "An emotionally powerful story of the ruinous effects of war."- Booklist "[A] haunting novel... [with] rich setting, detail, and intimate character nuances….for fans of the award-winning author, World War II fiction, and novels with French settings. Highly recommended ."- Library Journal Praise for Bobbie Ann Mason "Bobbie Ann Mason is one of those rare writers who, by concentrating their attention on a few square miles of native turf, are able to open up new and surprisingly wide worlds for the delighted reader."- The New York Review of Books , about Shiloh and Other Stories "Brilliant and moving . . . a moral tale that entwines public history with private anguish."- Los Angeles Times Book Review , about In Country "A dramatic triumph . . . Synopsis cannot begin to do justice to the complexity, drama, and ultimate benevolence of Mason's vision."- Chicago Tribune , about Feather Crowns "Sitting down with one of these stories may well be the next best thing to going home again."- The Wall Street Journal , about Zigzagging Down a Wild Trail From the Hardcover edition., Praise for The Girl in the Blue Beret "“ The new novel from best-selling author Bobbie Ann Mason will send you dashing to the shelves to devour everything else she''s ever written - it''s that good . & Mason weaves a spellbinding tale of war, love and survival. & The Girl in the Blue Beret is not only a remarkable work of historical fiction, it''s also storytelling at its best .� – Associated Press “Ushering her readers back and forth across the decades, she perfectly weaves history with fiction . In many ways the book is a tribute to these unsung civilians whose heroism often was never acknowledged by those they helped. [ A] near-perfect war story .� – USA Today “Mason has long been considered one of the finest writers of regional fiction - Kentucky is her home and inspiration - but her affecting new novel takes place in France, and she’s just as comfortable and insightful there& once again, Mason has plumbed the moral dimensions of national conflict in the lives of individual participants and produced a deeply moving, relevant novel. � – Washington Post “Mason has given us a portrait of a man from a generation whose members were uncertain about the protocols of letting oneself feel. And she has lovingly captured the tone of bluff assertion still shared by veterans of that war. Marshall’s banality has the ring of truth; his awkwardness reveals much&. The Girl in the Blue Beret is a work of remarkable empathy .� – New York Times Book Review “To Curl Up with: A pilot shot down over France returns years later to search for the jeunne fille who rescued him. Mason’s lovely tale , drawn from her [father-in-law’s] wartime experience, will resonate for many .� – Good Housekeeping “The Girl in the Blue Beret is an impressive novel . Mason writes with confidence about integrity, memory, love, the war in Europe – and a likeable man. &Recommended for all historical fiction readers.� – Historical Novels Review "[An] impressive, impassioned new novel. The unforgettable story, based on the author’s father-in-law’s wartime experiences, is a gripping tale of redemption ." – Miami Herald "A flight through the gripping, war-ravaged past and the discovery of love-Bobbie Ann Mason''s moving novel is written with great clarity and insight ."- Kim Edwards , author of The Memory Keeper’s Daughter and The Lake of Dreams “An elegant and eventually lovely story of war , need and apprehension.�- Roy Blount Jr ., author of Alphabet Juice and Long Time Leaving “Fascinating and intensely intimate&. A touching novel about love, loss, war, and memory &.profoundly revealing how the past haunts the present.�- Publishers Weekly “An emotionally powerful story of the ruinous effects of war.�- Booklist “[A] haunting novel... [with] rich setting, detail, and intimate character nuances&.for fans of the award-winning author, World War II fiction, and novels with French settings. Highly recommended .�- Library Journal Praise for Bobbie Ann Mason “Bobbie Ann Mason is one of those rare writers who, by concentrating their attention on a few square miles of native turf, are able to open up new and surprisingly wide worlds for the delighted reader.�- The New York Review of Books , about Shiloh and Other Stories “Brilliant and moving . . . a moral tale that entwines public history with private anguish.�- Los Angeles Times Book Review , about In Country “A dramatic triumph . . . Synopsis cannot begin to do justice to the complexity, drama, and ultimate benevolence of Mason’s vision.�- Chicago Tribune , about Feather Crowns “Sitting down with one of these stories may well be the next best thing to going home again.�- The Wall Street Journal , about Zigzagging Down a Wild Trail
