The Diamond Eye

So I’m reviewing this book Diamond Eye because I just liked listening to it.  I listened through CloudLibrary which means I kinda borrowed it through my library?  I’m not quite sure of the logistics of how the system works.   Apparently if you borrow it through audible there’s a PDF you can get with it, I never looked into that though.  Free is better than paid you know?  Reviewing just because I want to and yes, I’ll link to amazon so you can find it easily should you be so inclined.

So why tell you about The Diamond Eye.  I learned a facet of WW2 history that I wasn’t aware of before.  Lyudmila Pavlichenko was a Ukrainian woman with a young son she was raising on her own. The Germans attacked, wiping out entire families.  Mila got angry, and her national pride kicked in, and before you know it, she was a sniper on the front lines of WW2. 

Talking about The Diamond Eye

The Diamond Eye was written by Kate Quinn.  Just recently published, this past March.  

I found it to be a well-written story and the after story where the author talked about Mila and some of the changes she made, I found myself looking for more information on this formidable woman.   Her life was a bit sad after she stopped being in the army… She suffered from PSTD which led to alcoholism and her eventual early death. 

BUT she stopped 309 Germans from decimating her people.   She served her people well by speaking to the need for American and Canadian troops to attack the Germans from the rear.  And upon her return after her propaganda tour she again served her people well by teaching the next generation of snipers. 

YES, Kate Quinn changed the story a bit to make it all fit the narrative, but the things that were pivotal in Mila’s life she kept the same. 

Recommendation

If you like books about WW2, or just like learning a new piece of history, Kate Quinn’s The Diamond Eye will suit you.   I had not known about Ukrainian snipers in WW2 before this, I also didn’t know about the wiping out of complete villages in Russia either.   All I really knew prior to this story was Germany fighting a battle on two fronts was not the wisest decision on their part, but they really managed to hurt the Russians.  (another fact I sorta knew but didn’t really know, if you know what I mean).  🙂 

Good history, written as if it were Mila herself talking her way through her life.  Seeing her friendship with Mrs. Roosevelt develop, and her growing confidence not only as a sniper, but then later as a public speaker.  She did many hard things as a woman in the 1940’s and her history is worth knowing.