Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms

By: Anita Heiss

Narrated by: Kathryn Hartman

August, 1944. Over a thousand Japanese soldiers attempt to break out of a prisoner of war compound near Cowra. In the carnage, hundreds are killed, many are recaptured and imprisoned, and some take their own lives rather than suffer the humiliation of ongoing defeat. But one soldier, Hiroshi, determined to avoid either fate, manages to escape....

At nearby Erambie Aboriginal mission, Banjo Williams, father of nine and proud man of his community, discovers a distraught Hiroshi pleading for help. The people of Erambie have seen enough death and heartache, so Banjo and the Erambie community decide to offer Hiroshi refuge. Mary, Banjo’s daughter, is intrigued by the Japanese stranger and is charged with his care. Love blossoms between them, and they each dream of a future together. But how long can Hiroshi be hidden safely and their bond kept secret?

©2017 Anita Heiss (P)2019 Aurora Audio Books

Why don’t narrators bother to pronounce foreign words correctly?

This book is pop-fiction, but the topic and perspective is really important. History is only really revealed when we see all sides, not just one. The narrator was generally good, but their voice for the Japanese character really irked me. Also, why don’t narrators bother to find out how to correctly pronounce foreign words? It’s really distracting when they consistently mispronounce things and takes away from the mood of the story.