Sisters Under the Rising Sun

A Novel

By: Heather Morris

Narrated by: Laura Carmichael

This program is read by Laura Carmichael, who plays Lady Edith Crawley in Downton Abbey. It also includes a dedication, author's note, and two afterwords, all read by the author, as well as two songs by the Sydney Women’s Vocal Orchestra with clips from both songs throughout the narration.

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

In the midst of World War II, an English musician, Norah Chambers, places her eight-year-old daughter Sally on a ship leaving Singapore, desperate to keep her safe from the Japanese army as they move down through the Pacific. Norah remains to care for her husband and elderly parents, knowing she may never see her child again.

Sister Nesta James, a Welsh Australian nurse, has enlisted to tend to Allied troops. But as Singapore 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 a remote island, only to be captured by the Japanese and held in one of their notorious POW 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.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

©2023 Heather Morris (P)2023 Macmillan Audio

Excellent story and a must read!

I loved the compelling characters in this novel, also that we do find closure with each of them.
I was not familiar with WW2 in this part of the world. I learned more interesting history.
Women in general have not been remembered or honored for their service in wars, and this book fortunately speaks to the issue. These women will not be forgotten.
Heather Morris is an excellent author; at the end of the book she speaks to the reader, along with other contributors connected with this story. It answered many questions I had.
The admiration and inspiration found here makes this an amazing novel about heroism, and none of them would agree that they were heroes.

Beautiful story

Loved the music! Such a treat with an audiobook. When I first read about the vocal instrumentation, I wanted to hear a sample of what it sounded like because I had never heard of such a thing. It really added to the story. The entire pieces included at the end were wonderful.

Poor RX of Women in POW camp in Japan

The music was incredible especially The Bolero. The treatment of the women was so sad and their separation from their spouses

Hope and Survival.

I thought it was a great listen. Survival of women living with hope in an insufferable situation. Inspired women to make their lives bearable during war

More Than 5 Stars!!

Amazing story of amazing women under the most horrible circumstances. I could hardly put the book down and at the end I could hardly stop crying. It’s a must read!