Title: More Than Stock Figures
Review: Certain types of characters are a given in novels about WWII and resistance movements: the fiery, doubting cleric; the loner antihero who drinks to forget; the noble, self-sacrificing woman on the homefront; the oafish, seemingly dense but surprisingly heroic peasant... A Thread of Grace has these characters, but Mary Doria Russell fleshes them out superbly so that they seem fresh, and surrounds them with a bounty of unique, distinctive friends, enemies, and kin. In fact, my one criticism of the book is that there are almost too many characters to keep track of; happily there's a list of major characters in the front of the book to assist.The writing is precise and insightful without being distractingly ornate. The story moves quickly. The fates of the heroes and villains are more often than not unexpected--and as was the case in real life, too often heartbreaking. If you're looking for a haunting, thoughtful story that will resonate long after you've finished, this is it.
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