Girl in the Blue Beret (Mason) - Book Reviews

Book Reviews
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.
Daniel Swift - New York Times Book Review


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


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
 

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] touching novel about love, loss, war, and memory. Shot down over France during WWII, Marshall Stone takes the controls and lands the plane, helping as many of his surviving airmen to safety as he can.... [F]ascinating and intensely intimate.
Publishers Weekly


[A] haunting novel [Mason's ] late father-in-law's wartime experiences, and the rich setting, detail, and intimate character nuances ring true. Verdict: Great crossover appeal for fans of the award-winning author, World War II fiction, and novels with French settings. Highly recommended. —Jenn B. Stidham, Houston Community Coll.-Northeast, TX
Library Journal


Mason may surprise fans of her Appalachian stories with this historical novel about a World War II pilot who returns to France to find the families who helped him survive after his plane was shot down 36 years earlier.... Like Marshall himself, the novel maintains a reserved, laconic, even pedantic tone—off-putting at times yet often moving
Kirkus Reviews