What do you think?
Rate this book
The Sky Buries All Sorrow
In the spring of 1941, nineteen-year-old John Cooper asks sixteen-year-old Nora Warden to marry him. After she instructs him to “grow up first,” he joins the Army Air Corps. Stationed at Hickam Field, the air base adjacent to Pearl Harbor, John survives the devastation of December 7. The aftermath of the attack only begins his odyssey through the South Pacific, four years that burden him with guilt and shame.
Returning home a wearied man, John seeks to start a family with Nora, but the young couple confronts hardships intensified by the harrowing memories both carry from their pasts. Amid the unrest of the Cold War and John’s worries about the arms race, he and Nora find solace in raising their daughter, Cassie. But it is not until the impact of September 11 leaves John’s grandson, Johnny DeRosa, overrun with anguish and despair that John fully comprehends how the sacrifices of his generation will have a profound influence on the decisions his grandson makes.
The Sky Buries All Sorrow is a riveting, momentous novel that bridges Pearl Harbor with 9/11 and examines how those two tragic events changed the world and shaped the lives of one family over three generations. From the pivotal battles in the Pacific to the homesteads outside of Pittsburgh, and from the beaches of Southern California to the desert terrain of the Nevada Test Site, it is an unforgettable family saga and an intimate story of personal struggle and the challenges of enduring love.
In the same vivid fashion as his first novel, The Ramos Brothers Trust Castro and Kennedy, Roger DeBlanck’s second epic novel explores the lives of an array of fascinating characters. The narrative also brings back Juan and Alberto Ramos, as the brothers and their father, Florencio, make appearances in The Sky Buries All Sorrow.
Returning home a wearied man, John seeks to start a family with Nora, but the young couple confronts hardships intensified by the harrowing memories both carry from their pasts. Amid the unrest of the Cold War and John’s worries about the arms race, he and Nora find solace in raising their daughter, Cassie. But it is not until the impact of September 11 leaves John’s grandson, Johnny DeRosa, overrun with anguish and despair that John fully comprehends how the sacrifices of his generation will have a profound influence on the decisions his grandson makes.
The Sky Buries All Sorrow is a riveting, momentous novel that bridges Pearl Harbor with 9/11 and examines how those two tragic events changed the world and shaped the lives of one family over three generations. From the pivotal battles in the Pacific to the homesteads outside of Pittsburgh, and from the beaches of Southern California to the desert terrain of the Nevada Test Site, it is an unforgettable family saga and an intimate story of personal struggle and the challenges of enduring love.
In the same vivid fashion as his first novel, The Ramos Brothers Trust Castro and Kennedy, Roger DeBlanck’s second epic novel explores the lives of an array of fascinating characters. The narrative also brings back Juan and Alberto Ramos, as the brothers and their father, Florencio, make appearances in The Sky Buries All Sorrow.
366 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2013
38 people are currently reading
355 people want to read
About the author
Roger DeBlanck
7 books147 followersRoger DeBlanck is the author of seven books: four novels and three works of poetry and nonfiction. He has a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in Information Science. He works as a librarian in a large public library in Las Vegas, and he lives in Henderson, Nevada, with his beloved dog named Sophy. Visit the author’s website at rogerdeblanck.com for the latest news and updates on his work. You can connect with Roger here on Goodreads and also on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and Twitter. All links are available on his website.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 12, 2013
Where were you when the twin towers were hit, the Soviets set up nukes in Cuba, or the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor? Depending on your age, these events may be close to your heart, or close to the hearts of your parents or grandparents. The Sky Buries All Sorrow explores how these events, spanning from the 1940s to the 2000s, transform a family.
DeBlanck structures the book in four parts bridging three generations of characters. Masterfully, he slows the plot down to take you through the emotions of John’s post-war trauma, Cassie’s desires to be a wife and a mother, and Johnny’s uncertainly of a direction in life.
The characterization of these individuals is beautiful. I particularly like the inclusion of objects and beliefs that travel with the characters throughout the story. The Japanese knife that John brings back from the war is more than just a simple cutting tool; it is a symbol of courage, of tragedy, of forgiving. These objects and ideas frame the book and connect each chapter with each character.
There are unique metaphors sprinkled throughout the story that raise the novel up to literature, yet at the same time, suspense, action, and humor keep the story engaging for all. About midway through, DeBlanck weaves the Ramos Brothers into the narrative, which beautifully connects this story to his other novel, The Ramos Brothers Trust Castro and Kennedy.
Forget the history books, DeBlanck’s mastery of research and narrative abilities put you right in the middle of these historical events. You’ll smell the burning jet fuel, taste the family’s holiday dinner, and feel the wave of emotion from the crumbling towers.
DeBlanck structures the book in four parts bridging three generations of characters. Masterfully, he slows the plot down to take you through the emotions of John’s post-war trauma, Cassie’s desires to be a wife and a mother, and Johnny’s uncertainly of a direction in life.
The characterization of these individuals is beautiful. I particularly like the inclusion of objects and beliefs that travel with the characters throughout the story. The Japanese knife that John brings back from the war is more than just a simple cutting tool; it is a symbol of courage, of tragedy, of forgiving. These objects and ideas frame the book and connect each chapter with each character.
There are unique metaphors sprinkled throughout the story that raise the novel up to literature, yet at the same time, suspense, action, and humor keep the story engaging for all. About midway through, DeBlanck weaves the Ramos Brothers into the narrative, which beautifully connects this story to his other novel, The Ramos Brothers Trust Castro and Kennedy.
Forget the history books, DeBlanck’s mastery of research and narrative abilities put you right in the middle of these historical events. You’ll smell the burning jet fuel, taste the family’s holiday dinner, and feel the wave of emotion from the crumbling towers.
February 5, 2016
I generally approach historical fiction very carefully. It is a difficult genre in which to write and the writers do not often overcome the problems inherent with it. This book “The Sky Buries All Sorrows,” by Roger DeBlanck manages to gracefully overleap those obstacles almost entirely. The two major problems that this book effortlessly avoids are that the language of the past is not the language of our present, and that the actual facts do not bend well to fiction. Using the rea;istic historical language can seem stilted or even incomprehensible, so some blending must occur. And the fictionalizations must not seem jarring in the context of history. I like this novel very much for the way it managed these two tasks. I find this particularly interesting, since I grew up in one of the settings, my father served in the Pacific in World War II, and I have read far too many actual historical accounts of these incidents.
And, after all, Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” is basically historical fiction. One of the things that DeBlanck performs exceptionally well is that he touches a in a small but precise way just what Tolstoy does, and that is the way in which the deeply personal and specific elements of war touch upon its vast scope and universality. We see the whole war in through the author’s microscope. His language may at times seem jarring to the modern reader, but in that is a very important historical fact. In previous wars, before almost this moment, the propaganda against the enemy and rhetoric was unabashedly and unashamedly racist. This is only a part of the deftness of this book, in capturing the feeling of that time when men wore hats, smoked cigarettes and went off to wars without questioning why and with a vivid hatred for the enemy as a race or ethnic group. I felt like I was in one of my father’s vivid stories.
In “Cloud Atlas,” David Mitchell gets a lot of credit for illustrating the interconnectedness of all humanity, over time and across space. I kind of get it, but I never see the theme or thread of this connectivity, as it seems random. DeBlanck does much of the same thing with what might be called the woven texture of all war, from the grand and just ones to the smaller and more questionable ones. In a way they are no different, he seems to say to this reader, even when they are terribly different in many ways. Perhaps I am too much of an inveterate reader of the history of war, but I felt this connection deeply in this book. And I found it unsettling.
The only parts of this novel that seemed to bog me down were bits of the dialog when the characters would expound upon the larger historical context. The specificity of the moment seemed to be lost when one of them would talk about Truman and Churchill containing the Soviet Union. That verb belongs to an historian, and I liked the characters in the scope of their daily lives. Tolstoy gets this done by taking us into Kutusov’s headquarters at Borodino, but that is the scope of that great novel. I like the smaller capacity of “The Sky Buries All Sorrows,” and wanted it to stay there.
At the end, I wanted to keep on reading what the grandfather was saying, as he wove the threads to connect one war to the other. I wanted Johnnie to heed him. Mostly, it made me wish my son and daughter could hear what their departed grandfather had to say about his war time experiences, and of his wisdom. I heartily recommend this book and I believe DeBlanck should keep on writing this kind of novel. He does it well.
And, after all, Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” is basically historical fiction. One of the things that DeBlanck performs exceptionally well is that he touches a in a small but precise way just what Tolstoy does, and that is the way in which the deeply personal and specific elements of war touch upon its vast scope and universality. We see the whole war in through the author’s microscope. His language may at times seem jarring to the modern reader, but in that is a very important historical fact. In previous wars, before almost this moment, the propaganda against the enemy and rhetoric was unabashedly and unashamedly racist. This is only a part of the deftness of this book, in capturing the feeling of that time when men wore hats, smoked cigarettes and went off to wars without questioning why and with a vivid hatred for the enemy as a race or ethnic group. I felt like I was in one of my father’s vivid stories.
In “Cloud Atlas,” David Mitchell gets a lot of credit for illustrating the interconnectedness of all humanity, over time and across space. I kind of get it, but I never see the theme or thread of this connectivity, as it seems random. DeBlanck does much of the same thing with what might be called the woven texture of all war, from the grand and just ones to the smaller and more questionable ones. In a way they are no different, he seems to say to this reader, even when they are terribly different in many ways. Perhaps I am too much of an inveterate reader of the history of war, but I felt this connection deeply in this book. And I found it unsettling.
The only parts of this novel that seemed to bog me down were bits of the dialog when the characters would expound upon the larger historical context. The specificity of the moment seemed to be lost when one of them would talk about Truman and Churchill containing the Soviet Union. That verb belongs to an historian, and I liked the characters in the scope of their daily lives. Tolstoy gets this done by taking us into Kutusov’s headquarters at Borodino, but that is the scope of that great novel. I like the smaller capacity of “The Sky Buries All Sorrows,” and wanted it to stay there.
At the end, I wanted to keep on reading what the grandfather was saying, as he wove the threads to connect one war to the other. I wanted Johnnie to heed him. Mostly, it made me wish my son and daughter could hear what their departed grandfather had to say about his war time experiences, and of his wisdom. I heartily recommend this book and I believe DeBlanck should keep on writing this kind of novel. He does it well.
December 9, 2016
I very much looked forward to the second book from Roger DeBlanck, and he does not disappoint with offering an outstanding follow-up to his richly inventive debut novel, The Ramos Brothers Trust Castro and Kennedy. The new book, The Sky Buries All Sorrow, offers an even more developed and involving story as it covers more time and territory than this first book. Whether he’s describing a battle scene from Guadalcanal or two friends discussing the aftermath of Sept. 11, his words paint pictures that impact you with the intimacy of the surroundings.
DeBlanck brings his sweeping narrative full circle to show how the past forever influences the present. The bond between John Cooper and his grandson Johnny is especially touching. The heart pounding pace of events over the course of three generations is quite astounding, considering the intricate depth and beauty of each chapter. The splendid writing pulls you forward. You find yourself captivated with the poeticisms and refinement evident on every page. With this second amazing novel, DeBlanck has shown that his talents have no boundaries.
DeBlanck brings his sweeping narrative full circle to show how the past forever influences the present. The bond between John Cooper and his grandson Johnny is especially touching. The heart pounding pace of events over the course of three generations is quite astounding, considering the intricate depth and beauty of each chapter. The splendid writing pulls you forward. You find yourself captivated with the poeticisms and refinement evident on every page. With this second amazing novel, DeBlanck has shown that his talents have no boundaries.
November 5, 2016
Roger DeBlanck’s novel, The Sky Buries All Sorrow, is a family saga that will touch your heart. Spanning the events of the Pearl Harbor bombing in Honolulu to the Twin Towers falling in New York, several generations of John Cooper’s family experience the historical changes that compel the reader to bond with the characters. You will find yourself crying and worrying, then smiling and laughing, before praying along with the family and friends of John and Nora Cooper. But through all the turmoil and emotions, I was left with hope. There is a hope that faith in God, family, friends, and country will always be strong.
I was anxious to read The Sky Buries All Sorrow after being satisfied as a reader and connecting with The Ramos Brothers Trust Castro and Kennedy by Roger DeBlanck. His new novel excels again in every way. It is a literary text for the ages with details and descriptions, story plots and progression, and the development of characters. These two novels are a special part of my own personal library.
I was anxious to read The Sky Buries All Sorrow after being satisfied as a reader and connecting with The Ramos Brothers Trust Castro and Kennedy by Roger DeBlanck. His new novel excels again in every way. It is a literary text for the ages with details and descriptions, story plots and progression, and the development of characters. These two novels are a special part of my own personal library.
December 10, 2016
This novel has a pulse that takes you on an amazing journey. The story starts on the day before Pearl Harbor is attacked and it travels all the way through the events of 9/11. It is important how these two historical tragedies affect the grandfather John and his grandson Johnny, but the challenges for the family over that time span are truly extraordinary. The big events only serve to bookend a powerful journey of so many ups and downs for each generation of the Cooper family.
John Cooper goes to war and must leave his lifelong love Nora waiting back home. His journey during World War II saddens him with grief for lost friends and comrades. After the war, the next journey begins for him and Nora. Their life isn’t always perfect due to the dealings of personal loss they must face. Their daughter Cassie becomes their pulse of reason to see hope. Cassie’s journey keeps moving forward through history and through the family’s own hardships. When the grandson Johnny begins his journey, you see the great admiration he has for him grandfather. This leads with momentum up to the current era of Johnny’s generation and his troubles to adapt to a world changed forever by terrorism.
Along this magnificent family story, DeBlanck includes the characters of Juan and Alberto from his first novel. It is so clever and interesting to see where they are in life over twenty years later from when the first book ended. This story of the Cooper family is grand and compelling on many levels. The storytelling is topnotch and the writing leaves you breathless with its poetics and lovely details.
John Cooper goes to war and must leave his lifelong love Nora waiting back home. His journey during World War II saddens him with grief for lost friends and comrades. After the war, the next journey begins for him and Nora. Their life isn’t always perfect due to the dealings of personal loss they must face. Their daughter Cassie becomes their pulse of reason to see hope. Cassie’s journey keeps moving forward through history and through the family’s own hardships. When the grandson Johnny begins his journey, you see the great admiration he has for him grandfather. This leads with momentum up to the current era of Johnny’s generation and his troubles to adapt to a world changed forever by terrorism.
Along this magnificent family story, DeBlanck includes the characters of Juan and Alberto from his first novel. It is so clever and interesting to see where they are in life over twenty years later from when the first book ended. This story of the Cooper family is grand and compelling on many levels. The storytelling is topnotch and the writing leaves you breathless with its poetics and lovely details.
March 29, 2015
Emotionally enthralling. Very descriptive journey into the hapless yet fulfilling life of a WW2 veteran. The in depth look into the horror American troops had faced from the unrelenting Japanese was something I was never able to fully grasp until reading through this book. I especially like how the author, Roger DeBlanck, captured the entire life of John, the main character, during his long years after the war. Typically we all imagine a fairy tale ending after a soldier expends his efforts in war, but this book suggested that once a troop gets home the battle only begins. Stillbirths, life threatening diseases to those closest to him, and unabating feelings of hostility towards everybody who appeared to be Asian plagued this stories main character. With that being said, there was just enough light in the story to balance out the misfortunes and merit the title of the story: The Sky Buries All Sorrow. Excellent read!
May 18, 2015
Research lacking
Sad that a story about WW2 is so lacking in research, especially about the Pacific war. Lost all regard for this being a serious attempt while reading about B29s being on Aircraft carriers.
Sad that a story about WW2 is so lacking in research, especially about the Pacific war. Lost all regard for this being a serious attempt while reading about B29s being on Aircraft carriers.
October 12, 2020
One of the things that continues to shine through in Roger's writing is the connections one develops with his characters. I felt a bond with the characters in his book. I felt grief when they experienced life's hardships and I shared in their joy when they experienced happiness. I wish I could give my own advice to Johnny. The emotions and themes of love, hope, and compassion permeate throughout the book.
January 12, 2022
The Sky Buries All Sorrow
This book takes us through WWII all the way to John’s grandson enlisting in the war following the bombing of the Twin Towers/World Trad Center. Johnny was conflicted as to what he wanted to do with his life and his entire family was dead set against him enlisting in the Marines. He was in a personal turmoil, but he felt he did the right thing. Excellent book scanning 3 generations.
This book takes us through WWII all the way to John’s grandson enlisting in the war following the bombing of the Twin Towers/World Trad Center. Johnny was conflicted as to what he wanted to do with his life and his entire family was dead set against him enlisting in the Marines. He was in a personal turmoil, but he felt he did the right thing. Excellent book scanning 3 generations.
August 27, 2019
The Sky Buries All Sorrow
Such a rich story well told! I love to read WWII era books and this one doesn't disappoint. Not too predictable but put a lot of less often told views in front of the reader. Excellent read that starts with Pearl Harbor and goes to Vegas and nearby atomic development. An accurate portrayal of the times.
Such a rich story well told! I love to read WWII era books and this one doesn't disappoint. Not too predictable but put a lot of less often told views in front of the reader. Excellent read that starts with Pearl Harbor and goes to Vegas and nearby atomic development. An accurate portrayal of the times.
November 22, 2018
Good book
You people should just read this book I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. I think you would like it.Shelley MA
You people should just read this book I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. I think you would like it.Shelley MA
August 9, 2021
Woke
Such woke! Should be classified as fantasy! Not researched very well. Too drawn out for the reader. Wouldn't recommend it.
Such woke! Should be classified as fantasy! Not researched very well. Too drawn out for the reader. Wouldn't recommend it.
December 7, 2016
A beautiful writing style and a lot of emotion are becoming trademarks of Roger DeBlanck's books. His second novel produces the same effect of making you feel the intensity of the experiences of the characters. This novel is more ambitious in the amount of decades it spans and the length of the characters’ live it chronicles.
We meet the novel’s main character, John. He is a mechanic at Hickam Field near Pearl Harbor, and he is yearning for home and the love of his life, Nora. After Japan destroys the harbor and the airfield, John's perspective during the war as a mechanic on an aircraft carrier is unique throughout his journey to the battles of the South Pacific. DeBlanck lets you feel John's pain and the mounting guilt over his awareness that while so many decease, he is safer on the carrier fixing planes.
Adjusting to post-war life proves difficult for both John and Nora. When they think the worst of their adversity is behind them, life throws a challenge unlike any other in their path. Love, trust, and compromise give them hope, as does the eventual birth of their daughter, Cassie. The joy she brings is tempered by world events that still haunt John. He is never quite at ease, even when he finally lands a good job at the Nevada Test Site working as the manager of budgeting for rocket and nuclear testing.
The story moves with great smoothness between the generations to the modern era where the story shows its great depth and connectivity. Cassie’s son, Johnny, is a product of the era where peace is supposed to be constant. He admires his grandfather’s sacrifices as a veteran and dreams of doing something important with his life. Smart and sensitive, Johnny slowly finds his life unraveling with the rise of terrorism and the horrors of Sept 11. His personal life experiences shocks that lead him towards making a decision that he feels will give his life purpose.
It’s hard to touch on all that happens in this emotional novel about the struggles and happiness through the experiences of one family. So much more happens that will keep you reading, expecting, and anticipating. The writing, plot, and pacing are well done. Some things will make you cry, some will make you laugh. I took the journey and am better for it.
We meet the novel’s main character, John. He is a mechanic at Hickam Field near Pearl Harbor, and he is yearning for home and the love of his life, Nora. After Japan destroys the harbor and the airfield, John's perspective during the war as a mechanic on an aircraft carrier is unique throughout his journey to the battles of the South Pacific. DeBlanck lets you feel John's pain and the mounting guilt over his awareness that while so many decease, he is safer on the carrier fixing planes.
Adjusting to post-war life proves difficult for both John and Nora. When they think the worst of their adversity is behind them, life throws a challenge unlike any other in their path. Love, trust, and compromise give them hope, as does the eventual birth of their daughter, Cassie. The joy she brings is tempered by world events that still haunt John. He is never quite at ease, even when he finally lands a good job at the Nevada Test Site working as the manager of budgeting for rocket and nuclear testing.
The story moves with great smoothness between the generations to the modern era where the story shows its great depth and connectivity. Cassie’s son, Johnny, is a product of the era where peace is supposed to be constant. He admires his grandfather’s sacrifices as a veteran and dreams of doing something important with his life. Smart and sensitive, Johnny slowly finds his life unraveling with the rise of terrorism and the horrors of Sept 11. His personal life experiences shocks that lead him towards making a decision that he feels will give his life purpose.
It’s hard to touch on all that happens in this emotional novel about the struggles and happiness through the experiences of one family. So much more happens that will keep you reading, expecting, and anticipating. The writing, plot, and pacing are well done. Some things will make you cry, some will make you laugh. I took the journey and am better for it.
February 24, 2014
I enjoyed The Sky Buries all Sorrows because John and Nora’s family seems so ordinary, yet there is drama. The book feels like the perfect antidote to today’s celebrity obsessed culture where it seems like so many people set astronomical, unattainable goals for themselves and when they don’t accomplish these, they resort to anesthetizing entertainment. The book helps me see my own life and family through a more dramatic lens.
To me, the book celebrates ordinary courage, not heroism. I can relate to a family persisting through struggles common to many. I like how the book opens with John serving as an aircraft mechanic, not as an infantryman, not from lofty idealism but because his girlfriend told him he needed to grow up. This seems more relate-able to me.
I like how the story peers back in time to make sense of experiences in light of today’s understanding of human psychology. I nearly came to tears in the scene where John and Nora recognize that each of them is experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, for different reasons, and find a greater depth of love for each other because of it.
In a book tracing one family’s intersection with violence and destruction and catastrophe barely averted, I find it ironic and revealing that Nora succumbs to something far more commonplace that has killed tens of millions of Americans. So often, it is not the dramatic things we fear that are the real threats to our lives. While the various external threats to the United States throughout the 20th century form the backdrop to the story, it’s revealing how the story focuses on one of the greatest killers of Americans, something far more mundane than the threatened nuclear apocalypse.
I like how the story reveals the effect of chance encounters on the direction of one family’s history. From a friendship on an air base, to a meeting on a beach, to a student teacher match with a mentor, what could have been inconsequential decisions ended up having a profound impact on the lives of this family.
I highly recommend Roger Deblanck’s latest book!
To me, the book celebrates ordinary courage, not heroism. I can relate to a family persisting through struggles common to many. I like how the book opens with John serving as an aircraft mechanic, not as an infantryman, not from lofty idealism but because his girlfriend told him he needed to grow up. This seems more relate-able to me.
I like how the story peers back in time to make sense of experiences in light of today’s understanding of human psychology. I nearly came to tears in the scene where John and Nora recognize that each of them is experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, for different reasons, and find a greater depth of love for each other because of it.
In a book tracing one family’s intersection with violence and destruction and catastrophe barely averted, I find it ironic and revealing that Nora succumbs to something far more commonplace that has killed tens of millions of Americans. So often, it is not the dramatic things we fear that are the real threats to our lives. While the various external threats to the United States throughout the 20th century form the backdrop to the story, it’s revealing how the story focuses on one of the greatest killers of Americans, something far more mundane than the threatened nuclear apocalypse.
I like how the story reveals the effect of chance encounters on the direction of one family’s history. From a friendship on an air base, to a meeting on a beach, to a student teacher match with a mentor, what could have been inconsequential decisions ended up having a profound impact on the lives of this family.
I highly recommend Roger Deblanck’s latest book!
October 30, 2015
I recently finished reading “The Sky Buries All Sorrows,” Roger DeBlanck’s second novel. It is a splendid narrative that follows three generations of the Cooper family from the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor to the aftermath of 9/11. The storyline is involving and a great read, but what really impressed me was how much I learned from reading this book. The author’s impeccable research had me constantly saying, “Wow, I didn’t know that!” From the military details of WWII to the descriptions of “old” Las Vegas, I felt like I was really there. Equally impressive is the detailed character development that allows the reader to really “know” these people--to relate to their emotions, the good and the bad, and to understand what drives them. This, in turn, reveals much about the author himself. I worked very briefly with Mr. DeBlanck at the Las Vegas Clark County Library a while back. This book introduced me to him as a mult-dimensional, emotionally-aware human being, as well as a skillful librarian. Whether his outstanding character development evolved from personal experience or simply keen observation of the human condition, it is this exceptional talent that draws the reader in and keeps him interested. Combine that with fascinating historical facts and you have a very engrossing saga. I look forward to Mr. DeBlanck’s next novel!
September 14, 2016
I finished this book on the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Reading the descriptions of how the characters dealt with the tragedy brought up many memories and feelings that I have of that day. This book spans several generations and covers the time from the attack on Pearl Harbor to the attack on the Twin Towers in New York. It really brings the story full circle and illustrates that even though times do change, the hardships we experience are very similar. Through each generation, we see how the political climate and communities change. I especially liked the descriptions of John Cooper's experiences during WWII. As a mechanic, we see the war through his eyes and witness the hardship of seeing his friends perish on the front lines and not be able to actively do anything. This is mirrored in the aftermath of 9/11 when his grandson is uncertain how to contribute to the cause. Being a transplant to Las Vegas, like the characters, I really enjoyed the descriptions of Las Vegas of the 1950s. You can tell a lot of research went into this book and it was fun to read about the history of the strip and Nevada's nuclear past. Lastly, if you read the author's first book, "The Ramos Brothers," you will enjoy their cameo appearance. You get a glimpse at how things worked out for them after the events of the first book. I look forward to reading his third book.
September 6, 2015
I had the pleasure of meeting the author, Mr Roger DeBlanck, at a book signing event. He described his books and I quickly purchased "The Sky Buries All Sorrow" due to the fact that I enjoy reading and learning about history, especially World War II history.
The story is centered around an American family and follows their lives from World War II to 2001. Starting with the main character, John, being present at the attack at Pearl Harbor, continuing through his daughters life, then his grandson's youth and early adulthood, the story is well told and well researched.
Mr. DeBlanck does an excellent job in creating the plot, developing the characters and moving the story forward. it is very apparent that Mr. DeBlanck is well-read and uses his love of books and reading to educate himself on how to write a powerful novel. The story encompasses history, politics, family, love, loss, disappointment, courage and overcoming loss. The character development is outstanding, I felt as if I personally knew each character. The settings are described in detail but not overloaded with unnecessary specifics. The author's did an awesome job.
I highly recommend this fantastic book for all, especially lovers of historical fiction and American History.
The story is centered around an American family and follows their lives from World War II to 2001. Starting with the main character, John, being present at the attack at Pearl Harbor, continuing through his daughters life, then his grandson's youth and early adulthood, the story is well told and well researched.
Mr. DeBlanck does an excellent job in creating the plot, developing the characters and moving the story forward. it is very apparent that Mr. DeBlanck is well-read and uses his love of books and reading to educate himself on how to write a powerful novel. The story encompasses history, politics, family, love, loss, disappointment, courage and overcoming loss. The character development is outstanding, I felt as if I personally knew each character. The settings are described in detail but not overloaded with unnecessary specifics. The author's did an awesome job.
I highly recommend this fantastic book for all, especially lovers of historical fiction and American History.
May 20, 2014
Author Roger DeBlanck, takes us on a journey spanning more than seventy years, from World War II to the horrific realization of war on our own soil on September 11, 2001. He begins the story with John Cooper, taking us through his life and the horror he had to endure after witnessing the bombing of Pearl Harbor first hand. Mr. DeBlanck, has researched his war history with impeccable detail and gives you a front row seat to the chaos and the friendships that were forged during this terrible time in our nations history. He doesn't stop there however, we are driven through time and follow this family through all of it's heartaches and happiness. He has gripped the very essence of family and country. I look forward to seeing a continuation of the story and following John's grandson, Johnny, in his future quest to find his life's fulfillment and forge his own path. This was a wonderful journey that is not yet finished.
February 17, 2016
The Sky Buries All Sorrow spans from Pearl Harbor to the 9/11 Twin Tower’s devastation---from Pennsylvania to Las Vegas, and three generations of Coopers---their love, disappointments, courage, loss, and search for peace and self-worth. Interestingly, DeBlanck depicts Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in two different ways: after World War II, before it was officially recognized; and as a disorder of a civilian after having a horrific experience. For those too young to remember World War II and onward, The Sky is an especially good read because it gives a realistic picture of the different eras experienced and seen through the eyes of the characters. The story has a spiritual thread and tells of how history shapes each generation--- their choices and decisions. I was happy to see Alberto and Juan Ramos from the author’s book, The Ramos Brothers Trust Castro And Kennedy, emerge later in this book.
February 4, 2015
This is the second book in a series by my coworker and good friend Roger. Very loosely based on the life experiences of his grandfather, his mother and even himself, the story begins with the attack on Pearl Harbor and and follows the family through the decades as they encounter and come to terms with personal struggles and tragedies. Culminating with the attack of Sept 11, the multi-generational saga is really about how the characters reconcile themselves to a world of heartbreak and sorrow, and how they ultimately find meaning and even a form of peace. This book, like the previous, is a real tour-de-force not only in literary craftsmanship but in research. There is a heavy historicity present throughout that will especially please history and WWII buffs.
August 9, 2016
Time For A Tissue
War has many meanings too me. One area of the book "hit straight and hard into my family history, World War II. As it is said thru history,in some families, "Loved one's return, some do not". If you are a fast reader, then you just might miss the emotions, but if you are a slow and meticulous reader keep your tissue or handkerchief close by because the tears will flow, as mine did..
War has many meanings too me. One area of the book "hit straight and hard into my family history, World War II. As it is said thru history,in some families, "Loved one's return, some do not". If you are a fast reader, then you just might miss the emotions, but if you are a slow and meticulous reader keep your tissue or handkerchief close by because the tears will flow, as mine did..
August 13, 2014
Well written story that spans three generations of a family from WWII to after 9/11.
July 23, 2014
So bad I couldn't finish it.
June 29, 2016
Sometimes you get what you pay for with Kindle freebies. Unfinished about a quarter of the way through.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews