The Girl in the Blue Beret

A Novel

By: Bobbie Ann Mason

Narrated by: Fred Sullivan

Length: 10 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

Inspired by a true story, the best-selling author of In Country offers a gorgeous, haunting novel about an airline pilot coming to terms with his past, and searching for the people who saved him during World War II. After Marshall Stone's B-17 bomber was shot down in occupied Europe in 1944, people in the French Resistance helped him escape to safety. One of the brave French people who risked their lives for him was a lively girl in Paris—a girl identified by her blue beret. After the war Marshall returned to America, raised a family, and became a successful airline pilot. He tried to forget the war. Now, in 1980, he returns to France and finds himself drawn back in time—memories of the crash, the terror of being alone in a foreign country where German soldiers were hunting down fallen Allied aviators, the long months of hiding. Marshall finds the people who helped him escape from the Nazis and falls in love with the woman who was the girl in the blue beret. He also discovers astonishing revelations about the suffering of the people he had known during the war. Bobbie Ann Mason's novel, inspired by her father-in-law's wartime experiences, is a beautifully woven story of love, war, and second chances.

©2011 Bobbie Ann Mason (P)2011 AudioGO

Eye Injury Forced Audible & Blue Beret--All Good

Would you listen to The Girl in the Blue Beret again? Why?

Probably not. I got the story the first time around, enjoyed it, but it's not in my top ten all time books.

What did you like best about this story?

The setting--it gave a new WWII perspective. A former WWII pilot revisits the scene of where he crashed in Belgium/France and the people who risked their lives to save him forty years ago. The towns, the food, the differences in the French way of life made it very interesting.

Which scene was your favorite?

Any of the scenes where the characters are sitting around a table (or are picnicing) having some wine and delicious food. I wanted to join in.My favorite scene, in a odd way, was when Annette surprised Marshall with the final story of her wartime experience. I won't say more, don't want to be a spoiler.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. It was much too long for that.

Any additional comments?

I was to host a book club meeting focused on this book, when I experienced a painful scratched cornea, and I'd barely started the book. I decided to join Audible and listen to the book. The narrator made the book even more interesting--good job! I was able to finish the book in a few days without difficulty, and host the group discussion. We all enjoyed the book.

Disjointed but enjoyable story

I kept having to back up to decide if the character was having a flashback or was in the present. I never did understand what happened to his wife. And the ending was too abrupt to bring things to fruition.

Remarkable

This presents the trials and tribulations of those deeply embedded in WWII in France from several different perspectives in such a personal way. It was outstandingly written and performed!

Needs a woman narrator for female characters

This narration requires a woman to narrate the female characters, especially Annette. Male voice unacceptable.

Just average

Ending leaves you hanging, and not the good suspenseful kind “hanging”. Rather the kind of “hanging” like the story just stops. It’s over and I thought I’d missed something, but when I relistened, nope, it was just over. And although was very good in parts other parts drug along and the ending dumb and I would not suggest this book to anyone.

Very moving

Hard and compelling but uplifting at the same time. Great character development. Ending left too much unanswered

Very slow start

The actual story is quite good but I almost quit listening because it took so long to get to the story.

Interesting Perspective

This WWII story was from a very different perspective and held my attention. I was not satisfied with the ending, it was very abrupt and left many unanswered questions.

Good story, no ending

Enjoyed the perspective from which the story is written. But it just ended midair, so to speak. Still has questions to be answered. It feels incomplete.

A Different Perspective

I really appreciated the perspective on a WWII story coming from an airman! And the narrator was great!