“Nerdection Excellent Read”
Bryan R. Saye’s That Such Men Lived delivers a gripping and human portrayal of survival, loss, and courage set against the brutal backdrop of World War II.
Through Johannes Schmitt’s harrowing journey from Nazi Germany to the battlefronts of Europe, the novel captures both the personal cost of war and the resilience of the human spirit.
Spoiler-free Plot
Seventeen-year-old Johannes Schmitt can do nothing but watch as the Gestapo murders his father in his own home.
Forced to flee Germany, Johannes is torn from the girl he loves and the mother he swore to protect, boarding a ship to America with nothing but a suitcase, a broken Star of David, and the weight of survivor’s guilt. He arrives alone, enraged, and powerless to help those he loves.
That is, until he’s finally drafted into the US Army.
From there, Johannes is sent to the most unlikely of places: the top-secret Camp Ritchie, where he and fellow Jewish immigrants learn advanced interrogation techniques and German order of battle, strategies that promise to change the tides of the war. From the burning streets of Briedheim to the secretive Camp Ritchie to the very walls of Hitler’s Fortress Europe, Johannes must navigate a journey haunted by the past as he tries to keep his honor intact.
In this evocative retelling of the real-life German-born Jewish immigrants known as the Ritchie Boys, That Such Men Live is a gritty and emotional story of sacrifice, war, and maintaining hope when all seems lost.
My take on That Such Men Lived
A major shortcoming that a lot of historical fiction tends to have is prioritizing the elements and events that took place in real life, which oftentimes leads to the plot feeling hampered and underdeveloped. It makes sense to a degree since the authors want to stay true to the historical context of the time, but the narrative has to be the biggest focus.
Fortunately, Bryan R. Saye seems to understand, at least based on what That Such Men Lived has provided to me as a reader.
The plot deals with the consequences of World War II as they are taking place and also emphasizes the role that the German immigrants had at the time, which is a take that can generate an interesting setting from the get-go. That is certainly the case since Saye wastes no time in introducing Johannes, his motivations, and what he goes through early in the book, which allows the reader to connect with him.
The protagonist’s struggles and losses feel very human and universal, even if war is a concept that not everyone is familiar with. His first-person narration is also quite good, with the author offering something that is direct and to the point. There are not a lot of unnecessary details when it comes to the description of objects and settings, adding a degree of realism since our protagonist is obviously not going to remember thanks to a t.
However, Saye can get quite gritty at times with some moments of the story. When Johannes suffers, you truly feel his pain. That is a very good element of this book since the tragedy of war is felt and the ramifications that it can have on people, not just physically but also emotionally, is perhaps something that is hard to convey and the author does a very good job in that regard.
As the story progresses, the development of Johannes is palpable, especially when it comes to the realities of war and how all of this tends to influence his decision-making. Saye takes the time to build-up his protagonist and the ramifications this can have on him instead of treating it as a simple revenge story. It is oftentimes difficult to have a person go through these adversities in fiction and depict them in a way that doesn’t feel gratuitous, but the writer has managed to pull this off.
During the final third of the story, which was my favorite section of the book, there is a strong element of melancholy when looking back at Johannes’ life and how he feels with the choices he has made. It is a sobering experience to read him go through this, especially when it comes to his relationships with other members of the cast, but the story holds no punches in that regard, which is something that I welcome, since it makes the plot progress in what feels like an organic manner.
Overall, That Such Men Lived is a very strong offering. It has a captivating main character and a journey that feels clear and logical. Moreover, it balances the historical context with clear and solid storytelling.
About The Author Of That Such Men Lived
Bryan R Saye currently lives in Idaho with his wonderful wife and three amazing children. He’s a happy follower of Jesus, a proud member of the United States Air Force, and an often disappointed but always dedicated fan of the Jacksonville Jaguars (This is our year!).
He started his writing career late in life (if you consider almost 40 late), mostly because his little buggers wanted to eat every day and have health insurance. His daughter says he can’t talk without teaching (and no, he’s not a teacher). According to his son, if you want to know anything else, then you’ll just have to meet him (come to Idaho, it’s not that cold).
By drawing on real events and stories from history, Bryan writes quality fiction with powerful character arcs that display and encourage real change. Though always reflecting a Catholic worldview, he strives to write fiction that is accessible and relatable to people from all faiths and cultures, that excludes no one.
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