The Official Jack Sacco Website - Reviews of "Where the Birds Never Sing"

Superbly written! At once epic in scope and intimate in detail, Where the Birds Never Sing effortlessly transports even a casual reader on an emotional and unforgettable journey. Author Jack Sacco masterfully recounts the true story of his father, Joe Sacco, an American GI in World War II. Instead of using the tired genre of third-person documentary-style writing to tell the tale, the author speaks in the first person, through the eyes of his father. The result is one of the most powerful and honestly moving accounts of the human drama in World War II in recent memory.

The story begins in 1943 on a farm in Alabama, when the young Joe Sacco receives a letter informing him that he has been drafted into the service. From there, it seamlessly moves through his training with the 92nd Signal Battalion, shipping out to England (where the soldiers witnessed the stirring and famous speech by General Patton), landing at Omaha Beach in Normandy, surviving the Battle of the Bulge and fighting their way across Nazi Germany to eventually arrive at the notorious concentration camp at Dachau by war's end.

The book, already powerful and moving up until that point, then takes the reader to a new level of realism as horrifying details of the camp are revealed. Considering all he had seen and experienced since landing at Normandy, the emotional response of the young Joe Sacco to the carnage inside Dachau may leave the reader near tears. Rarely, if ever, has there been a written account of the reality of the concentration camps so graphic, gripping or compelling. As if that wasn't enough, Jack Sacco has included actual historic photographs his father took during the dramatic liberation.

All along the way, the author crafts memorable and beautifully written scenes, from the terrors of battle to the tranquility of a snowfall in the forests of Alsace-Lorraine, from the sorrows of the death of a buddy to the simple joy of decorating a makeshift Christmas tree with gum wrappers. In describing the emotions of the men before leaving Dachau, Sacco writes, "Now, after a year of combat, each of us finally and forever understood why destiny had called us to travel so far away from the land of our birth and fight for people we did not know. And so it was here, in this place abandoned by God and accursed by men, that we came to discover the meaning of our mission."

This is not another book about World War II. It's an intimate journey into the heart of an American soldier, and as such, it is as triumphant as the men it depicts. Readers will not only delight in Where the Birds Never Sing, they will gain a new appreciation for the accomplishments of their own fathers, uncles and grandfathers who may have served in World War II as part of the Greatest Generation.

Whole New Perspective on a Familiar Story

If you're at all interested in the Second World War, you must read Jack Sacco's book.

I've read plenty of history, dramatic family sagas, and scholarly nonfiction analyses from the perspectives of art, psychoanalysis, law and sociology -- but nothing so artfully bridges the historical account with the interpretation most often seen in the pages of a novel -- as Jack Sacco's new account of World War II called WHERE THE BIRDS NEVER SING. No nonfiction book since SCHINDLER'S LIST has moved me as much as this one.

Written in the first person, WHERE THE BIRDS NEVER SING viscerally involves the reader in a young soldier’s transition from innocence to experience. The book reads like a novel but it in fact chronicles the real-life adventures of the author's father, Joe Sacco, an Alabama farmboy who answered his country's call to serve. This book is a historically sound account with all the elements of great fiction including poetic descriptions, great dialogue, full-blooded characters and a romantic sub-plot!

If you admire well-researched, dramatic nonfiction such as Band of Brothers and Schindler’s List and enjoy beautiful literature such as Sophie's Choice and Mila 18 -- WHERE THE BIRDS NEVER SING will definitely appeal to you.

But if you appreciate works like Art Spiegelman's exquisite MAUS which provide a unique artistic approach to what may seem like overly familiar material, then you should get a copy of WHERE THE BIRDS NEVER SING. You'll be talking about it the day after your start reading it and for years to come.

A Harrowing Journey from Innocence to Hell to Triumph

I just finished reading Mr. Sacco's book and am still a bit 'shell-shocked' from the experience. This is an EXCELLENT book. I read it in two days as I literally could not put it down. From the opening chapter the reader is caught up in the story of Joe Sacco (the author's father) and his journey from innocent farm boy to soldier to survivor. The narrative pulls the reader into the lives of these young men. You are virtually THERE with them as they go through training, cross the Atlantic, enter the invasion of Normandy, move through the hedgerows with the irascible Patton and his Third Army, get bogged down in the wintry bloodbath of the Bulge, and arrive amidst the nightmarish scenes of Dachau. For anyone who ever questioned that war is sometimes a necessity, the deliverance of those tortured souls from the Inferno of Dachau will open their eyes. This book has everything - comedy, drama, action, adventure, romance, tragedy, despair, triumph. Jack Sacco has truly captured these scenes in vivid style; a simple naturalism that transforms the reader into an actual presence in the drama. It would make an excellent film, as the story is so visually well-told. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Beautiful

I'm a 24 year old woman who had never had a reason to read a war book, but my father gave me this book and told me he thought I might find it interesting since my grandfather had been a soldier in World War II. Out of respect for him, I thought I would page through it and give it back. But after reading two pages, I couldn't put it down.

The main character, Joe, is so real that I felt like I knew him. There were times when I was laughing out loud at some of the things he said and did. The romance of Joe and Monique was so refreshing and beautiful. The letter he wrote her was so beautiful that it made me cry. I actually read that part over and over. When I finished the book, I wanted to hug Joe and tell him that everything was going to be alright.

Not To Be Missed

It is for very good reasons the WWII generation is referred to as the "Greatest Generation", and this book is one of those reasons. The voice of the young Joe Sacco reverberates through the years, transporting the reader to the sights and sounds of the European theater. He gives the dates and places new life and meaning. This poignant memoir is sometimes funny, sometimes raw and always touching. I must admit that for the first time ever a book has brought me to tears.

I reacted to it on several levels; as a history teacher, a daughter of this generation and an Italian-American. It was a truly moving experience.

- Carole Mauro
Bristow, Virginia

A Great and Moving Read

Where The Birds Never Sing is a truly wonderful book.

I was mesmerized by the story. Maybe because it was told in the 1st person - I don't know - but I do know I felt as if I was experiencing the significance of war, death, and the brutality of all that occurred.

I read this book from different perspectives.

As a Jew, the Concentration Camp chapters were truly chilling. I believe this book accomplishes the important and necessary task of letting people know the atrocities of the Holocaust really happened and must never be forgotten.

As a woman, the story of Monique really touched my heart. Love is such a beautiful gift in life and to have it end so tragically was unexpected and very sad. I wanted Joe to live happily ever after with her, but as the book shared, the war had many endings that unfortunately were not happy.

As an American and a human being in general, the courage of all the young men whose stories were portrayed almost seems unbelievable today. Thank God they had what it took to fight the fight they did and to withstand a war they could never have imagined. I am grateful to all of them.

Overall, the book made me laugh, cry, and personalize a time in history I only knew vaguely about. This book is a great and moving read!

A Must Read

It is hard for me to read war novels, but this one was written like a personal diary so moving and captivating. It's hard to believe he was only 20 years old. It talks more about personal relationships and experiences rather than the statistics of wars and battles. I guess that's why I enjoyed it so much. It is a book that could have been written by any soldier in any war. It deserves to go on the best seller list.

- V. Leos

Kudos to Jack Sacco

I can't just say it was great. What an understatement that would be. The book is a funny, yet at times wrenching, transformation of innocence. I don't like war books or movies. They leave scars on my heart. But I'm glad I read this one. It was warm and endearing. You love Joe Sacco. It felt like I was there with him and it made me proud to be there for him. I think the book will touch anyone who reads it---whether it be the memories it conjures up of our own family, of the life we love in this country, of the desperate confusion of drastic moments, of the pangs of caring about people, or of empathy for our fellow man. It is an incredible affirmation of belonging to this country, of the men who serve, of life and family. You can't help but be affected.

Boy to Man

Jack Sacco tells his father's story of an Italian-American son farming in Alabama, as he signs up for war in 1942. It was a different time, so put aside your recently acquired political correctness & go with the flow of how it was.

Inspired by Joseph Sacco's album of black & white snapshots he took from 1942 onwards as he & his buddies, as part of General Patton's army, rig lines for field telephones & keep communications going. Follow as they are moved through the European Theater -- through razed towns, behind enemy lines, into the worst winter in memory, until they finally reach Dachau where, amid the walking skeletons, the bodies stacked like cord wood, the stench from the crematorium chimneys & the left-over guards, Joe realizes what his mission really was.

RebeccasReads recommends WHERE THE BIRDS NEVER SING as a riveting biography of the ordinary, sometimes hilarious & always hair-raising adventures of one young soldier boy who did the right thing, fought the good fight, & came home a man.

Coming of Age

Sacco's story captures the true feelings of naive young boys who, given little choice, evolve into men. It helped me to be reminded that during those war times, the military was much more basic than today and the soldiers less prepared and much less experienced with the outside world. The technology used in today's Middle East strategy is so amazing compared to the pole-climbing preparation of the 92nd Signal Corps. The reader will gain a greater appreciation of how difficult it must have been to carry out daily operations.

The arrival at Dachau in today's world would have set up immediate communication with media followed by an onslaught of command. But during those times, Sacco and his buddies were unhindered for hours to discover the horrific scene at Dachau making the experience much more moving and giving their war efforts meaning. The story is especially dear to me as my Dad was one of the characters. I have been given a look into a time of his life I could have known no other way, so the book is a true gift.

Heartwarming & Compelling - I Couldn't Put it Down

Heart-warming and compelling, Jack Sacco's Where the Birds Never Sing is a pure delight, despite its inevitably somber and provoking conclusion. This book's impact on me was surprising, since I'm not one that typically embraces books on war or history. But this book is different. Told from the unique perspective of a young soldier in the 92nd Signal Battalion, this is the flip-side perspective of the Dachau Concentration Camp liberation.

Through the eyes of scared, yet brave, and exceedingly funny 18-20 year old soldiers, this book is in a word, "human". You very quickly fall in love with the characters. Whether you're male, female, young or mature, I think you'll find yourself relating to their experiences and moving through their adventures and struggles right alongside them.

Because of the powerful connection I felt with these boys, reading about the atrocities they encountered upon entering Dachau was such a powerful moment. It really is a coming of age story as you see the "deer caught in headlights" boys become men.

The liberation of the camp at the novel's end will not only shock and sadden you, but fill you with pride. My brother is currently in the Middle East and I couldn't help but imagine him going through some of the same things described in this book. Anyone with a son, friend, or spouse in the military will feel a special connection with the characters of Where the Birds Never Sing.

Unable to put this book down, I read it over a weekend, and anyone who stopped by or phoned listened to me reading them passages aloud. It's just that good. I'm hopeful that Jack Sacco will bring more great stories to us in the future.

Fantastic Book!

Where The Birds Never Sing is the story of Joe Sacco's years in the army during WWII as written by his son Jack. From the time he was drafted until the time that he returns home we live with Joe as he experiences everything from basic training to the liberation of Dachau, which left Joe and the men of his company, soldiers who had witnessed everything that war has to offer, speechless and sickened. It also, as Joe so eloquently tells us, brought home, all too clearly, to these soldiers just why they had left their homes to "fight for a people we did not know."

A remarkable story about a remarkable man. This book must be read by all who are interested in "The Greatest Generation."

- Neal Bellet
Wayne, New Jersey

EXCELLENT Book

Where the Birds Never Sing is an excellent book in that it skillfully and accurately displays a part of war that is all too often forgotten by military historians. That is, the human and emotional side of war. This book came highly recommended and even surpassed its billing. An excellent read. This is a compelling, powerful book.

Great Book

I've probably read hundreds of books about World War II. This is perhaps the finest of the lot. These are the stories that make America great, and the stories that never seem to be told. Senator Bob Dole, who knows a good WWII book when he sees one, is right when he says this is a great book. It is powerful precisely because it is written in a highly literary style, not the boring, monotonous third-person style that some military reviewers are accustomed to, especially the ones who have never been in the military, that most historians seem to prefer and that most students abhor. Instead, this is a beautiful piece of American literature.

As a veteran, I enjoy military history and I therefore loved this book. But what impressed me is that it brought my wife, who is not known to enjoy war books, to tears. Our family will cherish this book and we are thankful to Mr. Jack Sacco for writing it, especially in such a powerful and emotional style. I think it should be required reading in our schools.

A Son Pays Homage to His Father

Author Jack Sacco has provided us with an easy-to-read and well written account told through the eyes of his father Joe Sacco's experiences in World War II. From the time he was drafted into the army in October of 1942 until his release in 1945 Joe Sacco lived through experiences shared by many soldiers during that time. Intimate portraits of fellow soldiers who became like brothers to him are provided throughout the book.

Joe Sacco entered Europe one week after the D-Day invasion of Normandy and experienced combat experiences in The Battle of the Bulge and other places. The liberation of the concentration camp at Dachau, Germany, in April of 1945 is vividly told to illustrate man's inhumanity to man.

A speech given to the soldiers by General George Patton is retold in all its humor. Sadness comes with the death of two of Joe's friends in combat in addition to the death of a French girl named Monique at the hand of the Nazis that Joe had fallen in love with, and had hoped to be reunited with at war's end.

Many books have been written regarding soldiers' experiences in World War II, but I found this one to be especially interesting because the characters are really brought to life in all their down-to-earth humanness, and a format that was easy to read and hard to put down.

Dear Mr. Sacco,

I have never before written to an author, but I just this morning finished your wonderful book, "Where the Birds Never Sing", and I must tell you, I wept. Since 1984 and the 40th Anniversary specials about D-Day were on TV, I have had a deepened interest in knowing about WWII.

Your book reveals just what I always wanted to know most: how it felt to be there, survive the conditions, let alone the battles, and how it felt to come home. I absorbed the entire story and only in the last paragraphs did tears begin to blind my eyes and as I closed the cover I wept and wept for all of the young men who served--those who died and those who came home forever changed. I wept for the heartaches of their loved ones and I wept out of pride for the character and courage of our soldiers.

I have cried at sad movies before, or when reading sad passages of books, tears have welled in my eyes or even run down my face, but I have never wept from the depths of my soul before.

You have done a remarkable work in preserving history, in telling an important story in a most moving and unforgettable way, in paying tribute to your father and all those who served with him. I feel like I have been forever changed for having read it. Thank you.

Jan Antinozzi
Ham Lake, Minnesota

Dear Jack,

I was at work and heard your interview on the Ace and TJ Show on Kiss 95.1 out of Charlotte, NC and was instantly intrigued. I jotted down the title and immediately called Barnes & Noble to order the book. I had to wait a week to receive it but the very day they called I went and picked it up. I read the entire book from front to back in two days. I felt I needed to let you know how deeply the book touched me.

I am a 23-year-old mother from a small town in North Carolina and only know war as something distant. I know history and I know the things that took place but I had never actually heard someone's true story. I really think you have done a great thing writing this book. It touched me and my heart went out to all the characters and victims. It made me realize the everyday things I take for granted; especially having a healthy, happy little boy.

I would like to thank you. The book made me laugh, it made me cry, and at times made me angry. But it also made me understand. Most off all thank your father for being a hero and not even knowing it.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Stacks
Newton, North Carolina

I just read the book you wrote about your father. The sad title caught my eye when the book was sitting there on the shelf. It was the only copy left. I picked it up and started leafing through it, trying to pick up on what it was about. The first picture I saw was the picture of your father, the one taken in Austria. He looked so incredibly young and handsome. I was instantly intrigued about the story of his life that was held in this book.

I bought the book and started reading. All it took me was to read to the point where he said goodbye to his father at the train station and I was hooked. I couldn't read fast enough. I stayed up really late that night reading, and the next morning I toted the book off to school with me. I read during all my classes and even during lunch. My friend Anne Marie told me that it must be a really good book for me to even read it during lunch, and I said, "It is! It's better than the best!"

I finished the book in two days. I read as fast as I could and enjoyed every minute of it. I have told all my friends the amazing story of Joe Sacco and they were very impressed. My brother got home from college yesterday, and guess who is sitting on the couch reading the book this very minute! It's my brother, of course! I read excerpts to my parents and my dad was especially interested.

I grew to love those guys in the book. I loved how it was written as if I was Joe Sacco going through the war, and not just some author writing about history. Though I will never, ever know the true feelings your father felt through all this, I felt honored to have that time in the book to get a glimpse into his life. I laughed at the guys' sense of humors. They could be so funny! They would jokingly pick on each other, yet deep down loved each other as good brothers.

I have studied about WWII in school, but I was struck to the heart with your father's tale of his experience in Europe. I realized I didn't understand enough about the war in Europe until I read this book. His tenacious spirit to survive the war and return home to his Mama and Papa was such breathtaking love from a boy for his parents. Yet, he was a man as an American soldier in unimaginable times of hardship.

I will forever remember the story of Joe Sacco. I will forever remember the face of Joe Sacco a week after seeing the worst thing in his life.

After reading the book, I was curious if he was still alive. I got online and typed your name in to see if it might say on your website. How glad I am to have this opportunity to write to you and express my feelings about the book and how it has affected me.

I am 17 years old, and am most grateful for what your father went through for future generations. I wish I could tell him how I feel somehow or that you could show him this email. I would feel so honored if I could only shake his hand and tell him "THANK YOU!" Could you please tell him that as an American girl who is proud of her country, I love him from the bottom of my heart.

I don't even know how to begin. "Where the Birds Never Sing" grabbed me and would not let go until I had read and relived every page in the book. I love reading and watching anything about WW2, but this was such a wonderful story. I guess I actually felt connected to your dad because I am from Alabama also. What a wonderful story, and it is not fiction, that is what I found myself to be saying over and over. I absolutely cannot wait until this thing is on film.

To me these are the some of the greatest heros the world has ever known. Simple, next door kind of people that answered the call and would not stop till good had triumphed. These men like your dad are the heros, not sports figures but men like these.

Sir, I stand and give you a salute on a wonderfully written book. Please give your dad a message from a 31-year old dad of two from Boaz Alabama. Please tell him that I thank him for answering the call and not backing down, for being a hero to this simple minded Alabama boy.

I just finished "Where the Birds..." That sir, is an extraordinary piece of American literature. Thank you for the joy of sharing experiences with your dad and the 92nd. Very, very well done.

Well, I don’t know what made me think that I would be doing much reading during a trip to visit my grandchildren! So, as it happened, I only carried your book with me — and didn’t start reading it until about a week ago.

I finished last evening, lying in a hammock in my backyard. After I closed the book, I just lay there, looking up into the trees, appreciating so many things... My wife over on the patio with our dogs... Our home, so quiet and secure, even in this frightening world... And what men like your father did for us.

Even though I’d been told how wonderful a book it is, and even though I’d read some reviews about it, I was unprepared for how it moved me. By the time the men approached Dachau, the experience of young men in battle was as real for me as I expect it will ever be.

I am not a reader of books about war, but I am so very glad I read yours. I think it is very important for us all to have as real a sense of what war is as possible. When our country makes the horrible choice to go to war, we need to understand what that really means. One of my concerns today is that we are able to know that war is happening in the world without having to think too much of what war really is.

I’m sure I’m not the only person — far from it — to tell you that I wept at the depiction of Dachau. As much as I’ve learned about the camps and the brutality, and as nearly numb as I’ve become from the imagery in archival films and photos, your story had me there with those soldiers as they discovered what we all now know, and it was like learning about it for the first time.

Your writing is nothing less than brilliant. It is vivid, personal, insightful, realistic, tender — a treasure. Thank you.

Those were words that I uttered out loud, sitting alone on my couch as I finished "Where The Birds Never Sing". I closed the book, reflected for a moment and began to write this quick note.

Throughout the book, I felt like I was along for the nearly 3-year journey, seeing what Joe saw, even feeling the earth shake with him--which was accompanied by an emptiness in my stomach. I felt the friendships developing between these brave young men...no, young men who became brave!

There was a sinking, devastating feeling as I read of Chandler and Silverman. This reader shed tears with you on the trip to visit Monique.

Jack, thank you for the work and effort put into sharing this story with the world.

As a child and pre-teen, my Dad often (VERY OFTEN) shared with me his stories of Vietnam, as an MP in Saigon during the Tet Offensive. I grew weary of the stories and the hundreds of slides he would show on a light-colored wall of our living room. Now, I can't wait to get back home to Illinois to see and hear it all again--and this time, ask questions, and remember it all.

I just finished reading “Where the Birds Never Sing” and absolutely loved every page of it. The book was excellently researched and well put together. HBO should air Joe Sacco’s story of the true sacrifice that Italian Americans have made rather than the tales of Tony Soprano.

I just finished reading your fine book Where the Birds Never Sing. I must tell you that it brought me back to my childhood when I watched our returning servicemen marching through the streets of Seattle. As a veteran myself, I was amazed that you captured the atmosphere of GIs working and playing together eloquently. Your book is a public service and would be a fine film. I hope that you write the screenplay yourself.

I just finished "Where the Birds Never Sing" and found it to be a powerful and wonderfully written book. The sections telling the story of your father's relationship with Monique, and its tragic ending was gut wrenching. I wept. Those who never have experienced such tragedy can only wonder how such men as your father were able to emotionally repair themselves after seeing the horrors of Dachau, the tragic loss of a young love, and seeing their own close friends die right before them in the war. After touring Dachau for the 1st time some 3 weeks ago-I grabbed your book while visiting my brother in Decatur, Alabama hoping to learn more from those who were actually there at its liberation. Your book and your father's heroism on behalf of his country made me learn much , much more.

I just finished reading Where The Birds Never Sing and felt compelled to write and tell you what a fantastic book it was. I am a serious student of WWII and have read hundreds of books on the subject and have a library of well over five hundred books. Yours is one of the best! Your father and the people he lived and fought with while in training, and while in Europe were remarkable men (except Chicago whom I could not stand) and are fitting examples of why this is considered to be "The Greatest Generation."

The chapter on the liberation of Dachau was heart wrenching and brought tears to my eyes. I was also very moved by your father's last letter to Monique. I thank him for sharing it with us and I thank you for writing this book because these are stories that need to be told.

My name is John Boyzok. I am a WWII Veteran ETO/South Pacific, 1943-1946. I have read many stories of GI's from 1946 to the present and as such in my opinion your book was by far the best of them all. Outstanding!!! The contents were great: family, military experiences and events, his buddies and his faith.

Your dads experiences and your great writing of all the events made this book a military Classic!!

I asked for one gift and one gift only for Christmas, and that was your book, "Where the Birds Never Sing." I read it in two evenings (and most of my work day at my desk). What a splendid work indeed! Moved, inspired, saddened, exhilarated, are just a few emotions I am still experiencing. I actually feel like I was there, too.

I just finished WHERE THE BIRDS NEVER SING. I thought it was one of the best personal accounts of a soldier's life I have ever read. Your father's story was so interesting. He served during such a historically dramatic time period. He had such a dangerous job. I was riveted. Most especially, his account of what he saw when he got to Dachau is something about which so many of us are curious, but the material available which documents the truthful and brutally honest details of the liberation is sparse. One of the reasons I picked up your book was due to the subject matter. The book told a point of view about World War II about which there seems to be a lack of material. I wanted to read a brutally honest first hand account of the truth. And I got one. As hard as the details are hard to take, I want to know. I think it is our duty to know and to remember.

In addition to the truth, you painted a picture for us of a group of guys whom I came to love, laugh at and with and mourn the loss of either through death or the close of the story. I was mystified as to how you were able to tell the story through your father's first person account, and yet you are his son. I was curious if you had any emotional conflict because you are your father's son writing as if you were he. I figured it must have been challenging emotionally to pull it off. You did it, though, seemingly effortlessly. I was mystified as to how you made a 60 year old story come alive as if it had just happened yesterday.

I am not Jewish, but I am a prosecutor. I fight for the victims of injustice and crime every day. I am grateful to you for your father's story. I am grateful to your father for living it and allowing it to be told. I am grateful to your father for his service to our country. Please give him a message and let him know...I am 39 years old, but many of my generation will never let your father's story be forgotten. By writing such a book, you have helped preserve the story which must be told and remembered.