The cover art of Loretta. Goldberg’s Beyond the Bukubuk Tree, A WWII Historical Novel of Love and Loss, will entice readers to examine the book for an in-depth read of unknown heroes and horrors of this tragic war.  Most readers maybe a generation or two removed from the historical war, but this well-researched novel will expand the knowledge of war historians and students of foreign culture.  Goldberg’s extensively researched book is not plotted in European countries or Pearl Harbor, as so many others, but is based on Australia’s little-known involvement in the the south seas on the tiny island of New Britain of New Guinea in 1941. Dr. Jake Friedman, a young Jewish doctor from Melbourne, Australia, is sent to the scene of an Australian military build-up with the Lark Force in Rabaul. His back story is revealed as he struggles with a disturbing past and family obligations. On the army base, he joins up with Alex Whipple, a WWI veteran and a Catholic. Whipple has his own ghosts and secrets.  The two men’s friendship deepens as they each try to deal with the foibles and sickening tragedies of war.  They become immersed in trying to understand the Tolai culture, mythology, and anthropology of the jungle natives, as well as their complex relationships with the Chinese. The novel weaves the intricacies of an unimaginably wild and dangerous jungle environment with the terror of Japanese bombardment and invasion on poorly prepared defensive troops.  Personal perspectives enable the reader to experience the horrors of the soldiers’ retreat through the treacherous jungle and then their capture. Some of the scenes will sicken the squeamish.  The strengths and determined character of both Jake and Wip are balanced by their humane actions with each other, other soldiers, and the natives. Secondary characters are also flawed but memorable. The author created her story from live interviews, memoirs, and extensively researched sources.  She traveled to scenes to verify locations she found in historical documents. The inclusion of the Bukubuk tree in the plot reveals this award winning author’s ability to present her story with authenticity. Reviewed by: Carol W

About Loretta Goldberg

Loretta Goldberg writes historical, literary fiction with battle scenes. She loves this genre because she finds in history’s frames, where events have beginnings and endings, a magical mirror in which we can see ourselves more fully. Her debut novel, The Reversible Mask: An Elizabethan Spy Novel, won the International Firebird Book Award in Historical Fiction and New Fiction in 2023. It also won a Book Excellence Finalists Award in 2019. Her second novel, Beyond the Bukubuk Tree: A World War II Novel of Love and Loss, won the International Firebird Book Awards in 2023 in War Fiction and a Literary Titan Gold Award. Her characters are flawed strivers, often in love with the wrong person or at odds with social norms, or both, who get caught up in history’s iconic struggles and risk all to make a difference. Kings, queens, maids, Ottoman diplomats, spies, farmers, nurses – they all have nuance. Her worldview evolved from living the highs and lows of being a professional pianist, tempered by the pragmatism of years as an insurance agent and registered representative with employee payrolls to meet, and diverse jobs she held along the way, including house painter, advertising bill collector, and telemarketer. An Australian-American, she earned a BA (Hons.) in English literature, Musicology, and History at the University of Melbourne. She came to the USA on a Fulbright scholarship to study piano. Her CDs of new music are in over 700 libraries. Her published non-fiction consists of articles on financial planning, art reviews, and political satire. She lives with her spouse, commuting between New York City and Chester, Connecticut. For the New York Chapter of the Historical Novel Society, she started the chapter’s published writer public reading series at the Jefferson Market Library, New York City, and is the chapter’s current chair. She is a member of The Authors Guild and National League of American PEN Women.”

Here is my photo of the garamuts, Edward Malana sitting on them as the players rehearse. Full video of their performance in my Audio/Media page

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