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smalljules's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Incredible book!!
For WWII historical fiction fans, this is one of the best books you could get your hands on.
The story, the characters, the journey, the writing are all absolutely beautiful. This book has me up all night, reading in the car, on the edge of my seat, and weeping.
This book and All the Light we Cannot See are meant for the same people and will remain on my favorite books of all time list.
I will reread this book many more times.
For WWII historical fiction fans, this is one of the best books you could get your hands on.
The story, the characters, the journey, the writing are all absolutely beautiful. This book has me up all night, reading in the car, on the edge of my seat, and weeping.
This book and All the Light we Cannot See are meant for the same people and will remain on my favorite books of all time list.
I will reread this book many more times.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Death of parent
Minor: Genocide and Violence
aconite's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexual assault, Antisemitism, and War
chasekj's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Cried at the end
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
alleemartin's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The book began breaking my heart half way through and did not stop though the very last word. Gut wrenching and frequently thrilling - I was lost in the worth of WW2 and the pain of what so many endured.
I feel like this book shows the duality of humans well. The good that you can find even in the bad. And the strength an resiliency we can find in ourselves in the harshest circumstances.
I cannot recommend enough - but only if you are emotionally prepared to get a really good cry in.
I feel like this book shows the duality of humans well. The good that you can find even in the bad. And the strength an resiliency we can find in ourselves in the harshest circumstances.
I cannot recommend enough - but only if you are emotionally prepared to get a really good cry in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Rape, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Pregnancy, War, and Deportation
readwithev's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I love the back and forth between Vianne and Isabelle’s perspectives. I love the narrative framed that also leaves the reader second guessing about who the speaker is. Is it Isabelle framing the story? Is it Vianne? Is it someone else, a friend of theirs?
I enjoyed the tragic love story between Isabelle and Gäeton. I also loved Vianne’s desperation to protect her children and the children she rescues. She endured rape, interrogation, Nazis billeting in her home, and bombings. Isabelle aids Allied soldiers out of France, ensures torture, and survives a concentration camp. They both learn to be brave to fight and to endure. I love that Vianne ends up being the speaker of the frame. Julien sacrificing his life for Isabelle made me take a break from the book. Also, when Vianne had to relinquish Ari to his relatives in New York after the war. That hurt too.
Both sisters take great risks and learn to be stronger. The love of a parent was a huge theme especially the desire to protect your children from harm. I think the love story was just enough to be interesting but not too much to be annoying. It added to Isabelle’s character development. She had some tough lessons to learn. I also love the moral grayness of Herr Beck. I enjoyed Vianne’s mental battle on whether to trust him or not. I admired Vianne’s journey from being cowardly to being a resister.
Both sisters take great risks and learn to be stronger. The love of a parent was a huge theme especially the desire to protect your children from harm. I think the love story was just enough to be interesting but not too much to be annoying. It added to Isabelle’s character development. She had some tough lessons to learn. I also love the moral grayness of Herr Beck. I enjoyed Vianne’s mental battle on whether to trust him or not. I admired Vianne’s journey from being cowardly to being a resister.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Antisemitism, and War
margarethansen's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
Audiobook is really well done.sydmcanarney's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The story, while fiction, is based on the heroic acts of many women during WWII. The sacrifices they made and what they had to do to survive.
If you’re a fan of historical-fiction, I highly recommend this book. I have read many stories about WWII and this one is now one of my favorites. I truly believe it is important to remember those that were lost and to not let the anger we feel about what happened fade - as we can never let this happen again.
If you’re a fan of historical-fiction, I highly recommend this book. I have read many stories about WWII and this one is now one of my favorites. I truly believe it is important to remember those that were lost and to not let the anger we feel about what happened fade - as we can never let this happen again.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Genocide, Violence, and War
Minor: Miscarriage and Sexual assault
bellagasparro's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Xenophobia, and War
Minor: Sexual assault
sammyy_3's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and War
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Cancer
lindseyas's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A really beautiful story. Sometimes the depictions of this time period are really uneducated and rather flagrant when it comes to covering the facts and real-life experiences, but this book got right down to the gory, sad and tense moments that so many families experienced. The two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, were so different from one another — one the motherly, family-driven woman who was devoted to protecting those she loved, and the other the one motivated by political passion and the drive to get her hands on the problems facing the day. The thing that I truly adored about this book was the fact that it made clear there is no wrong way to be a hero: you can guide men across great mountains and stand up to soldiers to be a savior, but you can also give your last bit of bread to a neighbor and care for her child in a time of need. This novel showed the strength of womanhood, how to love fiercely and what it takes to survive. The author didn't gloss over any hardship — the characters wished for death and they recognized the fatal nature of their circumstances. This was a realistic depiction of history, but highlighted the voices we don't very often hear in the context of these years — particularly the women who so often had to hold things together.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Murder, and War