Reviews

We Must Not Think of Ourselves by Lauren Grodstein

dameagles's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

5.0

Tough read but beautifully written.

cloudwriter's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

caseyvlyons's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

A beautiful story about Poland during WW2. Showing the horrible truths of the war in Poland. I didn’t feel like the

adultery between the main character and his house mate needed to happen but I guess it’s what gave her the trust to take her kids with him.

I wish it ended with us getting a glimpse at them post war, or if they got to their destination safe at the end. 

eawfritz's review against another edition

dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

bethreneereadsbooks's review against another edition

5.0

Inspired by true events, We Must Not Think of Ourselves tells the story of the Warsaw ghettos during the Holocaust, as experienced and transcribed by Adam Paskow, an English teacher imprisoned in the ghetto who’s enlisted into a project to record his fellow prisoners’ stories for posterity.

This book is beautifully written, with so much empathy for these incredibly well-drawn characters. Adam himself is imperfect and fully human, and all the more likable and sympathetic for it. This story gave me a window into a part of this tragic history I’d not previously been familiar with, and it’s told in a way that’s just as gripping as it is devastating. It’s also a timely reminder that the casualties of war and genocide are not just victims or statistics, but uniquely individual human beings.

Thank you Lauren Grodstein, Algonquin Books, and NetGalley for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

sajung36's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

lynnielu's review

emotional sad

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

teacat's review

dark hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

marikombaba's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad 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? Yes

3.25

ashgawley's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5