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katiegilley's review against another edition
4.0
“Father loved the fact that a lilac only blossoms after a harsh winter.”
I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to read Lilac Girls! This was my second effort with it – the first was right after my third baby was born and some of the storylines were too emotional for me as my body raged with hormones, despite reading tons of WWII fiction over the years. This was a powerful story of survival, family, and friendship. It includes storylines about a woman living in New York at the French Consulate and working to get the French people out of the country, a Polish teenager working for the Resistance and who ends up in Ravenbrück, and a female doctor who works at Ravensbück and performed heinous experiments on the political prisoners.
In the last several years, I’ve started looking for novels with storylines from the German perspective. I’m endlessly fascinated with the German mind at that time – how everyday citizens were able to justify their country’s actions (or not) and how their own pain and fear made it easier for Hitler to carry out his mission. The author cleverly introduced us to the German doctor before she went to work at the camp, which gave us some insight on her ability to do that work: she desperately wanted to be a surgeon her entire life and working at Ravensbrück would be her only opportunity given her sex and the times. That time period was heartbreaking in so many ways.
I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to read Lilac Girls! This was my second effort with it – the first was right after my third baby was born and some of the storylines were too emotional for me as my body raged with hormones, despite reading tons of WWII fiction over the years. This was a powerful story of survival, family, and friendship. It includes storylines about a woman living in New York at the French Consulate and working to get the French people out of the country, a Polish teenager working for the Resistance and who ends up in Ravenbrück, and a female doctor who works at Ravensbück and performed heinous experiments on the political prisoners.
In the last several years, I’ve started looking for novels with storylines from the German perspective. I’m endlessly fascinated with the German mind at that time – how everyday citizens were able to justify their country’s actions (or not) and how their own pain and fear made it easier for Hitler to carry out his mission. The author cleverly introduced us to the German doctor before she went to work at the camp, which gave us some insight on her ability to do that work: she desperately wanted to be a surgeon her entire life and working at Ravensbrück would be her only opportunity given her sex and the times. That time period was heartbreaking in so many ways.
ninakay's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jlworley's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
alexandrarbf's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
vickystarrr's review against another edition
My first DNF of the year, and first in a long time.
I’ve been trying, y’all. This book has great reviews but between the narrator and the lackluster writing, I’m just not feeling it.
Don’t @ me if you’re going to be big mad I didn’t like this. 😂
I’ve been trying, y’all. This book has great reviews but between the narrator and the lackluster writing, I’m just not feeling it.
Don’t @ me if you’re going to be big mad I didn’t like this. 😂
chapita4's review against another edition
4.0
I've read quite a few books about the WWII and the truth of how brutal people are is always shocking. There was something about the way that the violence was described in this book that I found extremely disturbing. I think that it was the matter of fact acceptance of those that were committing such horrible acts, combined with the fact that it was women treating other women so terribly. I knew that medical experiments were performed on people but the story of the "Rabbits" was new to me. I liked learning about a real life American heroine and would love to learn more about her. Perhaps the most intriguing storyline was that of the female German doctor, I've often wondered how so many people were either quietly compliant or committed such cruelty and lived with themselves. I also liked that the author didn't feel the need to make her survivors "perfect" and allowed a glimpse into the aftermath of trauma. As always with these kinds of books I am left with a feeling of "lest we forget" and would recommend reading.
novelette's review against another edition
3.0
A bit slow to begin with, especially with the three perspectives, and the backstory involved made it a little hard to follow. Some of the material is quite difficult to stomach. I liked that all characters are based on real people. I'm very curious about the "sequel"
soccer8s's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
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? No
4.0
Wow, so interesting. I'm loving all of the historical fiction lately. This was such a great story. Thank you for telling it. I can't wait to research more.
amyj520's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Death, and Torture