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beabates's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Rape, Torture, Child death, Death of parent, Animal death, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Racial slurs, Murder, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Hate crime, Infertility, War, Xenophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Miscarriage, Death, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Cancer, Antisemitism, Grief, and Genocide
arachnophobia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Torture, Medical trauma, Antisemitism, Death, Child death, Death of parent, War, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Infertility
lisbethleftwich's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Animal death, Antisemitism, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Gore, Medical trauma, Murder, and War
Minor: Cancer, Pregnancy, and Panic attacks/disorders
soshereads_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Antisemitism, Torture, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Antisemitism, Child death, Slavery, Sexual assault, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Physical abuse, Murder, Medical trauma, Medical content, Gun violence, and Genocide
kelly_e's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Author: Martha Hall Kelly
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 3.5
Pub Date: April 5 2016
T H R E E • W O R D S
Slow-paced • Educational • Memorable
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Inspired by actual events and people, and spanning continents, Lilac Girls tells the story of three vastly different women, whose fates converge during and in the aftermath of WWII. Caroline Ferriday is a real-life New York socialite volunteering for the French consulate at the outset of war, and who undertakes philanthropic engagements to help orphaned French children in France. Kasia, a Polish teenager actively participating in the underground resistance, is arrested and sent to Ravensbrück, the only all female concentration camp in Nazi Germany. Herta Oberheuser is hired as a doctor at Ravensbrück, and performs unthinkable experimental surgeries on the prisoners. Spanning several decades, this is a powerful story of friendship and love, or bravery and survival, of forgiveness and redemption.
💭 T H O U G H T S
As a fan of historical fiction, particularly WWII stories, Lilac Girls was an anticipated read for me from its release date. Martha Hall Kelly has crafted a carefully researched and poignant debut. Written in alternating, parallel perspectives offering glimpses into both the dark and light sides of human nature, and exploring a number of interpersonal themes, including female friendship, mother-daughter relationships, love, infidelity, and mental health, is what makes this an important story. It's another beautiful tale which shines a light on women in WWII, this time from the often overlooked polish perspective, and educates the reader about the horrific sulfonamide experiments that took place at Ravensbrück, and tells the story of the women known as "the rabbits". Kasia's strength in the face of adversity and unthinkable loss is inspiring, her story so compelling.
The fact this novel included parts of the aftermath of war, a part often left out, is one of the reasons I liked it. However, the novel spans so many years it needs to pack so much story into one book, and from my perspective hurt it, finding it long and at times disjointed. At times it felt as though I was reading three books, and I anticipated the three women would be interconnected more than they were. When I got to the Author's Note and learned Paul was fictional, I felt this invented romance was not needed, and took away from the power of the stories.
I did enjoy this book, but not as much as I'd anticipated. It is painful and horrific, yet also filled with love and hope. For me there were so many unfinished aspects; the relationship between Herta and Kasia's mother, Caroline and Paul's story, among others, and it felt so much could have been expanded on, certain scenes bring rushed. For that reason, I couldn't classify it among my favourite WWII historical fiction novels. With all of that said, I will be reading the second installment in this series Lost Roses and following the story of Caroline's mother.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Historical fiction readers
• WWII aficionados
• fans of The Alice Network
• Bookclubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
" 'I'd walk with my head high and on the way hand this bouquet to the guards and tell them not to blame themselves for what they did.' "
"How easy it is to get tangled up in your own fishing net."
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Antisemitism, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Grief, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Murder, Rape, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Torture
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, and Infidelity
Minor: Cancer
strangulation (hanging), execution (lethal injection), PTSDiconoclasticgentleman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Definitely picked up once I got 1/3 of the way through or so. Caroline Ferriday seems like an amazing woman, but her romance with Paul was the weakest part of the book.
Graphic: Antisemitism, Body horror, Child death, Genocide, Medical trauma, Rape, Self harm, and Suicide attempt