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tashaseegmiller's review against another edition
5.0
This book was more beautiful than I expected. I had heard about it, but I could never have imagined the heartfelt emotion, plot nuances, and stunning voice held in the pages of this book. Brilliant characterization for all the points of view. Simply fantastic read.
jen_jacob's review against another edition
5.0
Another supurb work of historical fiction set during the holocaust. What I enjoyed so much about this one was the perspective. Most are from the Jewish perspective, this was from the perspective of an everyday German family. The last few chapters made me cry as lives are made right.
d52s's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this, but would have liked more focus on Elsie's historical story and less of the present day, conflicted Reba story. I was also disappointed that the story about harboring the little boy wasn't explored in more detail. I had so many questions - how a 16 year old girl could hide a young jewish boy in her house without her parents knowing? It was such an important element in the story, but glossed over.
Also, I was turned off by the angle about Reba pretending, to the outside world, that she doesn't eat dairy ...the author was trying to make a point that Reba isn't being true to herself, but a more sublet message would have had more impact.
A good story, but an odd mix of history and conflicted present day romance.
Also, I was turned off by the angle about Reba pretending, to the outside world, that she doesn't eat dairy ...the author was trying to make a point that Reba isn't being true to herself, but a more sublet message would have had more impact.
A good story, but an odd mix of history and conflicted present day romance.
ashpanda88's review against another edition
4.0
This book juxtaposes two stories, one of Reba, a journalist, and her off/on boyfriend Riki who works for border patrol, and the other of Elsie,a German girl, hiding a Jewish boy during WWII in her family's bakery and engaged to an officer in the Nazi army. The two stories intertwine well and I enjoyed the parallels between the two girls' lives. These stories are a heartwarming look at life's experiences, choices, and secrets.
katie_samsock's review against another edition
4.0
Such an incredible story. For those who love WW2 period stories do not pass up the chance to read this!
triciaralph's review against another edition
3.0
A little slow but an interesting perspective of living in WWII Germany. Didn't enjoy the current time parts as much...
bonnadarney's review against another edition
1.0
I wanted to like this book, I really did. But I just couldn't get into it. Seemed to choppy and hard to sew the seams together.
sunshine608's review against another edition
4.0
So it’s no secret based on my GR read list that I books involving WWII and the Holocaust is a Genre that I enjoy reading. I think its goes back to my childhood and growing up In Germany.
Anyway, that background leads me to The Baker’s Daughter by Sarah McCoy. Another book I learned about while on GR, and by an author whose previous work- The Time it Snowed in Puerto Rico, I enjoyed.
Once I learn that a book is about the Holocaust, I tend to not read the descriptions because I’ve found that it makes me compare books to others and I like reading with a fresh slate.
The Baker’s Daughter is written in the same tone as others such as Sarah’s Key and Those Who Save Us, in that it parallel’s two story lines- one present day and one in Europe during the 1940’s. This particular story focuses on Elise, a young teenaged girl goring up during the last months of the war. The daughter of a Baker, her family struggles under a crippling war and rations that threaten what’s left of their livelihood. Elsie’s older sister is away in the Nazi’s Lebensborn Program ( which I never heard about until reading this book) and it interesting to see a factious Pro-Nazi account ( even if it was only briefly).
The current day story involves Elsie as and the elderly co-owner of a German Bakery in Texas with her daughter when journalist Reeba walks in to write an article on her. Reba’s story follows her love-affair with an Immigration and Customs official and her struggle to understand her family.
I was much more interested in Elsie’s story than Reba’s but found Reba an enjoyable character. I just struggled to place her within the context of the story and felt that Riki’s full story would probably be a better tie-in with the overall story in terms of Riki’s struggle with his job. I was a little worried that when his job was instructed there would be a parallel between that and what was happening in Elsie’s story, but there wasn’t.
I really enjoyed this story, again Elsie’s much more than Reba’s and I think this book is a great addition to my shelves. I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys this “genre” as well as to those who enjoyed Sarah’s Key and Those Who Save Us.
Anyway, that background leads me to The Baker’s Daughter by Sarah McCoy. Another book I learned about while on GR, and by an author whose previous work- The Time it Snowed in Puerto Rico, I enjoyed.
Once I learn that a book is about the Holocaust, I tend to not read the descriptions because I’ve found that it makes me compare books to others and I like reading with a fresh slate.
The Baker’s Daughter is written in the same tone as others such as Sarah’s Key and Those Who Save Us, in that it parallel’s two story lines- one present day and one in Europe during the 1940’s. This particular story focuses on Elise, a young teenaged girl goring up during the last months of the war. The daughter of a Baker, her family struggles under a crippling war and rations that threaten what’s left of their livelihood. Elsie’s older sister is away in the Nazi’s Lebensborn Program ( which I never heard about until reading this book) and it interesting to see a factious Pro-Nazi account ( even if it was only briefly).
The current day story involves Elsie as and the elderly co-owner of a German Bakery in Texas with her daughter when journalist Reeba walks in to write an article on her. Reba’s story follows her love-affair with an Immigration and Customs official and her struggle to understand her family.
I was much more interested in Elsie’s story than Reba’s but found Reba an enjoyable character. I just struggled to place her within the context of the story and felt that Riki’s full story would probably be a better tie-in with the overall story in terms of Riki’s struggle with his job. I was a little worried that when his job was instructed there would be a parallel between that and what was happening in Elsie’s story, but there wasn’t.
I really enjoyed this story, again Elsie’s much more than Reba’s and I think this book is a great addition to my shelves. I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys this “genre” as well as to those who enjoyed Sarah’s Key and Those Who Save Us.
jbarr5's review against another edition
5.0
The Baker's Daughter by Sarah McCoy
Love that this book is the story of a baker. Elsa is the baker.
Present day: Reba is a journalist and wants to write a story about Elsa and her journey from Germany to the US and her bakery career.
Story also goes back in time, alternating chapters to when Elsa was a teen.
Such a hard life during the war. Appreciated what the bakery and items baked can do to calm one
Loved how the journalist got the other story as well. Surprise at the ending, so precious and treasured
Loved learning new things, romance and the travel involved.
Love that this book is the story of a baker. Elsa is the baker.
Present day: Reba is a journalist and wants to write a story about Elsa and her journey from Germany to the US and her bakery career.
Story also goes back in time, alternating chapters to when Elsa was a teen.
Such a hard life during the war. Appreciated what the bakery and items baked can do to calm one
Loved how the journalist got the other story as well. Surprise at the ending, so precious and treasured
Loved learning new things, romance and the travel involved.
bahfox's review against another edition
4.0
Great read. The stories interweave seamlessly. The parallel stories of the Nazis and our own border control are very thought provoking. Having recently read Sarah's Key which seemed very contrived, The Baker's Daughter is not at all.