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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
Until some things seemed a little too familiar, I didn't realize that this book had some slight overlap of characters from "The Things We Cannot Say." It would have been nice to have that noted in the beginning. Also, I probably would have given this well-written, well-researched excellent book a 5, except the last chapters didn't keep the same pace as the others--they just seemed to drag while attempting to teach a somewhat simplistic moral lesson. I probably just need to step away from these WWII books for a time because they've all begun to morph into one another for me.
I have no words but also so many. This book was beautiful and heart wrenching and just actually perfect. I fell in love with each character and their stories and just how much heartache and struggle there was.
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Excuse me while I try to piece my broken heart back together again!! Kelly Rimmer is an auto-buy author for me and I was so excited to get my hands on her new book this week! This is a heavy story about life in Warsaw Poland under Nazi occupation and follows Elzbieta (who fans may remember from The things we cannot say). Elzbieta is relatively removed from the tragedy going on in the Jewish ghetto until she meets Sara, her neighbor and starts helping her get Jewish children to freedom. While doing this work she meets Roman and his family and the two strike a friendship that eventually turns into something more. The journey they go on to get their 'happy ending' is fraught with heartbreaking tragedy and loss but Rimmer does such a great job showing the many different experiences and ways people chose to act during an unspeakable time (both the brave and the ugly). I cannot recommend this one more, especially for fans of WWII historical fiction or books like The light of days, The woman with the blue star or The things we cannot say.
⚠️CW: rape, some graphic violence, death of loved ones
Favorite quotes:
"I tell myself it is enough that history will harshly judge those who did not act, but I know in my heart that it is not enough...Bystanders have allowed themselves to be convinced that the Jews are not like us, and as soon as you convince someone that a group of people is not human, they will allow you to treat them as badly as you wish."
"I thought I could be a heroine. I could do something remarkable to honor my family legacy. I was thinking about myself, mostly, but I was also so desperate to do something."
⚠️CW: rape, some graphic violence, death of loved ones
Favorite quotes:
"I tell myself it is enough that history will harshly judge those who did not act, but I know in my heart that it is not enough...Bystanders have allowed themselves to be convinced that the Jews are not like us, and as soon as you convince someone that a group of people is not human, they will allow you to treat them as badly as you wish."
"I thought I could be a heroine. I could do something remarkable to honor my family legacy. I was thinking about myself, mostly, but I was also so desperate to do something."
This was a well-written book based on real events. However, due to the horrific truth of life in the Warsaw Jewish ghetto during WW2, it was so depressing I could barely make myself pick it up again. A word of warning: you need to be in an emotionally stalwart place to endure this. The whole book is basically a description of one catastrophe after the other.
Also, I never truly connected with the characters. Emilia was just an average girl who did the best she could in the circumstances. As for Roman, I found him intensely unlikeable. I get that he was grief-stricken and lashing out because he was powerless to change the situation he found himself in. But in my opinion, men of this sort (with their aggression and barely suppressed anger at the whole world) often resort to domestic violence in later life, when they are safely married. Ugh. The ending did address the issue, but I'm not sure if I buy this neat resolution.
All in all, this was a good WW2 book, but it was hard work for me to finish it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for giving me a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Also, I never truly connected with the characters. Emilia was just an average girl who did the best she could in the circumstances. As for Roman, I found him intensely unlikeable. I get that he was grief-stricken and lashing out because he was powerless to change the situation he found himself in. But in my opinion, men of this sort (with their aggression and barely suppressed anger at the whole world) often resort to domestic violence in later life, when they are safely married. Ugh. The ending did address the issue, but I'm not sure if I buy this neat resolution.
All in all, this was a good WW2 book, but it was hard work for me to finish it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for giving me a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
dark
emotional
reflective
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
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
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
challenging
emotional
tense
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:
Complicated
dark
emotional
informative
tense
fast-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:
Complicated
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Just when I think I have read all of the World War II books and I knew everything about all of the people affected by this war, I read another one that gives an unique perspective that makes me see it from a different view.
Two young people live in two different worlds that are mere miles apart. One is living in the Jewish ghetto in Warsaw and the other is living in a nice apartment on the other side of the wall. Their lives will intersect and they will impact each other more than either could imagine. Roman is living in the Jewish ghetto with his family, but he himself is only half Jewish and could pass as he doesn't have the typical physical traits. Elzbieta is living "free" in Warsaw with a family that has taken her in and she waits to help in any way she can.
Just when I think I have read all of the World War II books and I knew everything about all of the people affected by this war, I read another one that gives an unique perspective that makes me see it from a different view.
Two young people live in two different worlds that are mere miles apart. One is living in the Jewish ghetto in Warsaw and the other is living in a nice apartment on the other side of the wall. Their lives will intersect and they will impact each other more than either could imagine. Roman is living in the Jewish ghetto with his family, but he himself is only half Jewish and could pass as he doesn't have the typical physical traits. Elzbieta is living "free" in Warsaw with a family that has taken her in and she waits to help in any way she can.