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spaces_and_solaces's review
5.0
I’ve lost count of times I’ve used the word heartwarming to anything written by Pam Jenoff. But I’d be remiss if I don’t use it now. Code Name Saphire is a brilliant rendition of a tale so haunting that I constantly felt like a constriction in my chest. I wanted to go back in time & at the same time I was counting my blessings of living in this era.
These narrative recounts the saga of 3 women who find themselves dealing with the Nazi atrocities towards Jews. And while each of them has their own way of handling this injustice, they are bound together by this invisible thread of love & loss.
The book deals with the complexities of the effect of WW2 in Belgium & brings out the inhumane treatment meted out to the Jews in a very subtle & nuanced way. Hannah a political satirist propagating against the Nazis in Berlin, Germany sees her husband die in front of her eyes and suffers a miscarriage at the same time..running for her life she reaches Belgium at her cousin “Lily’s” place finding solace. But its not long before she joins an underground movement that saves people targeted by the Nazis. Her fearlessness is inspiring at the same time Lily’s fear provides a stark contrast & displays human emotions when faced with a future so brutal.
The movement joined by Hannah is the mastermind by a young girl all of 23, “Micheline”. Her dedication, service, wit & courage is a tale I would never tire of hearing. I am sure there must be so many women who so courageously put their life on line to save a soul. And the more I read this book, the more I realized there are so many stories of that era that are untold & forgotten with time...
These narrative recounts the saga of 3 women who find themselves dealing with the Nazi atrocities towards Jews. And while each of them has their own way of handling this injustice, they are bound together by this invisible thread of love & loss.
The book deals with the complexities of the effect of WW2 in Belgium & brings out the inhumane treatment meted out to the Jews in a very subtle & nuanced way. Hannah a political satirist propagating against the Nazis in Berlin, Germany sees her husband die in front of her eyes and suffers a miscarriage at the same time..running for her life she reaches Belgium at her cousin “Lily’s” place finding solace. But its not long before she joins an underground movement that saves people targeted by the Nazis. Her fearlessness is inspiring at the same time Lily’s fear provides a stark contrast & displays human emotions when faced with a future so brutal.
The movement joined by Hannah is the mastermind by a young girl all of 23, “Micheline”. Her dedication, service, wit & courage is a tale I would never tire of hearing. I am sure there must be so many women who so courageously put their life on line to save a soul. And the more I read this book, the more I realized there are so many stories of that era that are untold & forgotten with time...
kmorris85's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
dernst's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
alice007's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
lisasternick's review
2.0
I DNF’d this book at 29%.
A story about one cousin who Is forced to leave occupied Germany due to being Jewish and tries to go to America on the boat. But instead ends up, living with her cousin family in Belgium. During the occupation.
I feel like the premise of the story is really good. I can say that there were parts of the book I enjoyed that I read, but the pace of the book was just too slow for me.
I would not recommend this book if you are sensitive to the Jewish experience during World War II.
A story about one cousin who Is forced to leave occupied Germany due to being Jewish and tries to go to America on the boat. But instead ends up, living with her cousin family in Belgium. During the occupation.
I feel like the premise of the story is really good. I can say that there were parts of the book I enjoyed that I read, but the pace of the book was just too slow for me.
I would not recommend this book if you are sensitive to the Jewish experience during World War II.
kpitsker's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
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? Yes
3.75
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review
4.0
3.5 rounded up.
Pam Jenoff has written a solid World War II woman-focused spy tale that lots of readers are going to love. It’s set in Belgium, which is an unusual setting, and the story makes the most of the relative freedom Jews had in Brussels in the early part of the war and uses this to kick the story off.
Hannah has escaped Germany aboard the St. Louis, the ship filled with Jewish refugees that was turned back to Europe after attempting to land in Cuba. Hannah knows what’s happening to Jews in Europe, and when she disembarks in Belgium, she reaches out to her cousin Lily, the only person she knows there.
Lily does not believe that Belgian Jews are in danger, but she finds out soon enough. Hannah easily finds her way into the Belgian resistance where her experience is very useful.
There are some terrific action scenes, romance, danger. Setting the story in Brussels rather than Paris gives readers the opportunity to see how different oppression and resistance were in the two countries and adds spark. Again Pam Jenoff writes a compelling story of women’s courage in war.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy, and review this novel!
Pam Jenoff has written a solid World War II woman-focused spy tale that lots of readers are going to love. It’s set in Belgium, which is an unusual setting, and the story makes the most of the relative freedom Jews had in Brussels in the early part of the war and uses this to kick the story off.
Hannah has escaped Germany aboard the St. Louis, the ship filled with Jewish refugees that was turned back to Europe after attempting to land in Cuba. Hannah knows what’s happening to Jews in Europe, and when she disembarks in Belgium, she reaches out to her cousin Lily, the only person she knows there.
Lily does not believe that Belgian Jews are in danger, but she finds out soon enough. Hannah easily finds her way into the Belgian resistance where her experience is very useful.
There are some terrific action scenes, romance, danger. Setting the story in Brussels rather than Paris gives readers the opportunity to see how different oppression and resistance were in the two countries and adds spark. Again Pam Jenoff writes a compelling story of women’s courage in war.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy, and review this novel!
justinsood's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
zooblejinks's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0