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The Child of Auschwitz: Absolutely heartbreaking World War 2 historical fiction by Lily Graham
barbrokatrin's review against another edition
2.0
Received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
I’ve read several books about the Second World War and Auschwitz that I loved but this didn’t make me feel anything. Since it a quick read there isn’t much time to actually get involved in the story. I felt detached from the story, which is kinda sad cause the story is a good one if it would only have more emotion in it. I didn’t feel drawn into the story. It doesn’t go deep into the living situation of the camp or very deep into the characters. It’s almost like it’s a superficial story, it barely scratched the surface. I was in no hurry to finish the story cause it didn’t captivate me. And I found the time line confusing, suddenly she was 4 months pregnant. Where has the time gone? I have no idea how long she has been at camp. Only bright point is that it wasn’t that long so I finished it in a few hours.
I’ve read several books about the Second World War and Auschwitz that I loved but this didn’t make me feel anything. Since it a quick read there isn’t much time to actually get involved in the story. I felt detached from the story, which is kinda sad cause the story is a good one if it would only have more emotion in it. I didn’t feel drawn into the story. It doesn’t go deep into the living situation of the camp or very deep into the characters. It’s almost like it’s a superficial story, it barely scratched the surface. I was in no hurry to finish the story cause it didn’t captivate me. And I found the time line confusing, suddenly she was 4 months pregnant. Where has the time gone? I have no idea how long she has been at camp. Only bright point is that it wasn’t that long so I finished it in a few hours.
maitaylor01's review against another edition
4.0
It goes without saying that no book about the Holocaust is going to be an easy read, but from the very first page of The Child of Auschwitz, I knew this was going to be a deeply emotional book. I visited Auschwitz-Birkenau a few years ago, and Lily Graham’s vivid imagery took me right back there.
Although largely focusing on their time in Auschwitz, The Child of Auschwitz also includes flashbacks to Eva’s life in Prague and internment in Terezin, and Sofie’s history in Austria. This added great depth to the characters, and gave a very human feel to the story. It is so important to remember that those imprisoned were real people with lives and families, and not just statistics of war. Books like this are vital to achieving this.
I was moved to the point of tears reading about Eva sorting the confiscated belongings of the people arriving at the camp, and keeping some of the photos that she finds. This simple act meant so much to me because reminded me of clearing my grandparents house, where we found a collection of letters and photos that had been sent to my Nan during the Second World War. We will probably never know who the young men in the photos are, or what happened to them, but they were loved by someone and for that reason I can’t bring myself to throw them away.
As much as The Child of Auschwitz is a tale about the horrors of the Holocaust, it is also a tale of enduring love and friendship, and it is this that make it such a beautiful read.
Although largely focusing on their time in Auschwitz, The Child of Auschwitz also includes flashbacks to Eva’s life in Prague and internment in Terezin, and Sofie’s history in Austria. This added great depth to the characters, and gave a very human feel to the story. It is so important to remember that those imprisoned were real people with lives and families, and not just statistics of war. Books like this are vital to achieving this.
I was moved to the point of tears reading about Eva sorting the confiscated belongings of the people arriving at the camp, and keeping some of the photos that she finds. This simple act meant so much to me because reminded me of clearing my grandparents house, where we found a collection of letters and photos that had been sent to my Nan during the Second World War. We will probably never know who the young men in the photos are, or what happened to them, but they were loved by someone and for that reason I can’t bring myself to throw them away.
As much as The Child of Auschwitz is a tale about the horrors of the Holocaust, it is also a tale of enduring love and friendship, and it is this that make it such a beautiful read.
foxandbooks's review against another edition
4.0
If I had to sum up this book in one word, it would be hope. Eva survived on hope, as did her daughter. And though the author did an amazing job of describing the horror that Eva and the other women endured, there is no way I could ever even comprehend the conditions at Auschwitz. The most astounding part of this story was that the main character actually gave birth to a daughter and she survived!! I always hesitate to say that books like these are good, because of the subject, but this was a really good book!!
I received this book from Netgalley and Bookouture for my honest review.
I received this book from Netgalley and Bookouture for my honest review.
jen_thetelltalebookclub's review against another edition
5.0
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishing house, Bookouture, for providing an advanced copy for review. All thoughts and opinions written in this review are my own.
Eva is a young woman who finds herself pregnant while living in the horrible conditions of Auschwitz. She must do what she can to survive and give her child a chance at what she knows will be a better life.
I quickly fell in love with the characters in this book and especially the main character Eva. I have read many World War II Historical Fiction novels and I don’t recall a character with as much strength and resilience as Eva. I have read books with strong leads, but the difference with Lily Graham’s book was that I never felt Eva’s strength waver throughout the book. No matter what was thrown in her way, she had a very strong desire to survive and “we will survive this” was a statement made by Eva in the book during different situations that were before her. She was a source of strength for those closest to her as well. Her friendships with Sofie and Helga and her love for her husband, Michal, was heartwarming and I found myself moved to tears by reading about the things they had to do to survive the devastation of the Holocaust. I appreciated that the author wrote about a love interest, a friend that was around her age, and another friend that could have been her grandmother.
The story is mostly told in a present (1942) and past (1938) type of timeline. Ms. Graham shapes the back story of Eva and her friend Sofie which is necessary to the telling of the events that lead them to be in Auschwitz. I enjoyed the layout of the book and didn’t mind the back and forth as it was not difficult to keep up with.
If World War II Historical Fiction is your favorite genre, “The Child of Auschwitz” needs to make it on your list to read.
Eva is a young woman who finds herself pregnant while living in the horrible conditions of Auschwitz. She must do what she can to survive and give her child a chance at what she knows will be a better life.
I quickly fell in love with the characters in this book and especially the main character Eva. I have read many World War II Historical Fiction novels and I don’t recall a character with as much strength and resilience as Eva. I have read books with strong leads, but the difference with Lily Graham’s book was that I never felt Eva’s strength waver throughout the book. No matter what was thrown in her way, she had a very strong desire to survive and “we will survive this” was a statement made by Eva in the book during different situations that were before her. She was a source of strength for those closest to her as well. Her friendships with Sofie and Helga and her love for her husband, Michal, was heartwarming and I found myself moved to tears by reading about the things they had to do to survive the devastation of the Holocaust. I appreciated that the author wrote about a love interest, a friend that was around her age, and another friend that could have been her grandmother.
The story is mostly told in a present (1942) and past (1938) type of timeline. Ms. Graham shapes the back story of Eva and her friend Sofie which is necessary to the telling of the events that lead them to be in Auschwitz. I enjoyed the layout of the book and didn’t mind the back and forth as it was not difficult to keep up with.
If World War II Historical Fiction is your favorite genre, “The Child of Auschwitz” needs to make it on your list to read.
mickysbookworm's review
5.0
It’s hard to give a rating to something like this.
The story was harrowing as is every story about the treatment people endured during the world war.
However it really made me happy when Michal come home in the end.
The men and women who survived through such atrocious conditions and the strongest human beings ever. I have immense respect for them.
The story was harrowing as is every story about the treatment people endured during the world war.
However it really made me happy when Michal come home in the end.
The men and women who survived through such atrocious conditions and the strongest human beings ever. I have immense respect for them.
badgerjen2002's review against another edition
3.0
I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
This was a quick read and a pretty good story. It took a little time to get into and there were a few times when I kept mixing up Eva and Sofie, but overall worth the time to read it.
This was a quick read and a pretty good story. It took a little time to get into and there were a few times when I kept mixing up Eva and Sofie, but overall worth the time to read it.
emeryreads88's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
I have always been fascinated by WWII books. This story was set in 1942 in Auschwitz. Eva and Sofie are our main characters, and they are brave and strong women.
We hear about their lives through flashbacks, as well as their dismal life in camp. Their friendship and fighting spirit are a ray of hope in this dark time.
I felt the back and forth in time took away from the story a bit.
I have always been fascinated by WWII books. This story was set in 1942 in Auschwitz. Eva and Sofie are our main characters, and they are brave and strong women.
We hear about their lives through flashbacks, as well as their dismal life in camp. Their friendship and fighting spirit are a ray of hope in this dark time.
I felt the back and forth in time took away from the story a bit.
curlygirl71's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to Net Galley for the book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is based on a true story of a baby who was born and conceived at Auschwitz-Birkenau.
The author weaves the story of Eva's life prior to meeting her husband Michal, their courtship, life in the ghetto and then her journey to Auschwitz to find her husband.
I enjoyed reading how Eva when working in "Canada" would save some of the pictures that she would find in the luggage and was overjoyed when she would find those people at the camps and reunite them with their loved ones with the photos.
Eva makes a friend called Sophie on her journey from the ghetto to Auschwitz and together they help each other live as best they can in these horrid conditions.
This book was well written and I look forward to read more by Lily Graham.
This book is based on a true story of a baby who was born and conceived at Auschwitz-Birkenau.
The author weaves the story of Eva's life prior to meeting her husband Michal, their courtship, life in the ghetto and then her journey to Auschwitz to find her husband.
I enjoyed reading how Eva when working in "Canada" would save some of the pictures that she would find in the luggage and was overjoyed when she would find those people at the camps and reunite them with their loved ones with the photos.
Eva makes a friend called Sophie on her journey from the ghetto to Auschwitz and together they help each other live as best they can in these horrid conditions.
This book was well written and I look forward to read more by Lily Graham.
travel_through_pages's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
I am not sure how to word my thoughts for this book. This subject matter is always a difficult one to read and discuss, but is nevertheless important so that these atrocities do not repeat themselves. This book takes you through the life of Eva Adami as she is taken to Auschwitz and is in search of her husband, Michal, after he is taken from her and sent to a concentration camp as well. During her journey, she meets and befriends Sophie, who is also in search of someone, her son Tomas. This is a story of friendship, family, love and heartbreak. It is a truly beautifully written heart-wrenching story that shows what lengths people will go to for the people they love, and the horrors that many faced at the hands of Nazis.
I am not sure how to word my thoughts for this book. This subject matter is always a difficult one to read and discuss, but is nevertheless important so that these atrocities do not repeat themselves. This book takes you through the life of Eva Adami as she is taken to Auschwitz and is in search of her husband, Michal, after he is taken from her and sent to a concentration camp as well. During her journey, she meets and befriends Sophie, who is also in search of someone, her son Tomas. This is a story of friendship, family, love and heartbreak. It is a truly beautifully written heart-wrenching story that shows what lengths people will go to for the people they love, and the horrors that many faced at the hands of Nazis.
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