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debtat2's review against another edition
5.0
An outstanding historical fiction novel that touches parts of even the hardest of hearts! Full of authentic historical details and standout characters this is a story that won't fail to sweep you along with it!
rgyger's review against another edition
4.0
My favorite thing about Irma's novels is that while the stories all depict some part of WWII and the Holocaust, that is not all that the stories are about. I think we often forget that people who survived the war had lives that went on after, and that those lives were just as important as what they went through during the war.
Marco is a prime example of this. My favorite character in the novel, he also suffered the most from the war: starvation, imprisonment, and. Yet once he recovered his health, he refused to let memories stop him from keeping on with his life. Though the war had changed everything he had ever thought to have, he still found happiness elsewhere.
Lettie's story was one that I both loved and yet wished could have been put aside in favor of more of Marco's story. Lettie managed to come through the war without scars, her only experience with it being in the lives affected around her. For her, the true pain came when, years later, polio found its way into South Africa. As a doctor, she struggled to mitigate the damage of a disease that she could not stop.
It was in the discussion of polio that Lettie's character lost me. Being a doctor, she often spoke of the disease, listing symptoms and treatment in medical terms, as well as citing medical journals. These sections would often cover pages, with the only break being Marco or someone else asking for certain words to be explained in laymen's terms. While it made Lettie's character more believable, it also dragged, with her using dates for every journal and discovery.
Also, while this book can be read separate from The Girl From the Train, I would not suggest it anyone who has not read Child of the River. Characters from that novel factor heavily into the lives of Lettie and Marco, with their stories overlapping, and I am not sure that I would have fully understood what was happening with those characters had I not read the other book first. That said, The Crooked Path serves a sweet epilogue to Persomi's story from the last book.
I have provided an honest review after having received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Marco is a prime example of this. My favorite character in the novel, he also suffered the most from the war: starvation, imprisonment, and
Spoiler
the death of his fianceLettie's story was one that I both loved and yet wished could have been put aside in favor of more of Marco's story. Lettie managed to come through the war without scars, her only experience with it being in the lives affected around her. For her, the true pain came when, years later, polio found its way into South Africa. As a doctor, she struggled to mitigate the damage of a disease that she could not stop.
It was in the discussion of polio that Lettie's character lost me. Being a doctor, she often spoke of the disease, listing symptoms and treatment in medical terms, as well as citing medical journals. These sections would often cover pages, with the only break being Marco or someone else asking for certain words to be explained in laymen's terms. While it made Lettie's character more believable, it also dragged, with her using dates for every journal and discovery.
Also, while this book can be read separate from The Girl From the Train, I would not suggest it anyone who has not read Child of the River. Characters from that novel factor heavily into the lives of Lettie and Marco, with their stories overlapping, and I am not sure that I would have fully understood what was happening with those characters had I not read the other book first. That said, The Crooked Path serves a sweet epilogue to Persomi's story from the last book.
I have provided an honest review after having received a copy of this book from the publisher.
beastreader's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved, loved this book. Everything from the location of South Africa to the storyline, and the characters. The author found the magic touch striking the right balance with all of these elements. A treasured read!
The story starts out with Marco fleeing with his love and her family. They barely survive to be captured by the Germans. Once freed, Marco is the only one to be alive. He travels to South Africa to be with his brother. In this opening section of the story, I got to meet Marco and start forming a bond with him without the distraction of many other characters. I only say "meet" Marco as I truly got to know him once he met Lettie. He was a true gentleman during the courting stage, a caring husband, great father and brother, and a lover of music.
Now, I need to talk about Lettie. She is also kind and a good friend. Yet, she really blossomed when she met Marco. She was a good wife, mother, alright cook, and had a nice laugh. Marco and Lettie forever. If you are in the look out for an amazing read, you need to check out this book.
The story starts out with Marco fleeing with his love and her family. They barely survive to be captured by the Germans. Once freed, Marco is the only one to be alive. He travels to South Africa to be with his brother. In this opening section of the story, I got to meet Marco and start forming a bond with him without the distraction of many other characters. I only say "meet" Marco as I truly got to know him once he met Lettie. He was a true gentleman during the courting stage, a caring husband, great father and brother, and a lover of music.
Now, I need to talk about Lettie. She is also kind and a good friend. Yet, she really blossomed when she met Marco. She was a good wife, mother, alright cook, and had a nice laugh. Marco and Lettie forever. If you are in the look out for an amazing read, you need to check out this book.
beachbookbabe's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.0
xqueenybee's review against another edition
3.0
Not what I expected
I have to admit, I didn't expect this book to be about the life stories of the two main characters, but it was an enjoyable read nonetheless. I did have difficulty getting into it until Part 2, because Lettie's backstory was a bit dull. Necessary information of course, but it just felt dumped on the audience all at once. Get past that, and the book is a fun read.
I have to admit, I didn't expect this book to be about the life stories of the two main characters, but it was an enjoyable read nonetheless. I did have difficulty getting into it until Part 2, because Lettie's backstory was a bit dull. Necessary information of course, but it just felt dumped on the audience all at once. Get past that, and the book is a fun read.
underthetreereads's review against another edition
4.0
"Years ago my mom told me life sometimes leads you along a strange crooked path, but in the end it will always take you where you're supposed to be."
The Crooked Path was a heartbreaking romance, taking place during WWII and the aftermath. Marco had my heart with all he experienced hiding from the nazis and the devastation he experienced. Lettie was a sweet doctor and exactly what was needed to help Marco overcome his struggles after WWII.
I'll admit, I cried. It was a sad but beautiful story and a very interesting perspective of the war by a South African author.
The Crooked Path was a heartbreaking romance, taking place during WWII and the aftermath. Marco had my heart with all he experienced hiding from the nazis and the devastation he experienced. Lettie was a sweet doctor and exactly what was needed to help Marco overcome his struggles after WWII.
I'll admit, I cried. It was a sad but beautiful story and a very interesting perspective of the war by a South African author.
abigailkayharris's review against another edition
3.0
Not quite what I expected... With the second half, anyway. I enjoyed it even if it was sadder than I expected in different ways than I expected.
shammons's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed The Girl from the Train, so when I saw this new book available on my library's download site, I got on the wait list to borrow it. It did not disappoint, and I really enjoyed the characters, the settings and following their story through the years. My only drawback is that the pacing and the timing jumped a wee bit too much for me. Sometimes the story took pages and pages to tell a short time frame, and at other times, in the space of a few paragraphs, we jumped a decade or more. That was the only thing though, otherwise, a very enjoyable read.
amandathebookish's review against another edition
2.0
The Crooked Path by Irma Joubert
Synopsis:
From the bestselling author of The Girl From the Train, comes another compelling coming of age story of delayed love, loss, and reconciliation in WWII-era South Africa.
Lettie has always felt different from and overshadowed by the women around her– this friend is richer, that friend is more beautiful, those friends are closer.
Still, she doesn’t let this hold her back. She works hard to apply her mind, trying to compensate for her perceived lack of beauty with diligent academic work and a successful career as a doctor. She learns to treasure her friendships, but she still wonders if any man will ever return her interest.
Marco’s experience in the second world war have robbed him of love and health. When winters in his native Italy prove dangerous to his health even after the war has ended, he moves to South Africa to be with his brother, husband to one of Lettie’s best friends. Marco is Lettie’s first patient, and their relationship grows as she aids him on the road back to restored health.
In the company of beloved characters from The Child of the River, Marco and Lettie find a happiness that neither of them thought possible. With that joy comes pain and loss, but Lettie learns that life—while perhaps a crooked path—is always a journey worth taking.
Facts:
This book was Published by Thomas Nelson
It released November 7th, 2017
It's 398 pages
I got it free from Harper Collins BookLook Bloggers program in exchange for a review. (thanks!) My thoughts are my own, as always.
Here are a couple places you can buy it or learn more:
Goodreads | Amazon | Thomas Nelson
I love history, and I love historical fiction. I don't tend to gravitate toward war stories later than the Civil War, because it just hurts too much. That said, I realized that The Crooked Path was a story about World War Two, and I was okay with that.
This story, unlike many well-told stories of war, seemed completely emotionless to me. It was as if the narrator or author's voice was a monotone. This story was slow. It was boring. And it felt like nothing mattered.
This is a story about love, and loss, and war, and horrible things, and IT FELT EMOTIONLESS.
While I dislike war stories because they're so full of emotion, I think I dislike war stories told this way even more.
My rating: 2 stars.
Synopsis:
From the bestselling author of The Girl From the Train, comes another compelling coming of age story of delayed love, loss, and reconciliation in WWII-era South Africa.
Lettie has always felt different from and overshadowed by the women around her– this friend is richer, that friend is more beautiful, those friends are closer.
Still, she doesn’t let this hold her back. She works hard to apply her mind, trying to compensate for her perceived lack of beauty with diligent academic work and a successful career as a doctor. She learns to treasure her friendships, but she still wonders if any man will ever return her interest.
Marco’s experience in the second world war have robbed him of love and health. When winters in his native Italy prove dangerous to his health even after the war has ended, he moves to South Africa to be with his brother, husband to one of Lettie’s best friends. Marco is Lettie’s first patient, and their relationship grows as she aids him on the road back to restored health.
In the company of beloved characters from The Child of the River, Marco and Lettie find a happiness that neither of them thought possible. With that joy comes pain and loss, but Lettie learns that life—while perhaps a crooked path—is always a journey worth taking.
Facts:
This book was Published by Thomas Nelson
It released November 7th, 2017
It's 398 pages
I got it free from Harper Collins BookLook Bloggers program in exchange for a review. (thanks!) My thoughts are my own, as always.
Here are a couple places you can buy it or learn more:
Goodreads | Amazon | Thomas Nelson
I love history, and I love historical fiction. I don't tend to gravitate toward war stories later than the Civil War, because it just hurts too much. That said, I realized that The Crooked Path was a story about World War Two, and I was okay with that.
This story, unlike many well-told stories of war, seemed completely emotionless to me. It was as if the narrator or author's voice was a monotone. This story was slow. It was boring. And it felt like nothing mattered.
This is a story about love, and loss, and war, and horrible things, and IT FELT EMOTIONLESS.
While I dislike war stories because they're so full of emotion, I think I dislike war stories told this way even more.
My rating: 2 stars.