Reviews

Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris

maddi_shackleford's review against another edition

emotional

4.0

emilybutynski's review against another edition

4.0

Update to the text below: upon reading other reviews, I have found that Cilka’s husband was in fact Ivan, and he essentially denounced the book as a terrible portrayal of his wife’s memory and didn’t want anything to do with it. Personally, I take this novel as that: historical fiction. Heather Morris did not have the opportunity to speak with Cilka herself, so while she must have felt it important to tell a version of Cilka’s story, it is also important to remember that context. I’m sure Morris thought she was doing her best to remain true to Cilka’s memory while also creating an interesting and provocative novel.

My only question is: who is Ivan?! The rear cover of my paperback says: “when she begins to nurse a man called Ivan back to health...there is room in her heart for love.” I waited and waited for Ivan to appear. And then, in the “Additional Information” after the epilogue, Heather Morris writes that while Alexandr’s character was a real person, she has changed his name...from Ivan?! Who messed this up?!

lizzie74's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.75

aprilleon's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, and Antisemitism

_jesshd's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

hath's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

kerejane's review against another edition

5.0

This was the perfect extension to the first book.

wessela's review against another edition

5.0

Incredible story of Cilka after being released from Birkenau (where she knew The tattooist and Gita) and being taken as prisoner in Siberia as an “enemy of the state” after the war. Beautiful story of her courage, strength and tenacity.

nhogan527's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

4.5

sagass's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0