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montigneyrules's review against another edition
3.0
#readingchallenge2023 (my book that is Historical Fiction)
I agree with a fellow reviewer, I’ve been sitting on this review for a while, having a hard time with determining my rating. I struggled to connect with most of the novel, often debating DNF or pushing on- the delivery was vague in some sections, while too focused in other sections, creating a disconnect in the story, with some parts less compelling to follow.
I feel the disconnect with this was because the narrator of the story was the child- therefore the beginning was very child-like- with the story meant to grow and develop as she developed- but reading solely about their beginning anew from the perspective of a child was disconnecting.
While the premise was intriguing, the concept of the village forgetting (ignoring) time & reality because of their belief narration- in the beginning-was too heavily focused on their daily life surrounding their religion, and was not what I was expecting. It lacked the element I enjoy most within historical fiction novels, which is learning history-
It wasn’t until the later portion of the novel, in which the events of the Holocaust finally meet up with the characters, did I begin to connect with the story.
The later story showed the persecution & migration, the terrible losses & resiliency of hardships, which is what I had expected from the novel. The later story showed an insight into the Holocaust struggle, different than I’ve ever encountered. So many WWII novels focus on people impacted trying to return to normalcy & community, so this glimpse into the preferred isolation was something new & powerful to discover…when it was finally shown.
A fresh perspective of WWII, but within a struggle of a story, where I didn't connect with any characters.
I agree with a fellow reviewer, I’ve been sitting on this review for a while, having a hard time with determining my rating. I struggled to connect with most of the novel, often debating DNF or pushing on- the delivery was vague in some sections, while too focused in other sections, creating a disconnect in the story, with some parts less compelling to follow.
I feel the disconnect with this was because the narrator of the story was the child- therefore the beginning was very child-like- with the story meant to grow and develop as she developed- but reading solely about their beginning anew from the perspective of a child was disconnecting.
While the premise was intriguing, the concept of the village forgetting (ignoring) time & reality because of their belief narration- in the beginning-was too heavily focused on their daily life surrounding their religion, and was not what I was expecting. It lacked the element I enjoy most within historical fiction novels, which is learning history-
It wasn’t until the later portion of the novel, in which the events of the Holocaust finally meet up with the characters, did I begin to connect with the story.
The later story showed the persecution & migration, the terrible losses & resiliency of hardships, which is what I had expected from the novel. The later story showed an insight into the Holocaust struggle, different than I’ve ever encountered. So many WWII novels focus on people impacted trying to return to normalcy & community, so this glimpse into the preferred isolation was something new & powerful to discover…when it was finally shown.
A fresh perspective of WWII, but within a struggle of a story, where I didn't connect with any characters.
mischief_in_the_library's review against another edition
2.0
DNF, but I do have to add a disclaimer that this is not normally the sort of book I enjoy. It was too slow, and possibly too literary for my unrefined tastes.
But it was just kind of weird. I didn't understand the premise. From the blurb, I thought starting again meant no God, no nothing that would allow the world to label them, especially not as Jewish. But in the new world, there was still religion and prayer, just no radios, no typewriters, no watches. *Why?* Letting someone else raise your child for the sake of fairness in the new world? Colour me sceptical.
I gave it more than one star because I wouldn't have minded continuing. I wasn't disliking it heaps, but at the same time, ended up decided I'd rather spend the time on something I actively enjoyed.
But it was just kind of weird. I didn't understand the premise. From the blurb, I thought starting again meant no God, no nothing that would allow the world to label them, especially not as Jewish. But in the new world, there was still religion and prayer, just no radios, no typewriters, no watches. *Why?* Letting someone else raise your child for the sake of fairness in the new world? Colour me sceptical.
I gave it more than one star because I wouldn't have minded continuing. I wasn't disliking it heaps, but at the same time, ended up decided I'd rather spend the time on something I actively enjoyed.
sidnarwhal's review against another edition
5.0
This book is poetry.
Good books write emotions into words.
This book turns words into emotion.
Good books write emotions into words.
This book turns words into emotion.
sducharme's review against another edition
5.0
This story of an isolated Jewish village in Romania reads like an allegory or fable. The villagers decide to save themselves from the encroaching war (WWII) by starting a new world. They throw out their clocks, traditions, and question all ways of being. New possibilities open up about what it means to be a family, a daughter, a friend.
The story has the feel of a fable: The main characters have names but most villagers are described by their occupations; it's told in first person but there's no way our narrator could know all that's described. We have the sense that the story exists everywhere at once.
One of the aspects I enjoyed reading most was the process of starting "new". In this time of dystopia as a hot genre, it was interesting to read about a community just starting the process of deciding what to keep and what to let go from their culture.
I found this completely consuming and, at times, totally disturbing. It's not for everyone - certainly not for those looking for straight WWII history stories. This is much more - a story of family, faith, culture, and our roles therein.
The story has the feel of a fable: The main characters have names but most villagers are described by their occupations; it's told in first person but there's no way our narrator could know all that's described. We have the sense that the story exists everywhere at once.
One of the aspects I enjoyed reading most was the process of starting "new". In this time of dystopia as a hot genre, it was interesting to read about a community just starting the process of deciding what to keep and what to let go from their culture.
I found this completely consuming and, at times, totally disturbing. It's not for everyone - certainly not for those looking for straight WWII history stories. This is much more - a story of family, faith, culture, and our roles therein.
caitlin_89's review against another edition
2.0
I kind of hated this book. I knew it was going to be sad, but I hoped for sad in a wistful, hopeful way. This was more sad in a plodding, broken way. Also the prose was distractingly poetic in some places, which sounds like a silly complaint, but still.
That said, I cried through the last three chapters, so obviously Ausubel is talented. I did care what happened to the characters. I just thought they acted surprisingly naive and thoughtlessly and pointlessly for much of the story. Oh well.
I kind of wish I had stopped reading this when I realized it wasn't going to get better, but I have a hard time leaving books I've started...
That said, I cried through the last three chapters, so obviously Ausubel is talented. I did care what happened to the characters. I just thought they acted surprisingly naive and thoughtlessly and pointlessly for much of the story. Oh well.
I kind of wish I had stopped reading this when I realized it wasn't going to get better, but I have a hard time leaving books I've started...
emilyisreading2024's review against another edition
5.0
I should have known how much I would love this book based on the title alone; isn't it such an awesome, puzzling, and memorable title? The book is awesome, puzzling, and memorable too. As others have pointed out, there are some pretty disturbing things that happen and some things that may seem inexplicable (such as Lena's parents' decision), but I think they are included with a specific purpose in mind (with respect to Lena's parents, perhaps to show the "tribal" influence). My only minor complaint is that the story dragged a tiny bit in places. But let's put that minor issue aside because this is one of those books that can lead you to look at the world around you differently. Ausubel's writing is poetic. People say that a fair amount, and now I sort of regret saying it about some other authors because it's barely true in comparison to Ausubel. The imagery is lovely in places, haunting in others. The concepts are thought-provoking, the religious references described in ways that I want to memorize. And the ending - the ending had me in tears. I was reading it on the treadmill and literally crying. Now that I've finished the book, I've decided it's one that I want to read again - maybe not right away, but definitely sometime.
mbpistulka's review against another edition
4.0
This did not end how I wanted it to but it was still a great book. Very interesting story concept, very different then other war stories.
stefanie_ann's review against another edition
4.0
Strange, beautiful, and often incredibly sad. What happens when everything is taken from you? How do you rebuild? What stays and what goes--and who decides?