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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
This was a difficult one for me to get into. The writing felt cliché and the modern character uninteresting. The dual story line felt "coincidental" in a forced way. The book reads more like a young adult reader, with simpler concepts, unoriginal ideas, a child narrator with words and writing abilities far more advanced than their age, comma mistakes, and the whole lot. I considered not finishing the book, though I am days from the end of the year and didn't want to quit something right at the end. LOL! The ending redeemed it somewhat and kept it at three stars. Overall, it's a fine read. I have a family member from Morocco, so I was interested in reading about Morocco during WWII. I enjoyed reading some of the descriptions of the country. I am inspired to make ghoriba cookies. But the overall writing and storytelling felt underwhelming and cliché.
A satisfying story set in Casablanca during two timelines: during World War II and relatively present day (but pre-COVID!). The World War II timeline was the better of the two, describing what it was like for a French Jewish family to escape Paris then wait and wait and wait to gain passage to America. The father (who is actually Christian) joins the resistance, but the story is told in the journal entries by a young girl, Josie. Sure, the entries are more fleshed out that most girls' but at the beginning of the novel she dreams of being a writer so it fits. You learn about all her dreams for her future as she describes their situation, money getting tighter, rough encounters, her friendships with Nina and Felix.
In present day, we have a first-person narration by Zoe. Too much of the present-day story is rather slow. You know that something happened before Zoe and her husband Tom came to Casablanca for Tom's job, but it isn't clear what. Tom is drinking a lot and Zoe is obsessively washing her hands until they crack and bleed. Reading Josie's journals that she found under a floorboard is what keeps Zoe going.
The two stories meet up at the end. It's sad and poignant, but satisfying. Overall, the story has a strong sense of place in and around Morocco, which I loved.
In present day, we have a first-person narration by Zoe
Spoiler
and don't realize until the very end that she is an unreliable narratorThe two stories meet up at the end. It's sad and poignant, but satisfying. Overall, the story has a strong sense of place in and around Morocco, which I loved.
Loss of words to appreciate the book
Some things are impossible to move on from – instead, you have to find a way to live with them. The secret is to open your heart, even as it breaks. Because that’s when you discover that you have the capacity to contain it all – the pain and the love, the dark and the light. Finding the strength to do so can be quite a challenge, and it takes time. But, in the end, it’s facing up to the truth that will set you free.
This is the key highlight of the book. Absolutely fantastic, be it the story, the language, the simplicity, absolutely fantastic book to read
Some things are impossible to move on from – instead, you have to find a way to live with them. The secret is to open your heart, even as it breaks. Because that’s when you discover that you have the capacity to contain it all – the pain and the love, the dark and the light. Finding the strength to do so can be quite a challenge, and it takes time. But, in the end, it’s facing up to the truth that will set you free.
This is the key highlight of the book. Absolutely fantastic, be it the story, the language, the simplicity, absolutely fantastic book to read
Really good historical fiction story about a not-so-widely-known aspect of WWII - the flight of Jews into Casablanca. The ending really brought this story up from as parts were a bit uneven with the main character of Josie & Zoe. For Josie, I got the vibes of Anne Franke (12yr old Jewish girl, with an older sister that annoys her, living in the attic, close to her father) and a bit of Nancy Drew or French resistance spy- which is the part that didn't work for me.
Love the bits about Josephine Baker - tho it was a bit eye-rolling that Josie meets her quite a few times, so random but yet not so random.
Zoe's part didn't come to full definition until the end and it was poignant yet, left a bit unpolished also.
Love the bits about Josephine Baker - tho it was a bit eye-rolling that Josie meets her quite a few times, so random but yet not so random.
Zoe's part didn't come to full definition until the end and it was poignant yet, left a bit unpolished also.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Beautifully told, this story paints a fascinating tale of Casablanca and two women trying rebuild their lives there. A definite must read.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Overall I liked this book. I appreciated the short chapters as I felt I could get through it faster. I didn’t love the tone of Josie’s chapters because I felt like she was 20 or something not 12 but her chapters were very detailed and interesting which I liked. The twist at the end was a little out there but again overall I liked it.