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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
I've been reading so many pre-WWII novels and novels that take place during WWII, it was interesting to have a immediate post-WWII story. The mystery is always how people get on with their lives after they have experienced so much horror.
I was not impressed by this book, and hated most of the characters. So far this year I have read two books about World War 2, and The Invisible Bridge was a million times better. I may try to pick this one up again at a later date because I was intrigued by the concept, but the story did not seem to deliver.
A Polish couple is separated at the beginning of the Second World War, and reunited in Britain after the war is over. In the six years that they have been apart their different experiences have made them different people. Then there is the child Aurek, who has only known the life of a fugitive, hiding in the forest. He has to adapt to living in a suburban house in a society where the language, is strange.
The story alternates between the present and the past, starting with their reunion, and going back to their former life, leading up to the present.
I picked this book up on a remainder sale, after reading the blurb I thought it looked interesting for the same reason that I found the [b:The long road home the aftermath of the Second World War|9528519|The Long Road Home The Aftermath of the Second World War|Ben Shephard|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1333579837s/9528519.jpg|14414587] interesting. I'm interested in transitions, in between times, changes from war to peace, migrants, refugees, displaced persons, asylum seekers. How do such people make a transition from one life to another?
And so I bought it and brought it home to read it, and was surprosed at how good it was. When I read historical novels, I tend to look out for anachronisms, well, not actually to look for them, but when I spot them I find them jarring, and so I tend to be reading in nervous expectation. In this book I didn't spot any, or at least none that were jarring. It seemed remarkably authentic and true to life -- not that I've ever been to Poland, so I might not know anyway, but it didn't seem much different from novels by Polish novelists that I've read.
The characters and their reactions are believable, yet not predictable, and this unpredictability is what makes the novel seem so authentic. It is like the unpredictability of real life, when you never know what will happen next or how people will respond to it.
The story alternates between the present and the past, starting with their reunion, and going back to their former life, leading up to the present.
I picked this book up on a remainder sale, after reading the blurb I thought it looked interesting for the same reason that I found the [b:The long road home the aftermath of the Second World War|9528519|The Long Road Home The Aftermath of the Second World War|Ben Shephard|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1333579837s/9528519.jpg|14414587] interesting. I'm interested in transitions, in between times, changes from war to peace, migrants, refugees, displaced persons, asylum seekers. How do such people make a transition from one life to another?
And so I bought it and brought it home to read it, and was surprosed at how good it was. When I read historical novels, I tend to look out for anachronisms, well, not actually to look for them, but when I spot them I find them jarring, and so I tend to be reading in nervous expectation. In this book I didn't spot any, or at least none that were jarring. It seemed remarkably authentic and true to life -- not that I've ever been to Poland, so I might not know anyway, but it didn't seem much different from novels by Polish novelists that I've read.
The characters and their reactions are believable, yet not predictable, and this unpredictability is what makes the novel seem so authentic. It is like the unpredictability of real life, when you never know what will happen next or how people will respond to it.
2.5 stars. Not sure why this has such a high goodreads rating.
Ex-AS-perating! Could have been so much more.
The writing was actually decent enough that I could have given it three stars, but by the time I got to the end I was tearing my hair out in frustration at what she chose to include and what she chose to leave out of the story. I was left with a feeling of pointlessness. 2.5 stars
I had to switch to the audio book since I had to return my book club book. I was almost finished and I am glad I finished the book. I loved the story of Silvana and Janusz and their ordeal before, during and after World War II.
This story goes from before World War II, to during World War II to after World War II. It continues going from the present to past and finding out the things each one went through. Silvana being left alone while Janusz goes off to defend Poland. She is left with their little boy in Warsaw. Janusz tells her to head to his parents house.
Janusz goes on the train to join the Polish army and we find out what he goes through during the war. Their experiences shape them and change them that when they finally find each other they have secrets they are afraid to share with one another. They are going to try and make a new life for themselves in England.
This story goes from before World War II, to during World War II to after World War II. It continues going from the present to past and finding out the things each one went through. Silvana being left alone while Janusz goes off to defend Poland. She is left with their little boy in Warsaw. Janusz tells her to head to his parents house.
Janusz goes on the train to join the Polish army and we find out what he goes through during the war. Their experiences shape them and change them that when they finally find each other they have secrets they are afraid to share with one another. They are going to try and make a new life for themselves in England.
The plot had the potential to be really interesting, but things just got so weird and the ending was, at least for me, unbelievable. I would have liked a little more historical detail, otherwise the story could be taking place during any war.
Some beautifully written passages, but overall there was this weird emotional distance so what could have been a very affecting story, was not.
An enjoyable read, although sad like any story of war. I would give it 3.5 if I could but since I can't, just a 3 star rating then. I enjoyed it but i just didn't feel connected to the characters. It could just be that they were so damaged that it was impossible to connect to them really, but I think it was more the writing style. It is worth a read though because it is a story that I know must have happened to many and it is presented well enough.
For a book who's sole purpose to is to feel something for characters who have been through the most horrific part of war only to find re-building their lives afterwards is just as hard, I actually felt the characters weren't drawn in particular depth. Its one thing talk about how these characters can't put the past behind them, but novels are most riveting when the author can do the showing instead of the telling. That said, though, I did enjoy the novel's structure that flipped back and forth from during the war to after it was over, and how that especially made the story's big reveal all the more poignant.