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jothursday's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars. Not sure why this has such a high goodreads rating.
jeanetterenee's review against another edition
2.0
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
crazy4reading's review against another edition
5.0
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.
lgallo's review against another edition
3.0
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.
jsc8675309's review against another edition
3.0
Some beautifully written passages, but overall there was this weird emotional distance so what could have been a very affecting story, was not.
tashabye's review against another edition
3.0
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.
eastoflaura's review against another edition
3.0
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.
nadyne's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful story about the aftermath of war and what it does to people.
kaybouquet's review against another edition
4.0
I was super stoked that I won this from the goodreads giveaway. It is a heartwarming story about a family who attempted to piece the last remnants of the "love" that they had for each other after being separated for 8 years by the war.
Every alternating chapter is broken down into an elaborate dichotomous structure that changes between different points of view (Janusz and Silvana) coupled with time (the past and present) and place (Poland and England). This gives an interesting flavor and unravels the painful memories each character went through during the war. After the war, the family is once again reunited physically, but their memories haunt their ability to rekindle their relationship. This is a beautiful novel that exhibits an amalgam of love, sacrifice, and acceptance. Also this is an excellent debut novel for Hodgkinson.
Every alternating chapter is broken down into an elaborate dichotomous structure that changes between different points of view (Janusz and Silvana) coupled with time (the past and present) and place (Poland and England). This gives an interesting flavor and unravels the painful memories each character went through during the war. After the war, the family is once again reunited physically, but their memories haunt their ability to rekindle their relationship. This is a beautiful novel that exhibits an amalgam of love, sacrifice, and acceptance. Also this is an excellent debut novel for Hodgkinson.
awashinfeeling's review against another edition
2.0
When I first started reading this novel I didn't really know what to expect. The tone is gloomy and depressing, which feels natural at first since it's a story dealing with a family that has been separated and changed by the war. However, one thing that bothered me was that I found all the characters utterly despicable.
Maybe I am too harsh but at some point it just annoyed me how miserable they constantly were. It seemed that when there could have been a possible moment of happiness, they ruined it themselves by looking for things to make it a less enjoyable moment.
I also think that the story lacks character development. At the end of the novel, Silvana is still pretty much the same as in the beginning (not considering her physical appearance). Same could be said about Janusz although he seems to undergo more of a change than her. Aurek was the most likeable and well-rounded character, which made the novel better in my eyes.
Moreover, I couldn't identify with any of the characters either because we literally learn nothing about them. We learn a little bit about the different characters but definitely not enough to feel for them and their fate. It is too bad, it could have been so much more.
Maybe I am too harsh but at some point it just annoyed me how miserable they constantly were. It seemed that when there could have been a possible moment of happiness, they ruined it themselves by looking for things to make it a less enjoyable moment.
I also think that the story lacks character development. At the end of the novel, Silvana is still pretty much the same as in the beginning (not considering her physical appearance). Same could be said about Janusz although he seems to undergo more of a change than her. Aurek was the most likeable and well-rounded character, which made the novel better in my eyes.
Moreover, I couldn't identify with any of the characters either because we literally learn nothing about them. We learn a little bit about the different characters but definitely not enough to feel for them and their fate. It is too bad, it could have been so much more.