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jessbookishlife's review against another edition
5.0
A fictional memoir and it isn't the first book in the genre that I have read, although I haven't read as many as other genres, nevertheless, it's always hard to review, because it's based on reality or truly describes the real events that happened in someone's life. That been said, when I first started reading, I know I had an emotional story in my hands.
Sylvia Petter took us on a journey that quite reminded me of listening to my grandparents telling me about their lives. I have always wanted to know more about certain things, to learn the reality behind the truth of their stories, to speak with other members of the family and one day I will. This book had that feeling to me. I felt connected to Katrina, and I truly felt as if I was right beside her while all these events and uncovering of her origins were happening.
Like I expected, it was an emotional story, a rollercoaster really, and when I thought we had learn everything, or that it couldn't possibly be any more that would surprise me, something happened. The truth is this novel is based on the author's life, and if that doesn't make you realize the power and realism, then you should really read the book. Sylvia Petter opened her heart and memories using Katrina as a vehicle to transport us into this book.
The descriptions, the emotions, the stories within the bigger picture, the characters that we feel as though we have known our all lives. It all painted our minds with images, and and connected us to Katrina and her journey.
Overall, I won't go into details and accidentally give spoilers, but I loved how the book was written and how the storytelling got so many turns and twists. And I do recommend it to everyone, if the blurb made you curious, then read it!
[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Sylvia Petter for the eCopy of this book and for allowing me to join in the fun and by being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book.]
Sylvia Petter took us on a journey that quite reminded me of listening to my grandparents telling me about their lives. I have always wanted to know more about certain things, to learn the reality behind the truth of their stories, to speak with other members of the family and one day I will. This book had that feeling to me. I felt connected to Katrina, and I truly felt as if I was right beside her while all these events and uncovering of her origins were happening.
Like I expected, it was an emotional story, a rollercoaster really, and when I thought we had learn everything, or that it couldn't possibly be any more that would surprise me, something happened. The truth is this novel is based on the author's life, and if that doesn't make you realize the power and realism, then you should really read the book. Sylvia Petter opened her heart and memories using Katrina as a vehicle to transport us into this book.
The descriptions, the emotions, the stories within the bigger picture, the characters that we feel as though we have known our all lives. It all painted our minds with images, and and connected us to Katrina and her journey.
Overall, I won't go into details and accidentally give spoilers, but I loved how the book was written and how the storytelling got so many turns and twists. And I do recommend it to everyone, if the blurb made you curious, then read it!
[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Sylvia Petter for the eCopy of this book and for allowing me to join in the fun and by being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book.]
sometimesleelynnreads's review against another edition
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources and Lightning Books for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.
I feel like it’s really hard to review someone’s memoir or even give it some sort of rating. I feel this way because how can I even judge someone’s life based on the words that they chose to put down on paper? Even if this book is inspired by Petter’s life, and isn’t considered her actual memoir, there are plenty of facts and events within this book that mirror her own story, and that’s part of the reason why this review is hard for me to write.
Reading the synopsis at first, I knew that I was going to be in for a pretty emotional and… possibly hard to read novel. Not just because of Katrina having to deal with a funeral, but with her whole family history. I don’t think a lot of people are usually happy or proud to hear about a controversial aspect of their family history, and with the way that society is today, having family ties to the Nazi regime is definitely controversial. I think that’s worse than stealing money from a government, but you can judge that for yourself.
Honestly if I were in a situation like this, I don’t even know how I would be able to function. I know not everyone’s family is perfect, but that’s not just a dysfunctional family that “has to be dealt with” or anything. It’s a little bit more intense, and even if it were just me who knew this, I feel like the shame of knowing that’s my family’s legacy would break me to the point that I don’t even know if I’d be able to show my face anywhere. That’s just how important family is to me, and my family. I couldn’t have something like that tarnish my family, even if it wasn’t my fault.
This book was intense, emotional, and definitely had me along for the ride.
I feel like it’s really hard to review someone’s memoir or even give it some sort of rating. I feel this way because how can I even judge someone’s life based on the words that they chose to put down on paper? Even if this book is inspired by Petter’s life, and isn’t considered her actual memoir, there are plenty of facts and events within this book that mirror her own story, and that’s part of the reason why this review is hard for me to write.
Reading the synopsis at first, I knew that I was going to be in for a pretty emotional and… possibly hard to read novel. Not just because of Katrina having to deal with a funeral, but with her whole family history. I don’t think a lot of people are usually happy or proud to hear about a controversial aspect of their family history, and with the way that society is today, having family ties to the Nazi regime is definitely controversial. I think that’s worse than stealing money from a government, but you can judge that for yourself.
Honestly if I were in a situation like this, I don’t even know how I would be able to function. I know not everyone’s family is perfect, but that’s not just a dysfunctional family that “has to be dealt with” or anything. It’s a little bit more intense, and even if it were just me who knew this, I feel like the shame of knowing that’s my family’s legacy would break me to the point that I don’t even know if I’d be able to show my face anywhere. That’s just how important family is to me, and my family. I couldn’t have something like that tarnish my family, even if it wasn’t my fault.
This book was intense, emotional, and definitely had me along for the ride.
sometimesleelynnreads's review
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources and Lightning Books for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.
I feel like it’s really hard to review someone’s memoir or even give it some sort of rating. I feel this way because how can I even judge someone’s life based on the words that they chose to put down on paper? Even if this book is inspired by Petter’s life, and isn’t considered her actual memoir, there are plenty of facts and events within this book that mirror her own story, and that’s part of the reason why this review is hard for me to write.
Reading the synopsis at first, I knew that I was going to be in for a pretty emotional and… possibly hard to read novel. Not just because of Katrina having to deal with a funeral, but with her whole family history. I don’t think a lot of people are usually happy or proud to hear about a controversial aspect of their family history, and with the way that society is today, having family ties to the Nazi regime is definitely controversial. I think that’s worse than stealing money from a government, but you can judge that for yourself.
Honestly if I were in a situation like this, I don’t even know how I would be able to function. I know not everyone’s family is perfect, but that’s not just a dysfunctional family that “has to be dealt with” or anything. It’s a little bit more intense, and even if it were just me who knew this, I feel like the shame of knowing that’s my family’s legacy would break me to the point that I don’t even know if I’d be able to show my face anywhere. That’s just how important family is to me, and my family. I couldn’t have something like that tarnish my family, even if it wasn’t my fault.
This book was intense, emotional, and definitely had me along for the ride.
I feel like it’s really hard to review someone’s memoir or even give it some sort of rating. I feel this way because how can I even judge someone’s life based on the words that they chose to put down on paper? Even if this book is inspired by Petter’s life, and isn’t considered her actual memoir, there are plenty of facts and events within this book that mirror her own story, and that’s part of the reason why this review is hard for me to write.
Reading the synopsis at first, I knew that I was going to be in for a pretty emotional and… possibly hard to read novel. Not just because of Katrina having to deal with a funeral, but with her whole family history. I don’t think a lot of people are usually happy or proud to hear about a controversial aspect of their family history, and with the way that society is today, having family ties to the Nazi regime is definitely controversial. I think that’s worse than stealing money from a government, but you can judge that for yourself.
Honestly if I were in a situation like this, I don’t even know how I would be able to function. I know not everyone’s family is perfect, but that’s not just a dysfunctional family that “has to be dealt with” or anything. It’s a little bit more intense, and even if it were just me who knew this, I feel like the shame of knowing that’s my family’s legacy would break me to the point that I don’t even know if I’d be able to show my face anywhere. That’s just how important family is to me, and my family. I couldn’t have something like that tarnish my family, even if it wasn’t my fault.
This book was intense, emotional, and definitely had me along for the ride.
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