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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
It was an ok story. I really dislike commenting on books when I know these are the proud works of someone. For me, this one didn't resonate. Interesting concept but delivery felt flat.
There is so much to unpack about the Holocaust, and this book added another piece of important evidence. A fictionalized version of a photograph album that does exist, done by an interned Spanish photographer, of the horrors of Mathausen, one of the Nazi concentration camps, is at the basis of this absorbing story. Told in the words of three characters: the current character is Hannah, a young woman from Australia, curious about a book her grandfather brought over but her mother would not let her see; Lena, a young woman whose family lives next door to the camp, and is approached to assist in hiding the photos; and Nico, intended in the camp for political reasons, risking all to preserve the photo album. Well written and informative, I recommend this book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Historical fiction set in WW2 and focused on the Mauthausen concentration camp and a hidden book of photos which documented the atrocities. Flips between this time and the life of Nico’s grand daughter who learns of the photo album At a young age but isn’t allowed to see it then spends her life trying to learn about it. I would have liked more time spent on the process of the book rather than the relationships but still an interesting story
3.5⭐️ A WWII historical fiction book that’s only 300 pages is hard to come by, and Manning’s story is wonderfully constructed, well-researched and well-written. This looks into the multi-generational trauma as a result of the Holocaust, and I thought the alternating timelines and POVs gave a unique perspective. Lower rating just because it was not my favorite out of all I read in the genre!
I don’t read a lot of books that take place in the concentration camps. Sometimes they are just too emotional for me. It’s such a tragedy that so many innocent people suffered and died in those horrible places. Even though this was as emotional as I expected it to be, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the multiple POVs. The men in Mauthausen suffered greatly but they still were able to maintain friendships and were determined to show people outside the camps and in the future what they suffered through. I loved Lena’s perspective. She shouldered so much because of her sister and trying to help her family by working and keeping Greta safe. But even through all of that, she still wanted to help the prisoners in whatever way possible, even if it was small. Hannah’s perspective was probably my favorite. She wanted so badly to learn more about her grandfather and his life, even though her mother didn’t want to talk about any of it. She went so far as to go to school for history and get her PhD to learn more about Mauthausen and her deda.
This is the first book I’ve read by Kirsty Manning and I will definitely be reading more.
Thank you Bibliolifestyle and William Morrow for my gifted copy f this book.
This is the first book I’ve read by Kirsty Manning and I will definitely be reading more.
Thank you Bibliolifestyle and William Morrow for my gifted copy f this book.