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theresa_timber's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and War
ruthie_the_librarian's review against another edition
4.0
I sometimes found it slightly confusing with the way it's structured, but it's an incredibly moving story. I really enjoyed the first part, felt it slowed a little after that, but then by the end I was gripped again. Beautifully translated too...no badly chosen words, all just quite beautiful, even though the subject matter was often painful and horrifying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide and War
deltadam's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Drug use, Genocide, Racial slurs, Antisemitism, Death of parent, and War
smsegal's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Genocide
knit_the_resistance's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
The Postcard is an extremely difficult book to read, as are most books about the Holocaust. It's dark, and sad. But it's also a complex family history, and a mystery. I enjoyed it, and I was upset by it. I recommend it as an analog book rather than a digital copy so you can go back and forth and check on who different characters are.
Also, there are sections you shouldn't read before bedtime.
Also, there are sections you shouldn't read before bedtime.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Rape, Suicide, Antisemitism, Dementia, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
bookworm_ohsea's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Deportation
bookbunny's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Racism, Antisemitism, and War
adrienneleigh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
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? No
4.5
This is a beautiful book. I especially enjoyed the second half where the narrator investigates her grandmother’s story. I loved the detective story, the interactions between Anne and Lelia, and learning about the French Resistance. I’m looking forward to checking out the forums and attending the event with the translator.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide
karenleagermain's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Wow. I started the audio version yesterday and just couldn't stop listening.
The memoir starts with a mystery that is not solved until the final pages of the book. Anne Berest becomes obsessed with a postcard that was sent to her mother. The postcard contained the names of four family members that died during the Holocaust. These are the author's great grandparents, great aunt, and great uncle. Berest's grandmother was the only person in her family that survived. There is no other identifying information on the postcard and Berest's grandmother has already died.
Using her mother's research, Berest pieces together her family history in an attempt to understand who might have sent the postcard. While thinking about her family history, Berest also thinks about what it means to be Jewish in contemporary times.
The primary themes are remembering the past, bearing witness to the past, and remembering those who have died. Although this is about one family, the scope is enormous and this is an important story, reminding the reader to never forget what happened during the Holocaust.
One more note, The Postcard is a translated work, originally written in French. It's published by Europa Editions. I mentioning this because Europa Editions publishes incredible books and I think it's important to read books published in different countries.
The memoir starts with a mystery that is not solved until the final pages of the book. Anne Berest becomes obsessed with a postcard that was sent to her mother. The postcard contained the names of four family members that died during the Holocaust. These are the author's great grandparents, great aunt, and great uncle. Berest's grandmother was the only person in her family that survived. There is no other identifying information on the postcard and Berest's grandmother has already died.
Using her mother's research, Berest pieces together her family history in an attempt to understand who might have sent the postcard. While thinking about her family history, Berest also thinks about what it means to be Jewish in contemporary times.
The primary themes are remembering the past, bearing witness to the past, and remembering those who have died. Although this is about one family, the scope is enormous and this is an important story, reminding the reader to never forget what happened during the Holocaust.
One more note, The Postcard is a translated work, originally written in French. It's published by Europa Editions. I mentioning this because Europa Editions publishes incredible books and I think it's important to read books published in different countries.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide
Moderate: Addiction
This is a memoir of a woman researching her family who died in the Holocaust. It has many graphic depictions of violence in the concentration camps, including murder. It's not gratuitous, but an important part of history, yet not easy to read. There are a few chapters depicting opium addiction.francescaguardo's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Currently a 4-4.5 but need time to think about it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Genocide, Antisemitism, and Deportation