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4.39 AVERAGE
4.39 AVERAGE
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
4.5 rounded down. It's amazing that this family was able to survive even one of these horrible situations let alone 5-6. They were indeed the lucky ones! It was a little hard to follow who was who from time to time, even with the family tree, but it didn't change the testament to the human spirit. Can't wait to watch the show and see it come to life.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
tense
medium-paced
What I was most excited for about this book was that it was based on a true story. It is not a spoiler to say that the characters are based off of the author’s family’s lived experience, based on extensive research (thank you!) and personal memories. Of the WWII historical fiction books I’ve read, this one feels different. It doesn’t instill a sense of heroism like books depicting characters working as agents to bring down the German regime, and it doesn’t focus on the morbid curiosity of concentration camps. Rather, this book allows readers to feel what it was like to be hunted, persecuted, and dehumanized, what it means to slowly have belongings, status, and dignity stripped from you. There is an element of the human spirit inspiring bravery, but I feel (and respect that) the author did not cross into romanticizing survival. It made me consider the difference between the will to live and the instinct to stay alive and how the two interact internally.
In so many words, this narrative has been a missing perspective from the WWII historical fiction I’ve read, one that takes impossible-to-comprehend numbers of deaths and brings the war and transgressions to an extremely personal level.
From a writing level, the author does a phenomenal job of pacing and setting the scene. She narrates specific movements and details items that the characters in the book use, which for some felt too detailed but for me really helped me to envision what it would be like to live in Poland in the early 1940’s. I thought her writing was beautiful. The only difficulty I had was in remembering who was who and how everyone was related to each other.
I would recommend this book to everyone, but I will note that it is emotionally very difficult to read, so give yourself space. This isn’t something to read before going to bed.
Also I can’t let this go — Someone said below that they thought such a title and subject for WWII did a disservice to narratives of those who maybe weren’t so lucky. Im not sure that person read this book. “lucky” is very relative here. After reading this book, I find that comment extremely disrespectful, especially considering the amount of research and care put into the writing and editing, let alone the fact that this is in some ways a biography of the author’s family.
In so many words, this narrative has been a missing perspective from the WWII historical fiction I’ve read, one that takes impossible-to-comprehend numbers of deaths and brings the war and transgressions to an extremely personal level.
From a writing level, the author does a phenomenal job of pacing and setting the scene. She narrates specific movements and details items that the characters in the book use, which for some felt too detailed but for me really helped me to envision what it would be like to live in Poland in the early 1940’s. I thought her writing was beautiful. The only difficulty I had was in remembering who was who and how everyone was related to each other.
I would recommend this book to everyone, but I will note that it is emotionally very difficult to read, so give yourself space. This isn’t something to read before going to bed.
Also I can’t let this go — Someone said below that they thought such a title and subject for WWII did a disservice to narratives of those who maybe weren’t so lucky. Im not sure that person read this book. “lucky” is very relative here. After reading this book, I find that comment extremely disrespectful, especially considering the amount of research and care put into the writing and editing, let alone the fact that this is in some ways a biography of the author’s family.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book was beautiful and heart-wrenching. I fell in love with the Kurc family right away. An amazing debut novel.
5 big stars.
5 big stars.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
WWII stories are so painful. It’s just unbelievable what these people endured. This one is based on the author’s own family, which gives it both added authenticity and poignancy.