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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
If you like historical fiction with heartbreak of war, struggle for survival and strong flawed woman characters.
So ridiculously over the top. Non-stop brother in law lusting. I was hoping for something a little more polished, less campy.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Lisa Barr is a very gifted writer, I absolutely loved Woman on Fire, a book that dealt with stolen art by Nazis, but was peripheral enough that I could read it without being triggered. Having gone to study Holocaust history in Europe and tour concentration camps, including Auschwitz, it's very hard for me to read anything adjacent to this topic. But I mostly really enjoyed The Goddess of Warsaw. While some of the events were based on actual history, we have fictional Bina Blonski, a young married woman who is an actress, who has been in the Warsaw Ghetto for 2 years and time is running out. The Nazis are going to send everyone left to Treblinka, which means certain death. Bina has been smuggling in food and medicine by bartering her body and her looks (blonde and blue-eyed). Soon, she is working with resistance fighters and killing Nazi collaborators.
We meet her first as a famous actress who has lived as Lena Browning, meeting a young popular actress named Sienna who wants to produce her life story. Sienna doesn't know the true story just yet, and we learn with her how Bina survived the ghetto and came to America. The astounding bravery and terror were soaked into the bones of this book. I was riveted, even though parts were hard to read.
The transition from the ghetto to post-war life in the 1950s was jarring to me as a reader. While the author fills in the blanks, its true horror is the Nazi regime still lingering in the background, trying to regain power and influence. It's particularly relevant today and frightening how easy it would be to convince gentiles that Jews should not only be hated but erased from existence. It's definitely satisfying to see evil men be put down with her signature saying.
The main character's reunion with people who helped along the way or that were rescued gave me a sense of closure. It was sad to me the last words that Aleksandr said to Bina before the end of ghetto life. She lost her entire family, and the man she loved turned on her. No wonder she had a no crying clause. 4/5☆ trigger warning for description of abuse, violence directed at Jewish people, particularly children and women, blatant antisemitism. I would say it's close to 4.5 stars.
We meet her first as a famous actress who has lived as Lena Browning, meeting a young popular actress named Sienna who wants to produce her life story. Sienna doesn't know the true story just yet, and we learn with her how Bina survived the ghetto and came to America. The astounding bravery and terror were soaked into the bones of this book. I was riveted, even though parts were hard to read.
The transition from the ghetto to post-war life in the 1950s was jarring to me as a reader. While the author fills in the blanks, its true horror is the Nazi regime still lingering in the background, trying to regain power and influence. It's particularly relevant today and frightening how easy it would be to convince gentiles that Jews should not only be hated but erased from existence. It's definitely satisfying to see evil men be put down with her signature saying.
The main character's reunion with people who helped along the way or that were rescued gave me a sense of closure. It was sad to me the last words that Aleksandr said to Bina before the end of ghetto life. She lost her entire family, and the man she loved turned on her. No wonder she had a no crying clause. 4/5☆ trigger warning for description of abuse, violence directed at Jewish people, particularly children and women, blatant antisemitism. I would say it's close to 4.5 stars.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
adventurous
medium-paced
Where to even begin with this book?! This is another one of those gripping novels where everything feels so real, I’m convinced the story is entirely true and that every character is an actual person.
About The Goddess of Warsaw: “The Goddess of Warsaw is an enthralling tale of a legendary Hollywood screen goddess with a dark secret about her life in the Warsaw Ghetto. When the famous actress is threatened by someone from her past, she must put her skills into play to protect herself, her illustrious career, and those she loves, then and now.”
Set between Warsaw, Poland in the 1940s and Los Angeles in 2005, The Goddess of Warsaw is the story of Lena, a decades-long famous actress, who was once known as Bina, a young woman who took part in the Warsaw uprising against the Nazis. She’s not just any woman, though. She’s a femme fatale, brilliant, cunning, and a survivor.
The story is so well-written, I never stepped out of it. It’s that immersive. In many ways, Lena/Bina tries to move beyond her past, living in hiding, but at the same time, she is consumed with exacting revenge on war criminals. The Goddess of Warsaw is dramatic, and there is never a dull moment. Bina is an absolutely unforgettable protagonist.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
About The Goddess of Warsaw: “The Goddess of Warsaw is an enthralling tale of a legendary Hollywood screen goddess with a dark secret about her life in the Warsaw Ghetto. When the famous actress is threatened by someone from her past, she must put her skills into play to protect herself, her illustrious career, and those she loves, then and now.”
Set between Warsaw, Poland in the 1940s and Los Angeles in 2005, The Goddess of Warsaw is the story of Lena, a decades-long famous actress, who was once known as Bina, a young woman who took part in the Warsaw uprising against the Nazis. She’s not just any woman, though. She’s a femme fatale, brilliant, cunning, and a survivor.
The story is so well-written, I never stepped out of it. It’s that immersive. In many ways, Lena/Bina tries to move beyond her past, living in hiding, but at the same time, she is consumed with exacting revenge on war criminals. The Goddess of Warsaw is dramatic, and there is never a dull moment. Bina is an absolutely unforgettable protagonist.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
World War II is my most favorite era to read about. Lisa Barr brought me right into the world that Lena Browning had lived in. It was horrific to see what she had to live through but it is a time that should not be forgotten. The details of the ghetto, of the Nazi’s treatment of Jews, of the things that had to be done just to stay alive are what brought this book to life.
Lena Browning (she has many names throughout this book as her life requires it to stay alive) has become a movie star but it is her past that still haunts her. I love that she is willing to share her story as it is an important part of WWII history but also her history. There is an entire part of her life that no one knows and it is not anything that anyone would ever have guessed about her. She knew that telling her story would bring back the horrors of her past but she also knew that it could be healing for her. I was entirely lost in her life, living it right next to her, and feeling her pains and triumphs.
The Goddess of Warsaw is a must-read list for any WWII historical fiction reader. I cannot wait to discuss it with my fellow readers.
Lena Browning (she has many names throughout this book as her life requires it to stay alive) has become a movie star but it is her past that still haunts her. I love that she is willing to share her story as it is an important part of WWII history but also her history. There is an entire part of her life that no one knows and it is not anything that anyone would ever have guessed about her. She knew that telling her story would bring back the horrors of her past but she also knew that it could be healing for her. I was entirely lost in her life, living it right next to her, and feeling her pains and triumphs.
The Goddess of Warsaw is a must-read list for any WWII historical fiction reader. I cannot wait to discuss it with my fellow readers.