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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
medium-paced
Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
🎤 Jane Oppenheimer
📚 single POV, 1st person
Do I recommend this book: 👍
Hollywood legend Lena Browning is visited in 2005 by beautiful movie star Sienna Hayes, who wants to direct and star in a movie about Browning's life. The 85-year-old actress agrees to open up for the first time and begins her incredible story in 1943. Lena's name is really Bina Blonski, a Jewish woman imprisoned in the Warsaw Ghetto with her husband Jakub along with his brother Aleksander, who has lost his wife and child to the Nazis. Bina is blond and able to pass as an Aryan woman. Her determination to survive and help others transforms Bina into a clever and fierce member of the resistance. Even after she finds her way to the United States and becomes a star, her desire for revenge is never forgotten.
One of my favorite books of 2022 was Lisa Barr's Women on Fire. I couldn't wait to read The Goddess of Warsaw, which was the first book on my 2024 must-read list. Bina/Lena is an unforgettable character. After finishing it, I had to let my feelings settle as I was so affected by this moving and suspenseful story. The tragedy of WWII and the Holocaust has been told many, many times including accounts of the horrors within the Warsaw Ghetto. While I'm a big historical fiction fan, I have to take long breaks between reading books about this heartbreaking era. It takes a wonderful author like Barr to create a story that is a true standout. So, grab a box of Kleenex and don't wait to read it after it is released.
Many thanks to Harper Perennial for providing an advance copy, which is sure to be one of my 2024 favorites.
If you follow my reviews, you may have noticed that I give out very few full, 5-star ratings. I save them for the ones I truly and utterly adore!!
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
One of my favorite books of 2022 was Lisa Barr's Women on Fire. I couldn't wait to read The Goddess of Warsaw, which was the first book on my 2024 must-read list. Bina/Lena is an unforgettable character. After finishing it, I had to let my feelings settle as I was so affected by this moving and suspenseful story. The tragedy of WWII and the Holocaust has been told many, many times including accounts of the horrors within the Warsaw Ghetto. While I'm a big historical fiction fan, I have to take long breaks between reading books about this heartbreaking era. It takes a wonderful author like Barr to create a story that is a true standout. So, grab a box of Kleenex and don't wait to read it after it is released.
Many thanks to Harper Perennial for providing an advance copy, which is sure to be one of my 2024 favorites.
If you follow my reviews, you may have noticed that I give out very few full, 5-star ratings. I save them for the ones I truly and utterly adore!!
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
SO GOOD! Lisa Barr is a master of historical fiction! This story is not only excellent, it is poignant for our time in history now!
This novel was heart wrenching from start to finish. Bina, a Jewish woman, is trapped in the Warsaw ghetto with her husband, Jakub, and his brother Aleksander. Because of her ability to pass as Aryan and her acting skills, Bina is able to smuggle food, ammunitions, and people in and out of the ghetto. Because of her secret love for Aleksander, Bina gets involved with a resistance group that fights against Nazis. This culminates in the Warsaw uprising. Years after the end of the war, Bina is now Lena, a famous femme fatale movie star. When faced with demons from her past, Bina must now enact her revenge. The pacing was perfect. Bina is someone you really root for. The ending is incredibly bittersweet. In order to enact the greatest revenge, she must sacrifice everything.
WW2 historical fiction - a little too heavy on the fiction in several ways but a great storyline.
One of the better examples of WWII historical fiction, Barr’s powerful novel is a brilliantly rendered, heartbreaking story of survival and vengeance. Exceptionally fine.
I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time- what an incredible read. Couldn’t put it down!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Absolute page turner. Incredible historic fiction. Takes you right into the world so many suffered in.
I was enthralled from the start. It kept me going with paused just to absorb all the drama and all that was happening. It was very emotional and hard to read at times but such an amazing thriller- passionate story - that sadly is pertinent today.
