A review by fulltimefiction
The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel

2.0

I have been looking forward to reading this book because the premise sounded interesting. A Jewish forger who helped forge the papers of Jewish children in France to send them to Switzerland. She also records their old names in a book called “the book of lost names”. I love WWII stories but I think it’s about time I take a break. They used to affect me a lot but I guess now since I’ve read more than average I’m more difficult to impress?

I sadly couldn’t connect with this book on any level. While it wasn’t a chore listening to the audiobook, the narration was smooth and clear, the story itself didn’t interest me much. Eva was very undecisive and while she didn’t let her mother control her, she certainly started the self-blame on very absurd stuff. For example, her mother told her it’s her fault her father got captured (she had NOTHING to do with it and could’ve done NOTHING to help) she just wondered if it’s truly her fault. Her personality lacked depth honestly and a “character”.

But that’s fine, not enough reason to rate this book 2 stars.. if it wasn’t for the mother. She annoyed me so damn much. Her characterization was unrealistic. She blamed her daughter for everything and didn't “grasp” that it’s war. For example, Eva warned them about the Jews's capture. Her parents didn’t take the warning seriously. And then the mother blames Eva? She sounded like a child and not a mother. War changes people, usually makes them tougher and stronger. Not like winy children with fictional expectations of war. She wasn’t worried her daughter might get captured, no she only wanted to break into a jail/camp whatever and save her husband. She didn’t have any mental disabilities to be clear and I didn’t think she was meant to be portrayed as a bad mother, that’s why I think her characterization wasn’t good.

I also wish the romance wasn’t so central to the plot, Remy was cool but it just didn’t do it for me. I wouldn’t recommend this book if you’re looking for something new and refreshing in this subgenre especially since this isn’t based on specific true events (at least the forging part). Overall, this book wasn’t bad but it lacked originality in this genre. It’s not easy to write a touching WWII story nowadays without just simply playing with the reader’s feelings and I’m glad the author didn’t do that here. I wish however the story had more depth, complexity, and fewer cliché moments.