lshadowlyn 's review for:

The Baker of Lost Memories by Shirley Russak Wachtel

5.0

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This book is an intimate look at complex family dynamics, both blood bonds, and those we consider family. The story brings you back in time, and really shows you how the past can echo through to future generations. It’s a ripple effect, generational trauma that continues to be passed on, tearing families apart and making them distant instead of pushing them closer. War devastates, and even though Lena didn’t directly experience it, she still feels the ways in which it left her parents scarred. I got lost in the memories and emotions that flowed off the page, Wachtel truly brings both characters and setting to life around the reader. It’s like stepping back through time. If you’re looking for an emotional, and at times heartbreaking, read, then you’ll want to grab this.