leahegood's review against another edition
3.0
Intense. That's the best way I can think to describe this book. It's hard to pick a rating. Writing, 5 stars. Significant story, 5 stars. Unfortunately, there was enough strong language in the book to make me uncomfortable recommending it freely--thus the reduction of stars reflected in my Goodreads rating.
[b:Once We Were Brothers|17834834|Once We Were Brothers|Ronald H. Balson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1376835596s/17834834.jpg|13122191] combines legal drama with historical fiction. It all starts when a modest pensioner makes his way into a crowded gala and confronts a well-known Chicago philanthropist at gunpoint. The pensioner is Ben Solomon, Jewish survivor of WWII. The philanthropist is Elliot Rosenzweig, a man known to be a Jewish survivor but now accused of being a Nazi war criminal.
As the potential for a legal battle builds, Ben Solomon takes Catherine, a reluctant lawyer, back in history to a time when his parents took in a young German boy and treated him as their own. He uses vivid memories to weave pictures of Poland sinking into the insanity of WWII and his own story of a battle for survival, love, and his fading trust in a man he once thought of as a brother.
What I Liked
Never forget. When acts of atrocity occur, people swear to never forget yet, inevitably, time passes and memories fade. This book uses the narrative and conviction of a fictional old man to make history vivid again and to remind those who were not there to hold the past in remembrance. Those who forget are destined to repeat. Once We Were Brothers is a powerful story.
I appreciated the authors treatment of religion. He neither ignored it nor made a caricature of it--incorporating both Judaism and Catholicism in the context of the war and afterwords. Intriguingly, inspiration credited to the Almighty, is a key element of the story.
What I Didn't Like
The presence of foul language built through the second half of the book. When some of the first cusses dropped, the situation was such that I was willing to accept it as realistic and even justifiable in the circumstance. However, the context changed and the language continued. It really detracted from the story, and I'm sad that I can't recommend the book as freely as the story itself makes me wish to.
Content Rating: R for sexual assault & language
[b:Once We Were Brothers|17834834|Once We Were Brothers|Ronald H. Balson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1376835596s/17834834.jpg|13122191] combines legal drama with historical fiction. It all starts when a modest pensioner makes his way into a crowded gala and confronts a well-known Chicago philanthropist at gunpoint. The pensioner is Ben Solomon, Jewish survivor of WWII. The philanthropist is Elliot Rosenzweig, a man known to be a Jewish survivor but now accused of being a Nazi war criminal.
As the potential for a legal battle builds, Ben Solomon takes Catherine, a reluctant lawyer, back in history to a time when his parents took in a young German boy and treated him as their own. He uses vivid memories to weave pictures of Poland sinking into the insanity of WWII and his own story of a battle for survival, love, and his fading trust in a man he once thought of as a brother.
What I Liked
Never forget. When acts of atrocity occur, people swear to never forget yet, inevitably, time passes and memories fade. This book uses the narrative and conviction of a fictional old man to make history vivid again and to remind those who were not there to hold the past in remembrance. Those who forget are destined to repeat. Once We Were Brothers is a powerful story.
I appreciated the authors treatment of religion. He neither ignored it nor made a caricature of it--incorporating both Judaism and Catholicism in the context of the war and afterwords. Intriguingly, inspiration credited to the Almighty, is a key element of the story.
What I Didn't Like
The presence of foul language built through the second half of the book. When some of the first cusses dropped, the situation was such that I was willing to accept it as realistic and even justifiable in the circumstance. However, the context changed and the language continued. It really detracted from the story, and I'm sad that I can't recommend the book as freely as the story itself makes me wish to.
Content Rating: R for sexual assault & language
byashleylamar's review
4.0
Once We Were Brothers is a distressing and deeply emotional novel; one that readers should expect to bring forth plenty of tears and heartache. In Pre-World War II Poland Otto Piatek’s mother has abandoned her family and his father is struggling to find work. 60 years later in Chicago, Illinois Ben Solomon confronts wealthy philanthropist Elliot Rosenzweig at a high profile social event and accuses him of being Otto Piatek, the Butcher of Zamosc. Is Ben right or has his desperate search for justice caused him to accuse an innocent man of unspeakable atrocities?
This novel is designed to strike an emotional chord with the reader, as are most books that take place during WWII. While Ben Solomon is recounting his story to the ever impatient attorney Catherine Lockard he repeatedly tells her not to rush him because the details of his life story are critical. This emotional investment is as much for Catherine as it is for the reader. Balson pulls the reader so deeply into Ben’s story that it is easy to overlook the plot holes and lack of development for so many of the supporting characters. There are questions that are not fully addressed but readers are not likely to be concerned because Ben’s story is so emotional. There are characters that deserved more depth or at least finality to their part of the story. What happened to Piatek’s parents? Elzbieta, for being such an integral part of Ben’s story and his life in Poland, deserved more attention. As a reader, I wanted desperately to know more about this young woman who risked so much to help her friends.
Ben wants justice for the terror, pain, heartache and sheer suffering that he endured during the events in Eastern Europe from 1941-1945. He is desperate for a final resolution. The question to be answered is whether or not his desperation is causing him to accuse an innocent man. After all, Rosenzweig immigrated to America in 1947 along with other displaced persons. He has a tattoo on his arm from his time spent in Auschwitz. He has given millions of dollars to Jewish charities. It can’t all be a ruse, can it?
This novel is designed to strike an emotional chord with the reader, as are most books that take place during WWII. While Ben Solomon is recounting his story to the ever impatient attorney Catherine Lockard he repeatedly tells her not to rush him because the details of his life story are critical. This emotional investment is as much for Catherine as it is for the reader. Balson pulls the reader so deeply into Ben’s story that it is easy to overlook the plot holes and lack of development for so many of the supporting characters. There are questions that are not fully addressed but readers are not likely to be concerned because Ben’s story is so emotional. There are characters that deserved more depth or at least finality to their part of the story. What happened to Piatek’s parents? Elzbieta, for being such an integral part of Ben’s story and his life in Poland, deserved more attention. As a reader, I wanted desperately to know more about this young woman who risked so much to help her friends.
Ben wants justice for the terror, pain, heartache and sheer suffering that he endured during the events in Eastern Europe from 1941-1945. He is desperate for a final resolution. The question to be answered is whether or not his desperation is causing him to accuse an innocent man. After all, Rosenzweig immigrated to America in 1947 along with other displaced persons. He has a tattoo on his arm from his time spent in Auschwitz. He has given millions of dollars to Jewish charities. It can’t all be a ruse, can it?
karaklos's review
4.0
I read this book at the recommendation of my father-in-law whose mother was a Polish forced laborer during WWII. This is a very gripping story of two men that grew up as brothers and ended up on opposite sides during WWII. Years later, the Polish brother Ben is determined to expose the German brother (Elliot aka Otto) as a Nazi.
The book switches back and forth between present day and the time before & during WWII. The flashbacks in time while horrifying were very intriguing and well-researched. For this, the book is a great read.
The present-day chapters tend to get bogged down with the attorney representing Ben and her daily life and love life (boring). It also wasn’t believable that she would agree to represent Ben without having more knowledge/proof of his claims. Also, the author never delves into Otto’s psychology and motives. He’s portrayed as the enemy without exposing any details of his mindset. I expected them to be revealed at the very end but they never were. Lastly, some of the present-day storylines were silly (Ben peering through Elliot’s mansion windows for proof, someone ransacking Ben’s apartment, etc.).
The book switches back and forth between present day and the time before & during WWII. The flashbacks in time while horrifying were very intriguing and well-researched. For this, the book is a great read.
The present-day chapters tend to get bogged down with the attorney representing Ben and her daily life and love life (boring). It also wasn’t believable that she would agree to represent Ben without having more knowledge/proof of his claims. Also, the author never delves into Otto’s psychology and motives. He’s portrayed as the enemy without exposing any details of his mindset. I expected them to be revealed at the very end but they never were. Lastly, some of the present-day storylines were silly (Ben peering through Elliot’s mansion windows for proof, someone ransacking Ben’s apartment, etc.).
zbegop's review
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
dark_221b's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
hdavis0975's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
knottyrambler's review
5.0
I checked out the Audio editions from my library through the Libby App. I really enjoyed the book The story is engaging. I thought it was well done.
tylertylertyler's review
4.0
I received a copy of this book for review through Goodreads' First Reads program.
This was a stunning book. It was gripping and emotional and all of the characters were wonderful. (In the sense of well-written and not in the sense of 'good people.') I really wish that I had more to say, but the main thing I can say is: read it.
While I can often become emotionally invested in a good book, this one did something that not many others have manages: it moved me to tears. It was extremely powerful and moving, a tragedy split across a century. The action, taking place in the present (well, 2004-2005), is tied very neatly back to the heart of the story and the heartbreak, which took place in in the 1930's and 1940's. The book's narration is in third-person but because the past is narrated by Ben Solomon, his story is brought to the reader in a more personal, first-person point of view; bringing us close to the action and, of course, the pain. The difference between past and present narration was handled in a similar manner, and was consistent and clever. I thought this an excellent way to frame the story, surrounding Ben's story with the case at hand. It gives the reader the opportunity to step back for a time, to see the evidence start to build, and how the characters are handling this high stress situation. We are brought along with Catherine, from doubt in Ben and herself, to a slow building change. I felt particularly close to her, as she not only embodied my positions and reactions, but even my personal standards and career path.
There were some aspects of the story that were truly unexpected, surprises both unpleasant and exciting. While of course we already know much of how the story must turn out, based on the present, Ben never fails to reveal something new, another little piece. And while sometimes his details seem pointless-- like Catherine, you have to trust him that it will all count, in the end.
The weakest part of this novel is the information it occasionally dumps out. Usually the numbers and the dates serve their purpose to really put everything into perspective, while Ben gives us the up-close-and-personal look at what those numbers mean, but sometimes it was a little much. Once or twice, it seemed almost unbelievable that Ben had all of these numbers so readily at hand in his mind. But then, the fact is that this is the culmination of his life, perhaps the most important thing he will do. He came prepared-- and so did the author. Balson's research and detail are admirable and he portrayed both the legal system and the war with honesty and accuracy. While it is fiction, meaning some liberties can be taken on specifics, I think that the fact that Balson kept as much of the real history involved as he did loaned some credence to the story. This is the story of the Solomons, but it is also the story of the pain of an unfathomable number of people.
The only thing I really want to fault it with is that there was less court room drama/intrigue than I was hoping for, but that's a personal preference that was no fault of the book's. I will say honestly that while the novel is far from perfect, it did a damn good job of being an excellent book all the same.
This was a stunning book. It was gripping and emotional and all of the characters were wonderful. (In the sense of well-written and not in the sense of 'good people.') I really wish that I had more to say, but the main thing I can say is: read it.
While I can often become emotionally invested in a good book, this one did something that not many others have manages: it moved me to tears. It was extremely powerful and moving, a tragedy split across a century. The action, taking place in the present (well, 2004-2005), is tied very neatly back to the heart of the story and the heartbreak, which took place in in the 1930's and 1940's. The book's narration is in third-person but because the past is narrated by Ben Solomon, his story is brought to the reader in a more personal, first-person point of view; bringing us close to the action and, of course, the pain. The difference between past and present narration was handled in a similar manner, and was consistent and clever. I thought this an excellent way to frame the story, surrounding Ben's story with the case at hand. It gives the reader the opportunity to step back for a time, to see the evidence start to build, and how the characters are handling this high stress situation. We are brought along with Catherine, from doubt in Ben and herself, to a slow building change. I felt particularly close to her, as she not only embodied my positions and reactions, but even my personal standards and career path.
There were some aspects of the story that were truly unexpected, surprises both unpleasant and exciting. While of course we already know much of how the story must turn out, based on the present, Ben never fails to reveal something new, another little piece. And while sometimes his details seem pointless-- like Catherine, you have to trust him that it will all count, in the end.
The weakest part of this novel is the information it occasionally dumps out. Usually the numbers and the dates serve their purpose to really put everything into perspective, while Ben gives us the up-close-and-personal look at what those numbers mean, but sometimes it was a little much. Once or twice, it seemed almost unbelievable that Ben had all of these numbers so readily at hand in his mind. But then, the fact is that this is the culmination of his life, perhaps the most important thing he will do. He came prepared-- and so did the author. Balson's research and detail are admirable and he portrayed both the legal system and the war with honesty and accuracy. While it is fiction, meaning some liberties can be taken on specifics, I think that the fact that Balson kept as much of the real history involved as he did loaned some credence to the story. This is the story of the Solomons, but it is also the story of the pain of an unfathomable number of people.
The only thing I really want to fault it with is that there was less court room drama/intrigue than I was hoping for, but that's a personal preference that was no fault of the book's. I will say honestly that while the novel is far from perfect, it did a damn good job of being an excellent book all the same.