taysquared's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
hlogan's review against another edition
2.0
The tragic story of the St. Louis is an aspect of the second world war and the holocaust that I was previously unaware of, so it was fascinating to learn about it. But the fictional story built around it didn't grab me.
calamitydane's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I just finished this and I am STRESSED. I made my partner listen to me vent about this whole book. It's so good and I NEEDED to talk about it. I don't normally actually cry when I read. This book BROKE me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Xenophobia, and Racism
mjlease08's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
blushingbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
bexwat's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
xiekaili's review against another edition
4.0
"If he had been among the two hundred eighty-seven they sent on to England— the only ones who were spared in the Second World War and did not end up in concentration camps— today we would have a body we could honor in the mausoleum alongside"
Edit: Gave 4 stars because I scrolled through to the really last page now.
Read the Acknowledgements (sorry usually I don't do that) and afterwards the pictures of the real passengers of St. Louis.
The book still isn't perfect but the whole after the story just make me appreciate it.
------
First of all I would have give 4 stars for the end and the authors note.
But to be honest, the rest of the book was just okay in my opinion and dragging to read, so I stick to the three stars.
I would like to compare this book to a braid.
The glimpse sounds intriguing and the idea is like the expectation you have of a braid.
You think if you just try you will have the pinterest braid - perfect with every hair smacked to it's place.
In my case, I'm not that good.
My braid starts at the height of my ear, although I start braiding at the forehead and at the end of the day my baby hair is falling out of the braid.
I don't know how to explain you why I think this example fits, but let me assure you that my brain think, it does.
What I liked:
I had never read or heared about St. Louis.
I had never World War II (and before) set in Cuba, so never really educated myself about Cuban history.
I had never before a book pointing out that Jehovahs Witnesses also got persecuted.
Don't get me wrong, I know many more groups got persecuted too.
But let me tell you how enjoyable it was to read about this religion without the feeling that the author is judging.
I often read jokes or judgemental article, reports not really researched.
This book was respectful. Thinking about the fact it's from someone who's 肯定 not in that religion it was well made.
You may not understand them, and I'm sure many don't. But still this neutral point of view... *sigh* It made me so happy.
Why it still wasn't more than 3 stars:
First of all, I think this book could've been edited more. Many scenes are overwritten, thoughts and emotions written in thousands of sentences, saying the same. It was dragging and at some point made the book boring.
I also struggled to build a relationship with the characters. Until the end I didn't connect with any one of them.
It may not be a pinterest braid, but it's good enough to hold your hair out of your face.
Edit: Gave 4 stars because I scrolled through to the really last page now.
Read the Acknowledgements (sorry usually I don't do that) and afterwards the pictures of the real passengers of St. Louis.
The book still isn't perfect but the whole after the story just make me appreciate it.
------
First of all I would have give 4 stars for the end and the authors note.
But to be honest, the rest of the book was just okay in my opinion and dragging to read, so I stick to the three stars.
I would like to compare this book to a braid.
The glimpse sounds intriguing and the idea is like the expectation you have of a braid.
You think if you just try you will have the pinterest braid - perfect with every hair smacked to it's place.
In my case, I'm not that good.
My braid starts at the height of my ear, although I start braiding at the forehead and at the end of the day my baby hair is falling out of the braid.
I don't know how to explain you why I think this example fits, but let me assure you that my brain think, it does.
What I liked:
I had never read or heared about St. Louis.
I had never World War II (and before) set in Cuba, so never really educated myself about Cuban history.
I had never before a book pointing out that Jehovahs Witnesses also got persecuted.
Don't get me wrong, I know many more groups got persecuted too.
But let me tell you how enjoyable it was to read about this religion without the feeling that the author is judging.
I often read jokes or judgemental article, reports not really researched.
This book was respectful. Thinking about the fact it's from someone who's 肯定 not in that religion it was well made.
You may not understand them, and I'm sure many don't. But still this neutral point of view... *sigh* It made me so happy.
Why it still wasn't more than 3 stars:
First of all, I think this book could've been edited more. Many scenes are overwritten, thoughts and emotions written in thousands of sentences, saying the same. It was dragging and at some point made the book boring.
I also struggled to build a relationship with the characters. Until the end I didn't connect with any one of them.
It may not be a pinterest braid, but it's good enough to hold your hair out of your face.
msvenner's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great read around an interesting and little known piece of WWII history. An easy read but one fraught with emotion. I also enjoyed the peek into pre and post Castro Cuba. We worth reading.
karenreagan's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
melanna's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I feel like the trope of a modern family member finding something (pictures, letters, artifacts) that leads them to dig into their family history from the war is so over done. This is another one. Two timelines. Telling the story of two girls as one lives the life that the other discovers. A family escaping to Cuba and wanting to escape again.
This was just meh for me.
This was just meh for me.