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nermrlib's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent historical fiction book about three very different women--one German, one Polish and one American--whose lives intersect during the second World War.
nichelmi3's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I'd heard lots of good things about this book from other friends who've read this. I've been on a multi-narrative reading kick as well. It was a well-written book but I wasn't super impressed. I assumed there would be more of a wrap up with the characters, and instead it just left me feeling more-ish. It was, at least to me, an unsatisfying ending. I do think that if the book had focused more on the two European characters rather than adding the American one and keeping here a separate book would have made the book more impactful and interesting. Her narrative just took you out of focus. It wasn't a bad book, nor was it badly written, and I'd still recommend it, but it just wasn't fully my taste/style.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Physical abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Cancer and Infertility
kqyyeet's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
madisonweb's review against another edition
3.0
Maybe it’s because I’ve read so many WWII stories that I didn’t find this book particularly profound. I found myself skipping Caroline’s parts (she was very irrelevant until the end- definitely didn’t need her own portion), wanted to scream reading the idiocy that was Herta (which was probably the authors intent), and really only liked reading Kasia’s POV. Not a bad book at all, just not one of my favorites
kessler21's review against another edition
4.0
I was very close to giving this book 3 stars. There are aspects I loved and points I did not.
This is a a WWI book that follows 3 characters. Caroline Ferriday. an American working with the French consulate from New York, Kasia Kuzmerick, as Polish teenager, and Herta Oberheuser,a German doctor.
The beginning of this book is amazing as it give a real depiction of the invasion of Poland, the camps of German, American life and consciousness at the time, and German desensitizing. But then the book falters. It jumps too fast, the characters all become similar, and I honestly just stop caring what happened to them after the end of the war. The story was just not engaging. My favorite character to follow was Herta, the German Doctor.
Then, at the end of the audiobook, there is an authors note. This is based on real events. Caroline and Herta were real people. Kasia and her sister are based on real people. The book increased to me. Then I realized, the parts I liked, were the true parts. I liked Caroline but not her love story which was made up. I liked Herta, Kasia was made up and I didn't like her, but I liked her story which was real.
This book definitely had potential. At times it felt as though the book was much much longer and an ax was used to chop major parts off. The experience in the camps are detailed at the beginning then skips and only snapshots are given. Other parts seemed to be needless and boring.
3.5 stars. I would like to learn more about the "rabbits" but with less fiction.
This is a a WWI book that follows 3 characters. Caroline Ferriday. an American working with the French consulate from New York, Kasia Kuzmerick, as Polish teenager, and Herta Oberheuser,a German doctor.
The beginning of this book is amazing as it give a real depiction of the invasion of Poland, the camps of German, American life and consciousness at the time, and German desensitizing. But then the book falters. It jumps too fast, the characters all become similar, and I honestly just stop caring what happened to them after the end of the war. The story was just not engaging. My favorite character to follow was Herta, the German Doctor.
Then, at the end of the audiobook, there is an authors note. This is based on real events. Caroline and Herta were real people. Kasia and her sister are based on real people. The book increased to me. Then I realized, the parts I liked, were the true parts. I liked Caroline but not her love story which was made up. I liked Herta, Kasia was made up and I didn't like her, but I liked her story which was real.
This book definitely had potential. At times it felt as though the book was much much longer and an ax was used to chop major parts off. The experience in the camps are detailed at the beginning then skips and only snapshots are given. Other parts seemed to be needless and boring.
3.5 stars. I would like to learn more about the "rabbits" but with less fiction.
morgancarp's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sara_toone's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
shailydc's review against another edition
3.0
This book is really well written and I liked it, but at the same time, it didn't hold my interest in the way I had hoped.