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sofi0518's review against another edition
4.0
The Daughter's Tale was an excellent read - probably one of my favorites so far this year.
Elise Duval is a French woman nearing the end of her life in 2015 when two strangers show up with letters found in Cuba that are meant for her. Through these letters, she faces a past she has kept hidden for almost 70 years.
Amanda Sternberg was a Jewish woman living in Berlin with her husband and two daughters before the outbreak of WWII. After her husband is killed by the Nazis, she tries to save her daughters from the Nazis at all costs. After sending her older daughter to Cuba on the ill fated St. Louis, she ends up in France with her youngest daughter and has to find a way to save her life.
Through the retelling of true life events, we see the lengths anyone may have to go to in order to save the ones they love. This story is gripping and moving. I felt for Amanda as she made seemingly impossible decisions in order to keep her children safe. Things most of us would never consider under normal circumstances are the hard choices the people in this book had to make.
The atrocities committed by the Nazis are nothing new to readers who regularly read books set in this time period, like me, but the massacre at Oradour-Sur-Glane, in Haute-Vienne, France was not a story I had read before,
If you enjoyed the German Girl (which is linked to this book by a family connection), you will love the Daughter's Tale. (I hope we get another book on the daughter sent to Cuba - I'd love to read that as well!)
Thanks to Atria Books, NetGalley and to the author Armando Lucas Correa for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!
Elise Duval is a French woman nearing the end of her life in 2015 when two strangers show up with letters found in Cuba that are meant for her. Through these letters, she faces a past she has kept hidden for almost 70 years.
Amanda Sternberg was a Jewish woman living in Berlin with her husband and two daughters before the outbreak of WWII. After her husband is killed by the Nazis, she tries to save her daughters from the Nazis at all costs. After sending her older daughter to Cuba on the ill fated St. Louis, she ends up in France with her youngest daughter and has to find a way to save her life.
Through the retelling of true life events, we see the lengths anyone may have to go to in order to save the ones they love. This story is gripping and moving. I felt for Amanda as she made seemingly impossible decisions in order to keep her children safe. Things most of us would never consider under normal circumstances are the hard choices the people in this book had to make.
The atrocities committed by the Nazis are nothing new to readers who regularly read books set in this time period, like me, but the massacre at Oradour-Sur-Glane, in Haute-Vienne, France was not a story I had read before,
If you enjoyed the German Girl (which is linked to this book by a family connection), you will love the Daughter's Tale. (I hope we get another book on the daughter sent to Cuba - I'd love to read that as well!)
Thanks to Atria Books, NetGalley and to the author Armando Lucas Correa for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!
spersephone's review against another edition
5.0
A heartbreaking story of endurance of the horrific atrocities of war. I won this book as part of a Simon & Schuster/Goodreads giveaway, and it was gratefully received.
Elise and her sister have been left with separate people, and in different countries, to keep them safe.
Elise’s journey takes her through evil moments courtesy of both Nazis and those who should be friendly. She sees people treated despicably, and she notes that dying of an illness seems absurd during wartime, people should instead be bombed or killed in an otherwise appropriate manner.
The story begins with an elderly lady coming to the end of her life. It circles back after her story has been told. However, we don’t get to know her well after the war finally ends. Characters that meant so much to her are not also explored after they have left, but it would be good to know where they ended up and whether they remained in contact with Elise. It is assumed that she had no further contact with them but I would think that at least Danielle should have been part of her life due to the relationship between Danielle and Elise’s uncle.
The ending of Elise’s youthful memories is just one more betrayal, but it seems almost as though everyone protecting Elise is betrayed, not by her, but others.
The translation has resulted in a beautifully written story, but there seems to be some missing parts that would round it off so well, and would clarify how Elise came to be in New York at the end of her life.
Elise and her sister have been left with separate people, and in different countries, to keep them safe.
Elise’s journey takes her through evil moments courtesy of both Nazis and those who should be friendly. She sees people treated despicably, and she notes that dying of an illness seems absurd during wartime, people should instead be bombed or killed in an otherwise appropriate manner.
The story begins with an elderly lady coming to the end of her life. It circles back after her story has been told. However, we don’t get to know her well after the war finally ends. Characters that meant so much to her are not also explored after they have left, but it would be good to know where they ended up and whether they remained in contact with Elise. It is assumed that she had no further contact with them but I would think that at least Danielle should have been part of her life due to the relationship between Danielle and Elise’s uncle.
The ending of Elise’s youthful memories is just one more betrayal, but it seems almost as though everyone protecting Elise is betrayed, not by her, but others.
The translation has resulted in a beautifully written story, but there seems to be some missing parts that would round it off so well, and would clarify how Elise came to be in New York at the end of her life.
akaneherself's review against another edition
1.0
i didnt understand anything that was happening in this book, i was honestly ashamed for a while to say i read it because i retained nothing. i come clean now.
alisieb's review against another edition
5.0
Sometimes historical fiction is a miss, not this novel! Absolutely love the journey Correa lets us join!
nancyt's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The story focuses on Amanda Sternberg and the plight of her two daughters during WWII. After Amanda and her daughters are forced to leave Poland, there are no good choices for Amanda to ensure the survival of her daughters. Early on, she sends one daughter off to live with her brother in Cuba, and the rest of the story focuses on the survival of her younger daughter, who eventually ends up in the US. I always enjoy historical fiction based on WWII and learn something new with each story. This was good, but not great. 3.5 stars
katielou72's review against another edition
4.0
Harrowing tale of a young girl’s experience of the war. Thought provoking and eye opening and definitely worth a read. Based on a true story.
idratherliveinbooks's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-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
3.75
teacheradb's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
bsalsburey's review
3.0
Just OK
Was not a page turner and got really slow in places. It was a sad ending that really didn’t tie things up.
Was not a page turner and got really slow in places. It was a sad ending that really didn’t tie things up.