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bethaniekay's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
I wasn't really sure what to expect with this book, but the premise seemed interesting so I gave it a shot. I'm so happy I did.
It's been a while since I've read a book that sucked me in so completely and made me want to keep turning the pages. The writing can be a little elementary at times, but I think that's because it's been translated from the author's native Afrikaans. Regardless, I found the story to be compelling and the characters genuine and likable. It's hard to give a more detailed review without giving away secrets of the plot, so I'll just say this is unlike any WWII book you may have read before. The only reason I'm not giving this 5-stars is because I felt the ending was a little rushed. With as detailed as the rest of the story was, I would've liked to have read a bit more about what happened at the conclusion - but it didn't really detract from my enjoyment.
I'll definitely be recommending this to others.
I wasn't really sure what to expect with this book, but the premise seemed interesting so I gave it a shot. I'm so happy I did.
It's been a while since I've read a book that sucked me in so completely and made me want to keep turning the pages. The writing can be a little elementary at times, but I think that's because it's been translated from the author's native Afrikaans. Regardless, I found the story to be compelling and the characters genuine and likable. It's hard to give a more detailed review without giving away secrets of the plot, so I'll just say this is unlike any WWII book you may have read before. The only reason I'm not giving this 5-stars is because I felt the ending was a little rushed. With as detailed as the rest of the story was, I would've liked to have read a bit more about what happened at the conclusion - but it didn't really detract from my enjoyment.
I'll definitely be recommending this to others.
ink_squid's review against another edition
2.0
I love the first 2/3 of this book the story was compelling, and the writing was good. Then Céline Dion and Woody Allen arrived. As I had worries they might, and I could not enjoy it anymore. And several times it mentions their relationship when she was a child, and then as it is now, and it just felt creepy.
mod_fairy's review against another edition
4.0
Recommended by a survivor
This book was recommended to me by a Polish woman who survived a labor camp during World War II. As I was asking her about her life, how she ended up in America, etc... She recommended that I read this.
The story is emotional, the plot is interesting, and the character development is done well. A story of complete loss, finding oneself, love, and the trials and tribulations of the time were enthralling.
However, there were times were the characters were very repetitive and the story started to slow down.
This book was recommended to me by a Polish woman who survived a labor camp during World War II. As I was asking her about her life, how she ended up in America, etc... She recommended that I read this.
The story is emotional, the plot is interesting, and the character development is done well. A story of complete loss, finding oneself, love, and the trials and tribulations of the time were enthralling.
However, there were times were the characters were very repetitive and the story started to slow down.
emilyturnsthepage's review against another edition
5.0
World War II novels always pique my interest, so I couldn’t wait to start this book. And I definitely couldn’t put it down. Six year old Gretl Schmidt is on a train headed to Aushwitz. Meanwhile, Jakob Kowalski has plans to blow up a train as he’s fighting Polish resistance against Germany & Russia. Gretl’s train is unscheduled and gets to the tracks first, leaving everyone on the train dead except for Gretl. Jakob finds Gretl and his guilt takes over as he promises to care for her and hold her secrets. But nothing can last forever and Jakob has to send Gretl to South Africa where orphans are promised a fresh start & a bright future. As you journey through the fields of Poland in 1944 to the orphanage in Germany, then on to South Africa in 1956, you truly feel Gretl’s fears and ambitions as she’s sacrificing the life she knows and the ones she loves. This book gave me all the feels as her story continued to unfold.
pia_de_e's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to read this book as I was on a WWII roll, and from the blurb it sounded as pretty good.
I'm afraid to say it was a big disappointment!
It does start very well: Sometime during WWII a little girl is thrown from a train in Poland. The train is headed for a concentration camp and her grandmother and mother try to save her and her sister.
Her sister is very ill and dies shortly after, but a young farmer "adopts" her and takes her into his family.
When the war is over, as he can't support her, he takes to Germany, from where she is sent to South Africa to be adopted there.
Gretl, the little girl, is lovely: smart, fearless, independent. Jakób, the Polish farmer is also smart, driven, a revolutionary. There is a part in the book, about Czechoslovakia in the 1950's and the political events happening that is extremely well researched and written.
When Jakób and Gretl reunite, many years later, she is the opposite of the little girl: a very uninteresting young woman whose favorite words are Mommy and Daddy.
There is much talk about religion (if I knew about it I wouldn't have requested this book to read), and what makes me more uncomfortable is the fact that Gretl is sent to South Africa as she appears to be pure Aryan. Also, no talk of Apartheid?
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
I'm afraid to say it was a big disappointment!
It does start very well: Sometime during WWII a little girl is thrown from a train in Poland. The train is headed for a concentration camp and her grandmother and mother try to save her and her sister.
Her sister is very ill and dies shortly after, but a young farmer "adopts" her and takes her into his family.
When the war is over, as he can't support her, he takes to Germany, from where she is sent to South Africa to be adopted there.
Gretl, the little girl, is lovely: smart, fearless, independent. Jakób, the Polish farmer is also smart, driven, a revolutionary. There is a part in the book, about Czechoslovakia in the 1950's and the political events happening that is extremely well researched and written.
When Jakób and Gretl reunite, many years later, she is the opposite of the little girl: a very uninteresting young woman whose favorite words are Mommy and Daddy.
There is much talk about religion (if I knew about it I wouldn't have requested this book to read), and what makes me more uncomfortable is the fact that Gretl is sent to South Africa as she appears to be pure Aryan. Also, no talk of Apartheid?
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
amengelking's review against another edition
4.0
A happy-ever-after WWII story with endearing characters and a sprawling plot line. Fun to read.
haffner280's review against another edition
5.0
I didn't think I would like this book nearly as much as I did. This wasn't because of the writing, or the book's description, but because I've had my fill of WWII historical fiction for the time being. However, I've had this book on my Kindle for a while and, since my local library closed for the foreseeable future, I've been going through my Kindle library.
I was taken in immediately. The writing is powerful. The characters are undeniably human. I fell in love with with this book. Beware, it will give you all the feels, but I would recommend it to anyone.
I was taken in immediately. The writing is powerful. The characters are undeniably human. I fell in love with with this book. Beware, it will give you all the feels, but I would recommend it to anyone.
livres_de_bloss's review against another edition
I was so disappointed in this book. It got amazing reviews on this site but I was upset to find it to be a preachy, Christian book. I rarely stop reading once I start a book but I couldn't finish it for all the preachy bits. Plus, after about 1/4 of the way in, it took a bizarre turn.
mzmegara's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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? It's complicated
2.75