The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
grandmabethany's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.75
nattly's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
rickytickytavi's review against another edition
5.0
Poignant and beautifully written. A lovely take on golem mythology.
jackie_beyondthebookends's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you so much to Libro.fm for my copy of this book. I absolutely adored this book. I love Alice Hoffman and this is her best book yet. I adored every minute. During World War two, in Germany, Hanni Kohn knows that she must do something to save her daughter from the Nazis. In desperation, she seeks out someone who can make a Golem to take her daughter to safety. Instead of the rabbi, it is his daughter Ettie who helps and creates Ava. The life of the three women is forever intertwined. This beautiful story about life, love and friendship is more than I could have hoped for.
gtmommy05's review against another edition
4.0
I would have enjoyed this much more without the super natural aspect. I couldn't get into this as much as other historical fiction.
alliepeduto's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this, but oddly I wasn’t swept away like I expected to be. I adore Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic series, particularly the recent additions over the past few years (The Rules of Magic is divine!). And any Goodreads friend of mine knows my abiding love of WWII historical fiction. It’s probably the most of any genre I read, for good reason!
But something about this didn’t wow me like I expected to be wowed from a combination of a favorite author and a favorite genre. I worried for a minute that I could be burning out on WWII narratives (they are heavy to say the least), and I learned the hard way from binging thrillers after Gone Girl that sometimes the high can’t be topped. And I’ve read some really stellar WWII, so it’s not a far fetched theory to think I’ve hit my peak reading experience.
But after some reflection, I think it has to do more with magical realism than anything. I love fantasy, and I love historical fiction, but I don’t always love when they get thrown together. It’s the classic jack of all trades but master of none dilemma. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, and with something as dark as WWII, I’m not sure it worked.
That being said, I liked this story, and while I wasn’t as attached to the characters as I expected to be, I did love their arcs. It was a very good book, but probably not one that I’ll encourage everyone to read.
But something about this didn’t wow me like I expected to be wowed from a combination of a favorite author and a favorite genre. I worried for a minute that I could be burning out on WWII narratives (they are heavy to say the least), and I learned the hard way from binging thrillers after Gone Girl that sometimes the high can’t be topped. And I’ve read some really stellar WWII, so it’s not a far fetched theory to think I’ve hit my peak reading experience.
But after some reflection, I think it has to do more with magical realism than anything. I love fantasy, and I love historical fiction, but I don’t always love when they get thrown together. It’s the classic jack of all trades but master of none dilemma. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, and with something as dark as WWII, I’m not sure it worked.
That being said, I liked this story, and while I wasn’t as attached to the characters as I expected to be, I did love their arcs. It was a very good book, but probably not one that I’ll encourage everyone to read.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
4.0
RATING: 4 STARS
2019; Simon & Schuster Canada
The World that We Knew is a gorgeous heart wrenching read. This novel is pure Alice Hoffman magic, literally. Hoffman tells a tale set in Europe during World War II, and adds magic realism in a way that give this story a folktale feel. Hanni Kohn sees the the changing times in Berlin, and knows she must get her twelve year old daughter, Lea away from the turmoil. She turns to a rabbi and his daughter, Ettie.
"...Ettie, who offers hope of salvation when she creates a mystical Jewish creature, a rare and unusual golem, who is sworn to protect Lea. Once Ava is brought to life, she and Lea and Ettie become eternally entwined, their paths fated to cross, their fortunes linked." The three find themselves in France where each destinies draws them to their fate.
The World that We Knew is not like all the WW I and II books that are all the rage right now. It is a great mix of fact, fiction and fantasy that takes you away to another place. It still does have the themes of loss, love, death, evil, good, etc. I recommend this one to any reader.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
2019; Simon & Schuster Canada
The World that We Knew is a gorgeous heart wrenching read. This novel is pure Alice Hoffman magic, literally. Hoffman tells a tale set in Europe during World War II, and adds magic realism in a way that give this story a folktale feel. Hanni Kohn sees the the changing times in Berlin, and knows she must get her twelve year old daughter, Lea away from the turmoil. She turns to a rabbi and his daughter, Ettie.
"...Ettie, who offers hope of salvation when she creates a mystical Jewish creature, a rare and unusual golem, who is sworn to protect Lea. Once Ava is brought to life, she and Lea and Ettie become eternally entwined, their paths fated to cross, their fortunes linked." The three find themselves in France where each destinies draws them to their fate.
The World that We Knew is not like all the WW I and II books that are all the rage right now. It is a great mix of fact, fiction and fantasy that takes you away to another place. It still does have the themes of loss, love, death, evil, good, etc. I recommend this one to any reader.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
wesleyanne's review against another edition
5.0
I adore Alice Hoffman; which must be why I continually let her break my heart over and over.
carolbsmith's review against another edition
2.0
The storyline was good... that's why I finished it. However, it felt disjointed. The paragraphs were choppy and sometimes difficult to follow. I've enjoyed several of her other books, but not this one.
canadianbookaddict's review against another edition
2.0
This just wasn’t for me. I couldn’t connect with the characters for some reason.