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A review by krhansen
The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
I love Alice Hoffman books! She seamlessly blends the magical with the real, and has done so once again with The World That We Knew. It feels like a mashup of two of my favorite books, The Nightingale and The Golem And The Jinni. This novel is both historical fiction and magical realism, with a healthy dose of folklore.
Synopsis: At the time when the world changed, Hanni Kohn knows she must send her 12 year old daughter away to save her from the nazi regime. Her desperation leads her to to Ettie, the daughter of a rabbi, whose years spent eavesdropping on her father, enables her to create a golem, sworn to protect Hanni's daughter, Lea. Once Ava the golem is brought to life, she and Lea and Ettie become eternally entwined, their paths fated to cross, their fortunes linked.
My Take:
I love magical realism stories, and Alice Hoffman is a master. The magical elements feel real, Hoffman's ability to make the reader suspend all disbelief always amazes me. The plot is engaging, there is so much going on, a lot of tension to keep the pages turning. All characters -- great and small -- jump off the page, imbibed with emotion. And of course WW2 is harrowing, history is well represented and I was instantly transported in time. The book overflows with love and tragedy and compassion and anger...I felt every single emotion, Hoffman has an incredible ability to convey so much feeling in her writing. parts are heartbreaking, yet beautiful.
If you love magical realism and adult fairy tales with fantastic storytelling, this one’s for you!
Synopsis: At the time when the world changed, Hanni Kohn knows she must send her 12 year old daughter away to save her from the nazi regime. Her desperation leads her to to Ettie, the daughter of a rabbi, whose years spent eavesdropping on her father, enables her to create a golem, sworn to protect Hanni's daughter, Lea. Once Ava the golem is brought to life, she and Lea and Ettie become eternally entwined, their paths fated to cross, their fortunes linked.
My Take:
I love magical realism stories, and Alice Hoffman is a master. The magical elements feel real, Hoffman's ability to make the reader suspend all disbelief always amazes me. The plot is engaging, there is so much going on, a lot of tension to keep the pages turning. All characters -- great and small -- jump off the page, imbibed with emotion. And of course WW2 is harrowing, history is well represented and I was instantly transported in time. The book overflows with love and tragedy and compassion and anger...I felt every single emotion, Hoffman has an incredible ability to convey so much feeling in her writing. parts are heartbreaking, yet beautiful.
If you love magical realism and adult fairy tales with fantastic storytelling, this one’s for you!