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A review by katekate_reads_
The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman
4.0
The World That We Knew is a WWII story - mixed with the magical realism elements that Alice Hoffman delivers so well. Every time I read one of her books, I just find myself sinking into the magic of her writing.
When I received the ARC, it came with a letter from the author and I'd like to quote part of it because I feel like it describes this book better than I could:
"I've come to understand that fairy tales are perhaps the most autobiographical of all stories, containing the deepest psychological truths. They are the original stories, handed down from grandmothers to grandchildren, told by firelight or starlight. Each one is a cautionary tale. These are the stories that explain the sorrow of real life, but also assure us that once upon a time there was a woman or girl who managed to rescue herself.
Once you tell a story, you are not forgotten. This is what our grandmothers wanted us to know, that is what I realized while writing about the journey of three characters who refused to be silent: Lea, a young girl who is sent away from Berlin to ensure that she will survive. Ettie, the daughter of a rabbi, who is as brave in the real world as she is in the world of magic. And Ava, a mythic being whose only purpose is to protect the stranger who affects her life in ways she could not have imagined.
Fairy tales tell us that we may be lost, we may be forsaken, but there is a path."
I alternated between listening to the audiobook and reading - both were great ways to take in this story. While the audio was very well done and narrated by Judith Light - I sometimes found myself getting a little lost while listening. I'm not sure if this was on me or the book but I did more rereading than I usually do on audiobooks.
Thank you very much to Simon & Shuster, Netgalley and Librofm for the advance reading and listening copies.
When I received the ARC, it came with a letter from the author and I'd like to quote part of it because I feel like it describes this book better than I could:
"I've come to understand that fairy tales are perhaps the most autobiographical of all stories, containing the deepest psychological truths. They are the original stories, handed down from grandmothers to grandchildren, told by firelight or starlight. Each one is a cautionary tale. These are the stories that explain the sorrow of real life, but also assure us that once upon a time there was a woman or girl who managed to rescue herself.
Once you tell a story, you are not forgotten. This is what our grandmothers wanted us to know, that is what I realized while writing about the journey of three characters who refused to be silent: Lea, a young girl who is sent away from Berlin to ensure that she will survive. Ettie, the daughter of a rabbi, who is as brave in the real world as she is in the world of magic. And Ava, a mythic being whose only purpose is to protect the stranger who affects her life in ways she could not have imagined.
Fairy tales tell us that we may be lost, we may be forsaken, but there is a path."
I alternated between listening to the audiobook and reading - both were great ways to take in this story. While the audio was very well done and narrated by Judith Light - I sometimes found myself getting a little lost while listening. I'm not sure if this was on me or the book but I did more rereading than I usually do on audiobooks.
Thank you very much to Simon & Shuster, Netgalley and Librofm for the advance reading and listening copies.