A review by bookedbymadeline
A Bookshop in Berlin: The Rediscovered Memoir of One Woman's Harrowing Escape from the Nazis by Françoise Frenkel

adventurous emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

4.5

Author details her experience in Occupied France under Germany and the collaborationist Vichy government, as a Polish Jewish woman. First chapter felt rushed and had a lot of info dumping. I would’ve loved to take more time getting to learn about the bookshop and how Frenkel’s work was affected during the 1930s. This often read like a novel, moving quickly and holding my attention for long periods of time after I got through the hump of the first chapter.

It was strangely never discussed but she had a husband the whole time?! They got separated and he ended up being killed in one of the camps but he was never mentioned in the book which felt sad and confusing, especially since she made a comment to a friend about needing to marry for French citizenship when she was apparently already married.

The book mainly focused on how Frenkel had to escape Paris and went into hiding, moving around France, for much of WW2. Overall an emotional, moving story about her escape and the kindness of those that helped her! It feels like a very important book to remember that community and organizing together can make a difference 🩷

I’d highly recommend if you want a short memoir!
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