Helpful Score: 4
The author had a good plot for the story line based on the experiences of the Polish Jews who suffered under the Nazi regime and his experience as a lawyer no doubt helped with his story line also. The one thing I thought was lacking in the novel was character development. Each of the characters lacked their own voice and seemed more like a sock puppet for the author. It just didn't draw me into the story the way I hoped it might for that reason. A shame really, because it is a good story.
Helpful Score: 1
The story itself is very good. I've read other reviews that say it's been done before. I haven't read any like it so I enjoyed the story. However, I think the writing could have been better. At times it seemed amateurish and just a little too simple. I love books that take me away with beautiful language and this one didn't do that for me.
I enjoyed hearing Ben's story and feeling emotion for the plight of the Polish people but the fact that a lawyer would sit and listen to such a drawn out story is unbelievable. I guess I would have liked it written in a different manner. Every time Catherine asked Ben to get to the proof she needed he would tell her to wait, to listen to more of his story. You knew every time she said this she was not going to get her wish. If she did there would be no story.
I enjoyed hearing Ben's story and feeling emotion for the plight of the Polish people but the fact that a lawyer would sit and listen to such a drawn out story is unbelievable. I guess I would have liked it written in a different manner. Every time Catherine asked Ben to get to the proof she needed he would tell her to wait, to listen to more of his story. You knew every time she said this she was not going to get her wish. If she did there would be no story.
This was a "can't put down" book. From page one to the very end, It is a gripping story of a 83 year old Holocast survivor who accuses a pillar of the community of being a Nazi War Criminal! I know the story has been done before, but Ben tells his version of growing up with this German boy whose parents abandoned him. Ben's parents took him into their lives and he grew up with Ben from the time they were eight years old, brothers in every sense of the word. That is until he betrayed them!
I didn't want this book to end, and I can't stop thinking about it.
Excellent, 5 stars
I didn't want this book to end, and I can't stop thinking about it.
Excellent, 5 stars
Every so often there are still accounts of Nazi war criminals prosecuted. The question would be, how and who shines a light on their life. This book addresses some of the questions. It is set in modern times and one elderly gentleman is certain that a well known and well respected person has a very dark past. I did not want to set the book down as there are a few different story lines which kept my interest.
I do have a tendency to judge historical fiction a bit harshly, maybe. This book was well researched and I have no disagreement on the facts. The book has chapter headings of a year, to go from modern times back to the 1940's. We are taken back in time as the lawyer, Catherine, interviews Ben. My problem with this is that if we are back in time, she should not have injections, then it is simply an interview. Not only did this make the story a bit disjointed, it would also make Ben's voice not believable. When he is telling about his sister's final days, his explicit, coarse language is not in character. The only way that it would be believable is to be back in time, but it is obviously an interview, hence should have language suitable for Ben.
All in all a good first book, with a different take on the war.
I received an ARC of this book through a goodreads.com contest with the expectation of a fair review.
I do have a tendency to judge historical fiction a bit harshly, maybe. This book was well researched and I have no disagreement on the facts. The book has chapter headings of a year, to go from modern times back to the 1940's. We are taken back in time as the lawyer, Catherine, interviews Ben. My problem with this is that if we are back in time, she should not have injections, then it is simply an interview. Not only did this make the story a bit disjointed, it would also make Ben's voice not believable. When he is telling about his sister's final days, his explicit, coarse language is not in character. The only way that it would be believable is to be back in time, but it is obviously an interview, hence should have language suitable for Ben.
All in all a good first book, with a different take on the war.
I received an ARC of this book through a goodreads.com contest with the expectation of a fair review.
Very riveting book. It was all I could do to refrain myself from reading the ending long before I reached the final pages. I knew that it would spoil the unread pages for me so I continuously devoured the last third of the book to find out the fate of the main characters. When our book club chose this book, I inwardly groaned and thought "not another WWII book." But I am so glad the book club selected this historical novel. It added to my knowledge of leading up to WWII and during the war, especially in the area of Poland. There are discussion questions at the back of the book but don't read them until you finish the book as at least one question contains a spoiler.
I have such mixed feelings about this book! On one hand, the story is great and kept me turning pages late into the night. It is difficult to not get emotionally involved with Ben's tale. On the other hand, the writing is pretty bad. The bulk of the story is told in the format of Ben talking to his attorney. Each chapter (or end of a conversation) seems to end with two or three of the main characters deciding what to eat, going to get the food, then eating it. I know everyone has to eat, but this format gets old pretty fast. They eat turkey sandwiches, meatball sandwiches, Thanksgiving turkey dinner, terrines of something at a fancy restaurant......
Much of the dialogue that does not involve Ben's story is downright cheesy (e.g. the discussion between Ben and Catherine's snarky brother in law). It is too bad, because there is a great story here. The author should have done one of those James Patterson things in which he outlines the story but someone else does the actual writing.
Much of the dialogue that does not involve Ben's story is downright cheesy (e.g. the discussion between Ben and Catherine's snarky brother in law). It is too bad, because there is a great story here. The author should have done one of those James Patterson things in which he outlines the story but someone else does the actual writing.
great read,
A compelling read with wonderful characters and a page turning plot. Well done!
This is a very interesting and heart warming story. It's well-written and gives the reader insight about another type of Holocaust story, neighbors/friends whose relationship broke up because of Nazism.
