What I Would Tell You by Liz Tolsma is a compelling dual timeline novel set primarily in Greece, a neglected country in my reading repertoire. Both plots are united through a journal and the theme of maternal love's immense power to make sacrifices to benefit children.
Set in 1941, the historical story follows Mathilda and her husband, both Sephardic Jews, as the Nazi presence in Greece incrementally destroyed the lives of Jewish citizens. As Mathilda's husband was sent to a labor camp and she found herself unexpectedly pregnant, she recorded her fears and hopes in her journal - her most cherished possession. When Mathilda was forced to board an overcrowded train bound for a concentration camp, she made an impossible decision that impacted future generations of her family.
The contemporary storyline set in 2019 features 19-year-old Tess whose shocking DNA test results revealed that she's likely Jewish although raised Christian. Despite her mother's concerns, Tess traveled to Greece to learn about the local Jewish history and her family's genealogy. A handsome museum curator aided in her research and connected her to Mathilda's journal. When Tess confronted her mother with her findings, the truth provided Tess with illuminating clarity of recent and past events.
I've read several novels by Liz Tolsma and this is by far the best to date. Both plots were very engaging, and the dialog, especially in the contemporary story, flowed so naturally. (This may be due in part that this is the author's first novel I've read via audiobook.) Both heroines were well developed characters and were decisive in their actions. I appreciated the information I learned about Sephardic Jews through reading this book. I highly recommend What I Would Tell You as a novel that expertly pairs a current topic (genealogical DNA testing) with lesser known WWII history.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
Set in 1941, the historical story follows Mathilda and her husband, both Sephardic Jews, as the Nazi presence in Greece incrementally destroyed the lives of Jewish citizens. As Mathilda's husband was sent to a labor camp and she found herself unexpectedly pregnant, she recorded her fears and hopes in her journal - her most cherished possession. When Mathilda was forced to board an overcrowded train bound for a concentration camp, she made an impossible decision that impacted future generations of her family.
The contemporary storyline set in 2019 features 19-year-old Tess whose shocking DNA test results revealed that she's likely Jewish although raised Christian. Despite her mother's concerns, Tess traveled to Greece to learn about the local Jewish history and her family's genealogy. A handsome museum curator aided in her research and connected her to Mathilda's journal. When Tess confronted her mother with her findings, the truth provided Tess with illuminating clarity of recent and past events.
I've read several novels by Liz Tolsma and this is by far the best to date. Both plots were very engaging, and the dialog, especially in the contemporary story, flowed so naturally. (This may be due in part that this is the author's first novel I've read via audiobook.) Both heroines were well developed characters and were decisive in their actions. I appreciated the information I learned about Sephardic Jews through reading this book. I highly recommend What I Would Tell You as a novel that expertly pairs a current topic (genealogical DNA testing) with lesser known WWII history.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
