I'm torn on my rating - this isn't a fan-girl gush about how much I loved the book type of story. This is a confusing, intense, dark, disturbing in-your-face type of historical fiction/suspense/thriller/mystery. I'm still trying to sort out my feelings about the story. The images of life in WWII concentration camps was horrible and brutal, dark, depressing - but maybe not all that impossible. This fictional view of the camps is very different than any other view or impression I've read - and maybe that could happen because this is fiction. The scenes and descriptions were so detailed and brutal and awful that I felt physically ill while reading it, but I think it somehow managed to fit in with the story, as odd as that sounds.
For about the first half of the book, I was constantly confused and irritated, with the unnamed character and story line, and trying to keep straight who was who. I had a mental family tree and every time I thought I had it figured out, I'd read a new line and have to start again from the beginning. But when the reveal finally occurred - I was shocked and surprised - it all fell into place. Some of the character traits were a bit obvious, and some of it was hard to believe. But the character of Alice is just such a very strong personality, a never-give-up type, that it works. While I don't believe every person who survived the concentration camps came out with such a strong will to live, I believe some did. Which is what makes this fictional history possible in my mind.
Overall, I think I just have to go with - if this was the first book by Sarah Rayne I had read, I might not have ever picked up another. It was that brutal and intense. But I have read 5 of her Nell West mysteries, so I have experienced other sides of her writing. I will certainly look for and read her other books. And I think this one will stay with me for a very, very long time. I still may be in shock.
For about the first half of the book, I was constantly confused and irritated, with the unnamed character and story line, and trying to keep straight who was who. I had a mental family tree and every time I thought I had it figured out, I'd read a new line and have to start again from the beginning. But when the reveal finally occurred - I was shocked and surprised - it all fell into place. Some of the character traits were a bit obvious, and some of it was hard to believe. But the character of Alice is just such a very strong personality, a never-give-up type, that it works. While I don't believe every person who survived the concentration camps came out with such a strong will to live, I believe some did. Which is what makes this fictional history possible in my mind.
Overall, I think I just have to go with - if this was the first book by Sarah Rayne I had read, I might not have ever picked up another. It was that brutal and intense. But I have read 5 of her Nell West mysteries, so I have experienced other sides of her writing. I will certainly look for and read her other books. And I think this one will stay with me for a very, very long time. I still may be in shock.
