Happy first day of October! Today I am excited to share my 11th book for 2018. Yup that’s right, I am still a head of schedule for my 12 books read in 2018. Now that we are hitting the busy time of the year though, that one book might be difficult to get through…sad I know. But I am still determined to get it done!
For my 11th book I picked up Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly, this is a historical fiction book that wrapped me up and kept me engaged the entire time I was reading it. I had a friend read this book and when I saw her say it was one of the best books she has read in years I knew I had to head to the library to pick it up.
Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
Inspired by the life of a real World War II heroine, this debut novel reveals a story of love, redemption, and secrets that were hidden for decades.
New York socialite Caroline Ferriday has her hands full with her post at the French consulate and a new love on the horizon. But Caroline’s world is forever changed when Hitler’s army invades Poland in September 1939—and then sets its sights on France.
An ocean away from Caroline, Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager, senses her carefree youth disappearing as she is drawn deeper into her role as courier for the underground resistance movement. In a tense atmosphere of watchful eyes and suspecting neighbors, one false move can have dire consequences.
For the ambitious young German doctor, Herta Oberheuser, an ad for a government medical position seems her ticket out of a desolate life. Once hired, though, she finds herself trapped in a male-dominated realm of Nazi secrets and power.
The lives of these three women are set on a collision course when the unthinkable happens and Kasia is sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious Nazi concentration camp for women. Their stories cross continents—from New York to Paris, Germany, and Poland—as Caroline and Kasia strive to bring justice to those whom history has forgotten.
My Thoughts On Lilac Girls
Obviously, this novel is a hard subject to read about but an important piece of history that must never be forgotten. First of all I have to comment on the presentation of this novel. I absolutely feel in love with the diary like pages found on the hardcover option from the library. The aged pages just added so much to this book and story. I read this book while up at our cabin on Labor Day weekend. It was the perfect mountain getaway book, all cozy at the fire and enjoying the great storytelling of a time we never want to relive.
No matter how many holocaust stories I read, I still find them disturbing, shocking and heart wrenching. Surviving such a devastating experience brings with it a lifetime of horrors. Honestly, the way this book was written made it even more unforgettable. As you read you find the stories of the 3 women colliding. What really was great about this story line was how the 3 women were so different and yet they all found themselves experiencing the same trauma.
Out of the 3 women I found myself really attached to the character of Kasia Kuzmerick, so traumatic. My heart ached for her situation. I believe this book was very well written – I was hooked from the first page to the very last page in the Author’s Note. It was interesting to read about the author’s journey through researching and writing this novel in the Author’s Note.
I would suggest this book to anyone that enjoys historical fiction. Some might find this quite triggering so please research the book before picking it up.
I am really proud the diverse books I have decided to add to my reading challenge this year. Make sure you check out my previous book reviews for 2018 too. I am excited to share my book reviews with you all.
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