Published by Simon & Schuster Genres: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Magical Realism, War
Format: ARC
“…for what good is it to rescue yourself if you leave behind the person you love the most?”
I don’t think that I can do justice to this beautifully written tale of love, family, faith, resistance, longing, grief, pain, sacrifice, duty, and what it means to be alive. Hoffman’s writing is heartbreakingly beautifully, sad, hopeful and joyful at times during this novel- but mainly it’s dripping with a sadness so deep it leaps from the pages and affects the reader (at least it affected this reader). She also utilizes Jewish folklore/mysticism and has a Golem as a main character as well. Speaking of characters in this book, there are many in this book whose paths cross, their stories are unique and yet their individual stories have the same theme – loss of family, loss of a parent or parents, loss of a sibling, loss of freedom, and a loss of one’s home.
.”Heart of my heart, love of my life, the one loss I will never survive.”
In the beginning of the book, a Mother, Hanni Kohn, seeks out a Rabbi hopping to save her twelve-year-old daughter, Lea. She does not meet with the Rabbi that night, but instead meets with his daughter, Ettie, who has listened to her father for years, and creates a Golem she names Ava who is sworn to protect Lea.
“When you have lost your mother you have lost the world.”
Hanni sends her daughter away with Ava, choosing to stay behind with her Mother who is too ill to flee. Ave and Lea are not the only ones who flee, Ettie and her younger sister flee as well, fearing the Nazi regime and the dangers or the time. Both sets must leave their Mother’s behind in hopes of saving their own lives.
“Their time here was over, it was already in the past.”
The young girls/women in this book are not the only characters, there are two brothers, Victor and Julien, who have lost members of their families as well. They are trying to survive in a world where they are unwanted, branded criminals, hunted, and turned away by those they once called friends.
“…people always lost what they loved the most.”
All paths collide in this heartbreaking tale of cruelty, hatred, evil, courage and love. Evil exists in this book as does goodness. There are characters whose kindness and beauty shine through, who will sacrifice all that they have to give in order to save those condemned by the Nazis. Those who saved lives in their own quiet way, those who did anything and everything they could to prevent evil from prevailing, who aided the resistance, who saved as many men, women and children as they could.
“Remember when I loved you above all others and you loved me in return.”
The relationships in this book are wonderful, the imagery dances off the page just as Ava danced with the heron at night. There is something magical going on here. Hoffman has a gift with words and has created a masterpiece. She has created a story with characters having deep and meaningful relationships, having impact on each other and themselves, all the while fighting for their lives, the lives of others and for the chance to be together once again.
“Find me before I disappear.”
Hoffman had me from page one, heck she had me at the note in the beginning before the book started. I found this book to be captivating, heartbreaking, hard to put down, thought provoking and moving. I included some of my favorite passage in this review. They speak for themselves. So, I will simply speak to those reading this review, and simply say read this book.
Highly Recommend.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.