The Lost Wife

by Alyson Richman

There on her forearm, next to a small brown birthmark, were six tattooed numbers. 'Do you remember me now?' he asked, trembling. She looked at him again, as if giving weight and bone to a ghost. 'Lenka, it's me,' he said. 'Josef. Your husband.' During the last moments of calm in prewar Prague, Lenka, a young art student, falls in love with Josef. They marry - but soon, like so many others, they are torn apart by the currents of war. In America Josef becomes a successful obstetrician and raises a family, though he never forgets the wife he thinks died in the camps. But in the Nazi ghetto of Terez??n - and later in Auschwitz - Lenka has survived, relying on her skills as an artist and the memories of a husband she believes she will never see again. Now, decades later, an unexpected encounter in New York brings Lenka and Josef back together. From the comfort of life in Prague before the occupation to the horrors of Nazi Europe, The Lost Wife explores the endurance of first love, the resilience of the human spirit and our capacity to remember.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Book Club, World War II, Historical, Holocaust

368 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 2011

About the author

Alyson Richman is the USA Today bestselling and #1 international bestselling author of several historical novels including The Velvet Hours, The Garden of Letters, and The Lost Wife, which is currently in development for a major motion picture. Alyson graduated from Wellesley College with a degree in art history and Japanese studies. She herself is an accomplished painter and her novels combine her deep love of art, historical research, and travel. Alyson's novels have been published in more than twenty-five languages and have reached the bestseller lists both in the United States and abroad. She lives on Long Island with her husband and two children, where she is currently at work on her next novel.

Reviews

[B the BookAddict · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me say first and foremost that I do not read love stories, I loathe books such as those by Nicholas Sparks and Nora Roberts, I have a specially designed crucifix to guard me against the genre of Mills and Boon. And yet... paradoxically, I loved this novel and it is, essentially, a love story, a story of first love, lost love, remembered love. This novel does not abound with all the hearts and flowers of the aforementioned publishers. And, it has quietly, stealthily crept up on me in the last five hours since I finished it, wending its way into my collective bookish affections.

The story contains an impossible choice: faced with the encroaching threat of the Nazis, who would you choice – your family or your husband of one day? Two Czechoslovakian Jews, Lenka and Josef face this monumental situation and Lenka's decision is the basis of this novel. Her decision is forced by time, the die is cast, Lenka will stay with her family while her husband Josef will flee with his family to America. Germany invades Czechoslovakia as expected, the Czech government capitulates and Lenka and her family are sent to the work camp Terezin. Alyson Richman leads you through Josef's life in America with the sombre burden of what he has left behind and Lenka's harsh reality with her internment at Terezin.

This novel is quite light in description but rich in dialogue and it is rendered beautifully with emotional scenery. With a deft hand, the author uses the riches of the palette to furnish images. I never underline passages in a book but here I sincerely wish I had so that I give some examples. Quite oddly, I found the rendition of Josef's life more emotive than Lenka's story tethered as he was in America and bound to lead a life he had little interest in. It was the beauty of his richly textured remembrances which moved me. The Lost Wife is a novel that I am very glad to have read. I suggest that you read it. Highly recommended 4.5★

[Fergie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most beautifully written, moving historical fiction novels I have ever read. The book actually deserves 4 1/2 stars. Alyson Richman evokes magic in her telling of the love story of Lenka and Josef, two Czechoslovakian Jews whose fate is determined by forces beyond their control.
Richman effectively pulls the reader in by creating interesting characters and an equally compelling story. It is hard to fathom what the Jewish population in Europe had to endure during the reign of terror under the Third Reich, but Richman does a more than admirable job. Her research is flawless and serves as a true testament to what those who suffered at the hands of the Nazis endured. The spirit and courage that the Jews possessed is documented well in this book.
For anyone who loves historical fiction, especially set in the era of WWII, this book is for you. The added bonus is that the story is written beautifully and with such a depth of compassion that you will find yourself forever changed after having read it. If that is not the true mark of outstanding writing, then I don't know what is.

[Lewis Weinstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you don't cry when you read this book, I guess I feel sorry for you. From the stunning prologue to the very last page, this is a remarkable read.

The first few pages of the prologue reveal that a man and a woman, married and then separated for 60 years by the Nazi invasion of Prague, and both thinking the other dead, meet at the wedding reception of the grandson of one and the granddaughter of the other.

Now you might think that revealing this much in the very beginning of the book would reduce the emotional content of what follows. Not in the least. Knowing they will eventually meet makes each aspect of their separate stories even more poignant. At least to a romantic like me.

[Maede · Rating 4 out of 5]

خانواده‌ها برای شام شب قبل از عروسی دور هم جمع شدند. چشم‌های پدربزرگ داماد روی مادربزرگ عروس قفل میشه
من شما رو از جایی می‌شناسم
فکر می‌کنم اشتباه می‌کنید
سایه‌ی چیزی از زیر آستین پیرزن برق می‌زنه
می‌تونم آستینتون رو بالا بزنم؟
التماس از چشم‌هاش می‌باره
خواهش می‌کنم
آستین زن رو آروم بالا می‌زنه. کنار یک ماه‌گرفتگی کوچک شش عدد تتو شده
حالا منو شناختی؟منم لنکا. یوزف. همسر تو

داستان از اینجا شروع میشه و در طول کتاب لنکا و یوزف داستان رو از دید خودشون از سال‌ها قبل تا همین لحظه تعریف می‌کنند. از عشقی که در سایه هیتلر رشد کرد و با کمپ‌های کار اجباری و فرار و جنگ کشته شد. از سال‌های بعد از جنگ‌جهانی دوم که جسم و روح زخمیشون رو به گذر روزگار سپردند. از همه‌ی چیزهایی که از دست دادند، عزیزان، خانه‌ها و رویاها

داستان در واقع تلفیقی از واقعیت و تخیله. داستان اصلی و بعضی از کاراکترها و وقایع براساس افراد و رویدادهای واقعی نوشته شدند و برای همین قدم به قدم باهاشون وارد شکم هیولای جنگ و هلوکاست می‌شید. قلم نویسنده زیبا و سادست و توصیفات خاصی داره که به ترسیم فضا کمک می‌کنه

خواندن این کتاب باعث شد به چند مسئله فکر کنم که اینجا می‌خوام ازشون بنویسم

هنر در زمان جنگ
بخشی از داستان در اردوگاهی می‌گذره که هزاران یهودی مجبور به زندگی در اون شدند و البته شرایط متفاوتی نسبت به کشتارگاه آشویتس داشته. در اینجا هنرمندان به وسایل هنری دسترسی داشتند تا برای نازی‌ها کارت‌پستال و نقاشی بکشند و به مهندسان برای کشیدن نقشه‌های توسعه اردوگاه کمک کنند. گاهی تکه‌هایی از این کاغذ و مدادها دزدیده می‌شد و در اختیار کودکان هم قرار می‌گرفت. هنر از همین راه به داد رسید و وسیله‌ای برای ابراز احساسات دفن شده و انتقال اخبار شد. نقاشی‌هایی که در فقدان دوربین و اینترنت حرف‌ها داشتند و واقعیت رو به دنیا جار می‌زدند. ساعت‌ها این دست نقاشی‌ها و اون‌هایی که پس از جنگ کشیده شده‌ بودند رو نگاه کردم و غرق این آثار پر از درد شدم

این نقاشی‌ها همه در اردوگاه ترزین توسط آدم‌هایی مثل کاراکترهای داستان کشیده شدند که تاریکی زندگیشون رو روی این تکه کاغذهای دزدیده شده ریختند





موهبت ندانستن، نفرین ندانستن
تمام مدتی که در کتاب از ترزین، آشویتس و اتفاقات غیرقابل تصوری که در اون‌ها افتاده می‌خواندم، به این فکر می‌کردم که اگر در اون زمان چیزی مثل اینترنت وجود داشت، چقدر همه چیز متفاوت بود. اگر مردم دنیا مثل الان اینستاگرامشون رو باز می‌کردند و عکس و صدای یهودیان و همه‌ی کسانی که خانه‌هاشون رو از دست دادند رو می‌دیدند و می‌شنیدند چه می‌کردند؟ اگر عکس‌های پنهانی از جنازه‌های روی هم تلنبار شده‌ی آشویتس یا پیاده‌روی‌های مرگ رو می‌دیدند، آیا خبر زودتر از درد نمی‌کشتشون؟

مثل ما که درد همه‌ی جهان رو فقط به خاطر دانستن به دوش می‌کشیم و قبل از رسیدن مرگ بهمون بارها می‌میریم. اما اگر می‌دیدند، شاید تاریخ جور دیگه‌ای رقم می‌خورد، که نازی‌ها فقط با مخفی‌کاری و دروغ گفتن تا این حد پیش رفتند

در کل، کتاب خیلی خوبی در مورد جنگ جهانی دوم از دید انسانی بود و خوشحالم که اسم و کاورش باعث نشد نخونمش. کتاب رو صوتی گوش کردم که اجرای خوبی داشت

کتاب و صوتیش رو می‌تونید از اینجا دانلود کنید
Maede's Books

۱۴۰۰/۵/۲۴

[Terrie Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Lost Wife" by Alyson Richman was a beautiful love story! I am a huge fan of historical fiction and this one did not disappoint!

A love story about Lenka, an art student, and Josef, a medical student, who meet, fall in love and marry in Prewar Prague. It is about how the impact of the invasion & occupation of the Nazis affected their lives and the lives of their families. Their story is an emotional journey of separation shortly after they married. Their reunion, tragically sad yet speaks of hope, happens many years later in America.

What stays with me most about this book is the unabashed hatred from the Nazis and the suffering it caused so many people. As I read this book it was a clear picture of how the Jewish prisoners endured this hatred, abuse and torture forced upon them. The outcome resulting in death of so many. Those who survived were faced with remembering those that were lost and often feeling guilt about their own survival.

Like so many now, I was not alive when this part of history took place as most of those who were have passed and are now with those that were lost. It is a conundrum to me how the Holocaust could ever have happened. I'm sickened, but fascinated, that good people could be fooled into believing this treatment of fellow human beings was right and justified.

This book was an amazing read, written with heart by an author who performed tedious research and interwoven with real people who lived through these experiences in the work, concentration and death camps of Nazi Germany.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman

Synopsis /

There on her forearm, next to a small brown birthmark, were six tattooed numbers.
'Do you remember me now?' he asked, trembling.
She looked at him again, as if giving weight and bone to a ghost.
'Lenka, it's me,' he said. 'Josef. Your husband.'

During the last moments of calm in pre-war Prague, Lenka, a young art student, falls in love with Josef. They marry—but soon, like so many others, they are torn apart by the currents of war.

In America, Josef becomes a successful obstetrician and raises a family, though he never forgets the wife he thinks died in the camps. But in the Nazi ghetto of Terezín — and later in Auschwitz — Lenka has survived, relying on her skills as an artist and the memories of a husband she believes she will never see again.

Now, decades later, an unexpected encounter in New York brings Lenka and Josef back together.

From the comfort of life in Prague before the occupation to the horrors of Nazi Europe, The Lost Wife explores the endurance of first love, the resilience of the human spirit and our capacity to remember.

My Thoughts /

And, just when you thought you had read pretty much everything there is to read about Terezin and Auschwitz, you read The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman.

New York City, 2000 - Josef Kohn has lived a long life. He's 85 years old now and very tired. He just wants to see his grandson marry. He only has the one grandchild, and he's been looking forward to his wedding for months. Josef was happy now - content in these, his senior years, and yet he is still swamped by memories of a time once past, when he fell in love and married the girl of his dreams. Josef married for love and forever; but that was over sixty years ago - before the war - before the killings before the invasion and occupation. It was a long time ago.

At the head table, the lone living grandparent from each side was introduced to each other for the first time. Again, the groom's grandfather felt himself being swept away by the image of the woman before him. She was decades older than her granddaughter, but there was something familiar about her. He felt it immediately, from the moment he first saw her eyes……There on her forearm, next to a small brown birthmark, were six tattooed numbers. 'Do you remember me now?' he asked, trembling. She looked at him again, as if giving weight and bone to a ghost. 'Lenka, it's me,' he said. 'Josef. Your husband'.

The Lost Wife is written from the dual POVs of Josef Kohn and Lenka Josefina Maizel. Accepted to Prague's Academy of Art in 1936 when she was seventeen years old, Lenka, the eldest daughter of a glass dealer in Prague, quickly became friends with two girls, Věruška and Elsa. All three girls were Jewish, so they all shared the same friendship group from their school years. Being invited to Věruška's home for Shabbat, Lenka was able to meet Věruška's parents and older brother, Josef. Lenka was immediately drawn to Josef, and him to her. The pair fell in love and married, but their romance was cut short as the threat of war became very real.

When the German's invaded, Josef and his family were able to sell everything they owned to purchase visas, secure papers, and pay for their transportation by ship to New York. But Josef couldn't secure transportation for anyone who wasn't immediate family. Although it meant separation, Lenka refused to leave her family alone in Prague and travel with Josef to America. Josef, reluctantly, heads off promising to secure visas and passage for Lenka and her family to escape the Holocaust as soon as he can.

It's at this point in the book where the real horrors begin. The author explores some pretty dark themes within this part of the book. Life inside the Nazi ghetto of Terezín — and later in Auschwitz. In this place where disease is common, where hunger is no longer a compelling need or desire for food (you've had to move past that painful sensation and state of weakness in order to survive in this wretched place), it's a place so bad death is sometimes welcomed. But on the flip-side there is light - the unbelievable stories of resilience of the human spirit; the ingenuity of the human mind; the will to survive today even though you know tomorrow will only be worse. To have the ability to love and exhibit compassion.

Richman's portrayal of the highs of lows of these extraordinary people will have you glued to its pages. For all the horror, the hatred and the terror, there is still beauty and strength within these Holocaust survivors. Richman has an artist's eye - her written imagery is flawless and she has a poet's ear for language.

It's only been a few days since I have finished reading this and already I'm missing its characters.

[Katrina Passick Lumsden · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been going back and forth on whether or not to give this book three or four stars. I'm starting out with three, let's see where we end up, shall we?

For as many things as I liked about this book, there are several things I disliked. I'll start with the negative.

First, I didn't like the way the romance tried to blend in with the story. There were times when it felt like it shouldn't be there, and yet, I found myself only wanting to finish to see if Lenka and Josef ever found each other again. The beginning of the book revealed the answer, but I had hoped the ending would hold more. Sadly, it did not.

Richman admitted that the story was originally going to just be about an artist who survived the Holocaust, but that she decided to weave the romance in. This shows as it was obvious she spent far more time on Lenka and her storyline than she did on Josef and his. An author shouldn't show preference for one character or storyline over another when the author has herself chosen to portray both. Either put your all into both storylines or leave one out. Don't try and pacify us with romance for the sake of sales. Richman's callous treatment of Josef made him seem like an afterthought, and that was unpalatable to me as he was probably my favorite character.

Second, Lenka irritated the shit out of me, and her "noble" actions were, in my opinion, incorrectly portrayed. She has the choice to go with Josef and his family, to leave Prague and reach safety before the occupation reaches its fervor, but she insists on staying behind with her family, claiming she won't leave them because she loves them too much. I call bullshit. I don't deny that there are people who make rash decisions like this and wholeheartedly believe they're doing the right thing, but Lenka's refusal to leave with Josef was a decision based not in love or loyalty, but in fear. She was afraid to leave her family and her home. Had she possessed even a tenth of the courage we're supposed to believe she did, she would have gotten on that ship, set out for parts unknown, then fought like a bulldog to get her family out of Prague. As it was, she denied her parents some peace of mind, separated herself from her husband (causing him a lifetime of guilt), and abandoned any hope of getting her family out of Prague. Those are not the actions of a heroine, but of a selfish coward.

Third, I thought this book was, at times, a bit heavy handed. Obviously, a book about surviving the Holocaust is going to be emotionally jarring, and I'm not ashamed to say it made me cry on more than one occasion. But there were points when it felt like it was trying too hard to be poignant. Still, the writing was beautifully lyrical, and this brings me to what I did like about the book.

"You hear in the person you're destined to love the sound of those yet to be born."

"Every person has an image or a memory that they hold secret. One that they unwrap, like a piece of hidden candy, at night. Pass through there and you will fall into the valley of dreams."

"One finds love in transparency. To see wholly and without question."

"There are two sensations of skin you will always remember in your lifetime: the first time you fall in love - and that person holds your hand - and the first time your child grasps your finger. In each of those times, you are sealed to the other for eternity."

"In my old age, I have come to believe that love is not a noun but a verb. An action. Like water, it flows to its own current, If you were to corner it in a dam, true love is so bountiful it would flow over. Even in separation, in death, it moves and changes. It lives within memory, in the haunting of a touch, the transience of a smell, or the nuance of a sigh. It seeks to leave a trace like a fossil in the sand, a leaf burned into baking asphalt."

"Inhale it. Breathe it. It will not leave you. If you place sunlight in your palms, it will turn to shadow. If you put fireflies in a jar, they will die. But if you love with wings on, you will always feel the exhilaration of being suspended in flight."

Strangely, all but one of those is from Josef's perspective. I truly loved Josef as a character. I wish he could have been done more justice.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Holocaust historical novel based on a true story about the Terezin work camp in Czechoslovakia.

The main characters, Lenka, an aspiring art student, and her husband Josef, are fictional, but the events that are the backdrop of their story are true.

Most interesting was the fact that there was an organized resistance of artists and musicians who utilized their talents to express their hatred of their wardens.

Some paintings and drawings were smuggled to the outside world, and although many of the artists paid with their lives once they were discovered, their sacrifice was one of the lesser known of the war.

Some of the characters included in the story were actually real.

Take a moment to read the author's notes at the end of the book.

A great, riveting and quick read.

[Janete on hiatus due health issues · Rating 2 out of 5]

I chose this book wrongly, it's not for me. I was interested in the Jewish ghetto of Terezin (Czechoslovakia), which I had never heard of, where some Jews painted and drew (the main female character studied arts for 2 years before World War II and was Jewish). But this book deals more with the insta-love story between artist Lenka and the obstetrician Josef. I don't like insta-love or romantic stories too much; I thought there would be a major highlight for historical fiction. DNF page 214.

[Ariannha · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Me recordaba una procesión fúnebre; estos hombre, mujeres y niños que avanzan con una mirada de muerte y derrota en sus rostros. No podía imaginarme cómo el gueto, ya sobrepoblado, podía darle cabida a una persona más.”

Primer libro que tengo el placer de leer de esta autora, y he quedado maravillada con su narrativa.

“Los amantes de Praga” nos cuenta la historia de Josef y Lenka, dos personas que se conocen desde su juventud en una esplendorosa ciudad, se enamoran, se casan, y por razones de la Guerra que amenaza al mundo, se separan, y viven estos terribles momentos de una manera diferente.

La novela está magistralmente narrada a través de nuestros dos protagonistas entre el pasado y el presente, pero entrelazada de tal manera que el lector nunca se pierde dentro de la trama. Los capítulos son súper cortos, pero a la vez cuentan tanto, con tanta emoción y a vez tanto dolor, que nos vemos sumergidos con facilidad en la piel de los protagonistas. He llorado la mayor parte del libro, entre momentos de felicidad y momentos de tragedia.

Es una novela con una temática usual, al mencionar que está ambientada en hechos de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, ya sabes más o menos lo que te puedes esperar. Pero a pesar de esto, y de todas las que he leído de este período, no conocía los hechos sobre la ciudad de Terezín y el gueto para judíos creado y las mentiras que contaron al mundo. Así como a través del arte pudo darse a conocer al mundo la realidad de lo que estaban viviendo miles de personas.

En definitiva, es un libro extraordinario sobre la supervivencia del ser humano, pero extremadamente triste entre nuestros protagonistas, quienes pudieron superar lo acontecimientos vividos, solo a base de recuerdos.


100% recomendado

"Pero para poder sobrevivir en este mundo extraño, tuve que aprender que el amor se parecía mucho a la pintura. El espacio negativo entre las personas era tan importante como el espacio positivo que ocupan."

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am sorry that this love story came to an end. It was more than a love story, it was a love affair of words that show the beauty of our souls. With the verse "I am my beloved and my beloved is mine. Song of Solomon 6:3, it is the main theme of this poetic love story. The verse also signifies the hope one can have having one as a beloved and being one of a beloved. The story is a loose historical fiction of actual events which makes it even more enjoyable to read. It starts in the year 2000 when the great grandfather of the groom and the great grand mother of the bride come upon each other and how it is that they know each other. Then the story goes back in time before the war in Prague. The main character of Joseph is a beloved that has found his beloved in Lenka. He is shown to have respect for the women in his life, his mother and sister and how he loves life. Lenka who has a younger sister; and who is loyal to her family. The loyality is tested when she stays in Prague right after her and Joseph are married. Joseph's family has obtained boat tickets to leave the country with his parents and his sister, however, Lenka will not leave without her family. You see the contrast of each one's story in the narration. The narration is told by each one and the longing for the other. The narration is seamless as you see the heartache of of Joseph and Lenka. It tears at your heart, however, it is good to see a love story so pure. I appreciate a love story without vulgarity because it gives a high view of a love relationship and everything else is gravy. And you get plenty of gravy.

The story shows the plight of the Jews and it also touches on the loyality that Lenka's family remain together and not be separated in the concentration camps. Where so many of other families did not stay together. They were seperated by one being sent to another camp, or by death or worse turning on each other. Evil has a way of doing that. It also shows what is evil and when we loose hope which we are created to hope and how hope is the only way we can continue. Hope is the fuel for the soul. I cannot do the justice of the characters or the story of how two people in love continue thru so much heart ache. One thing I also appreciated in this story is the Jewish tradition and what soulful people they are. To be reminded what it means when God given rights are taken away from a certain group of people that they cannot live, cannot work and to live in fear. I am my beloved and my beloved is mine...to see that in the grandchildren of Lenka and Joseph gives hope.

[Dem · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman.

In Pre War Prague the hopes and dreams of two young lovers are shattered when they are separated by the Nazi Invasion.

I listened to this novel as opposed to reading it and I really enjoyed the narrators as they were both eloquent and easy to listen to. This is s a story that explores the horrors of the beautiful city of Prague under the occupation of the Nazi's during World War Two. Having visited both Terezin and Prague many years ago I was very interested in reading this book and I was not disappointed with the images captured by Alyson Richman and her storytelling.

I was amazed to learn that the story was inspired by true events similar to that of Lenka and Josef and the novels conclusion the author explains what events are true within the story and I found this really helpful.

I did not find the Novel heavy or difficult reading in comparison to other Holocaust books that I have read.

I liked the story and enjoyed the narration and this is why I have rated it 3 stars. I did however find the story ended abruptly and I wasn't quite satisfied by the conclusion of the story.

[J. Schlenker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would give this book six stars if I could.

[Aitor Castrillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Los amantes de Praga me ha gustado. Hay partes (las relativas al trato que dieron los alemanes a los judíos) que he leído con el corazón estrujadito porque me parece increíble que todo esto pasara hace solo 80 años. Si cogemos una novela desarrollada en la Edad Media y leemos las barbaridades que hacían... piensas "han pasado muchísimos años y afortunadamente hemos evolucionado", pero con Los amantes de Praga me entristece pensar que mi padre tiene 85 años y que era un niño en aquella época.

La parte de Lenka, al ser tan intensa, me ha gustado más que la de Josef, consumido por los recuerdos y la culpa. Cada vez que un capítulo se centra en Lenka estremece. Tampoco es que la novela sea simétrica porque tengo la sensación de que se extiende más en los capítulos de Lenka (y eso para mí es un punto a favor ).

¡Una historia muy emotiva!

[Myrn🩶 · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an emotional book! The base of The Lost Wife is a beautiful love story but you will get so much more. I learned new facts about the holocaust and I've read lots of WWII books. The author did a great job with her research.

Favorite quote: “And I saw for the first time how, despite the isolation of our own lives, we are always connected to our ancestors; our bodies hold the memories of those who came before us, whether it is the features we inherit or a disposition that is etched into our soul.”

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book disappointed me. I think this is the first Holocaust book I've read where I haven't cried, and I should have, especially reading the author's notes whereby she based a lot of the characters and storyline on actual events. Don't get me wrong, I did feel affected by it, but on reflection, it was actually my prior knowledge of the Holocaust and memories of other stories I've read and/or watched which stirred the emotions rather than this specific book.

This book is essentially a love story, and a poor one at that, particularly considering it turned out to be such an anticlimax in the end. I wish there was less cheesy romance in the first half of the book (well actually Josef's entire storyline) and was written exclusively from Lenka's point of view. There was not enough dialogue, there were too many grammatical errors (one paragraph was written in past tense and the next in present tense) and the parallel storylines just didn't work, especially when they were set 50 or so years apart. Very disappointing...

[Pam Jenoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alyson is a master historical fiction writer and The Lost Wife is her most iconic work. At a wedding in present day New York, an elderly man spots a familiar woman across the room and realizes that it is his wife, whom he has long thought lost during the Second World War. The book then spirals back to their life before and during the war in Prague. If you love WW2 fiction, this is certainly one of the best!

[Geo Just Reading My Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Translation widget on The blog!!!
Un roman surprinzător, dureros, sfâșietor. Ne arată că viața merge înainte în ciuda piedicilor. Din păcate, viețile fiecăruia au rămas frânte, cu răni ce nu și-au găsit vindecarea. Suflete țipând în noapte, jelind trecutul și negăsindu-și odihna.
“Soția pierdută” este cartea pe care o recomand tuturor celor ce îndrăgesc poveștile despre evreii din al Doilea Război Mondial și care oferă totuși o fărâmă de speranță, un zâmbet printre lacrimi.
Recenzia mea completă o găsiți aici:
https://www.delicateseliterare.ro/sot...

[Mouzhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

از جمعه شروع کردم خوندنش تا الان که بامداد سه شنبه اس...
قلبمو تیکه تیکه میکنه هولوکاست ولی میدونم الانم ظلم پایداره ومن هیچ مقاومت زیرزمینی ای ندارم
شاید دارم وخودم خبر ندارم!

اصلا نمیفهمم دین واعتقادات یه عده چه اسیبی به هیتلر میزد؟اوکی هیتلر مریض!ولی این همه ادم سرباز مریض دیگه از کجا اورده بود که پر خشم بودن؟؟؟اصلا آدم بودن؟چی بودن؟

چیییی هستن؟؟؟؟اصلا اسمشون ادمه؟

عجب کتابی!
خالکوب اشویتس رو خوندم واینم خوندم،انگار دنبال امید بودم وهستم ولی ته همه ی ماجراهای تلخ،شیربن نیست وگاهی پرونده ی زندگی ادما همونجور تلخ بسته میشه...

قلبمو لمس کرد!ادماش واقعی بودن!خیلی واقعی😞😞😞

داستانش هم طبق نوشته ی نویسنده واقعی بود واون بخش شاید عشق وعاشقی ای که نویسنده به اذعان خودش،مهارت داستان نویسیش بوده هم حکایت عشق های واقعی ناکام دنیاست...

چی بگم ازش؟زبونم قاصره

بحث دعا میشه،باخودم میگم خب چرا خدا دعاهای مردمانی رو قبول نکردکه چون صرفا پیروی دین موسی بودن به فنا رفتن؟
بعد میگم اگه دعا رو ازم بگیرن من به چی چنگ بزنم؟
میزم روان درمانی اگزیستانسیال وپادکست رواق گوش میدم ومیگه دعا ینی تو مسولیت خودتو میخوای انتقال بدی به خدا! منطقی هم هست!
ولی همیشه همه چی دنیا که تحت کنترل ما نیس!

پدری روتوی کتاب توصیف کرده بود که با ابزار دزدی برای تولد سه سالگی پدرش کتاب نقاشی کرد🙃🙃توی ترزین به فکر کادوی تولد بچش بود!
تو ذهنم میگم شاید بابای منم الان داره بااین وضع اقتصادی تحصیل خواهرمو کاور میکنه مثل همون باباست...کسی چه میدونه...

اینکه لنکا ویوزف از زندگی گذشتشون هیچی به بچه هاشون لو ندادن چقد قابل تحسین بود...خوش به حال بچه هایی که پدر ومادر فکور وعاقل وبالغ دارن
این کتاب قلبمو بغل کرد وچشمام رو...چون هم مشتاق خوندنش بودم وهم اشک ریختم تا شاید روحم از همه ناتوانی توی جلوگیری از ظلم وظلم نکردن به بقیه،سبک شه!

[Lori Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so happy to find out in the Epilogue that many of the characters in this novel were based on real people... this gave an already wonderful story even more merit! I loved that the novel began with the ending scene... thought that format worked marvelously in helping the storyline! A well deserved 5 star novel!

[Noeleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating 3.5

The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman appears to be on everyone’s reading list at the moment and is receiving some great reviews, so I had to bump it up my ‘to be read’ list to see what all the ‘hype’ is about. It tells the story of Lenka and Josef who meet on the threshold of the start of WWII. It is a sad story of true love lost during a most awful time in history. The story alternates between Lenka’s account of her time in the concentration camps and Josef’s time in America. The structure of the narration works really well and whilst Lenka’s story is most horrifying, I found myself more interested in those parts of the book when the story was being told from Josef’s perspective.

There are many themes explored throughout the book, lost love, separation, family love, family loyalty, survival not only during the terrible times of WWII but the survival of people in the marriages of both Lenka and Josef after the war. Art and colour also play a significant role throughout. I wasn’t aware of the underground artist movement during the war, so it’s great when a novel educates us on subjects we didn’t know about before. I also liked the fact that some of the artist characters in the book were actual real characters, so this book was very well researched too.

Overall, 3.5 stars is probably a more accurate rating of my enjoyment of this book. The story for me was very good and while I really did like the book, I didn’t love it and it isn’t a story that would stay with me. I wasn’t eagerly waiting to find out what happens next. The real winner for me with this book was the writing. I think the writing was so good that it may have overshadowed the story somewhat. It is a book that’s definitely worth a read and I would recommend it, but for me personally, it’s not one that I would ‘gush’ about.

[Margarita Garova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Знам, че това е поредната книга от лагерния калъп и въпреки че знам добре какво да очаквам, от време на време се изкушавам с такива четива, когато сухата фактология ми дойде в повече. Без намерение за критика, мога да откроя няколко общи и повтарящи се черти на историческия фикшън за ВСВ: - действието протича в три времеви периода – преди лагера, вътре в лагера и след лагера; води се от първо лице на най-често двама герои (разделени влюбени, по-рядко други емоционални обвързаности, например роднински), чиито имена са сложени в началото на всяка глава, за да се знае кой е разказвачът в момента; всички роднини на двамата главни герои задължително умират, но те самите успяват “накрая” да се срещнат. От това скеле нататък всичко е в ръцете на автора, някои се справят по-прилично, други не толкова. Книгата ми хареса може би защото я изслушах и прочитът беше доволно въздействащ, за четене – не съм толкова сигурна без гласовия ефект.
3,5 звезди

[Goda l Knygu_jura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lenka ir Jozefas susipažįsta tarpukario Prahoje ir netrunka pajausti vienas kitam šiltus jausmus. Lenka pradeda studijuoti Prahos dailės akademijoje, jos mylimasis siekė tapti gydytoju. Tačiau jaunavedžiams nebuvo lemta ilgai džiaugtis meile vienas kitam, nes karas Lenką ir Jozefą išskyrė. Vienas turėjo kurti gyvenimą už Atlanto, o kitai pereiti Terezyno ir Aušvico pragarą. Nors visai to nesitikėjo, bet Lenkai ir Jozefui likimas dar leido susitikti.. Tik po šešiasdešimties metų. 

Ši istorija mane sudomino nuo pat pirmųjų puslapių, labai patiko ir tai, kad pačioje pradžioje galėjau susipažinti su gyvenimu prieš karą, nerūpestingumu, mylinčiais tėvais, pirmosios meilės svaiguliu, mylimomis studijomis, nes po to stojęs karo ir koncentracijos stovyklų siaubas sudarė labai gerą kontrastą.  Autorė istoriją pasakoja tiek iš Jozefo, tiek iš Lenkos pusių. Lenkos istorija mane labiausiai ir sužavėjo, tiksliau labiausiai sukrėtė, nes susidarytas vaizdas buvo itin niūrus. 

Terezyno gyvenimas buvo pilnas bado, ligų, purvo ir smurto, ne tik prieš žydus, bet ir tarpusavyje jų. Visgi privertimas nužmogėti ir laisvės atėmimas kartais išties priverčia elgtis mažiau žmogiškai. Veikėjų suvokimas, kad negalima maištauti, nes arba būsi išvežtas į Aušvicą arba sušaudytas, tačiau tas noras bent kažkiek maištauti stulbina ir įkvepia. Taip pat, patyrus tiek įvairių išbandymų ir mačius tiek visko baisaus, širdyje vis dar rusenanti viltis stulbino. 

Tačiau labiausiai mane sužavėjo autorės pasirinkimas meną pavaizduoti kaip išsigelbėjimą ir priežastį jaustis bent kažkiek žmogumi, kai jau seniai esi praradęs savo asmenį ir vardą, o į tave kreipiasi numeriu. Jozefo istorija taip pat buvo įdomi, tačiau manau ji buvo daug mažiau svarbesnė, nei Lenkos. Tačiau jų meilės istorija tokia graži širdžiai, kad tik norisi šypsotis.. 

Aš taip džiaugiuosi, kad lėtai skaičiau šią knygą ir pavyko ją vis pataupyti, nes man ji labai patiko. Įdomu buvo skaityti tiek apie karo metu patiriamus sunkumus, tiek apie gyvenimą po karo. Puiki istorija apie ištvermę, apie neišblėstančią meilę ir apie laikinumą, nes niekada negali žinoti, kada gyvenimas ar pasaulis išskirs šeimas ir sugriaus gyvenimus. Rekomenduoju skaitytojams mėgstantiems tikrais įvykiais įkvėptas istorijas apie karą, meilę ir neišblėstančią viltį, lydinčią net ir tamsiausiomis gyvenimo akimirkomis. 

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had just finished reading The Invisible Bridge and my Kindle died. I had purchased The Lost Wife and put it on hold because I had so many books I wanted to read that I had downloaded on my Kindle. When my Kindle died I began reading The Lost Wife after finishing The Invisible Bridge. WOW both books left such an impression on me. I find out that today 8/11/12 is the 67th Anniversary of the Holocaust - I didn't plan to read these books at this time, but I did and boy they really left a hugh impression and deep feelings for me. I highly recommend reading both of these books. They are eye openers and leave you with many feelings you may never have felt before. I don't know if I could have survived during the same time - WE cannot forget what so many suffered for such a long time. NEVER EVER FORGET!!!!!

[Soy Fabi Una booklover más · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una gran novela sobre el poder del amor y la fuerza de la memoria.
En la Praga de los años treinta, Lenka, una joven estudiante de arte, se enamora perdidamente de Josef. Ambos se casan, pero, al igual que muchos otras personas, sus sueños se hacen añicos ante la inminente invasión nazi y deciden huir a Estados Unidos. Pero, en el último momento, Lenka decide quedarse en Praga y no abandonar a sus padres y su hermana. En Estados Unidos, Josef se convierte en un obstetra de éxito y rehace su vida. Sin embargo, nunca olvidará a su primer y único amor, al que cree haber perdido para siempre.

Sin embargo, en Terezin y Auschwitz, Lenka sobrevivirá gracias a la memoria de un marido al que cree que no verá de nuevo y a su talento artístico. Décadas más tarde, un inesperado encuentro en Nueva York ofrece una segunda oportunidad.

Una novela que te atrapa desde la primer hoja. Excelente prosa de la autora para dar vida a un relato exquisito. Hace rato tenía pendiente este libro; y si bien es cierto que ya hemos leído mucho sobre la SGM, brindo porque seguimos encontrando relatos que nos hacen reflexionar sobre la humanidad y rescatan el amor por sobre todas las cosas.

[Vanessa Ferreyra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esta historia que transcurre durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial simplemente me pareció hermosa, un libro que habla de la supervivencia del ser humano en esos tiempos terribles. Una historia romántica que les encantará.

[Clau · Rating 2 out of 5]

(2.5 ⭐️)

¡No ha sido un libro para mi!

Tenía unas inmensas ganas de leerlo pero me ha resultado aburrido y plano en mayor parte.
Empieza bien pero después no sé qué sucede.

Nunca me gustó Lenka y casi todo el tiempo me desesperaba, en cuanto Josef, fue peor; sentía que sus capítulos no llevaban a ninguna parte. La verdad es que no hubo ningún personaje que causara algún sentimiento o emoción cuando lo leía.

La mejor parte fueron los últimos capítulos, esa transición de Terezín a Auschwitz fue muy dura, pero antes de eso, sentía que la historia se perdía y no avanzábamos.

Admito que a mitad del libro pensé en dejarlo pero la duda sobre si Lenka y Josef se reencontrarían me pudo más y solo por eso seguí leyendo, pero si soy honesta no resultó muy atractivo el desenlace (al menos para mi).

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of the many books with a holocaust theme I have read, this is the first that has centered around the Terezin (Theresienstadt) Concentration Camp, located outside Prague.

The basis of the book is, of course, a romance story, but the heart of the book takes place in Terezin where the Nazi's established a prison camp that was less of a death camp and more of an authentic work camp. Certainly the conditions were every bit as grueling and no less horrifying as Auschwitz and Birkenwald, but there were no ovens and while there prisoners produced an amazing amount of art work, much of which is now on display in various Holocaust memorials throughout the world.

The book is a novel, but several real life people are mentioned, as well as the art work the children of Terezin produced which was made into an exceptionally beautiful book, I Never Saw Another Butterfly.

So, for this reason I appreciated the author's efforts in telling not just a tragic love story, but a part of the Holocaust years that is often overlooked.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Chapter one sucks you in because you know there is something to look forward to. I have to be honest, I almost gave up in the beginning. It is such a sad, heart wrenching subject that it was almost too much to bare. I read some reviews and everyone raved about it so I stuck with it. It is a beautifully written story. I felt so connected to each character. That you can't put it down because you know from the beginning that there is something to hold on to. My only critique is that I hoped for a little more than what I got at the end. This book with stay with me for a long time.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a difficult book to read, but rich with story. The fictional tale reads more like a biography, a tale of truth than one of fiction. You know throughout the story, that it is fiction, but the stories are truth.
A husband and wife, separated after three days of marriage, each other believing one another dead for the majority of each of their lives, their stories unfold in the time apart.
It was slightly different as those facts are right up front in the beginning of the novel, painting the scene for us of the previous story. Throughout the book, we hold onto that hope, knowing that through all the horror, they will find one another.

The deep faith, hope despite the crushing pain the Jews endured, is worth reading about. For those that struggle with this, there are some swear words here and there throughout this book.