The Snow Globe

The Sweetness of Forgetting #1.5

by Kristin Harmel

Christmas Eve, 1942, Paris. A boy stands beneath the statue of Liberte in the Jardin du Luxembourg, awash in a flurry of snowflakes, on the eve of his sixteenth birthday. Time is running out – the curfew means he needs to get home, this is a dangerous time to be on the streets. But then he catches sight of a young girl called Rose, and his fate is sealed…

The Snow Globe is a beautiful Christmas short story to complement the wonderful novel The Sweetness of Forgetting, coming from Quercus in March 2013.

Genres: Christmas, Historical Fiction, Short Stories, Fiction, Romance, Historical, World War II

16 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 20, 2012

About the author

Kristin Harmel is the New York Times bestselling, USA Today bestselling, and #1 international bestselling author of The Paris Daughter, The Forest of Vanishing Stars, The Book of Lost Names, The Winemaker’s Wife, and a dozen other novels that have been translated into more than 30 languages and are sold all over the world.

Kristin has been writing professionally since the age of 16, when she began her career as a sportswriter, covering Major League Baseball and NHL hockey for a local magazine in Tampa Bay, Florida in the late 1990s. In addition to a long magazine writing career, primarily writing and reporting for PEOPLE magazine (as well as articles published in numerous other magazines, including American Baby, Men’s Health, Woman’s Day, and more), Kristin was also a frequent contributor to the national television morning show The Daily Buzz. She sold her first novel in 2004, and it debuted in February 2006.

Kristin was born just outside Boston, Massachusetts and spent her childhood there, as well as in Worthington, Ohio, and St. Petersburg, Florida. After graduating with a degree in journalism (with a minor in Spanish) from the University of Florida, she spent time living in Paris and Los Angeles and now lives in Orlando, with her husband and young son. She is also the co-founder and co-host of the popular weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction.

Reviews

[Elaine and Tess the Springer. I won’t be on GR for a bit. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story.

A beautiful story of love and hate and war. Christmas always makes me smile, add in a little bit of love and mix well. I am going to read The Sweetness of Forgetting and finish the story.

[Gemma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really sure what to make of this . It was well written, and I'm sure the book it compliments is lovely.
For me though, a Christmas read is meant to leave you warm and fuzzy, and this doesn't do it for me I'm afraid.

[Lady Alexandrine · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a cute, romantic story. It was very short, but still managed to be historically inaccurate. The author wrote that Nazis persecuted Jews, because of religion. And then she paints America as a country where nobody is persecuted because of religion. The truth is that Nazis persecuted Jews because of their race. They didn't care if they were atheists or practicing Jews. And in America racism and antisemitism was rampant during the World War II. "During World War II and the Holocaust, antisemitism was a factor that limited American Jewish action during the war, and it also put American Jews in a difficult position. It is clear that antisemitism was a prevalent attitude in the US, and it was even more widespread in America during the Holocaust." Cited from Wikipedia. The most painful to remember is the fact that many ships with European Jewish children that reached the American shores, where turned back during the war, with full knowledge that these children would die. Rewriting history like that, painting America like some kind of utopia is wrong. And don't even get me started on antisemitism in France before and during the World War II. "Vichy's antisemitic legislation was entirely French and did not, as was claimed by many at the Liberation, result from German pressure." Cited from the https://www.history.ox.ac.uk/jewish-g...

[Ellyn (Mrs. Darcy in my Dreams) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done short story! 😞 sad though! I think the book it came from Sweetness of Forgetting is a tearjerker!

[Carolyn Scarcella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a short Christmas story is called “The Snow Globe” written by Kristin Harmel. What i didn’t know, this story is the first book she wrote based on the relationship of Jacob and Rose when they meet in Paris in 1942, a Jewish boy and a Parisian girl who he falls in love with her the day before his 16th birthday. The book is very beautifully written which I am intrigued to continue reading the whole story in the novel is called “Sweetest of Forgetting”

[Natalie TBGWP · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's 1942 in Paris and we meet a young Jewish boy the day before his sixteenth birthday when he meets Rose a young Parisian who he falls on love with. We watch them fall in love and him honour their love with a family heirloom snow globe. A year on, but this time in the Auschwitz concentration camps were the young Jewish boy is now a labourer.

If I'm being totally honest with you here I didn't get it. I got the meaning of it, but I don't think I saw the point of it. I suppose it could be a nice little love novella. I'm not sure though. I'm told The Snow Globe is just a short Christmas story written to complement the novel The Sweetness of Forgetting, so I think I'm going to read that to see how it works out.

[Jane Shambler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet

Really sweet story in a time of war and persecution. Well written. Made me smile despite the circumstances. I know it's only a story but I hope he found Rose.

[Sal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely little story of how hope can keep you going even through the depths of winter in a concentration camp.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous, poignant and very moving .. Written through the eyes of a teenage boy and how his hopes of the future bolster his spirit to survive the present .. Not a dry eye here

Re-read 2018 .. This short story still pulls at my heart strings .. It is so beautifully written that I can see the boy & Rose falling in love even though their futures are far from certain .. Totally loved the analogy of The Snow Globe at the end ..

Re-read 2019 .. Beautiful story that keeps pulling me back - Always makes me cry ..

Re-read 2020 .. Just love this 30 min read - so beautiful, so sad, but full of hope ..

Re-read Christmas Day 2021 .. still makes me cry

Re-read December 2022 .. I never tire of reading this one - brings a wonderful perspective to the final week of the year ..

Re-read Xmas Day 2023 .. still grabs me

Re-read December 2024 .. post Christmas this year - want to take this message into the New Year

Re-read December 2025 .. a New Year message, just as the current year ends

[Regina Carolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely short story by Kristin Harmel that I got on Amazon for free.

Christmas Eve 1942 Paris. A young Jewish boy stands in the Jardin du Luxembourg beneath his favourite statue as darkness seeps in and the snow falls around him.

It's getting late to late for the boy to be there anymore it was near curfew and he would barley make it home on time if he didn't move. That's when he saw her a beautiful girl who he fell instantly in love with, the girl he would someday marry. He gives her the snow globe his grandfather had passed on to him.

For the next year and a half there love grows until the boy is taken to Auschwitz concentration camps. The boy is now a labourer all around him he sees people giving up and death, but the only thing that keeps him going is the thoughts of finding Rose again and marrying her.

A lovely short story that has you wanting more. I will defiantly be getting The Sweetness of Forgetting to find out how the story resonates.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having already read the sweetness of forgiving, I felt this was familiar and when I got to the end I knew why.

This is a really cute should read.

[Stephanie Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very short story, but such a well-written prequel I'm starting the next book immediately!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The Snow Globe was a short, poignant novella that serves as a prequel to The Sweetness of Forgetting. Set against the backdrop of war and persecution, it offered a touching glimpse into the lives of characters facing immense challenges during a dark time in history. Despite its brevity, the story managed to capture the warmth and spirit of the holiday season, while also hinting at the depth that will be found in the full-length novel.

Kristin Harmel’s writing was, as always, beautiful with vivid descriptions that brought both the setting and emotions to life. The themes of love, hope, and resilience came through clearly, making this a heartwarming read.

While the novella was quite short and limited in depth, it definitely piqued my interest in reading The Sweetness of Forgetting. Overall, The Snow Globe was a quick Christmas read with emotional depth and historical context.

[Emma Murch · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚 Book Review 📚

This is a beautiful short story about a Jewish boy at the start of the war, who meets and falls in love with a Jewish girl on the eve of his sixteenth birthday, in their native France.

There are only 16 pages in this tale, each one beautifully written and as I leave this young man in the horror of Auschwitz on Christmas Eve, I am struck by his lasting hope that better days will surely come.

I have not read anything by Kristin Harmel before now and I have found out that the characters appear in one of her novels The Sweetness of Forgetting, which I will now be adding to my long list of wannabooks.

This may be short, but it is most definitely sweet.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Clara Ferreira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a short book, so it is really easy to read.
I never read anything from this author before, so it was definitely a first for me, but I could definitely notice that she is such a romantic author.
This is the shortest and most romantic story that I ever read in my entire life. I sad one, unfortunately; but I loved it.
I also have to make a reference to the way that the author talks about religion in her book - I love the way that she says that religion is a part of us, and people shouldn't be defined by it.
Thank you for such a lovely book.

[Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short love story. Already read the love story of Jacob and Rose and enjoyed Hope's journey through their family history. (The Sweetness of Forgetting)

Downloaded this book. Read in about an hour.

[K.J. Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poignant and moving tale of a Jewish boy meeting a Jewish girl on Christmas eve in Nazi occupied France and falling in love.

It is well written and takes us on a long journey in few pages. From Paris to Auschwitz concentration camp. I could have continued reading.

[Sheila Patel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Power, beautiful

Wonderful short story covering something so delicate. A must read, powerful, beautiful characters. Loved the snow globe idea, simple but effective.

[Hilary Fyfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review

I loved this book because every time when you turned the page you always wondered what will happen next. I will recommend this book to people who like romance and mystery.

[Carol Sandford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written

I wish wish wish this had been a full length story. But this a follow on so I'm off to read that...

[Aiàlamode · Rating 3 out of 5]

An OK short love story set in occupied Paris

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good short story, well written but left me wanting more

[Claire Hockley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely book but not enough of it! Just wish the boy had a name

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t love it - I just didn’t get the Christmassy feeling

[Caron Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just far too short, I wouldn't have bought it had I realised, very well written, but I just didn't see the point of such a short book then leading you to another book.

[Karen]

Short Story.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

After having read The Sweetness of Forgetting, I really enjoyed this novella prequel. Written from the viewpoint of a sixteen-year-old Jewish boy, the story is emotionally moving. Such a sweet love develops between Jacob and Rose through the analogy of a snow globe.

Thank you to the author and Quercus Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

[Lisa Bentley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis

On the eve of his 16th birthday, our unnamed protagonist falls in love with a girl called Rose. Their love story unfurls in Nazi occupied Paris and when the couple are torn apart by war their love for ech other keeps the hope of reunion alive.

Review

I read this short story because I just needed to pick one for Short Story Saturday. Little did I know the magic that was contained within the sixteen pages. I did not know how much In would fall in love with the characters.

As you are aware, I am not a fan of the short story because I hate the unsatisfying feeling of being left wanting more. With The Snow Globe, Kristin Harmel managed to pull that feeling from me. – boo hiss but bravo too. I was screaming at my Kindle when it came to an end. Nope. I needed more. I needed to know what happened! Fortunately, the short story was really just a precursor to a novel…which I have now had to purchase.

I thoroughly recommend this short story. I know I have just gone on about how frustrating it is but equally, it is stunning. The innocence of young love against the backdrop of war is such a powerful juxtaposition. You couldn’t help but want to read on, read more.

It is a beautiful story and I cannot wait to read more.

Read this short story, read it now.

The Snow Globe by Kristin Harmel is available now.

[Bam cooks the books · Rating 3 out of 5]

On a snowy Christmas Eve in Paris in 1942, a young Jewish boy stands beneath the statue of Liberte in the Jardin du Luxembourg and dreams of a new life in America. He will turn sixteen on Christmas Day and become a man. But already the war is closing in on the Jews of the city. What hope is there for dreams of a future?

Also in the park on that evening is a young girl accompanied by her little brother and with just one look, the young man is in love. In her eyes he finds a world of hope and promise...

This touching, seasonal short story is available as a free gift from the author on her website, enticing readers to read more in her novel, The Sweetness of Forgetting.

[Wendy Unsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poignant short story set in Paris in 1942. On Christmas Eve a young, Jewish boy meets a girl and it is love at first sight. They meet again and he gives her a snow globe; a precious family item passed on to him from his grandfather.

One year later the boy is in Auschwitz, surrounded by death and despair and only the memory of his love and the possibility of seeing her again gives him hope.

This was a free download, a prequel to a novel, The Sweetness of Forgetting. It is beautifully and tenderly told.