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The Puppet Boy Of Warsaw
THE PUPPET BOY OF WARSAW is the story of Mika, a Jewish boy who inherits a coat from his grandfather and discovers a puppet in one of its many secret pockets. He becomes a puppeteer in the Warsaw ghetto, but when his talent is discovered, Mika is forced to entertain the occupying German troops instead of his countrymen.
It is also the story of Max, a German soldier stationed in Warsaw, whose experiences in Poland and later in Siberia's Gulag show a different side to the Second World War. As one of Mika's puppets is passed to the soldier, a war-torn legacy is handed from one generation to another.
It is also the story of Max, a German soldier stationed in Warsaw, whose experiences in Poland and later in Siberia's Gulag show a different side to the Second World War. As one of Mika's puppets is passed to the soldier, a war-torn legacy is handed from one generation to another.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published April 11, 2013
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3088 people want to read
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December 12, 2017
A book and Author I knew nothing about beforehand, other than it's Warsaw setting during WW2, a subject I am deeply passionate about, this novel though left me with mixed feelings. It's a warming tale and written with the full intentions of pulling at the heartstrings, which it does, but that depends on how much over-sentimentality you can take. It's one of my pet hates, and this does the cross the line from the mid-way point, but as this deals with the horrendous suffering of the Jews and the aftermath of war, it's understandable why Weaver goes in this direction following the events during the holocaust, giving the Novel a softer tone like that of an exaggerated weepy movie.
The story starts off in Modern day New York, as an ageing Jewish man, Mika, and grandson, Danny, are out walking when he notices a poster advertising 'The Puppet Boy of Warsaw', this stirs something deep within him, and on returning home he tells Danny a remarkable story of his time as a boy spent in the Warsaw Ghettos during the Second World War, in which after the loss of his Grandfather, he inherits his huge coat. It's full of many pockets, with secret pockets within the pockets, to hide precious personal items from the Nazis. Mika finds a puppet in one of the pockets, and after entering his grandfathers workshop he discovers many others, and decides in his honour to put on Puppet shows as a way to give hope and a ray of sunshine to the small children at a nearby Orphanage. Word gets around, and many others are drawn to Mika and his puppets as a show of defiance during the darkest days of their lives. The problem being the SS (or rats as they are called here) get involved, and Mika is forced to put on shows for other SS officers on the German side of the gates, by Max an SS member.
After a trust is built between Mika and Max, he uses this to his advantage by smuggling small children to safety by hiding them inside his coat, unbelievable?, probably so, but it works.
As war intensifies, with the Russians forcing their way west, Mika gives Max one of his puppets 'The Price', before both part ways, as the Third Reich starts to crumble.
The second half of the novel was a disappointment, like Weaver had her finger on the fast-forward button. The early pacing worked beautifully, giving such finer details to the story, you are pulled into Mika's world, and really feel for him. But then the story starts to rush, suddenly writing of 'as the years pass on by'. Max is sent to the Gulag in Siberia, before escaping, travels for three years to get back to his wife and son in Germany. Before you now it, his son is grown up with a child of his own. Years later, Max gives his granddaughter his old puppet, telling of it's origins and Mika. All this seems to happen in hardly any time at all, giving little to character development, it was difficult to keep up. Before it goes for the emotional Hollywood ending as Mika lies in a hospital bed. I have read a lot of WW2 fiction/ non-fiction better than this, just couldn't get my head around some of the things that take place here, and the pacing went from a comfortable walk to a sprint. But it was written with heart, and for fan's of 'All the Light We Cannot See' or 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' it might be worth a read. I know it's only fiction, but it's semi-unrealistic and overly sentimental nature partially ruined it for me. A kind rather than solid 3/5. It's the season of good will after all.
The story starts off in Modern day New York, as an ageing Jewish man, Mika, and grandson, Danny, are out walking when he notices a poster advertising 'The Puppet Boy of Warsaw', this stirs something deep within him, and on returning home he tells Danny a remarkable story of his time as a boy spent in the Warsaw Ghettos during the Second World War, in which after the loss of his Grandfather, he inherits his huge coat. It's full of many pockets, with secret pockets within the pockets, to hide precious personal items from the Nazis. Mika finds a puppet in one of the pockets, and after entering his grandfathers workshop he discovers many others, and decides in his honour to put on Puppet shows as a way to give hope and a ray of sunshine to the small children at a nearby Orphanage. Word gets around, and many others are drawn to Mika and his puppets as a show of defiance during the darkest days of their lives. The problem being the SS (or rats as they are called here) get involved, and Mika is forced to put on shows for other SS officers on the German side of the gates, by Max an SS member.
After a trust is built between Mika and Max, he uses this to his advantage by smuggling small children to safety by hiding them inside his coat, unbelievable?, probably so, but it works.
As war intensifies, with the Russians forcing their way west, Mika gives Max one of his puppets 'The Price', before both part ways, as the Third Reich starts to crumble.
The second half of the novel was a disappointment, like Weaver had her finger on the fast-forward button. The early pacing worked beautifully, giving such finer details to the story, you are pulled into Mika's world, and really feel for him. But then the story starts to rush, suddenly writing of 'as the years pass on by'. Max is sent to the Gulag in Siberia, before escaping, travels for three years to get back to his wife and son in Germany. Before you now it, his son is grown up with a child of his own. Years later, Max gives his granddaughter his old puppet, telling of it's origins and Mika. All this seems to happen in hardly any time at all, giving little to character development, it was difficult to keep up. Before it goes for the emotional Hollywood ending as Mika lies in a hospital bed. I have read a lot of WW2 fiction/ non-fiction better than this, just couldn't get my head around some of the things that take place here, and the pacing went from a comfortable walk to a sprint. But it was written with heart, and for fan's of 'All the Light We Cannot See' or 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' it might be worth a read. I know it's only fiction, but it's semi-unrealistic and overly sentimental nature partially ruined it for me. A kind rather than solid 3/5. It's the season of good will after all.
February 22, 2016
“So, whenever you see an ordinary coat, think about what may linger in its folds, what memories might be hidden in its pockets. It might whisper to you at night. There are many more stories sewn into its sleeves and many treasures harboured in its seams.
This book was almost excellent. The story itself is fantastic, but the problem is that the second half of the book was completely lacking the excellence of the first. It was like the second half of the story wasn’t finalised completely, and still needed to be edited and polished up. Perhaps the author had a deadline to contend with or perhaps her heart wasn’t in the writing of Max’s part of the story. But, either way, the result was a novel that was only half good, in terms of its actual writing. The story, however, made up for it.
A source of inspiration
I liked the way this book was structured; it could quite easily be made into a movie. The first part of it follows the childhood of Mika- The Puppet Boy. And he has such a sad tale to tell. He begins his journey as an innocent youth who likes nothing more than to make young children smile with his punch and Judy type shows. But, his time in Nazi occupied Poland changes him; he loses his innocence and becomes what he needs to be to survive. He has to become a man, and fast, for the horrors inflicted upon the Polish means only the determined will survive. It was a shame to see this happen because this boy needed to grow up naturally, and not by forced exposure to the horrors of the war. His character development is a sad experience, but written superbly.
In addition to this, the novel portrays an important message; it suggests that amongst the evil of Nazi occupation, there is still good to be found in the hearts some of the German men. The soldiers weren’t all bad, obviously, some saw how bad their government’s regime was, but were powerless to do anything about it. The protagonist, Mika, represents half of this; he and his puppets bring joy to many an orphan; he is like a beacon of hope in which they draw a sense of inner strength and a will to endure. But, he is also a beacon for some of the Germans that have almost lost all sense of moral right. They see him and realise if a boy in a worse position that themselves can be brave, then so can they.
Almost fantastic
Indeed, later in the book the author also demonstrates the reluctance and guilt that some Nazi soldiers, undoubtedly, felt. Not all of them merely succumbed to a diffusion of responsibility and adopted the attitude that their orders were the right thing to follow. Max, who really was inspired by the puppet boy, came to develop a really heavy heart, as he dwelt on his regret for his inaction. This becomes the second half of the story, and it was a shame that it took Max so long to realise his weakness; it is only when he is in a Russian prison does he come to fully understand how the Polish Jews must have felt. The courage of the Puppet boy allowed him to develop the will to survive.
He realises what his inaction inflicted upon Mika. But, he only realises this when he comes to see the world through the eyes of the oppressed. This revelation changes his world, as he undergoes a sense of moral regeneration. But, he could never be the same man again nor could he be happy. This is where the poor writing comes through; I feel some details were omitted from Max’s story. Some of it was rushed over and never fully explained. It takes him three years to get home, but his journey is summed up in a few pages. I think this deserved at least a few chapters to show how he survived for such a long time in the wilderness, and how his courage was, again, fortified.
This book has such an excellent story; the idea behind the coat and the puppets was very strong. But, what it needed was, was a good editor. With just a few changes, and a little bit of more time spent on it, this book could have quite easily have been something quite great; this could have been something special. Its three quarters of the way there, but not quite complete. The dialogue needed more work, overall, as did the second part of it. My rating of the novel is still quite high, all things considered, so it demonstrates how close this was to being what I consider to be a fantastic novel. The standard of the writing just let it down.
A deserved five stars An almost excellent four stars
This book was almost excellent. The story itself is fantastic, but the problem is that the second half of the book was completely lacking the excellence of the first. It was like the second half of the story wasn’t finalised completely, and still needed to be edited and polished up. Perhaps the author had a deadline to contend with or perhaps her heart wasn’t in the writing of Max’s part of the story. But, either way, the result was a novel that was only half good, in terms of its actual writing. The story, however, made up for it.
A source of inspiration
I liked the way this book was structured; it could quite easily be made into a movie. The first part of it follows the childhood of Mika- The Puppet Boy. And he has such a sad tale to tell. He begins his journey as an innocent youth who likes nothing more than to make young children smile with his punch and Judy type shows. But, his time in Nazi occupied Poland changes him; he loses his innocence and becomes what he needs to be to survive. He has to become a man, and fast, for the horrors inflicted upon the Polish means only the determined will survive. It was a shame to see this happen because this boy needed to grow up naturally, and not by forced exposure to the horrors of the war. His character development is a sad experience, but written superbly.
In addition to this, the novel portrays an important message; it suggests that amongst the evil of Nazi occupation, there is still good to be found in the hearts some of the German men. The soldiers weren’t all bad, obviously, some saw how bad their government’s regime was, but were powerless to do anything about it. The protagonist, Mika, represents half of this; he and his puppets bring joy to many an orphan; he is like a beacon of hope in which they draw a sense of inner strength and a will to endure. But, he is also a beacon for some of the Germans that have almost lost all sense of moral right. They see him and realise if a boy in a worse position that themselves can be brave, then so can they.
Almost fantastic
Indeed, later in the book the author also demonstrates the reluctance and guilt that some Nazi soldiers, undoubtedly, felt. Not all of them merely succumbed to a diffusion of responsibility and adopted the attitude that their orders were the right thing to follow. Max, who really was inspired by the puppet boy, came to develop a really heavy heart, as he dwelt on his regret for his inaction. This becomes the second half of the story, and it was a shame that it took Max so long to realise his weakness; it is only when he is in a Russian prison does he come to fully understand how the Polish Jews must have felt. The courage of the Puppet boy allowed him to develop the will to survive.
He realises what his inaction inflicted upon Mika. But, he only realises this when he comes to see the world through the eyes of the oppressed. This revelation changes his world, as he undergoes a sense of moral regeneration. But, he could never be the same man again nor could he be happy. This is where the poor writing comes through; I feel some details were omitted from Max’s story. Some of it was rushed over and never fully explained. It takes him three years to get home, but his journey is summed up in a few pages. I think this deserved at least a few chapters to show how he survived for such a long time in the wilderness, and how his courage was, again, fortified.
This book has such an excellent story; the idea behind the coat and the puppets was very strong. But, what it needed was, was a good editor. With just a few changes, and a little bit of more time spent on it, this book could have quite easily have been something quite great; this could have been something special. Its three quarters of the way there, but not quite complete. The dialogue needed more work, overall, as did the second part of it. My rating of the novel is still quite high, all things considered, so it demonstrates how close this was to being what I consider to be a fantastic novel. The standard of the writing just let it down.
March 18, 2013
The World War II story is narrated by an elderly Jewish man, Mika, recalling his time in the Warsaw ghetto. Mika meets Max, a German soldier, and gives Max his favourite puppet the 'Prince', binding the men, forever. Max narrates the second part of the novel describing his journey to and escaping a Siberian gulag. The puppets bear witness to the hardships Mika and Max endure and bring joy and entertainment to their harsh realities. The third part of the novel has Max's grand-daughter, and her puppet troupe, in present day New York searching for Mika.
The puppets are the most interesting narrative device in this story that describes the well-known horrors of the Nazi occupation of Poland. I don't doubt this book will find a large audience.
However, it is not a well-written book; the dialogue is stilted and unnatural, there are problems with the pacing and the sequencing of time frames. The novel would have worked better if the authorial voice was not so didactic and employed subtler devices to show not tell, how war affects and changes lives.
The puppets are the most interesting narrative device in this story that describes the well-known horrors of the Nazi occupation of Poland. I don't doubt this book will find a large audience.
However, it is not a well-written book; the dialogue is stilted and unnatural, there are problems with the pacing and the sequencing of time frames. The novel would have worked better if the authorial voice was not so didactic and employed subtler devices to show not tell, how war affects and changes lives.
February 20, 2015
Wow . This book is powerful. So much more than another holocaust book it chronicles lives both during and afterwards linked to the puppets.
Its a very sad story but wonderfully told and so well written.
Its a book about human tragedy but with moments of wonder and kindness.
Highly recommended
Its a very sad story but wonderfully told and so well written.
Its a book about human tragedy but with moments of wonder and kindness.
Highly recommended
September 11, 2016
4.5 La historia es hermosa, algunas partes parecieran narradas a modo de cuento, pero llega al corazón.
July 24, 2015
One of the best books chronicling the horrors of WW2 that I have ever read. The dialogue is a little stilted and doesn't flow great at times, especially towards the end of the book. Wonderful characters. This book will make you smile and cry, it will really make you feel. One of the things I appreciated most was that it showed that many Nazi soldiers were just men, eaten up by the machine is war. No fingers are pointed here, this is just war and what it does to people. Have yet to see Russians painted in a human light...
December 8, 2021
"Hayatın en zor anında bile bir umut vardır ve bazen bu umut, küçük bir çocuğun yüreğine en yakın yerde hayatı selamlamayı bekleyen bir kuklanın verdiği umuttur."
Karakter geçişiyle dönemi farklı açılardan gözler önüne seren bir kitap. Kesinlikle akıcı, okurken aynı havayı soluduğunuzu düşünecek kadar gerçekçi bir anlatım... Kurgusal dönem kitapları içinde başarılı bulduğumu söyleyebilirim.
Karakter geçişiyle dönemi farklı açılardan gözler önüne seren bir kitap. Kesinlikle akıcı, okurken aynı havayı soluduğunuzu düşünecek kadar gerçekçi bir anlatım... Kurgusal dönem kitapları içinde başarılı bulduğumu söyleyebilirim.
January 12, 2013
I really enjoyed reading this book, it is a very gripping story, the sort you can't put down until the end is reached! Although the book does depict events of the holocaust, it is a more a story of human determination, courage and bravery. The book is mainly based around the life of one person, there are some sad moments, but it is also very thought provoking.
Although the times depicted in the book are awful, I liked the way that the book showed how the people made the best of what they had and went out of their way to bring joy to the lives of others. I would definitely recommend that you read this book, you won’t be disappointed!
Although the times depicted in the book are awful, I liked the way that the book showed how the people made the best of what they had and went out of their way to bring joy to the lives of others. I would definitely recommend that you read this book, you won’t be disappointed!
April 13, 2022
Ölüm beni korkutuyor. Ölümün gözlerinin içine o kadar çok baktım ki.
//
Son zamanlarda yorumlarım hep bu şekilde olduğu için tatminsiz görünmek istemem ama gerçekten yine finale doğru bir acelecilik, olmamışlık, baştan savmalık artık adına ne derseniz o hissediliyor. Bir noktada okurun kalbini saran, acısıyla içine oturan, sarsıcı ve tam olarak bu neden(ler)le unutulmayan bir hikaye olabilirdi.
Yine de sevdiğim bir kitap oldu. Sanırım yeni bir Kitap Hırsızı keşfetmeye çalışmaktan vazgeçmeliyim. İçten içe inanın bana gerçekten istemsizce kıyaslama yapıyorum bitmedi kendimle savaşım bitmedi.
//
Son zamanlarda yorumlarım hep bu şekilde olduğu için tatminsiz görünmek istemem ama gerçekten yine finale doğru bir acelecilik, olmamışlık, baştan savmalık artık adına ne derseniz o hissediliyor. Bir noktada okurun kalbini saran, acısıyla içine oturan, sarsıcı ve tam olarak bu neden(ler)le unutulmayan bir hikaye olabilirdi.
Yine de sevdiğim bir kitap oldu. Sanırım yeni bir Kitap Hırsızı keşfetmeye çalışmaktan vazgeçmeliyim. İçten içe inanın bana gerçekten istemsizce kıyaslama yapıyorum bitmedi kendimle savaşım bitmedi.
March 16, 2018
Una historia muy buena, llena de alegría, esperanza, y de cómo devolver la sonrisa, en mitad de las tinieblas.
Mika y sus marionetas, se vienen conmigo!
Muy bonita, me ha gustado mucho....
Mika y sus marionetas, se vienen conmigo!
Muy bonita, me ha gustado mucho....
May 31, 2020
Es muy entretenido pero no es verosímil. Tiene partes muy bonitas y otras que te dejan en plan WTF!!
August 18, 2014
When I heard of The Puppet Boy of Warsaw I immediately added it to my wishlist. A novel about the Warsaw ghetto and a Gulag is a winning combination in my book, since Gulags aren't discussed as much as the Holocaust in literature. A novel which tells the story from the point of view of both factions is a rare gem, and it could have been the perfect way to explore the feelings of Germans regarding the Holocaust.
Unfortunately, it was a disappointment. It started out great, with the childhood of Mika, the main character, but the author kept adding characters on top of characters, until it was obvious that the intended scope was too big for the meagre plot. From Mika's grandfather to Mika's grandson, and the muddled family history of a German soldier who was in the ghetto, The Puppet Boy of Warsaw spans six generations, four countries and roughly a century, in just 300 pages. While it could have worked in theory, it felt unfocused and all over the place.
On the other hand, the novel is extremely well-reserached. I learned a lot about the Warsaw-Ghetto Uprising of 1943, and the author weaved Mika into the revolution seamlessly. However, that was the only high point of the whole novel for me. The Puppet Boy of Warsaw was excessively simplistic, and the author took on a didactic and moralising tone that felt awfully patronising. Readers don't want to be told that war is bad, they need to be shown so. This is a recurring theme in the novel - we are always told how wonderful a puppeteer Mika is, but we are never shown any of his performances. The sequence would go something like this: someone is sad and needs some cheering, Mika does his thing, everyone who watches is awed and feels fantastic all of a sudden. What exactly Mika said or did, nobody knows. After countless repetitions of this nonsense, I couldn't help but feel that the puppeteering, which could have been very innovative, was just a boring gimmick.
The story had promise, but it fell short. Maybe in the hands of a more skilled author it could have been a good novel. And yet this will have a broad public, since it is one of those books that make you feel awful if you don't cry with its characters. I feel bad, because I really wanted to like this, but that was the last nail in the coffin. WWII was devastating enough as it was without the need to be emotionally manipulative with your readers.
Unfortunately, it was a disappointment. It started out great, with the childhood of Mika, the main character, but the author kept adding characters on top of characters, until it was obvious that the intended scope was too big for the meagre plot. From Mika's grandfather to Mika's grandson, and the muddled family history of a German soldier who was in the ghetto, The Puppet Boy of Warsaw spans six generations, four countries and roughly a century, in just 300 pages. While it could have worked in theory, it felt unfocused and all over the place.
On the other hand, the novel is extremely well-reserached. I learned a lot about the Warsaw-Ghetto Uprising of 1943, and the author weaved Mika into the revolution seamlessly. However, that was the only high point of the whole novel for me. The Puppet Boy of Warsaw was excessively simplistic, and the author took on a didactic and moralising tone that felt awfully patronising. Readers don't want to be told that war is bad, they need to be shown so. This is a recurring theme in the novel - we are always told how wonderful a puppeteer Mika is, but we are never shown any of his performances. The sequence would go something like this: someone is sad and needs some cheering, Mika does his thing, everyone who watches is awed and feels fantastic all of a sudden. What exactly Mika said or did, nobody knows. After countless repetitions of this nonsense, I couldn't help but feel that the puppeteering, which could have been very innovative, was just a boring gimmick.
The story had promise, but it fell short. Maybe in the hands of a more skilled author it could have been a good novel. And yet this will have a broad public, since it is one of those books that make you feel awful if you don't cry with its characters. I feel bad, because I really wanted to like this, but that was the last nail in the coffin. WWII was devastating enough as it was without the need to be emotionally manipulative with your readers.
February 10, 2013
My love of WW2 is greatly known, so when an ARC came into work and the magic key words were spoken my friend nabbed it and put it aside for me. And what a tale it was! Holed up in Warsaw ghetto, a young Jewish lad with an incredible talent for puppetry and an old coat capable of holding a great many secrets tell a wondrous tale of courage, determination and above all, hope. It really gets down into the nitty gritty of living in such conditions with little to no access to food, hygiene, medicines, freedom, and all the things we take for granted today. What people were prepared to do, both as brave Jewish smugglers trying to survive or German soldiers under strict orders (or Jewish informants, or German saviors) never fails to capture me and this really was no different. I especially liked the switch of point of view to Max as he does a bit of soul searching with his fellow German soldiers trying to come to terms with what they did during those horrible years. Responses ranged from "we only did what we were told" to feeling really quite guilty about it all, and I really feel like this would accurately represent the mindset of the Germans at that time.
I was completely engrossed in this filthy and downtrodden world, cringing at every injustice and anxious to leave the company of the soldiers behind at every page. The puppetry did bring moments of lightness and despite all the horrible things that happen I did find it to be a encouraging story. Look out for it on the shelves this April.
I was completely engrossed in this filthy and downtrodden world, cringing at every injustice and anxious to leave the company of the soldiers behind at every page. The puppetry did bring moments of lightness and despite all the horrible things that happen I did find it to be a encouraging story. Look out for it on the shelves this April.
April 12, 2015
What to say of this book. It is so beautiful and so powerful. Every word, every character is so right and it feels so very real. It has every single emotion possible and the timing is perfect. I was happy when they were happy and I felt chills when they were grieving. For me to have have goosebumps or teary eyes while reading is rare and shows just how good this book is.
Even better is that it must have taken great courage to write since the author herself is German and yet she made no excuses for the wrongs done by the Germans to the Jews, the Poles or anyone for that matter. That can't have been easy, but it speaks of great empathy which is one of the greatest tools for a writer.
Even better is that it must have taken great courage to write since the author herself is German and yet she made no excuses for the wrongs done by the Germans to the Jews, the Poles or anyone for that matter. That can't have been easy, but it speaks of great empathy which is one of the greatest tools for a writer.
May 13, 2014
This book was disappointing. The interesting story was, I felt, spoiled by the unsubtle handling of the literary device (the puppets) and the clumsy prose. The dialogue was unnatural and the abundance of cliches made me cringe - a shame, as the historical aspect of the story is so important.
January 19, 2020
Het boek 'de poppenspeler van Warschau' vertelt het verhaal van Mika, een Poolse Jood die in het ghetto van Warschau terecht komt. Op diezelfde gruwelijke plek probeert hij een straaltje hoop te laten schijnen. Daarnaast maak je ook kennis met Max. Een nazi-soldaat die zijn verhaal vertelt.
Verhalen over het leven in de ghetto zijn zeer schaars. De meeste WOII romans gaan over de concentratiekampen. Het was dan ook een verademing om kennis te maken met het ghetto in Warschau. Evenals met de kampen in Siberië. Dit maakt het boek zo uniek. De locaties waar de verhalen zich afspelen zijn nog niet vaak gebruikt in boeken.
Op vlak van historische feiten klopt het grotendeels wel. Hier en daar waren er wat kleinere details die ik in vraag stelde, maar het stoorde mij niet. Het boek is waarheidsgetrouw en ondanks dat de personages fictie zijn, heeft de auteur slimme easter eggs in het verhaal gestopt. Er zijn namelijk enkele personages die meermaals terugkomen voor een heel korte periode. Het zijn mensen die echt bestaan hebben en waarvan hun verhaal ook klopt.
Een leuk detail dat meer dimensie in het verhaal brengt. Doordat het meerdere perspectieven bevat en die echtheid van personen eraan toe wordt gevoegd, krijgt de lezer een heel realistisch beeld. Dat wekt dan weer medelijden op met de personages. De auteur is erin geslaagd om geen dader en slachtoffer rol toe te wijzen. Zowel de Jood als de Duitser zijn slachtoffer, maar op sommige vlakken ook dader. Die objectiviteit is een van de sterkste aspecten aan dit boek.
Het verhaal is zeer emotioneel en grijpt je zeker naar de keel. Er zijn heel trieste scenes in verwerkt. Al zijn er ook voldoende momenten waarop de lezer kan genieten van een luchtiger stukje.
Over het algemeen vond ik de schrijfstijl vlot en aangenaam. Alleen ondervond ik op sommige momenten dat het heel traag voorbij ging. De schrijfstijl verliep dan plots wat stroever waardoor je als lezer even wat bleef hangen in het verhaal.
Ik ben zelf geen voorstander van waarschuwingen vooraan een boek, maar als het over ethische kwesties gaat vind ik dit wel belangrijk. Het boek bevat namelijk incest en als lezer had ik dit vooraf graag geweten. Voor mij was dat een storend element, maar ook een heel eigen ervaring. Voor iemand anders kan dit als niet storend ervaren worden, maar mijn leeservaring leed er wel onder. Vooral mijn band met die specifieke personages was hierdoor vrij afstandelijk.
Dit boek is zeker een aanrader voor al die graag eens wat anders lezen dan enkel de kampen. Het boek heeft een prachtige boodschap die ook vandaag de dag relevant is.
Verhalen over het leven in de ghetto zijn zeer schaars. De meeste WOII romans gaan over de concentratiekampen. Het was dan ook een verademing om kennis te maken met het ghetto in Warschau. Evenals met de kampen in Siberië. Dit maakt het boek zo uniek. De locaties waar de verhalen zich afspelen zijn nog niet vaak gebruikt in boeken.
Op vlak van historische feiten klopt het grotendeels wel. Hier en daar waren er wat kleinere details die ik in vraag stelde, maar het stoorde mij niet. Het boek is waarheidsgetrouw en ondanks dat de personages fictie zijn, heeft de auteur slimme easter eggs in het verhaal gestopt. Er zijn namelijk enkele personages die meermaals terugkomen voor een heel korte periode. Het zijn mensen die echt bestaan hebben en waarvan hun verhaal ook klopt.
Een leuk detail dat meer dimensie in het verhaal brengt. Doordat het meerdere perspectieven bevat en die echtheid van personen eraan toe wordt gevoegd, krijgt de lezer een heel realistisch beeld. Dat wekt dan weer medelijden op met de personages. De auteur is erin geslaagd om geen dader en slachtoffer rol toe te wijzen. Zowel de Jood als de Duitser zijn slachtoffer, maar op sommige vlakken ook dader. Die objectiviteit is een van de sterkste aspecten aan dit boek.
Het verhaal is zeer emotioneel en grijpt je zeker naar de keel. Er zijn heel trieste scenes in verwerkt. Al zijn er ook voldoende momenten waarop de lezer kan genieten van een luchtiger stukje.
Over het algemeen vond ik de schrijfstijl vlot en aangenaam. Alleen ondervond ik op sommige momenten dat het heel traag voorbij ging. De schrijfstijl verliep dan plots wat stroever waardoor je als lezer even wat bleef hangen in het verhaal.
Ik ben zelf geen voorstander van waarschuwingen vooraan een boek, maar als het over ethische kwesties gaat vind ik dit wel belangrijk. Het boek bevat namelijk incest en als lezer had ik dit vooraf graag geweten. Voor mij was dat een storend element, maar ook een heel eigen ervaring. Voor iemand anders kan dit als niet storend ervaren worden, maar mijn leeservaring leed er wel onder. Vooral mijn band met die specifieke personages was hierdoor vrij afstandelijk.
Dit boek is zeker een aanrader voor al die graag eens wat anders lezen dan enkel de kampen. Het boek heeft een prachtige boodschap die ook vandaag de dag relevant is.
November 11, 2018
Precioso libro duro y entrañable a la vez. La primera parte del libro es excelente. El final decae un pelín, pero igual es muy buena.
La idea de utilizar el arte de las marionetas para contar una historia tan dura hace que pueda leerse detalles de la crueldad de la guerra de una manera un poco más amable.
Muestra la guerra no solo del lado de los judíos, sino que seguramente también hubo soldados alemanes que fueron absorbidos por el sistema nazi. También muestra héroes de la guerra como los hubo en el orfanato y otros personajes que cuenta al final del libro del cual se inspiró para hacer el libro que ahora quiero leer sus biografías
Muy buena prosa, entretenida, con momentos de intriga. Lo recomiendo
La idea de utilizar el arte de las marionetas para contar una historia tan dura hace que pueda leerse detalles de la crueldad de la guerra de una manera un poco más amable.
Muestra la guerra no solo del lado de los judíos, sino que seguramente también hubo soldados alemanes que fueron absorbidos por el sistema nazi. También muestra héroes de la guerra como los hubo en el orfanato y otros personajes que cuenta al final del libro del cual se inspiró para hacer el libro que ahora quiero leer sus biografías
Muy buena prosa, entretenida, con momentos de intriga. Lo recomiendo
April 8, 2013
This is a beautifully written book that is deeply moving. Set against the very real and difficult period of World War II at it’s very worst –the creation of the Jewish ghetto in Warsaw, through the deportations and to the bitter uprising of the last remaining Jews – it follows the story of Mika, a teenager who finds solace from the troubles in the puppets his grandfather left him along with a coat of many pockets. He becomes known as ‘The Puppet Boy’, bringing smiles to the children in the ghetto, but when Max, a German soldier, discovers him with puppets, things become very dangerous for Mika when he is forced to leave the ghetto to do weekly shows for the Germans who imprison them.
The book is told in three parts – Mika’s story, then the story of German Max after the war, and then a very touching section in modern day that brings their two stories full circle. The author has clearly done a lot of research, and while Mika’s story is entirely fictional, it captures the sights, smells and sounds of the time with a real sense of authority. While many of the events are horrific, Mika’s world of puppets captures the ability of children to escape into a fantasy world, despite the reality of their lives – showing the power of puppets (or art, or music, or books) to lift people’s spirits and repair their souls. Mika is a wonderful character, scared but brave, loyal and caring – and Max, the German who ends up having so much impact on the course of war for Mika, is a complicated and sympathetic villain.
I’d highly recommend this thought-provoking and original novel.
The book is told in three parts – Mika’s story, then the story of German Max after the war, and then a very touching section in modern day that brings their two stories full circle. The author has clearly done a lot of research, and while Mika’s story is entirely fictional, it captures the sights, smells and sounds of the time with a real sense of authority. While many of the events are horrific, Mika’s world of puppets captures the ability of children to escape into a fantasy world, despite the reality of their lives – showing the power of puppets (or art, or music, or books) to lift people’s spirits and repair their souls. Mika is a wonderful character, scared but brave, loyal and caring – and Max, the German who ends up having so much impact on the course of war for Mika, is a complicated and sympathetic villain.
I’d highly recommend this thought-provoking and original novel.
March 5, 2013
Literally just finished it. A moving story of Jews in Warsaw in the war and a boy who finds his grandfathers puppets and plays with them. I loved the first part of the book which is Mika (the puppet boy) story. The second part didn't quite grab me the same way though was good (with echoes of Between Shades of Gray in). The blurb suggests that if you liked The Book Thief this would appeal and I think that is true. For me it doesn't quite have the power that Book Thief has but it is a good read.
February 8, 2014
What a powerful book that conjures such images of the horror but also the resilience of the human spirit. The two halves of the book gave great insight to both sides of the fence. It allows you to scrape the surface of the deep scars that the war left on people. I loved the magic the puppets provided and how they managed to weave the tale together. Whilst a work of fiction it salutes many of the true heroes of the war who did what they could to protect the vulnerable, smuggle children or fight in the resistance. Highly recommended 4.5 stars.
May 25, 2013
Precioso. Una historia maravillosa, conmovedora..., me ha encantado.
July 30, 2016
enjoyed this book but felt however the second part felt slightly rushed and didnt have the same intensity as the first when the book was actually in the warsaw ghetto
February 3, 2022
A quite remarkable story, two stories in-fact, of survival and redemption. Set in the ghetto of Warsaw and the gulags of Siberia. The ending got me in the feels and that always gets the 5th star.
May 24, 2023
May is the start of a new round in The Book Hive Book Club and so my search began for a novel that reflected my newest joy…creating puppets. While I thought the search would be difficult since the only puppet-themed book I knew was Pinnochio, after some intense searching, I finally found the perfect combination of historical fiction (my favorite genre) AND puppets in Eva Weaver’s novel The Puppet Boy of Warsaw! Set during the Nazi invasion of Warsaw, the life of Miika, a young Jewish boy, is forever changed the day the Nazis kill his father and he rescues his father’s beloved coat out of a soldier's hands. When Mika dons the coat and reaches into a hidden pocket he finds a treasure cove of small puppets. With these puppets on hand, he quickly discovers that they help him escape the ugliness surrounding him by bringing moments of happiness to him and those who watch him perform. Unfortunately, his audience included German soldiers who had their own idea of entertainment. Just as the city of Warsaw was divided between the Jews and non-Jews, Weaver divides her book into two parts as well: Mika’s life and then the life of Max, a German soldier who encounters Mika. While anticipating feelings of justice in this later half, Weaver’s excellent character development made me soon realize that torture is torture no matter who is on the receiving end and everyone deserves to be treated as human no matter their transgressions. In addition to the obvious themes of perseverance, survival, family, and duty, Weaver also “weaves” in themes about coming-of-age, forgiveness, and redemption all while embracing that “puppets can reach behind the barriers of people’s hearts “ (pg 260). Whether you simply enjoy historical fiction or you love the performing arts (regardless of the medium), I highly recommend this 5-star book that pulled on all my heartstrings.
July 18, 2013
I wasn't too sure about being given this book to read as I knew it would contain horrors of the 2nd World War, mistreatment of the Jews, Poles etc from a personal perspective.
However the wonders of "the coat" and the puppets drew me in to appreciate the rest of that ghastly picture. The strength of the human soul under extreme hardship, family ties, how something small can become SO meaningful, what really matters in life!
And there's more - an individual German soldier and the dreadful times he endures after being to Siberia. The connection with the puppets - how under such dreadful conditions a powerful imagination can bring to life plays and stories that in turn bring to life ANY audience!
Well written, 3 journeys - 2 families and the puppets, strong characters and a satisfying ending!
However the wonders of "the coat" and the puppets drew me in to appreciate the rest of that ghastly picture. The strength of the human soul under extreme hardship, family ties, how something small can become SO meaningful, what really matters in life!
And there's more - an individual German soldier and the dreadful times he endures after being to Siberia. The connection with the puppets - how under such dreadful conditions a powerful imagination can bring to life plays and stories that in turn bring to life ANY audience!
Well written, 3 journeys - 2 families and the puppets, strong characters and a satisfying ending!
January 24, 2021
[RECENSIE: https://www.readabook.nl/2021/01/eva-...]
De poppenspeler van Warschau is een aanrader om te lezen! De hoofdpersonen zijn ontzettend sterk en het verhaal zit enorm goed in elkaar. In deze coronatijd, waarbij iedereen klaagt over het feit dat we niks meer mogen, is het goed om te lezen dat wij het zo slecht nog niet hebben.
De poppenspeler van Warschau is een aanrader om te lezen! De hoofdpersonen zijn ontzettend sterk en het verhaal zit enorm goed in elkaar. In deze coronatijd, waarbij iedereen klaagt over het feit dat we niks meer mogen, is het goed om te lezen dat wij het zo slecht nog niet hebben.
July 29, 2016
prachtig en aangrijpend verhaal !!! heel mooi verteld...met een zeer gevoelige toets... het verhaal van zowel Mika als Max is heel indrukwekkend, een vleugje realiteit en historie dat ons weer doet nadenken
November 23, 2013
An interesting story but not well-written - far too many cliches and too much "telling rather than showing". Her editors let her down!
January 27, 2014
Can't say too much ahead of book club - kept my interest - part one was excellent unfortunately the authour got tired for part two and was thinking of the movie version for part III.
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