De verhalenverteller van Auschwitz

by Siobhan Curham

Meeslepende roman die zich afspeelt tegen de achtergrond van de Holocaust en is gebaseerd op een waargebeurd verhaal

De Franse Claudette (Etty) Weil is schrijver in hart en nieren, maar door de anti-Joodse wetten tijdens de Duitse bezetting ziet haar uitgever zich gedwongen alle Joodse auteurs de laan uit te sturen. Ondanks dat ze geen inkomen of een vast thuis heeft, weet Etty een tijdlang uit Duitse handen te blijven, maar ze wordt uiteindelijk toch opgepakt en naar Auschwitz gedeporteerd.

Eenmaal daar dreigen de uitzichtloze situatie en de wanhoop haar in eerste instantie teveel te worden, maar toch weet ze ergens een sprankje hoop en levenslust vandaan te halen. Met haar talent als verhalenverteller probeert ze ook het moreel van de andere vrouwen in Auschwitz hoog te houden. Tegen alle verwachtingen in overleeft ze het kamp, en na de oorlog besluit ze haar verhaal met de wereld te delen.

De verhalenverteller van Auschwitz is een hartverscheurend, krachtig verhaal over een vrouw die niet opgaf en haar lot telkens weer moedig tegemoet trad.

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II, Audiobook, Historical, Holocaust, Fiction

357 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 10, 2024

About the author

Hi, I’m Siobhan - which for those of you not familiar with the wonder of Irish names, is actually pronounced, Shiv-on!

I’m an award-winning author of over 50 books, fiction and non-fiction, for adults, young adults and children, and my first book was published back in 2000, so I’ve been at this writing game for almost a quarter of a century now.

I’m also a former council estate kid and a university drop-out - I dropped out because I didn’t think I had what it took to make it in the middle class world of publishing. Thankfully I managed to overcome my self doubt and fear and achieve my writing dreams, and now I love helping others do the same through my mentoring, courses and talks.

I don’t know about you, but during the pandemic I felt as if my life had collapsed in on itself and I’d had to shrink myself to fit this strange new world of lockdowns and zoom calls (oh, so many Zoom calls!) and working from home and working alone. Even when things returned to some semblance of normal back in 2022, I felt that I’d lost sight of who I was and I’d definitely lost my joy for living.

Then, an unexpected trip to Jamaica changed everything, jolting me back to life and reminding me of who I truly am. In a bid to never lose sight of myself and my sense of wonder and purpose again, I started travelling more and writing a weekly Substack letter called Wonderstruck. And in September 2023 I gave up my home in the UK and pretty much all of my worldly goods to solo travel the world while I write my books and mentor other writers.

I send Wonderstruck out to my subscribers every Sunday morning, writing about the places I visit and the lessons I learn there. My sole aim for writing this letter is to inspire others to rediscover their own sense of purpose, wonder and adventure.

If you've enjoyed reading any of my books I'd love it if you joined the Wonderstruck community over on Substack.

Thanks so much for reading and reviewing my books, I really appreciate it!

Siobhan

Substack: siobhancurham.substack.com
Facebook: Siobhan Curham Author
Instagram: @SiobhanCurhamAuthor
Twitter: @SiobhanCurham

For more information about my books, mentoring and courses, please visit: http://www.siobhancurham.com

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank netgalley and Bookoutune and the author Siobhan Curham for an early copy of her book.

This is my first book I've read from this author. Etty is a writer and she wanted her new book to be published but she can longer get her books published as she is Jewish and the restrictions are getting worse,she meets new friends who are in the same situation.she ends up in the death camp Auschwitz with a young girl Danielle and her mother.she tells stories trying to survive and protect Danielle..my rating is 3.5 rounded to four as abit slow a good storyline. Another heartbreaking story of sadness,and survival..

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can a person truly die if their story lives on?

Books about the Holocaust remain some of my most powerful reads because they contain the power to educate me about the horrors and at the same time bring to life for me the inspirational stories of the victims survival and/or the war crimes.

Curham crafts Etty Weil (Jewish author), Danielle (a young girl in the camp), Solly (Jewish bookshop owner) and Tomasz Zolanvari (obliging doll rescuer) to highlight how some survived the torture and horrifying conditions of Auschwitz, to reveal the power of a book/story, and to show that friendship and love blossomed in the most unlikeliest of places.

“I never want to be guilty of turning a blind eye to cruelty.”

Writing about the Holocaust must be as difficult as reading about it, yet illuminating the dark shadows of this horrible time in history is so important. Curham manages to deepen readers’ awareness of the suffering incurred and the resilience and courage the victims developed in order to live another day. Her ability to write five-star historical fiction is one reason why Curham’s book is among my top three Holocaust fiction books.

The cover is powerful and I love the butterfly….

I was gifted this book by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Natalie "Curling up with a Coffee and a Kindle" Laird · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a few by this author by now, and they are truly wonderful.
Let's face it, stories about Auschwitz and the Holocaust are brutal and unflinching. They pull on the heart strings.
This book ticked all of those boxes for me. I love books about books and this was fantastic, really showing the power of books to help through turbulent times. Books have been a huge solace for me in recent years, so I could really see this.
This author really writes excellent stories, and this one is my favourite so far.

[Elia Rei Faria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Não dou 5 porque o rapaz do pijama as riscas está para sempre no meu top destes dramas reais. Mas é muito bom!

[Trish at Between My Lines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Le sigh.

This book repeatedly broke me and healed me over and over again as I walked in Etty’s ill fitting shoes at Auschwitz. You know from the title that it deals with a heavy topic, and the author doesn’t shy from depicting the grim times with heartbreaking detail.

However the characters stole my heart, and they shine the brightest light over the book. Etty is an author and she uses her imagination and words to inspire hope which helps her friends to endure the darkest days.

I feel like the book is a love song to the power of words and the long lasting appeal of stories to whisk you to new worlds. The plot is interwoven with old legends which I found fascinating. A book I think all book lovers will appreciate. I adored it.

[Julie McCarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this
I actually finished it quicker than I thought

[Iris Bicho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorei
Sofri imenso
Preciso de processar
Leiam!

[Joana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The final chapters left me speechless.
Really loved the book!

[Adelaide Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uma história dramática e arrepiante, mas ao mesmo tempo uma narrativa repleta de esperança, resiliência e de uma coragem fenomenal.
Uma estória que em muitos momentos me fez lembrar o filme “A vida é bela”

[marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

thanks to netgalley and the author/publisher for the digital arc !

this book was not really for me

the story really starts at around 30%.. which is a lot for me
at first it was very interesting to see this young author live during the Occupation and what it meant for her as a jewish woman
but i did not need 30% of that

i was supposed to be very engaged in her 'relationship' with the man but i was not at all
the subtle mystery element that surrounded him did not interest me in the slightest and even annoyed me slightly

the story finally starts when she arrives at Drancy and then Auschwitz

also, as a french person, I appreciated all the effort that went into the craft of this book - there were still some errors, but nothing really alarming

all in all, the story became very very repetitive for me : something bad happens, she tells a story, it gets better
i understand that it is the premise of the book, which is why i also think that this book was not meant for me in particular
but i still expected more from this story than this repetitive pattern that seemed to go on forever

however, i did get very emotional at moments, which is why i still rated it a 3 stars (that and the very interesting jewish culture that was intertwined with the plot)
the writing style was simple but effective - i don't really have anything to say about it

all in all, this book is not my favorite WW2 historical fiction, but i know that other people would very much love it

[pages_amour · Rating 3 out of 5]

A big thank you to Siobhan Curham and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A moving tale of the perseverance and hope of a Jewish woman, in the haunting setting of World War II. The Storyteller of Auschwitz follows the life of a young French novelist who, upon Nazi occupation, is forced out of her career, beginning the story of her journey throughout the war.

If I’m being completely honest, I struggled with the first part of this book quite a bit. While the pacing was good, I found myself quite thrown by the main characters' perspective in the initial stages of the book. The character seemed rather oblivious to the severity of the state of the war, and seemed to act rather petulantly and recklessly at times, which I found irksome. Yes, I have read other works of Holocaust fiction where the main character is depicted as naive to the events occurring around them, but all of those cases were intentional narrative choices to accentuate the novel's themes, however in this book it seemed to be a simple means of depicting the characters bravery. This bravery however, was presented as the absence of fear, which seemed to undercut the very notion of bravery itself being perseverance in spite of fear.

Despite my initial difficulties with the lack of encroaching sense of darkness and doom that other eerie holocaust reads had invoked in me before, I found myself thoroughly enjoying the later two thirds of the story, as the main character went from naive, to an incredibly strong character. The book details the spiritual journey, and the strength and hope of the main character in a poignant way, that moved me multiple times. The importance of stories was a key theme of the novel, which was beautifully explored as the main character used her stories to inspire hope in others. One of the highlights of the novel was definitely the strength and solace amongst the brutal conditions that the characters found in one another, with the relationship between Danielle and Etty being the most moving and authentic of them all.

However, I did still have some qualms throughout, especially towards the ending, as I felt the novel often rushed on from events or thoughts without lingering for the appropriate amount of time. The conclusion of the war was rushed into a few pages, leaving me disappointed that after all the character had been through, we weren’t given that proper moment of clarity and reckoning with the events of the war that the character deserved.

All in all The Storyteller of Auschwitz is a well researched Holocaust novel, with a shaky beginning, that eventually unfolds into a poignant tale of the importance of hope and community. While it fails to distinguish itself above the large tide of other Holocaust fiction entries I have read in the past, it is still a worthwhile read for any historical fiction fan.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not stop reading this book. It’s the fictional story of Jewish born Claudette Weil beginning at the onset of the German occupation of France. Without ceremony, the Jewish people become invisible to the Parisians as their identities are slowly stripped from them by the Nazis. This invisibility is the catalyst for the book. Claudette, or Etty for short, is an author, and as the horrors of the war unfold, she makes a promise to tell the world what happened to her people when the rest of the world couldn’t stomach it to look at them in their sufferings. As the book progresses, Etty is transported to Auschwitz where she lives for the majority of the story.

Truly, it is very graphic in places and difficult to stomach, but the story was so deeply moving too. The friendships she made along the way. The losses she suffered were felt by me too. The author does a fantastic job of transporting the reader into another world. And as the protagonist is also a writer, Etty uses stories to help make her life and the lives of her fellow hut mates more bearable.

I don’t know how to do justice to this book with words, so I will just say that it was very powerful and moving and worth a read.

A special thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kristy Drážovská · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ani neviem nájsť tie správne slová. Čítala som veľa vojnových príbehov, mnohé obsahujú nádej, vôľu prežiť, silné putá… Ale ach. Toto bolo niečo neopísateľné. Spočiatku som sa nevedela začítať a hlavná hrdinka mi prišla možno trochu naivná alebo taká jednoduchá, no práve tá mi nakoniec prevŕtala do srdca dieru. Jej fantázia, bola jej superschopnosť. Vďaka tomu, že zo slov dokázala tvoriť príbehy a že aj tam kde nebolo ani kúsok svetla, či nádeje, dokázala vyvolať smiech a rozžiariť miestnosť, vďaka tomu prežila. Niežeby o to stála, ale túžba prinútiť sa zotrvať a napísať o všetkom, čo videla, bola silnejšia. No naozaj musím povedať, že s takou vnútornou silou, akú nachádzala v sebe táto hlavná postava, som sa asi ešte nestretla. Vždy rada čítam príbehy, kde cítiť láskavosť alebo dobro, a nečakala som, že pri čítaní o hrôzach koncentračného tábora narazím na najláskavejšie skutky a odhodlanie konať dobro. Bolo to nádherné, silné a rozhodne vám to zlomí srdce 💔

[Brittany Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for all the feels! This was such a beautifully written story about how to remain positive in the midst of evil. This story allows us to experience Eddy’s spiritual journey and those that influenced her along the way. We can’t help but fall in love with the characters and of course have our hearts broken too. “I still believed that [storytelling] was our only possible source of strength and hope.” Highly recommend this book!

[Um Rapaz Que Lê · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 estrelas!!

Gostei muito deste livro e penso que é perfeito para pessoas que se estão a iniciar neste tipo de leitura do Holocausto!

É um livro pesado, com partes muito fortes e dramáticas, mas ao mesmo tempo está carregado de esperança e resiliência.

Leiam porque vale muito a pena!!

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this novel is heartbreaking and heartwarming it’s important that stories and our history is told. I know everyone had different experiences and some where beyond what any human should have to endure.

We shall never forget! I have been to Dachau’s and so I know the eerie feeling and we all went through and saw so much and not a word was spoken. Everyone has a story to tell and I appreciated the main characters thoughts.

[Emma Crowley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Storyteller of Auschwitz is easily the best historical fiction book that I have read so far this year. Nothing else has come close to it and I have a feeling no other book will in the latter half of this year. It is a stunning piece of work that to find the correct words to express how brilliant and what an emotional read this was will be very difficult. Siobhan Curham has outdone herself and written a story that is so powerful and highlights the importance of words, imagery and storytelling. That these traits can sustain you through the darkest of times including oppression, hunger and hard labour. There was the perfect flow to the story with no sections where I felt things were dragged out or paragraphs/chapters that were included just for the sake of it. Every character, every word they speak and every action they take were all essential in having the plot move forward and as you journey with the characters you can’t help but forming a relationship of sorts with them. I know this is only fiction but that’s how the incredible writing from the author made me feel. Etty is a character that you laugh and cry with through the good times and bad and she lives long in your mind once you have reached the final page.

October 1940 and Paris has been under German occupation since June and the effects of their rule are being felt far and wide but little do the residents of the city of Light in particular the Jews know what is around the corner. Etty (Claudette) is a French Jew and has had enormous success writing a series of books centred around a character called Aureile. She is meeting her publisher Anton to tell him about her latest book but she receives the devastating news that he can no longer publish her because she is Jewish. Etty’s world is torn apart and believes that she will lose her career and identity. Writing is all that she knows. It has given her a good life after escaping from a traumatic childhood and it saved her from the darkest of times. Who is she without her writing? She does not observe Jewish traditions and has done her best to forget her roots so why is she being penalised for a religion she does not participate in? But now that her religion is the target of inhumane and unjust laws she feels a sense of loyalty rising up within her. After all, they do say when testing times befall us we do turn back to what we know. ’Perhaps, it was time to reclaim my faith and wear it as a badge of honour’.

How can she no longer write about Aurelie who has been like a loyal imaginary friend, living inside her head for so long? The pit of loneliness at her core grows ever stronger as the days pass and she reaches a point. One which she will not be able to come back from but just at that pinnacle she encounters Tomasz, a Polish Jew, who has been living in Paris for the last seven years to escape the growing anti semitism in Poland. He performs an incredible act for Etty and pulls this passionate woman back from the brink. A connection is formed, a spark tentatively ignited. He tells her ’Our faith is more important now than ever before. It’s not just a source of strength, it’s another way we don’t let the Germans win. We don’t let them erase our identity’.

The pair spend an evening at Etty’s apartment where they talk and advice and words of wisdom are shared and Tomasz makes a very strong impact on her life despite only a few hours in his company. But the wheels of change are constantly turning and after this night there is an awful lot in store for Etty and Tomasz as they are separated and her opinion of him changes. Tomasz was utilised to perfection throughout the book, there when he needed to be but also never forgotten when he wasn’t. He didn’t dominate Etty’s story and she could shine and show her vivid characteristics and qualities at all opportunities and my admiration and affection for her just grew and grew the further I delved into the book.

Life becomes increasingly difficult for Jews living in Paris with more and more laws and restrictions being introduced. The number of people removed from the streets and taken away grows by the day and as Etty visits the Jewish quarter she forms a friendship with Solly who runs a bookshop. Solly is full of knowledge and wisdom and the story he told and the Hasidic tales he shared were just mind blowing, inspirational and on another level to anything I have read before. Etty shares these tales and creates her own at a time when she needs the most strength, courage, grit and determination to survive. I had to stop several times and reread them because I couldn’t absorb everything in one go. Not in a bad way but just that there was so much to take in, analyse and understand from just a few words that they needed the time and respect due to them. I would have loved if the stories could have been written out again in the end notes so I could have referred back to them instead of trying to find them throughout the book when wanted to study them. ‘With every act of kindness the light in the world is increased’. ‘I had learned the vital lesson that whenever you release light, you can’t fail to benefit from the glow’. Oh how these sentiments brought a smile to my face and deeply affected me and Etty remembers these words of wisdom from Solly when she reaches her lowest point.

Through one thing and another Etty ends up being arrested and is transported to Auschwitz. The chapters set here were raw, convincing, forceful and impactful. Etty vows not to let hate get the better of her but when suffering, brutality, fear, humiliation and degradation are all around you how can you stand by this? I won’t detail what she endures there alongside Danielle, a young girl whom she meets on the truck when she is arrested and who in turn goes on to be like a sister to her, for everyone knows what occurred at Auschwitz. Siobhan Curham doesn’t spare any details but what she does is through Etty’s actions provides hope, friendship and guidance to those she is imprisoned with.

Etty creates and tells stories thanks to all she learned from Solly. She shares these with the women of the camp and this is just so heart-breaking and inspirational. ’Sometimes, when we aren’t able to control the events in our lifestory, it can be helpful to rewrite them in our imagination’. Etty and the women retell and share their stories and in doing so turn regret into love and atonement. The women learn to lean on Etty and I don’t know how she retained the strength that she did given all that befalls her. There are no words to accurately describe what a remarkable and exceptional young woman she was.

The Storyteller of Auschwitz is a work of fiction rooted in fact and Siobhan Curham in the end notes details as to how she was inspired by three authors and she also provides the reader with information as to how she went about writing and researching the book which I found fascinating. The power of storytelling as an act of resistance, inspiration and remembrance can’t be underestimated. The subject matter is difficult and emotional to write about and I hate saying this but at times given I read so much historical fiction, I can become immune to the horrors I am writing about and the books don’t hit me the way they are meant to. But here that wasn’t the case at all, my interest and passion for historical fiction was reawakened and it feels like I was taken on an imaginative and sensory journey alongside Etty. That she granted me a window into her soul and to everything she did and it was an utter privilege to be allowed that opportunity. The Storyteller of Auschwitz is a highly impressive read and I hope it finds it’s way to lots of readers as it deserves so much acclaim. I could easily see it being turned into a film for the big screen. Let’s hope that happens in the future. But in the meantime, don’t hesitate at all to pick up this amazing, important and incredible book.

[Crystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for providing this book to me for review.

I read nearly all the Holocaust books I can get my hands on, so I was very excited to receive this one. The hook of this book was incredible, and then it went downhill from there until about 40% through the book.

The main character seemed very ignorant about what was happening around her. This ignorance was cloaked as bravery throughout the book and it was very hard for me to feel deeply for her. She also made a lot of assumptions about people. This made it hard for me to empathize because she was jumping to conclusions over and over instead of asking questions and understanding that her actions had consequences on other people.

I felt like this book was just skimming the surface of the emotional turmoil during this time. The story had the capacity for emotion, but due to its lack of pacing, it fell flat and was hard to keep reading.

A lot of the main plot points happened too quickly and it was hard for me to develop empathy for anyone. The dialog seemed forced and unrealistic at times, which brought me out of the story.

I did end up giving it 3 stars, because the plot points did get tied up in the end and I do think this book has a specific audience.

I would recommend this book to people who want to read a Holocaust story, but don't want to be emotionally rocked to their core. They just want to be informed and entertained. It is great for people who don't care about empathizing with the characters and understanding their choices.

[Elgyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Líbily se mi pasáže s Thomaszem. Ale jinak mě to nedojalo. Etty mi připadala otravná.

s. 10 Jakmile se můj debut, román Aureliina dobrodružství stal bestsellerem (…) To bylo před sedmi lety. Od té doby jsem napsala další čtyři romány o Aurelii, z nichž každý stavěl na úspěchu předchozích dílů.
Z toho jsem pochopila, že už bylo vydáno pět knížek.
Ale ne.
s. 11 „Dokončila jsem hrubou verzi pátého dílu.“

Nemám ráda, když kapitola (únor 1941) končí skoro v půlce věty.
s. 78 ...zatáhl mě do potemnělých dveří nějakého obchodu.
A plynule pokračuje na s. 79, což už je „březen 1941“.
Navíc děj v ní trvá tak... hodinu? A v další kapitole je už září.
Spojenci se vylodili ve Francii v kapitole „únor 1944“ (s. 278). Kde je i květen (s. 282).

V roce 1940 si Etty pomalu ani nevzpomene, že je Židovka. A i kdyby, tak jen velmi vlažná.
Ale v září 1942 dumá nad tím, jestli by neznamenalo víc držet náboženský půst v Osvětimi, kde už tak hladoví (s. 184).

s. 283 Tam, ale i později, jsem přísahala, že jestli ode mě budou chtít, abych se vrátila do práce v Kanadě, odmítnu to.
Tak určitě.

s. 294 Ozval se výstřel. Následoval pláč. Viděla jsem, jak dozorkyni v šoku spadla brada. Jak mohl zastřelit dítě?
Opravdu by se dozorkyně v Osvětimi v srpnu 1944 divila, že někdo zastřelí dítě?

Když se po válce vrátí do Francie, věci v jejím bytě jsou netknuté. Jen popelník a nové povlečení poukazují na to, že tam někdo žil. Ale ten někdo se už nikdy nevrátí a byt je zase její. Jen tak.

s. 185 byl [byla]
s. 155 myslím“ [myslím.“]

[Cherise Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I want to thank Bookouture, Netgalley and Siobhan Curham for providing me with the Advanced Readers Copy of this beautifully written but heartbreaking book. I have always found myself being drawn to reading about the holocaust and WW2 so when I saw this book, I knew I needed to read it and I am so glad I did.
This was not just a story about the death, loss, grief and inhumanity but also about love, faith. hope and the finding the strength each day surrounded by so much to death to live. One of the things I loved about this book is how the main character uses her stories to encourage those around her to hold on and not let their hopes and dreams be snatched away from them by the evil that surrounds them each day. These stories not only played a vital part to the other characters and their survival but also to the reader as well because it shifts the mood from one of sadness and despair to one of hope as found myself smiling and laughing along with the Etty as she told her stories to her friends and Danielle. I think this is what separates this book the from others, these stories and how it transports us from the horrors of Auschwitz to the places that these tales are taking place.
One of my favorite quotes from this book was " I had to live to tell the world what happened here to stop it from ever happening again." I will continue to read and educate myself on The Holocaust because it must never be forgotten and thanks to books like this it never will be.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the characters from it will stay with me for a very long time. The character development of Etty was a captivating and wholesome journey to experience, and I cannot wait for the release of this book that everyone can enjoy this absolutely beautiful story of The Storyteller of Auschwitz and how she impacted the lives of those around her with her tales of love, joy and faith at the darkest time of their lives.

[Catarina Mourato · Rating 2 out of 5]

Infelizmente, para mim, não resultou.
A ideia da autora era boa, aliás, gostei da nota final em que Siobhan explica o porquê de ter escrito esta história e fez-me mais sentido, mas ainda assim não foi suficiente para fazer com que gostasse mais do livro.

Li uma review por aqui que dizia exatamente o mesmo que senti.. não consegui conectar-me com a personagem principal, Etty, poucos foram os momentos em que senti realmente emoção pelo que estava a ler.
Não consigo explicar bem, mas senti que foi tudo muito leve, mesmo as cenas mais horríveis, não conseguiram transportar a dor da realidade.

Um caso de premissa boa e interessante, mas a concretização ficou aquém das expectativas.
E está tudo bem, faz parte!

[Nicinha || Nicinha_book’s]

Mais um livro sobre o Holocausto, aquele período de horror, com relatos muito fortes e dramáticos.
Sobre uma mulher livre que é arrancada do seu apartamento com vista para o Sena e empurrada para os tenebrosos portões de Auschwitz.
Em Auschwitz ela incentiva as outras mulheres a contarem as suas vidas, as suas histórias.
É a estes momentos que Etty se agarra com todas as forças, para superar todas as provações e horrores a que é sujeita nos campos de concentração.
Etty fez uma promessa, ela irá sobreviver e voltar a ser livre na sua bicicleta, a escrever a história destas mulheres na sua máquina de escrever junto à janela com vista para o Sena.
Uma história arrepiante e de uma coragem fenomenal.

[Mermaidka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opět pěkné čtení, ale o krutém místě a nelehké době.
Kniha začíná tím, že bylo vyhlášeno, že nesmějí být vydávány knihy, které napsali Židé. Ette se s tím nechce smířit a začne psát pro tajné noviny. Ale nedlouho poté co jsou ostatní ze skupiny zatčeni nacisty se Ette dostane do vězení a posléze do vlaku mířícího do Osvětimi.
Kniha se mi četla hezky, na to o čem vypráví. A nebojím se přiznat, že mi nejednou ukápla slza. Byla poutavě napsaná a postavy byly uvěřitelné. Bohužel i ty hrůzy z Osvětimi (ale o těch jsem nečetla poprvé). Etty a její příběhy byly plné naděje a to se mi na knize hodně líbilo. Bylo to takově nezvykle "povznášející" u knihy, která vypráví o Osvětimi.

[Amanda Estes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a genre that I have always loved to read. Even knowing I am likely to be a crying mess at some boing in the book I still enjoy them. This book was wonderful. How the MC was able to uplift the women in the camps was incredible. I challenge anyone to read this and not be inspired to become a better person.

[Amy Fawcett · Rating 4 out of 5]

very moving

Read the letter to the reader first, I’d do inclined. It’s message adds weight to the story. It tells the story of a young author stripped of her rights as a Jew and sent off to Auschwitz where work did not set her free. It did make her dig deeper than she ever thought possible to survive.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5☆
it was well researched, just something in the writting that is a little light, that tell she was not the one on the story. this coming from someone that has read quite substancially in this thema

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good book. So many emotions but so well written and loved the stories within from the story teller. The ending is a tear jerker. I was driving and trying not to cry

[Amélie Lauzon · Rating 4 out of 5]

J’ai lu plusieurs livres ayant pour thématique la DGM. Celui-ci est assez original. Bien que j’ai trouvé les premières centaines de pages moins intéressantes, j’ai bien aimé ma lecture. On aborde souvent l’horreur vécu dans les camps de concentration, mais rarement l’espoir qui a maintenu en vie certains prisonniers. C’est évidemment infiniment triste et révoltant, mais il y a beaucoup de lumière dans ce récit. J’ai aimé qu’on aborde le pouvoir des mots et des histoires racontées comme source d’espoir. Je me suis attachée rapidement aux personnages et j’ai été touchée par le dénouement de chacune de leur histoire.

Petit bémol: j’aurai aimé savoir que ce livre était une œuvre de fiction. Sur la couverture, on indique que l’histoire est inspirée d’une histoire vraie. Après avoir fait quelques recherches, j’ai constaté que ce n’était pas réellement le cas. Comme l’autrice l’indique dans la note à la fin du roman, elle s’est inspirée de plusieurs éléments réels pour en faire une œuvre de fiction avec des « et si ». L’historie n’est pas moins bonne, mais j’aurai aimé le savoir avant de débuter ma lecture.

[Kristi Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered how much I enjoyed historical fiction last year and this book is just that. This is a beautiful and heartbreaking story. The narrator for the audiobook is wonderful!

[Jessica Devaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW

I really wasn't expecting what I got. This book actually blew my mind with it's ability to transport me into a story and make me feel. It reached into my soul and transported me into the question of "Why was God allowing this?". Though no real answer can be given, this book makes you look at some Hasedic teachings ans search your own soul. Might this book be a slice of peace to your soul over the question, "Where was God?"