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Across Great Divides
Across Great Divides is a timeless, World War II story of the upheavals of war, the power of family, and the resiliency of human spirit. When Hitler comes to power in 1933, one Jewish family refuses to be destroyed and defies the Nazis only to come up against another struggle—confronting Apartheid in South Africa. Sixteen-year-old Eva and her twin sister, Inge, witness their lives in Berlin change before their eyes. Their best friend, Trudy, betrays them when she becomes a member of the Hitler Youth. A valuable family heirloom, a beautiful emerald and diamond pendant necklace, is confiscated by the Nazis as they harass Jewish families and businesses. Their younger brother, Max, a member of the underground resistance, sees even greater danger ahead. Their father, Oskar, refuses to leave his beloved Germany and believes Hitler will eventually fail. They finally flee Nazi Germany with the help of the underground resistance —a young German man, a nun, a countess conspiring against the Nazis, and a winegrower secretly hiding Jewish children. War continues to follow them until they arrive in Cape Town, South Africa. The family hires an impoverished colored woman, Zoe, as their maid and shields her and her daughter, Zola, from the dangers they face in the slums and from the horrors of Apartheid, which are all too reminiscent of Nazi Germany. Across Great Divides illuminates a Jewish family in Germany in WWII caught in significant 20th century the Nazi occupation of Europe during World War Two and Apartheid in South Africa.
223 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 20, 2013
28 people are currently reading
984 people want to read
About the author
Monique Roy
8 books40 followersMonique's passion for writing began as a young girl while penning stories in a journal. Now she looks forward to deepening her passion by creating many unique stories that do nothing less than intrigue her readers.
Monique holds a degree in journalism from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and is the author of a middle-grade book Once Upon a Time in Venice, historical fiction novel Across Great Divides, and historical fiction novel A Savage Kultur.
Monique was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and her grandparents were European Jews who fled their home as Hitler rose to power. It’s their story that inspired her to write Across Great Divides, her first historical novel.
Historical fiction lets you escape to another time and place; and Monique likes to explore the past so that we can potentially better understand the future.
Monique resides in Dallas, Texas, with her husband and son. She also works as a freelance writer.
Discover more at http://www.monique-roy.com
Monique holds a degree in journalism from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and is the author of a middle-grade book Once Upon a Time in Venice, historical fiction novel Across Great Divides, and historical fiction novel A Savage Kultur.
Monique was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and her grandparents were European Jews who fled their home as Hitler rose to power. It’s their story that inspired her to write Across Great Divides, her first historical novel.
Historical fiction lets you escape to another time and place; and Monique likes to explore the past so that we can potentially better understand the future.
Monique resides in Dallas, Texas, with her husband and son. She also works as a freelance writer.
Discover more at http://www.monique-roy.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
April 1, 2017
Review also left on my blog at https://susanlovesbooks.wordpress.com
Across Great Divides
Monique Roy
Received from Author
ACROSS GREAT DIVIDES is the story of Eva and her family in Berlin. Life is grand for them and Hitler has just come into power. But then, little by little they start to witness and feel the anti-semitism and finally, they decide it's time to leave Berlin and they head to Antwerp. From there they go to Rio and then to South Africa. Ms. Roy introduces you to this family and you almost feel like you know them. Eva's father was living with blinders on and kept on saying it will pass and it will not last forever and at times I just wanted to grab him and knock some sense in to him. But, unlike him, I knew what was coming. These people did not.
Once the family gets to South Africa, it is almost as if history is repeating itself and they are dealing with apartheid. Now instead of the Jews being blamed for everything, it is the black population. ACROSS GREAT DIVIDES is a brilliant debut novel and you feel as if you are right there with the family living through the atrocities they are going through. Ms. Roy's family has lived through this so she knows what she is talking about. I never really thought about Jewish refugees ending up in different countries as so much of what we were taught in school was all about the concentration camps.
I was pulled into the suspenseful story from beginning to end and had a heard time putting it down. I had to know what would happen next. ACROSS GREAT DIVIDES is not only about tragedy and prejudice. It is also about hope and never giving up. I felt a real bond with the twins and their family and my heart was breaking for them over and over again. As you are reading, you will find yourself holding your breath, afraid of what is coming. Will this family be able to survive in a world filled with hate? You will have to read ACROSS GREAT DIVIDES to find out.
April 18, 2017
3.5 stars
As the book opens, the author depicts how life gets increasingly difficult for the family with the rise of Hitler. There are detailed descriptions of events in Berlin such as the book-burning and violence of Kristallnacht. I did feel that one or two sections read more like straight history rather than being illustrated through the experiences of Eva or her family. The author has clearly undertaken extensive research because as well as a wealth of information about events in Germany there are fascinating details about the diamond cutting and trading business.
Eva and her brother, Max, get the most page time with other members of the family, including Eva’s twin, Inge, more in the background. The unique connection between the twins is explored early on and returned to briefly later but it would have been interesting to have more focus on this.
The family’s struggle to escape from Nazi Germany illustrates the bravery and resourcefulness of those in real life who aided Jews to escape death in the concentration camps but also the opportunity for corruption for those prepared to take advantage of the situation. The family have a number of lucky escapes and are fortunate to have a seemingly unlimited stock of diamonds to ease their passage. One wonders how those without such resources would have fared.
Although powerfully told, I found some of the story lines a little too convenient and there are a couple of coincidences that seem a little far-fetched – along the lines of “of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine” (Casablanca) or, in this case, tent. However, I really liked the impression the author created of the family’s sense of uprootedness, of feeling no longer welcome somewhere they had considered home and being viewed as a hated “other”.
‘Our home was everything and then we felt like we existed nowhere. The place where I thought I would live all my life was no longer the place where I could exist at all.’
In the latter section of the book, the author juxtaposes the persecution suffered by Jewish families at the hands of the Nazis with the discrimination meted out to black South Africans through the apartheid system. Of the family, only Max and Eva really seem to see the parallels and some of the responses of other family members are surprising given their own experiences. The author’s love of South Africa is clear from the wonderful descriptions of the landscape and scenery of Cape Town.
I did enjoy the book and admire the author for attempting to explore some weighty themes.
I received an advance reader copy courtesy of Neverland Book Tours and the author in return for an honest review.
To read this and other reviews, visit my blog: https://whatcathyreadnext.wordpress.com/
As the book opens, the author depicts how life gets increasingly difficult for the family with the rise of Hitler. There are detailed descriptions of events in Berlin such as the book-burning and violence of Kristallnacht. I did feel that one or two sections read more like straight history rather than being illustrated through the experiences of Eva or her family. The author has clearly undertaken extensive research because as well as a wealth of information about events in Germany there are fascinating details about the diamond cutting and trading business.
Eva and her brother, Max, get the most page time with other members of the family, including Eva’s twin, Inge, more in the background. The unique connection between the twins is explored early on and returned to briefly later but it would have been interesting to have more focus on this.
The family’s struggle to escape from Nazi Germany illustrates the bravery and resourcefulness of those in real life who aided Jews to escape death in the concentration camps but also the opportunity for corruption for those prepared to take advantage of the situation. The family have a number of lucky escapes and are fortunate to have a seemingly unlimited stock of diamonds to ease their passage. One wonders how those without such resources would have fared.
Although powerfully told, I found some of the story lines a little too convenient and there are a couple of coincidences that seem a little far-fetched – along the lines of “of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine” (Casablanca) or, in this case, tent. However, I really liked the impression the author created of the family’s sense of uprootedness, of feeling no longer welcome somewhere they had considered home and being viewed as a hated “other”.
‘Our home was everything and then we felt like we existed nowhere. The place where I thought I would live all my life was no longer the place where I could exist at all.’
In the latter section of the book, the author juxtaposes the persecution suffered by Jewish families at the hands of the Nazis with the discrimination meted out to black South Africans through the apartheid system. Of the family, only Max and Eva really seem to see the parallels and some of the responses of other family members are surprising given their own experiences. The author’s love of South Africa is clear from the wonderful descriptions of the landscape and scenery of Cape Town.
I did enjoy the book and admire the author for attempting to explore some weighty themes.
I received an advance reader copy courtesy of Neverland Book Tours and the author in return for an honest review.
To read this and other reviews, visit my blog: https://whatcathyreadnext.wordpress.com/
May 8, 2016
Reviewed by me as a member of Rosie Amber's Review Team
This is the story of Eva, a Jew living in Berlin, and her family. It starts in 1932/3, when Hitler first came to power, and moves on to the family's escape to Antwerp, then to Rio, and their next move to South Africa.
It starts off well, describing teenage Eva's life before the Nazis, and her initial fear of anti-semitism. However, it soon becomes more like a quite basic history book or newspaper article, told mostly from the point of view of a narrator, rather than the characters. With four years of enchroaching Nazi terrorism rushed through in a small percentage of the book, I didn't get a sense of the build up of fear. We are told that Eva's brother Max is the most fearful of the Nazis, and her father, Oskar holds the optimistic view that it will all blow over, but I felt that the family were used as occasional illustrations for what was happening, rather than them being the subject of the story. I imagine most people who choose to read the book will already know what happened during the 1930s and 1940s in Europe, and are looking for characters to become involved with, atmosphere and emotion, rather than factual information.
There are some interesting sections in the novel, such as information about the diamond trade in Antwerp and Eva's friend Trudy's experience working on the side of the Nazis in Ravensbruck, but with the huge subjects of the persecution of the jews, daring escape in Nazi dominated Europe, and apartheid in South Africa, I felt it was far too short a novel; it's only 223 Kindle pages long and I read it in an afternoon.
On the whole, the book was enjoyable enough to read (if 'enjoyable' is the right term, without trivialising the subject matter), but there was no time to become emotionally attached to the characters. It's a terrific story, and I am aware that much of it is taken from real life; the author has all the material there, but just needs to work on the actual craft of storytelling.
This is the story of Eva, a Jew living in Berlin, and her family. It starts in 1932/3, when Hitler first came to power, and moves on to the family's escape to Antwerp, then to Rio, and their next move to South Africa.
It starts off well, describing teenage Eva's life before the Nazis, and her initial fear of anti-semitism. However, it soon becomes more like a quite basic history book or newspaper article, told mostly from the point of view of a narrator, rather than the characters. With four years of enchroaching Nazi terrorism rushed through in a small percentage of the book, I didn't get a sense of the build up of fear. We are told that Eva's brother Max is the most fearful of the Nazis, and her father, Oskar holds the optimistic view that it will all blow over, but I felt that the family were used as occasional illustrations for what was happening, rather than them being the subject of the story. I imagine most people who choose to read the book will already know what happened during the 1930s and 1940s in Europe, and are looking for characters to become involved with, atmosphere and emotion, rather than factual information.
There are some interesting sections in the novel, such as information about the diamond trade in Antwerp and Eva's friend Trudy's experience working on the side of the Nazis in Ravensbruck, but with the huge subjects of the persecution of the jews, daring escape in Nazi dominated Europe, and apartheid in South Africa, I felt it was far too short a novel; it's only 223 Kindle pages long and I read it in an afternoon.
On the whole, the book was enjoyable enough to read (if 'enjoyable' is the right term, without trivialising the subject matter), but there was no time to become emotionally attached to the characters. It's a terrific story, and I am aware that much of it is taken from real life; the author has all the material there, but just needs to work on the actual craft of storytelling.
January 26, 2015
I got this book in exchange for an honest review
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A Jewish family is on the run for their lives to get out of Europe and away from the Nazis, but then land in South Africa and are witnesses to the injustices of Apartheid. An interesting read about a family who witnessed two of humanity's worst "low lights". See the whole review on my blog if you are interested:
http://libraryeducated.blogspot.com/2...
--------
A Jewish family is on the run for their lives to get out of Europe and away from the Nazis, but then land in South Africa and are witnesses to the injustices of Apartheid. An interesting read about a family who witnessed two of humanity's worst "low lights". See the whole review on my blog if you are interested:
http://libraryeducated.blogspot.com/2...
March 25, 2014
1932, in Germany Eva (16) & her twin sister Inge (16) were attending a symphony concert at the Berliner Philharmonie. The PPL of Germany had no faith in the Weimar Republic. Adolf Hitler was in attendance. They were in hopes President Paul von Hindenburg would make him chancellor. Conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler started with Beethoven’s Symphony # 9. The parents; Oskar & Helene had introduced the 2 girls to the joys of music. Their brother is Max (14). Trudy was the girls BFF. Oskar owned/operated a diamond center; PristineHaus in Kristallnacht.
The storm troopers (Sturmabteilungen, SA) were a constant sight on the Berlin streets. In 1933, the German attitude & even in the classrooms towards the Jews drastically begin to change. Nazi curriculum depended on the teachers to keep up the strict adherence.
Max joined the Bund deutsch-jüdischer Jugend (Ring, a Federation of Jewish Youth, B.D.J.J.) He later dropped out of school he hated the Nazi party.
Frederick (20, Humboldt University) & Verner (nationalist) invited Eva & Trudy to a beer garden. Frederick & Trudy began dating, Verner & Eva just stayed friends. Verner started showing up in his Nazi uniform that was the end of their relationship.
Eva went to see Trudy, but she had joined the Bund Deutscher Mädel, the female branch of Hitler’s Youth. Trudy’s mother told her to be on her way.
Joseph Goebbels, Reich Minister for Propaganda showed up 1 day. Books by important authors of the time were set ablaze.
1/30/1933, Adolf Hitler was made Reich Chanceller. By 1934, the Nazi party had reached its maximum of power. In 1934 (Night of the Long Knives), Theodore Eicke (SS, Protective Squadron) orders from Heinrich Luitpold Himmler shot Ernst Julius Günther Röhm (Sturmabteilungen, SA).
In 1935, the Nazis passed the Law for the Protection of German Blood &
German Honor (Nuremberg Laws on Citizenship & Race) (Nuremberg Laws). Shortly thereafter (11/9/1938) in the Jewish neighborhoods the Gestapo started to show up on a daily basis.
In 1939, Hitler invaded Poland & the war in Europe began.
Will this family be able to immigrate somewhere else? Or like so many other millions of Jews are they doomed to the Holocaust?
Cool book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written book could be true/false to life historical trials/tribulations of 1 Jewish family trek across the eastern continents as well as through Adolf Hitler’s regime before/during WWII. It was very easy to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. No grammar errors, repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. A book you won’t want to put down. This could make a great WWII movie or mini TV series. No doubt in my mind a very easy rating of 5 stars for this book.
Thank you for the free book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
The storm troopers (Sturmabteilungen, SA) were a constant sight on the Berlin streets. In 1933, the German attitude & even in the classrooms towards the Jews drastically begin to change. Nazi curriculum depended on the teachers to keep up the strict adherence.
Max joined the Bund deutsch-jüdischer Jugend (Ring, a Federation of Jewish Youth, B.D.J.J.) He later dropped out of school he hated the Nazi party.
Frederick (20, Humboldt University) & Verner (nationalist) invited Eva & Trudy to a beer garden. Frederick & Trudy began dating, Verner & Eva just stayed friends. Verner started showing up in his Nazi uniform that was the end of their relationship.
Eva went to see Trudy, but she had joined the Bund Deutscher Mädel, the female branch of Hitler’s Youth. Trudy’s mother told her to be on her way.
Joseph Goebbels, Reich Minister for Propaganda showed up 1 day. Books by important authors of the time were set ablaze.
1/30/1933, Adolf Hitler was made Reich Chanceller. By 1934, the Nazi party had reached its maximum of power. In 1934 (Night of the Long Knives), Theodore Eicke (SS, Protective Squadron) orders from Heinrich Luitpold Himmler shot Ernst Julius Günther Röhm (Sturmabteilungen, SA).
In 1935, the Nazis passed the Law for the Protection of German Blood &
German Honor (Nuremberg Laws on Citizenship & Race) (Nuremberg Laws). Shortly thereafter (11/9/1938) in the Jewish neighborhoods the Gestapo started to show up on a daily basis.
In 1939, Hitler invaded Poland & the war in Europe began.
Will this family be able to immigrate somewhere else? Or like so many other millions of Jews are they doomed to the Holocaust?
Cool book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written book could be true/false to life historical trials/tribulations of 1 Jewish family trek across the eastern continents as well as through Adolf Hitler’s regime before/during WWII. It was very easy to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. No grammar errors, repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. A book you won’t want to put down. This could make a great WWII movie or mini TV series. No doubt in my mind a very easy rating of 5 stars for this book.
Thank you for the free book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
January 16, 2016
REVIEW
Ms. Roy has written a wonderful debut novel. She knows first hand since her family went through the horrible life. Many readers will know all well about the tragic story. Hitler's persecution of the Jews where only a mere few lived through it, but will never forget.
The story of a wealthy German Jewish family who went to South Africa, a new life, they thought but it was a cruel Apartheid system. Based somewhat on Nazism.Part two , Ms. Roy's own experiences is as different as black and white. ACROSS GREAT DIVIDES is a look at differences, comparison.
Ms. Roy wrote with such detail of gorgeous twins, Eva and Inge and younger brother, Max. There are brilliant details of romance and courage that make the reader feel like the characters are real. The author's writing is so descriptive. That's what makes historical novels real to the reader. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough but still, I didn't want it to end. I honestly didn't care for the cover of the book. Just a little too much. But then you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.
If you love historical reads then this is one historic fiction read that you don't want to miss. The realism, details, story line are all put forth in a wonderful historic fiction read.
I was given a complimentary copy of ACROSS GREAT DIVIDES by Monique Roy from Pump Up Your Books for my honest opinion. No other compensation took place.
Ms. Roy has written a wonderful debut novel. She knows first hand since her family went through the horrible life. Many readers will know all well about the tragic story. Hitler's persecution of the Jews where only a mere few lived through it, but will never forget.
The story of a wealthy German Jewish family who went to South Africa, a new life, they thought but it was a cruel Apartheid system. Based somewhat on Nazism.Part two , Ms. Roy's own experiences is as different as black and white. ACROSS GREAT DIVIDES is a look at differences, comparison.
Ms. Roy wrote with such detail of gorgeous twins, Eva and Inge and younger brother, Max. There are brilliant details of romance and courage that make the reader feel like the characters are real. The author's writing is so descriptive. That's what makes historical novels real to the reader. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough but still, I didn't want it to end. I honestly didn't care for the cover of the book. Just a little too much. But then you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.
If you love historical reads then this is one historic fiction read that you don't want to miss. The realism, details, story line are all put forth in a wonderful historic fiction read.
I was given a complimentary copy of ACROSS GREAT DIVIDES by Monique Roy from Pump Up Your Books for my honest opinion. No other compensation took place.
March 5, 2014
I for one never connected the two similar horrible historical events. I of course am familiar with WWII, and the Nazi Government. The evil that appeared as Hitler, and what he did, is almost unspeakable.
Monique Roy has presented a family that we can relate to, and how our personal thinking, things will get better, and it can't last forever. Until it is almost two late! We experience a brief look at Germany, just before Hitler comes to power. We are with a family of Oskar, his wife Helene, their son Max, and identical twin daughters Inge and Eva.
Trying to put myself in their shoes, is almost impossible! Hitler convinced the Country that the Jews were responsible for the depression. Oh how gullible they were, and they wanted answers, so lets blame the Jews.
We travel with this family over two continents and end up in South Africa. This is where history seems to be repeating itself in Apartheid. Lets blame the Black population for all that is wrong...and so it starts again.
We meet new characters, and there is a necklace that seems to tie all of this together.
I enjoyed reading this book, and would give it 5*, except I felt the ending was rather rushed. There needed to be a bit more. I do recommend this as a great read!
I received this book through Pump Your Book Virtual Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.
Monique Roy has presented a family that we can relate to, and how our personal thinking, things will get better, and it can't last forever. Until it is almost two late! We experience a brief look at Germany, just before Hitler comes to power. We are with a family of Oskar, his wife Helene, their son Max, and identical twin daughters Inge and Eva.
Trying to put myself in their shoes, is almost impossible! Hitler convinced the Country that the Jews were responsible for the depression. Oh how gullible they were, and they wanted answers, so lets blame the Jews.
We travel with this family over two continents and end up in South Africa. This is where history seems to be repeating itself in Apartheid. Lets blame the Black population for all that is wrong...and so it starts again.
We meet new characters, and there is a necklace that seems to tie all of this together.
I enjoyed reading this book, and would give it 5*, except I felt the ending was rather rushed. There needed to be a bit more. I do recommend this as a great read!
I received this book through Pump Your Book Virtual Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.
March 10, 2014
This is a brilliant debut novel by an author who knows what she's talking about -- her own family lived through the horror and drama she describes.
Some of the story will be tragically familiar ground to many readers -- the persecution of the Jews under Hitler and their eventual almost complete destruction, with only a tiny handful escaping the net. Monique Roy's novel follows the fortunes of a wealthy German Jewish family who found refuge in South Africa, a strange new land where they encountered not only antisemitism but also the cruel Apartheid system which was partly based on Hitler's Nazism. This second story, based on Monique Roy's own experiences, makes Across Great Divides a fascinating study in contrasts.
Her characters -- especially the three children, beautiful twins Eva and Inge, and their younger brother Max, are vividly drawn, with alternate strokes of romance, pathos and courage. She is brilliant at depicting the details which make historical novels come alive, and I found myself immersed in this book, dying to find out what happens next, and yet not wanting it to end.
Very highly recommended to all historical fiction readers!
Some of the story will be tragically familiar ground to many readers -- the persecution of the Jews under Hitler and their eventual almost complete destruction, with only a tiny handful escaping the net. Monique Roy's novel follows the fortunes of a wealthy German Jewish family who found refuge in South Africa, a strange new land where they encountered not only antisemitism but also the cruel Apartheid system which was partly based on Hitler's Nazism. This second story, based on Monique Roy's own experiences, makes Across Great Divides a fascinating study in contrasts.
Her characters -- especially the three children, beautiful twins Eva and Inge, and their younger brother Max, are vividly drawn, with alternate strokes of romance, pathos and courage. She is brilliant at depicting the details which make historical novels come alive, and I found myself immersed in this book, dying to find out what happens next, and yet not wanting it to end.
Very highly recommended to all historical fiction readers!
November 19, 2013
As a fan of WWII era genre I was excited to pick up this book. I really enjoyed the well developed characters, detail and story. The authors writing style keeps me engaged in a genre that is flooded with some just so-so average books - this book is wonderful and I highly recommend it. Nice work and looking forward to a third book by Monique Roy.
March 13, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. Interesting to read about Jewish refugees in South Africa. I had never thought about Jewish refugees ending up in other places, especially not South Africa. I would recommend this book!
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
October 23, 2022
Eva and Inge are two German assimilated Jewish identical twin sisters and the story opens with them at a performance of the Berliner Philharmonie in 1932. Before the music starts there is an interruption when a small man appears in a balcony box and is cheered. That man is Adolph Hitler, the leader of a German political party that is rapidly growing in strength and a man that many Germans see as the potential savior of a nation that is mired in the depth of the depression.
Their father Oskar is a jeweler with a great deal of knowledge of diamonds and his wife Helene shares his high level of loyalty to the German nation. Oskar owns a jewelry shop and is doing quite well despite the deep economic problems in the country. Eva and Inge are best friends with Trudy, an Aryan girl their age and they are so close that Trudy is one of the few people that tell the twins apart.
This book is the story of that Jewish family as Germany stepwise descends into a horrific place to be a Jew. Old Aryan friends are forced to ignore them and more and more of their Jewish neighbors are suddenly disappearing. Finally, when the Kristallnacht takes place, Oskar and Helene are convinced that they must leave Germany and the whole family embarks on a dangerous journey that takes them westward from Berlin to Belgium.
After the war breaks out the Nazi terror follows them so they leave once again on an extended journey down through Spain then Portugal to Brazil and eventually settling in South Africa. The war in Europe has ended and now they find themselves observing the implementation of apartheid, the brutal control of the majority black population of the country. Having experienced so much hatred themselves, they dislike the treatment of blacks but are uncertain how to react, as they once again feel powerless against the strength of a police state.
As the blurb on the back cover indicates, this story is to some extent a biography of the author’s grandparents, who were Jews that fled Europe when Hitler rose to power. The events of persecution described in this book are historically accurate and there were many people that risked their lives to aid Jews. It is unfortunate that so many of them are lost to history as they were also victims of the deadly plague of Nazism.
This is a great story of struggle, loss, triumph and uncertainty as the family manages to stay together through traveling thousands of miles under great danger and find a home in a strange land. The interaction between the South African policeman and the Jew Max is a microcosm of the pressures of dealing with the power of a police state expressed in the body of a single man that has the right to imprison you without charges.
Their father Oskar is a jeweler with a great deal of knowledge of diamonds and his wife Helene shares his high level of loyalty to the German nation. Oskar owns a jewelry shop and is doing quite well despite the deep economic problems in the country. Eva and Inge are best friends with Trudy, an Aryan girl their age and they are so close that Trudy is one of the few people that tell the twins apart.
This book is the story of that Jewish family as Germany stepwise descends into a horrific place to be a Jew. Old Aryan friends are forced to ignore them and more and more of their Jewish neighbors are suddenly disappearing. Finally, when the Kristallnacht takes place, Oskar and Helene are convinced that they must leave Germany and the whole family embarks on a dangerous journey that takes them westward from Berlin to Belgium.
After the war breaks out the Nazi terror follows them so they leave once again on an extended journey down through Spain then Portugal to Brazil and eventually settling in South Africa. The war in Europe has ended and now they find themselves observing the implementation of apartheid, the brutal control of the majority black population of the country. Having experienced so much hatred themselves, they dislike the treatment of blacks but are uncertain how to react, as they once again feel powerless against the strength of a police state.
As the blurb on the back cover indicates, this story is to some extent a biography of the author’s grandparents, who were Jews that fled Europe when Hitler rose to power. The events of persecution described in this book are historically accurate and there were many people that risked their lives to aid Jews. It is unfortunate that so many of them are lost to history as they were also victims of the deadly plague of Nazism.
This is a great story of struggle, loss, triumph and uncertainty as the family manages to stay together through traveling thousands of miles under great danger and find a home in a strange land. The interaction between the South African policeman and the Jew Max is a microcosm of the pressures of dealing with the power of a police state expressed in the body of a single man that has the right to imprison you without charges.
April 18, 2015
Read this review and others at The Silver Petticoat Review: Across Great Divides
An ambitious historical fictional novel, Across Great Divides is a beautiful story worth every minute of your time. The book will captivate you from the very start all the way to the finish leaving you wanting more and disappointed when the story reaches its conclusion. In an epic tale from talented writer Monique Roy about a Jewish family who overcome prejudice and persecution in Berlin during World War II only to find prejudice once again in South Africa, lies a truly unforgettable story filled with hope, redemption and pure love.
As I’ve always had a soft spot for historical fiction with a particular interest in World War II, I was excited to read a book with a new take on the time period. As an extra bonus, Across Great Divides is also about twins, another interest of mine (probably because I am one and love to see how others interpret twins – usually with me laughing at the over the top silly clichés that usually permeate twin characters). Roy weaves a story together like a pro from one scene to the next, each one making you want to read more. The suspense felt while reading the escape scenes was intense, but also entertaining. You know a writer has succeeded when like any good Netflix series, just one more episode, or chapter in this case isn’t enough.
Right off the bat, one of the elements that drew me in is Roy’s ability as an author to create a believable setting with lifelike imagery. She describes Berlin as if she really lived there in the ‘30s. Every moment feels real and it becomes easy to imagine what it would have been like to actually live in Berlin before the War. I could place myself in these scenes and look through the eyes of the characters as if I too was living through what they were. Along with the setting, the atmosphere of changing times on the horizon is haunting but hopeful. Despite the hardships presented (and since we’re all familiar with history, we know how horrific this time was), optimism for a better future remains.
As with any good historical fiction, the characters cross paths with historical figures. In an unusual scene, we are given a description of Hitler as viewed by a supporting character who once crossed paths with him. It’s a surprising depiction, but also an intriguing one. How could a man seemingly so human, so insignificant, have been the cause of such evil? Besides this fascinating scene with Hitler, the characters throughout the book find themselves in various situations that connect to events we recognize from history. They become the window to history, giving us a glimpse of the past.
Roy also has a wonderful ability to create well rounded characters you root for. From mirror twins Eva and Inge, their parents Oskar and Helene, their brother Max, to all of the supporting characters along the way, each character is fleshed out, three-dimensional and memorable. I knew who every character was from the larger players down to the smaller ones.
I was particularly impressed with Roy’s depictions of twins. I guess as a twin myself it’s easy to be a little critical of the common one-dimensional depictions of twins. You know the twins who dress alike, talk alike (sometimes even at the same time in unison) and all around act like clones – which is super creepy. Or the complete opposite twins who have nothing in common. One is good, the other wild…While there are twins like this in real life, I always find it refreshing to see twins who don’t “always” fit into these types. I was thoroughly impressed with the depiction of Eva and Inge in the story as they are fleshed out as being two different people with similar interests but with independent spirits and personalities. I was so impressed I began to wonder where and how Roy got her information (it turns out her grandmother was a twin and helped inspire this story) on twins.
As a twin, I’ve discovered that in general many people are curious about twins. So they’ll ask you questions simply because they don’t know. In Across Great Divides near the beginning, the twins’ are asked a question (which I personally believe is the most common twin question): “What is it like having a twin?” The response (as described by the narrator) is fantastic! It reads: “Neither had put much thought into it; since the day they were born, this was the only life they had known.”
This may sound simple, but surprisingly I’ve never actually read a book with twins where this accurate description of how twins feel about this question is illustrated along with a very real and believable interpretation of twins in general. While Inge and Eva definitely have more psychic ability than I ever have as a twin, I truly enjoyed reading about twins who didn’t read like an obvious cliché.
By the end of this lovely book, the only criticism I can give is that there were a few moments here and there in the story when the dialogue read a little stilted and a tinge unnatural. But it wasn’t very often and no doubt with time Monique Roy will ease into her gift for writing and any clunky dialogue will go the wayside.
Overall Impression
Honestly, I was sucked into the suspenseful story from beginning to end and never wanted to put it down; I simply had to know what would happen next. In the midst of all the tragedy and prejudice which can be both heartbreaking and at times shocking, the carefully plotted story never loses the theme of hope. No doubt a lot of research was put into Across Great Divides and clearly the hard work paid off. I easily recommend this story without hesitation.
Adaptation Recommendation
This story with its epic scope is meant to be a three part miniseries. A lot of time passes in the novel which would make it difficult for a simple beginning, middle and end feature film. And as for a TV Show, while it could still work, I think the story is best suited to an epic three night storytelling TV event. The story is separated into three parts which could easily be divided and fleshed out for an adaptation. Part One: Germany, the rise of Hitler and the family’s ultimate escape. Part Two: Love stories, Belgium and another escape. And then, Part Three: South Africa and Apartheid. Honestly, this would be a fantastic BBC period production with great acting, writing and authentic period costumes. I’d definitely tune in.
An ambitious historical fictional novel, Across Great Divides is a beautiful story worth every minute of your time. The book will captivate you from the very start all the way to the finish leaving you wanting more and disappointed when the story reaches its conclusion. In an epic tale from talented writer Monique Roy about a Jewish family who overcome prejudice and persecution in Berlin during World War II only to find prejudice once again in South Africa, lies a truly unforgettable story filled with hope, redemption and pure love.
As I’ve always had a soft spot for historical fiction with a particular interest in World War II, I was excited to read a book with a new take on the time period. As an extra bonus, Across Great Divides is also about twins, another interest of mine (probably because I am one and love to see how others interpret twins – usually with me laughing at the over the top silly clichés that usually permeate twin characters). Roy weaves a story together like a pro from one scene to the next, each one making you want to read more. The suspense felt while reading the escape scenes was intense, but also entertaining. You know a writer has succeeded when like any good Netflix series, just one more episode, or chapter in this case isn’t enough.
Right off the bat, one of the elements that drew me in is Roy’s ability as an author to create a believable setting with lifelike imagery. She describes Berlin as if she really lived there in the ‘30s. Every moment feels real and it becomes easy to imagine what it would have been like to actually live in Berlin before the War. I could place myself in these scenes and look through the eyes of the characters as if I too was living through what they were. Along with the setting, the atmosphere of changing times on the horizon is haunting but hopeful. Despite the hardships presented (and since we’re all familiar with history, we know how horrific this time was), optimism for a better future remains.
As with any good historical fiction, the characters cross paths with historical figures. In an unusual scene, we are given a description of Hitler as viewed by a supporting character who once crossed paths with him. It’s a surprising depiction, but also an intriguing one. How could a man seemingly so human, so insignificant, have been the cause of such evil? Besides this fascinating scene with Hitler, the characters throughout the book find themselves in various situations that connect to events we recognize from history. They become the window to history, giving us a glimpse of the past.
Roy also has a wonderful ability to create well rounded characters you root for. From mirror twins Eva and Inge, their parents Oskar and Helene, their brother Max, to all of the supporting characters along the way, each character is fleshed out, three-dimensional and memorable. I knew who every character was from the larger players down to the smaller ones.
I was particularly impressed with Roy’s depictions of twins. I guess as a twin myself it’s easy to be a little critical of the common one-dimensional depictions of twins. You know the twins who dress alike, talk alike (sometimes even at the same time in unison) and all around act like clones – which is super creepy. Or the complete opposite twins who have nothing in common. One is good, the other wild…While there are twins like this in real life, I always find it refreshing to see twins who don’t “always” fit into these types. I was thoroughly impressed with the depiction of Eva and Inge in the story as they are fleshed out as being two different people with similar interests but with independent spirits and personalities. I was so impressed I began to wonder where and how Roy got her information (it turns out her grandmother was a twin and helped inspire this story) on twins.
As a twin, I’ve discovered that in general many people are curious about twins. So they’ll ask you questions simply because they don’t know. In Across Great Divides near the beginning, the twins’ are asked a question (which I personally believe is the most common twin question): “What is it like having a twin?” The response (as described by the narrator) is fantastic! It reads: “Neither had put much thought into it; since the day they were born, this was the only life they had known.”
This may sound simple, but surprisingly I’ve never actually read a book with twins where this accurate description of how twins feel about this question is illustrated along with a very real and believable interpretation of twins in general. While Inge and Eva definitely have more psychic ability than I ever have as a twin, I truly enjoyed reading about twins who didn’t read like an obvious cliché.
By the end of this lovely book, the only criticism I can give is that there were a few moments here and there in the story when the dialogue read a little stilted and a tinge unnatural. But it wasn’t very often and no doubt with time Monique Roy will ease into her gift for writing and any clunky dialogue will go the wayside.
Overall Impression
Honestly, I was sucked into the suspenseful story from beginning to end and never wanted to put it down; I simply had to know what would happen next. In the midst of all the tragedy and prejudice which can be both heartbreaking and at times shocking, the carefully plotted story never loses the theme of hope. No doubt a lot of research was put into Across Great Divides and clearly the hard work paid off. I easily recommend this story without hesitation.
Adaptation Recommendation
This story with its epic scope is meant to be a three part miniseries. A lot of time passes in the novel which would make it difficult for a simple beginning, middle and end feature film. And as for a TV Show, while it could still work, I think the story is best suited to an epic three night storytelling TV event. The story is separated into three parts which could easily be divided and fleshed out for an adaptation. Part One: Germany, the rise of Hitler and the family’s ultimate escape. Part Two: Love stories, Belgium and another escape. And then, Part Three: South Africa and Apartheid. Honestly, this would be a fantastic BBC period production with great acting, writing and authentic period costumes. I’d definitely tune in.
April 18, 2021
There were some really good aspects of this novel as it covered the flight of a German Jewish family from Berlin to Antwerp, Belgium to Rio de Janeiro and finally to Cape Town in South Africa at some point in the 1930's. After their arrival in Cape Town, the author introduces a new theme---the apartheid policies in South Africa and the persecution of the black people there---through the character of Zoe, a maid hired by the family. This is where I felt the author's writing was the strongest---in depicting the plight of the black people in South Africa.
Although I enjoyed the book, I felt the writing was too simplistic at times and the ending was disappointing in that it was too neat and tidy.
Although I enjoyed the book, I felt the writing was too simplistic at times and the ending was disappointing in that it was too neat and tidy.
June 17, 2017
A very touching and moving story following the lives of a Jewish family in the 1930's and their escape from the Nazi's. There are historical facts, relatable characters, cities and countries are well described so the reader could think she/he were there.
A wonderful book I highly recommend.
A wonderful book I highly recommend.
September 7, 2023
Monique, we me at St. Pete!
I loved the book! II couldn’t stop reading till it finished. We met at St. Pete Beach….Keep writing…. I want to read more. :). Maria Crego
I loved the book! II couldn’t stop reading till it finished. We met at St. Pete Beach….Keep writing…. I want to read more. :). Maria Crego
March 10, 2017
This is a very interesting and quick read. It's a great story about one family's escape from Nazi Germany via an unusual route through Rio to South Africa. If you like a lot of character development then this book may not be for you. It is more about the story of how they got out of Germany with a focus on the importance of family. I thought it was a great historical account of the events without the usual storyline of most Jews that escaped.
November 25, 2014
The story in this novel is its best feature. It's a fascinating look at one family's survival of the Holocaust and their experiences on the other side of the fence in apartheid South Africa. It's that dichotomy that makes this story so intriguing. Persecuted in one part of the war and part of the elite on the outset of that same war, the family's struggles, both inner and outer with this huge difference, kept me engaged throughout the novel. Knowing that the events in the novel were based off the author's own family experiences in the war, as well, added to their allure.
The characters are this novel's other strong point. The reader connects with the family's struggles, first to survive then to rationalize their new status in South Africa. Individual characters like Max and Eva drew me the most, with their sense of justice and right. But I really think you need to look at the family as a whole as a character. I found it completely enthralling the differences of opinion in their new status in life, within this family. From Oskar's belief that apartheid was the natural order of things to Inge's calm outer acceptance but inner struggle to Eva's quiet justice to Max's outer struggle for equality, the family just breathes tension and fire as a character all on its own.
The novel did have a major issue that detracted from my enjoyment of it. There was an abundance of "told" scenes that had me gritting my teeth more than once. I would rather a novel's story be told through actual scenes, dialogue, and emotional connections to the characters. And while this novel did have those, there were so many paragraphs where the audience is told that "this happened here" and "it happened on this date". Most of the history presented in this novel pretty much fit in this category. I do wish more of that had been incorporated into the narrative and not just plucked down into a whole paragraphs as if from a history textbook.
For the most part, the historical aspects of the novel seemed correct. There were even parts like the Belgian prison camp Breendonk that I'd never heard of. The constant struggle for escape the family went through and their route was historically sound from what I've read. There were a few aspects, though, that had me raising my eyebrow, like deportations to Auschwitz from Belgium as early as 1940 and the existence of a Polish underground before there was even a war. But then again, I'm not a Holocaust scholar. There might have been stuff similar to this that I didn't know about.
Overall, this novel is a good read about the Holocaust, its impact on one family, and their existence in a similar world but on the other side of the prejudice fence. I was intrigued by the story and the characters. And while the "told" aspects of the novel and the occasional historical bumps detracted a bit, this is still a solid novel. Definitely something to look into if you're in the market for such a book.
Note: Novel given to me for an honest review by the author.
The characters are this novel's other strong point. The reader connects with the family's struggles, first to survive then to rationalize their new status in South Africa. Individual characters like Max and Eva drew me the most, with their sense of justice and right. But I really think you need to look at the family as a whole as a character. I found it completely enthralling the differences of opinion in their new status in life, within this family. From Oskar's belief that apartheid was the natural order of things to Inge's calm outer acceptance but inner struggle to Eva's quiet justice to Max's outer struggle for equality, the family just breathes tension and fire as a character all on its own.
The novel did have a major issue that detracted from my enjoyment of it. There was an abundance of "told" scenes that had me gritting my teeth more than once. I would rather a novel's story be told through actual scenes, dialogue, and emotional connections to the characters. And while this novel did have those, there were so many paragraphs where the audience is told that "this happened here" and "it happened on this date". Most of the history presented in this novel pretty much fit in this category. I do wish more of that had been incorporated into the narrative and not just plucked down into a whole paragraphs as if from a history textbook.
For the most part, the historical aspects of the novel seemed correct. There were even parts like the Belgian prison camp Breendonk that I'd never heard of. The constant struggle for escape the family went through and their route was historically sound from what I've read. There were a few aspects, though, that had me raising my eyebrow, like deportations to Auschwitz from Belgium as early as 1940 and the existence of a Polish underground before there was even a war. But then again, I'm not a Holocaust scholar. There might have been stuff similar to this that I didn't know about.
Overall, this novel is a good read about the Holocaust, its impact on one family, and their existence in a similar world but on the other side of the prejudice fence. I was intrigued by the story and the characters. And while the "told" aspects of the novel and the occasional historical bumps detracted a bit, this is still a solid novel. Definitely something to look into if you're in the market for such a book.
Note: Novel given to me for an honest review by the author.
April 19, 2017
Across Great Divides is truly an emotional and intense novel. I don't read many historical fictions, but Across Great Divide was definitely worth a shot. The reader can really form an emotional bond with the twins and their family. I actually learned more about where Jews would flee in this novel then anywhere else, which is really awesome. I do wish that the book was in first person, I feel like that would've really made it so much more hooking. But overall Across Great Divide is a great and beautiful novel, I give it four stars!
May 25, 2016
Across Great Divides chronicles the lives of a Jewish family living in Berlin – from before the beginning of World War II, through the rise of Nazism and the war itself and finally to their transplantation in another country with equal social dystrophy, South Africa. The subject is one of great poignancy and distress, and anyone, even those too young to know anything about the plight of the German Jews during that war, will be riveted by the story.
The book focuses on Jewish twins Eva and Inga and opens with a rich description of their lives in the sparkling society of Berlin. As Hitler and his Nazi party gradually subsume this society into their party, painful changes occur: their best friend, Trudy, becomes a member of the Hitler Youth and rejects them, Jewish friends lose their businesses, and their younger brother Max becomes a member of the underground resistance. It is Max who sees the ultimate danger for his family and after the devastation of Kristallnacht in 1938, finally manages to persuade his father, Oskar, a diamond merchant, to leave Germany. Oskar takes the diamonds from his store to pay for their escape, but before they leave a valuable family heirloom, a beautiful emerald and diamond necklace, is confiscated by the Nazis. This necklace will become a thread weaving in and out of their lives.
The family’s escape from Germany and then Europe is a tortuous path, filled with danger because it is hard for them to distinguish friends from enemies. Nevertheless, a series of brave and caring people help them – a nun, a countess, and a winegrower – to reach Rio de Janeiro. Because the life there is difficult and the diamond business corrupt, they make the decision to move again, this time to South Africa, another diamond market.
In South Africa, the twins especially see the terrible parallels between apartheid and the treatment of the Jews in Europe. Max becomes drawn into the anti-apartheid movement and the family hires a dirt-poor black woman, Zoe, who lives in a Cape Town slum with her daughter. Eventually Zoe and her daughter comes to live with them, and the family’s members try to shelter her from the evils of the race issues that affect them all.
While the family finally comes to terms with South African society, the reader senses there is more of their story to tell.
This story in and of itself is captivating and there is plenty of historically active detail. The difficulty I had was with the long pages of description and the fact the story was told in third person, which separated me from the feelings of the family members. I wanted deeply to identify with one family member and experience through that person’s eyes the tremendous events of that horrifying and tumultuous time.
Nevertheless, this book is an entertaining read and one that will teach younger readers a lot of history.
The book focuses on Jewish twins Eva and Inga and opens with a rich description of their lives in the sparkling society of Berlin. As Hitler and his Nazi party gradually subsume this society into their party, painful changes occur: their best friend, Trudy, becomes a member of the Hitler Youth and rejects them, Jewish friends lose their businesses, and their younger brother Max becomes a member of the underground resistance. It is Max who sees the ultimate danger for his family and after the devastation of Kristallnacht in 1938, finally manages to persuade his father, Oskar, a diamond merchant, to leave Germany. Oskar takes the diamonds from his store to pay for their escape, but before they leave a valuable family heirloom, a beautiful emerald and diamond necklace, is confiscated by the Nazis. This necklace will become a thread weaving in and out of their lives.
The family’s escape from Germany and then Europe is a tortuous path, filled with danger because it is hard for them to distinguish friends from enemies. Nevertheless, a series of brave and caring people help them – a nun, a countess, and a winegrower – to reach Rio de Janeiro. Because the life there is difficult and the diamond business corrupt, they make the decision to move again, this time to South Africa, another diamond market.
In South Africa, the twins especially see the terrible parallels between apartheid and the treatment of the Jews in Europe. Max becomes drawn into the anti-apartheid movement and the family hires a dirt-poor black woman, Zoe, who lives in a Cape Town slum with her daughter. Eventually Zoe and her daughter comes to live with them, and the family’s members try to shelter her from the evils of the race issues that affect them all.
While the family finally comes to terms with South African society, the reader senses there is more of their story to tell.
This story in and of itself is captivating and there is plenty of historically active detail. The difficulty I had was with the long pages of description and the fact the story was told in third person, which separated me from the feelings of the family members. I wanted deeply to identify with one family member and experience through that person’s eyes the tremendous events of that horrifying and tumultuous time.
Nevertheless, this book is an entertaining read and one that will teach younger readers a lot of history.
February 26, 2017
As most of you know, WWII is one of my favorite time periods to read about. So, I jumped on this book when asked to review.
This is a good read. There is really nothing new and unique to the story except their travels and escape from Germany. How they ended up in Brazil then in Africa makes this tale unique. However, the story is just a little too convenient . You will need to read this story to find out what I mean. I do not want to give away a spoiler.
This is a story about family and strengths to get through the trials of life. It still amazes me...Mans inhumanity to man!!
I received this novel from the author for a honest review.
This is a good read. There is really nothing new and unique to the story except their travels and escape from Germany. How they ended up in Brazil then in Africa makes this tale unique. However, the story is just a little too convenient . You will need to read this story to find out what I mean. I do not want to give away a spoiler.
This is a story about family and strengths to get through the trials of life. It still amazes me...Mans inhumanity to man!!
I received this novel from the author for a honest review.
February 26, 2017
Original Review Here
Across Great Divides left me with very mixed feelings.
On one hand, I always feel that any writing about the war and the struggles people went through is worthwhile. The more people know about this era, the more chance there is of avoiding atrocities happening again. The content deserves credit.
From a story-telling and writing perspective, however, I had issues with this novel.
Roy has clearly researched what she is writing about – which is admirable! There were passages that felt like they were regurgitating research though, rather than applying it to the characters and their struggle. This distanced me from the characters and, despite what they were going through, it was hard to connect and empathise with them.
The majority of the novel is from Eva’s point of view. There are a lot of random passages here and there that follow someone else – and it felt that was done just to bring in another element to the story rather than moving the plot forward.
I disliked Eva as a main character, especially in the second half of the novel. She came across as naïve and ignorant when dealing with Zoe – her maid in South Africa – through instructions as staying in the kitchen and only being seen to serve the food. Yet this is coming from a woman supposedly determined she wouldn’t treat Zoe the way other masters would.
This flaw echoed across the entire family. Everyone was supportive of Max joining a resistance group in Germany – because it benefited them. When he tried to make a stand against apartheid, however, his family clearly told him not to be involved and it wasn’t worth the struggle.
While this may have been reality for some people, a novel needs to have likeable characters for the message to be driven home. Max was the only one prepared to stand for what he believed in, even when it was dangerous. The rest of the family were so focused about their own happiness, they would let others be oppressed and persecuted, despite knowing what that feels like.
I respect and admire what Roy was trying to do with this novel. But the lack of connection with the characters made it hard to properly engage with Across Great Divides.
Across Great Divides left me with very mixed feelings.
On one hand, I always feel that any writing about the war and the struggles people went through is worthwhile. The more people know about this era, the more chance there is of avoiding atrocities happening again. The content deserves credit.
From a story-telling and writing perspective, however, I had issues with this novel.
Roy has clearly researched what she is writing about – which is admirable! There were passages that felt like they were regurgitating research though, rather than applying it to the characters and their struggle. This distanced me from the characters and, despite what they were going through, it was hard to connect and empathise with them.
The majority of the novel is from Eva’s point of view. There are a lot of random passages here and there that follow someone else – and it felt that was done just to bring in another element to the story rather than moving the plot forward.
I disliked Eva as a main character, especially in the second half of the novel. She came across as naïve and ignorant when dealing with Zoe – her maid in South Africa – through instructions as staying in the kitchen and only being seen to serve the food. Yet this is coming from a woman supposedly determined she wouldn’t treat Zoe the way other masters would.
This flaw echoed across the entire family. Everyone was supportive of Max joining a resistance group in Germany – because it benefited them. When he tried to make a stand against apartheid, however, his family clearly told him not to be involved and it wasn’t worth the struggle.
While this may have been reality for some people, a novel needs to have likeable characters for the message to be driven home. Max was the only one prepared to stand for what he believed in, even when it was dangerous. The rest of the family were so focused about their own happiness, they would let others be oppressed and persecuted, despite knowing what that feels like.
I respect and admire what Roy was trying to do with this novel. But the lack of connection with the characters made it hard to properly engage with Across Great Divides.
May 5, 2016
Right from the start you get a real sense of time and place in this book, which opens just as Hitler and the Nazis have come to power in Germany during the 1930s. Monique builds up the pace steadily, introducing the reader to Oskar, a diamond cutter and dealer, his wife Helene, plus his twin daughters Eva and Inge, and their brother Max. From the first few chapters you can feel the foreboding, as the Nazis gradually tighten their grip on political power and then Hitler’s long term plans for the Jews of Europe, are set in horrible, tragic motion.
I have to say that the first half of this book is gripping, beautifully paced and it draws the reader into the era of pre-war Germany extremely well. The historical details are all there, the dialogue rings true and even the descriptions of diamond grading, washing and cutting are spot on – I know, as I run a jewellers shop. Monique is a writer who paints a vivid, realistic world from the pages of the past and that takes skill and imagination, as well as research.
As the book unfolds, the awful sense of doom never leaves the reader’s mind. We all know – or should – what happened to the Jews in Europe as war broke out in September 1939, and then the Germany army swept across Belgium, France, Norway and many other countries in 1940-41.
The flight from Berlin to Antwerp, then from ruined, war-torn Belgium to France, Spain, Portugal and eventually Rio-de-Janeiro is a roller-coaster of emotions – you hold your breath with each page as you wonder if each member of Oskar’s family will survive.
There’s also a blossoming love story, for both Eva and Inge, as an underground network of Jews, and decent people willing to assist, help them escape the concentration camps being constructed across Eastern Europe from `42 onwards.
For me, the book loses a little of its edge and excitement in the second half, but the conclusion to this historical family saga is expertly handled, and any reader who loves books like The Winds of War, Schindler’s List, or The Diary of Anne Frank, will love this epic tale of survival, family bonds, true love and forgiveness.
Alastair w
July 18, 2014
Across Great Divides chronicles the story of Eva and Inge, two identical twin sisters growing up in Nazi Germany. As Jews, life becomes increasingly difficult for them and their family under the oppressive and anti-Semitic laws of the Nazis. Then, after witnessing the horrors of Kristallnacht, they realize they must leave their beloved homeland if they hope to survive.
Unsure of where to go, they travel to Antwerp, Belgium, and then on to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, chasing the diamond trade in hopes of finding work for their father, a diamond cutter and jeweler by trade. Finally, they find a home for themselves in the beautiful country of South Africa and begin to settle down.
But just as things begin to feel safe, their new home becomes caught up in it’s own battles of bigotry and hate under the National Party’s demand for an apartheid South Africa. Eva and Inge wonder if they will ever be allowed to live in peace, though they cling to the hope for a better day when there will be “an understanding of the past, compassion for all humanity, and …hope and courage to move forward across great divides.”
This is a hauntingly beautiful story of faith, family, and redemption, centered in one of the darkest periods in human history. Written with great poise and depth, Roy captivates the reader with a tale of one family’s struggle to survive in a world tainted with hate, capturing the raw emotion of the time, and the power of love that held them all together. Across Great Divides is a prime example of how historical fiction should be written- engaging, emotional, and utterly unputdownable. Highly recommended!
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Check out this review on my blog:EpicBookQuest.com
July 21, 2015
During the rise of Nazi Germany, one Jewish family refuses to be separated and controlled by the Nazi regime. Twins Eva and Inge live a privileged life along with their brother Max in Berlin, Germany. Their father, Oskar is prominent in the diamond business and is able to provide for the family; but as Hitler’s influence grows, Jewish business owners are forced to close, and families are forced to give up their belongings. Discrimination against the Jews grow and it becomes harder to live day to day, Max becomes part of the underground and Eva and Inge lose their best friend, Trudy to the Nazi cause. The family is forced to leave the home and their country to escape the inevitable. Using the few precious diamonds that he has left, Oskar and his family escape Germany through a treacherous path that leads them through Belgium, Spain, Rio Di Janeiro and finally finding peace in Cape Town, South Africa only to be confronted with the hate of apartheid.
Across Great Divides is a unique look into one family’s journey to escape the hatred of Nazi Germany. It was interesting to see how a family of means still struggled under the discrimination imposed by Hitler. Their determination and hardship while they fled their home felt very real and emotional as the family risks everything to stay together and find a place where they can be at peace. It was interesting to see the spread of hatred in the Nazi regime followed them all the way to South America. The family’s experience with apartheid in South Africa was intriguing now that they were on the other side of the discrimination. I enjoyed this book from the historical perspective and the focused look into one family’s unique experience; however, the writing was done in third person and many large events were told to the reader in a sentence and not experienced through a character. While I felt the journey through the whole family, I struggled with not being able to truly identify with one character.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
March 20, 2014
It seems that I never tire of historical novels during the time of WWII. And this is one that is inspired by a true story. Not only that, but the time period extends to other time periods and countries. No matter how many times I read the horrors the Nazis perpetrated against the Jews, I still find it nauseating. This book does not include the grisly details of the Holocaust, but enough detail is implied to still insinuate the terrors of this period of history. The characters that the author has created are impeccable to a flaw, and they present the humanity of this tale. The author does not whitewash anything, and realism indeed pervades the story.
The portion of the book that takes place in South Africa was the most fascinating. I never knew where or how apartheid was inaugurated. That part of my historical knowledge is rather sketchy. As I read about the laws being enacted and the way it affected the black people in South Africa, I was repulsed. Seeing it through the eyes of Jews who had been victims of prejudice enlightened me to even a greater degree. The more I read about history, the less I know, it would seem.
There is decidedly little potentially objectionable material in the book. There are no real bedroom scenes (a brief exchange between a husband and wife, but nothing problematic), and the profanity is minimal (although I wish those words had been omitted). I can overlook any potential issues due to the amazing scholarship with which it is written.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
The portion of the book that takes place in South Africa was the most fascinating. I never knew where or how apartheid was inaugurated. That part of my historical knowledge is rather sketchy. As I read about the laws being enacted and the way it affected the black people in South Africa, I was repulsed. Seeing it through the eyes of Jews who had been victims of prejudice enlightened me to even a greater degree. The more I read about history, the less I know, it would seem.
There is decidedly little potentially objectionable material in the book. There are no real bedroom scenes (a brief exchange between a husband and wife, but nothing problematic), and the profanity is minimal (although I wish those words had been omitted). I can overlook any potential issues due to the amazing scholarship with which it is written.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
January 9, 2015
"Across Great Divides" is a wonderful tale of resilience, family, and following your moral compass. Author Monique Roy, based this inspiring story on her own grandparents journey across countries, continents, and beliefs to try and find safety from the Nazis.
Told through many viewpoints, and over many years, this tale is about the lengths one must go in order to keep family together. Oskar, a successful diamond business owner in Berlin, must flee with his wife, two twin daughters, and young son, in order to escape the Jewish persecution by the Nazis. With the help of others they manage to flee to Belgium, but it isn't far enough away from the Nazi's grip. Over many years they must leapfrog across countries trying to find safety and trying to stay together as their family grows. Throughout all the hardships they manage to stay positive by finding the beauty around them and falling in love. When they eventually find safety in South Africa they face a new struggle, apartheid. Even though the discrimination against them is gone they must decide if they are willing to fight the struggle against the new underdogs, Blacks in South Africa.
A compelling tale, great for middle school readers and up. Not only does it talk of Hitler's ascent into power, it discusses the Jewish discrimination, apartheid, and the complexities of the diamond business. Not told through any one particular character, the story offers many different viewpoints and experiences, although at times the characters can come across a little flat.
I received this book for free from the author, in return for mu honest, unbiased opinion.
Told through many viewpoints, and over many years, this tale is about the lengths one must go in order to keep family together. Oskar, a successful diamond business owner in Berlin, must flee with his wife, two twin daughters, and young son, in order to escape the Jewish persecution by the Nazis. With the help of others they manage to flee to Belgium, but it isn't far enough away from the Nazi's grip. Over many years they must leapfrog across countries trying to find safety and trying to stay together as their family grows. Throughout all the hardships they manage to stay positive by finding the beauty around them and falling in love. When they eventually find safety in South Africa they face a new struggle, apartheid. Even though the discrimination against them is gone they must decide if they are willing to fight the struggle against the new underdogs, Blacks in South Africa.
A compelling tale, great for middle school readers and up. Not only does it talk of Hitler's ascent into power, it discusses the Jewish discrimination, apartheid, and the complexities of the diamond business. Not told through any one particular character, the story offers many different viewpoints and experiences, although at times the characters can come across a little flat.
I received this book for free from the author, in return for mu honest, unbiased opinion.
June 22, 2015
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Across Great Divides by Monique Roy in exchange for an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Across Great Divides by Monique Roy is a very complex story of one family's journey from Nazi Germany to South Africa's Apartheid era and how it impacts them from generation to generation.
I must admit it was a difficult read at times as Across Great Divides puts the reader directly in the path of the Nazi's atrocities. This has come to affect me more deeply than ever before as my husband's mother is of Jewish descent and my feelings are more involved the more I try to find out about where her people came from.
Ms. Roy does a great job of developing these complex characters and telling their story through difficult times in history is an astronomical undertaking. Ms. Roy intertwines her characters with these events with great care.
It saddens me to know that Ms. Roy is writing from a familial family history but it also takes a brave woman to attempt to write a story of fiction from the facts of a family's life.
I recommend you take the time to immerse yourself in history and Across Great Divides by Monique Roy. I give Across Great Divides four hot cups of Room With Books coffee.
© June 21, 2015
Patricia, Room With Books
Across Great Divides by Monique Roy is a very complex story of one family's journey from Nazi Germany to South Africa's Apartheid era and how it impacts them from generation to generation.
I must admit it was a difficult read at times as Across Great Divides puts the reader directly in the path of the Nazi's atrocities. This has come to affect me more deeply than ever before as my husband's mother is of Jewish descent and my feelings are more involved the more I try to find out about where her people came from.
Ms. Roy does a great job of developing these complex characters and telling their story through difficult times in history is an astronomical undertaking. Ms. Roy intertwines her characters with these events with great care.
It saddens me to know that Ms. Roy is writing from a familial family history but it also takes a brave woman to attempt to write a story of fiction from the facts of a family's life.
I recommend you take the time to immerse yourself in history and Across Great Divides by Monique Roy. I give Across Great Divides four hot cups of Room With Books coffee.
© June 21, 2015
Patricia, Room With Books
September 5, 2018
This story follows a family from Germany to South Africa and highlights the various trials they encounter. Audible's summary explains the storyline nicely. This book is not long, therefore, there is not too much detail covering the backstory or setting but there is the right amount to make this story go smoothly. There is not any explicit sex or violence described.
This could be the story about a real family who lived during the Nazi and Apartheid era. Despite their hardships, they are some of the lucky ones.
The narrator (Angela Ness) has a pleasant voice and did a lovely job narrating this book. I would listen to another book by this narrator.
I would read/ listen to another book by this author.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this unbiased review.
The audiobook does however have many technical issues that I hope will be remedied.
Story 4/5
Narration 4/5
This could be the story about a real family who lived during the Nazi and Apartheid era. Despite their hardships, they are some of the lucky ones.
The narrator (Angela Ness) has a pleasant voice and did a lovely job narrating this book. I would listen to another book by this narrator.
I would read/ listen to another book by this author.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this unbiased review.
The audiobook does however have many technical issues that I hope will be remedied.
Story 4/5
Narration 4/5
March 25, 2014
I’m not a fan of historical fiction, but the blurb caught my attention and I didn’t want to pass this book up.
This is a very emotional story that gives a glimpse of what it was like to live through Hitler’s reign in Europe and the Apartheid in South Africa. The characters were so well developed and it seems as if the author did extensive research because the story seemed to be real. I had to keep reminding myself it was a work of fiction.
At times the book was hard to read because you know that so many people actually went through this horrible time, but the main thing that keeps you reading are the well defined characters, especially Eva and Inge.
I’d recommend this book to anyone, not just those who enjoy historical fiction.
This is a very emotional story that gives a glimpse of what it was like to live through Hitler’s reign in Europe and the Apartheid in South Africa. The characters were so well developed and it seems as if the author did extensive research because the story seemed to be real. I had to keep reminding myself it was a work of fiction.
At times the book was hard to read because you know that so many people actually went through this horrible time, but the main thing that keeps you reading are the well defined characters, especially Eva and Inge.
I’d recommend this book to anyone, not just those who enjoy historical fiction.
October 15, 2014
Across Great Divides
too many story lines, details provided about characters-but too many to connect with, family Jewish during Holocaust, travels end up in South America, much info about geography but simplistic sentences ruin most descriptions.
too many story lines, details provided about characters-but too many to connect with, family Jewish during Holocaust, travels end up in South America, much info about geography but simplistic sentences ruin most descriptions.
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