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The Resistance Painter
An evocative work of historical fiction, examining the little-known story of Poland’s extraordinary WW ll resistance army and the contemporary lives of two artists, grandmother and granddaughter, inextricably linked by a wartime betrayal.
Warsaw 1939. Irena Marianowska’s dreams of attending art school in Paris are crushed when the Nazis invade Poland. Instead, she joins the Home Army and, together with her resistance cell, risks her life guiding people to safety through the sewers of Warsaw. In 1942, after a harrowing mission, she returns home to learn that her sister, Lotka, has been abducted by the Gestapo. In her search for Lotka, Irena encounters a host of characters who lead her into greater danger.
Toronto 2010. Jo Blum lives in Toronto with her beloved grandmother, a lauded painter of WWII and a decorated war hero. Jo has a budding career creating sculptures for grave sites based on the life stories of her dying clients. Her recorded interviews with Stefan, her new Polish client, unveil an heroic wartime past eerily similar to her grandmother’s. But Jo’s quest to uncover the truth about Stefan and her grandmother opens an explosive Pandora’s box whose shockwaves threaten everything she’s known about her family.
The Resistance Painter will resonate with fans of The Berlin Apartment, The Secret History of Audrey James, Woman with the Blue Star, The Book of Lost Names, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The German Girl, and The Dutch Wife, confronting questions about the stories we tell about our lives and whether buried secrets should stay buried.
“The story of the Hitler’s invasion of Poland has been neglected by historical novelists. Kath Johnson has leapt into the breach with great success. The Resistance Painter is an inspiring tale of suffering, courage, fortitude, and sisterly love.” -Roberta Rich, bestselling author of The Jazz Club Spy
“An elegant, riveting, dual-timeline novel about betrayals that haunt generations, and the redemptive power of art.” -Genevieve Graham, #1 bestselling author of The Secret Keeper
“This dramatic story pays tribute to the youthful resistance fighters who risked their lives hundreds of times in the underground sewers of Warsaw, saving their fellow citizens from certain death. At times I had to lay down the book, unable to read for my tears of rage and sorrow. The Resistance Painter illuminates a forgotten chapter of Polish history, one that deserves to be floodlit for all eternity.”
-Elinor Florence, bestselling author Finding Flora
Warsaw 1939. Irena Marianowska’s dreams of attending art school in Paris are crushed when the Nazis invade Poland. Instead, she joins the Home Army and, together with her resistance cell, risks her life guiding people to safety through the sewers of Warsaw. In 1942, after a harrowing mission, she returns home to learn that her sister, Lotka, has been abducted by the Gestapo. In her search for Lotka, Irena encounters a host of characters who lead her into greater danger.
Toronto 2010. Jo Blum lives in Toronto with her beloved grandmother, a lauded painter of WWII and a decorated war hero. Jo has a budding career creating sculptures for grave sites based on the life stories of her dying clients. Her recorded interviews with Stefan, her new Polish client, unveil an heroic wartime past eerily similar to her grandmother’s. But Jo’s quest to uncover the truth about Stefan and her grandmother opens an explosive Pandora’s box whose shockwaves threaten everything she’s known about her family.
The Resistance Painter will resonate with fans of The Berlin Apartment, The Secret History of Audrey James, Woman with the Blue Star, The Book of Lost Names, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The German Girl, and The Dutch Wife, confronting questions about the stories we tell about our lives and whether buried secrets should stay buried.
“The story of the Hitler’s invasion of Poland has been neglected by historical novelists. Kath Johnson has leapt into the breach with great success. The Resistance Painter is an inspiring tale of suffering, courage, fortitude, and sisterly love.” -Roberta Rich, bestselling author of The Jazz Club Spy
“An elegant, riveting, dual-timeline novel about betrayals that haunt generations, and the redemptive power of art.” -Genevieve Graham, #1 bestselling author of The Secret Keeper
“This dramatic story pays tribute to the youthful resistance fighters who risked their lives hundreds of times in the underground sewers of Warsaw, saving their fellow citizens from certain death. At times I had to lay down the book, unable to read for my tears of rage and sorrow. The Resistance Painter illuminates a forgotten chapter of Polish history, one that deserves to be floodlit for all eternity.”
-Elinor Florence, bestselling author Finding Flora
448 pages, Paperback
Published March 25, 2025
53 people are currently reading
5734 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
March 24, 2025
Kudos to this new-to-me author for engaging me with unique characters (and careers) and crafting a plot (1) full of secrets to be uncovered and (2) one that left me with lots to think about!
I was as interested in the contemporary timeline as I was in the Warsaw 1939 timeline; the fact that Canada was used as a setting appealed to me. Despite reading a variety of books on the resistance to Nazi occupation, many set in Poland, I still learned more about this eye-opening slice of history. Pam Jenoff’s book alerted me to the experiences many faced in the sewers, but Kath Jonathan made it visceral.
✔️Josephine Blum’s ‘artistry’ had me reaching for Google to see if it was a ‘real’ job!
✔️The differing reactions Irena and Lotka had to living under Nazi occupation not only gave me a focus while reading but also equally pulled at my emotions.
✔️The questions raised, especially that of capitulation being the only alternative to fighting, had me thinking about this book long after finishing.
✔️The inspiration and the journey to publication was interesting
✔️I had to Google ‘Varsovians’...love it when I learn as I read! Thank you for not spoon-feeding your readers.
I was gifted this copy by Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
I was as interested in the contemporary timeline as I was in the Warsaw 1939 timeline; the fact that Canada was used as a setting appealed to me. Despite reading a variety of books on the resistance to Nazi occupation, many set in Poland, I still learned more about this eye-opening slice of history. Pam Jenoff’s book alerted me to the experiences many faced in the sewers, but Kath Jonathan made it visceral.
✔️Josephine Blum’s ‘artistry’ had me reaching for Google to see if it was a ‘real’ job!
✔️The differing reactions Irena and Lotka had to living under Nazi occupation not only gave me a focus while reading but also equally pulled at my emotions.
✔️The questions raised, especially that of capitulation being the only alternative to fighting, had me thinking about this book long after finishing.
✔️The inspiration and the journey to publication was interesting
✔️I had to Google ‘Varsovians’...love it when I learn as I read! Thank you for not spoon-feeding your readers.
I was gifted this copy by Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
March 27, 2025
Immersive, hopeful, and heart-wrenching!
The Resistance Painter is a poignant, dual-timeline tale set in Poland during WWII, as well as Toronto in 2010, that takes you into the lives of two main characters. Irena Marianowska, a young woman who, after her dream of attending art school is destroyed due to German invasion, endeavours to help the Polish Resistance in any way she can, and Jo Blum, a creative grave sculptor who, after a new client’s past seems eerily familiar, is resolved to discover all the details and truth about her own grandmother’s past.
The prose is atmospheric and authentic. The characters are vulnerable, brave, and strong. And the plot is an evocative, vivid tale of life, loss, love, family, friendship, grief, perseverance, selflessness, suffering, art, the unimaginable horrors of war, and the importance of sewers during wartime in transporting people to safety.
Overall, The Resistance Painter is an insightful, emotional, beautifully written debut by Jonathan inspired by real-life familial events that reminds us that survival of any kind often involves heartbreaking choices, moral dilemmas, action, spirit, extreme loss and, beyond all else, unimaginable sacrifice and courage.
The Resistance Painter is a poignant, dual-timeline tale set in Poland during WWII, as well as Toronto in 2010, that takes you into the lives of two main characters. Irena Marianowska, a young woman who, after her dream of attending art school is destroyed due to German invasion, endeavours to help the Polish Resistance in any way she can, and Jo Blum, a creative grave sculptor who, after a new client’s past seems eerily familiar, is resolved to discover all the details and truth about her own grandmother’s past.
The prose is atmospheric and authentic. The characters are vulnerable, brave, and strong. And the plot is an evocative, vivid tale of life, loss, love, family, friendship, grief, perseverance, selflessness, suffering, art, the unimaginable horrors of war, and the importance of sewers during wartime in transporting people to safety.
Overall, The Resistance Painter is an insightful, emotional, beautifully written debut by Jonathan inspired by real-life familial events that reminds us that survival of any kind often involves heartbreaking choices, moral dilemmas, action, spirit, extreme loss and, beyond all else, unimaginable sacrifice and courage.
January 19, 2025
Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for the ARC copy of this novel!
From the Polish resistance in WWII, to Toronto of the 2010s, art runs in this family. The novel follows both Irena, a soldier in the Polish resistance army whose plans to go to Art School are put on hold due to Nazi occupation; and Jo, her granddaughter who creates grave sculptures and whose newest client may have a connection to her grandmother.
The novel at times is both heart breaking and heartfelt. The majority is set in WWII Warsaw, and the reader is brought into the world of civilians fighting for their lives and an underground network using the sewers to escape the Nazi soldiers. The heartfelt movements feel like small moments of sunshine in the bleak landscape - such as Mati and Irena's relationship – while not diminishing the horrors and atrocities that take place. This story weaves into the future, where Jo's newest client is a supposed fighter with the Polish resistance, and plants questions in Jo's mind about her grandmothers life that she never knew about.
One of the main takeaways from this story, aside from history repeating itself (because lets be honest, todays climate anyone can see that), perhaps we should ask our families those questions about their past and experiences before it's too late.
From the Polish resistance in WWII, to Toronto of the 2010s, art runs in this family. The novel follows both Irena, a soldier in the Polish resistance army whose plans to go to Art School are put on hold due to Nazi occupation; and Jo, her granddaughter who creates grave sculptures and whose newest client may have a connection to her grandmother.
The novel at times is both heart breaking and heartfelt. The majority is set in WWII Warsaw, and the reader is brought into the world of civilians fighting for their lives and an underground network using the sewers to escape the Nazi soldiers. The heartfelt movements feel like small moments of sunshine in the bleak landscape - such as Mati and Irena's relationship – while not diminishing the horrors and atrocities that take place. This story weaves into the future, where Jo's newest client is a supposed fighter with the Polish resistance, and plants questions in Jo's mind about her grandmothers life that she never knew about.
One of the main takeaways from this story, aside from history repeating itself (because lets be honest, todays climate anyone can see that), perhaps we should ask our families those questions about their past and experiences before it's too late.
March 14, 2025
Last year, two of my top historical reads for the year just happened to feature the Polish Resistance during WWII. The Warsaw Sisters by Amanda Barratt and The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin were both breathtaking and poignant, and opened up a new angle to WWII history that I hadn’t yet explored, sending me down rabbit holes of further research.
So, when I read the blurb for this debut novel by Kath Jonathan, The Resistance Painter, I instinctively knew that this story had strong five-star potential. Not only that, but the book featured a dual-timeline (my favourite way of exploring historical fiction) and featured themes of art and creativity in the midst of suffering and loss.
The Resistance Painter follows Irena, a painter whose dreams of art school are crushed when the Germans invade Poland; and her granddaughter, Jo, in 2010 Toronto, an artist who designs grave sculptures. Both timelines are impactful and beautifully written, exploring various themes of grief, art, family, and survival. While a dual-timeline about a granddaughter uncovering and exploring her grandmother’s history and war experiences is nothing new, this book felt fresh and engaging throughout, and I had a difficult time putting the book down.
While the novel dances back and forth between timelines, the majority of the story is set in Poland during WWII. This portion of the book was heartbreaking, vibrantly descriptive, and felt incredibly well researched. Irena’s character is fierce and determined, and I think out of all the fiction I’ve read on this topic, this one gave me the strongest visual impression of the sewers, making that element of the story come alive.
I also really enjoyed Jo’s modern timeline. The relationship between her and her aging grandmother was nuanced and well-rounded, and I loved the uniqueness of Jo’s art career and what that brought to the story. Although there were a few aspects of this second timeline that didn’t quite flow as neatly for me (some of the conversations could have been fleshed out more as there were instances where it felt like a bit of a jump) it was also extremely solid, well written, and absolutely drew me in.
With its moving plot and writing, this book will definitely be hitting my list of top ten reads for 2025. For fans of historical fiction, dual-timelines, or those wanting a story that both warms and breaks your heart as you explore tales of courage and resistance — this is for you.
Thanks to the publisher, Simon and Schuster Canada, for my gifted advance copy!
So, when I read the blurb for this debut novel by Kath Jonathan, The Resistance Painter, I instinctively knew that this story had strong five-star potential. Not only that, but the book featured a dual-timeline (my favourite way of exploring historical fiction) and featured themes of art and creativity in the midst of suffering and loss.
The Resistance Painter follows Irena, a painter whose dreams of art school are crushed when the Germans invade Poland; and her granddaughter, Jo, in 2010 Toronto, an artist who designs grave sculptures. Both timelines are impactful and beautifully written, exploring various themes of grief, art, family, and survival. While a dual-timeline about a granddaughter uncovering and exploring her grandmother’s history and war experiences is nothing new, this book felt fresh and engaging throughout, and I had a difficult time putting the book down.
While the novel dances back and forth between timelines, the majority of the story is set in Poland during WWII. This portion of the book was heartbreaking, vibrantly descriptive, and felt incredibly well researched. Irena’s character is fierce and determined, and I think out of all the fiction I’ve read on this topic, this one gave me the strongest visual impression of the sewers, making that element of the story come alive.
I also really enjoyed Jo’s modern timeline. The relationship between her and her aging grandmother was nuanced and well-rounded, and I loved the uniqueness of Jo’s art career and what that brought to the story. Although there were a few aspects of this second timeline that didn’t quite flow as neatly for me (some of the conversations could have been fleshed out more as there were instances where it felt like a bit of a jump) it was also extremely solid, well written, and absolutely drew me in.
With its moving plot and writing, this book will definitely be hitting my list of top ten reads for 2025. For fans of historical fiction, dual-timelines, or those wanting a story that both warms and breaks your heart as you explore tales of courage and resistance — this is for you.
Thanks to the publisher, Simon and Schuster Canada, for my gifted advance copy!
April 19, 2025
Originally reviewed at Books Etc.
If you’re new here (welcome!), you may not know that I love some good historical fiction, and yes, particularly set in and around the World Wars. Since I read so many, I’ve been finding recently that I’m much more picky about the stories that I’m reading as I’m now searching (somewhat desperately) for new and different stories that captivated me when these books got super popular. I thought perhaps The Resistance Painter was going to give me something new but the majority of it felt like a repeat of another historical novel I read a year or so ago. Is it Kath Jonathan’s fault that another author told a similar story and got their book published first? No. And it wasn’t the only issue I had with the novel. This should have been a winner but it ended up being quite the let down.
As you can see from the book’s description, this was a dual narrative novel. I know. Another one. In the author’s note, Jonathan says that it was actually Jo’s story that she started with but then added in Irena’s POV. I found this a little surprising because the “present day” storyline was really weak to me and I always found myself wanting to go back into the past. Jo and her art just wasn’t riveting enough for me (which is weird since I do love a good art story).
Even though I did want to read the past part of the story more than the present, that doesn’t mean I was particularly thrilled with that storyline either. Characters and their actions didn’t always seem consistent but I will concede that they were dealing with a war and I can’t imagine how hard it would be to live and fight (or not) through that. As I said, I recently read another book that featured the invasion of Poland and it kind of felt like both authors were reading from the exact same references. Both books featured girls who were older teens, 16 or so, at the start of the invasion and were in Guides. Both girls had Jewish best friends. Both girls fought in the resistance in some way. Now, that’s where things got a little more interesting - Irena worked in the tunnels and ferried people through the sewers to safety. That’s a neat little tidbit (albeit a bit heartbreaking) but I didn’t need pages and pages of explanation on how they got people through the sewers or how badly it smelled.
Speaking of pages and pages - this book was 448 pages long. That was FAR too long. I do admit that I was skimming near the end because I just wanted to find out how everyone made it through the war (or not).
I can see that Johnathan was trying to show that war is messy and hard and you don’t always know how you’re going to act until you’re in it. Which is scarily on point for today’s environment. I know some people made choices so they could save themselves and their families and others probably over exaggerated how much resistance work they did. But it gets hard to read about those who sided with Nazis and didn’t see how their actions impacted others. I don’t blame Irena one bit for how she felt. And I didn’t like reading about some of those characters and feeling like Jonathan wanted me to have more empathy for them. I could see where she was going, but I don’t think she hit the mark - at least not for me.
Some historical fiction readers may enjoy The Resistance Painter but I, sadly, was not one of them. I wanted to like Kath Jonathan’s debut novel but it missed the mark for me.
*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Simon & Schuster Canada, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*
If you’re new here (welcome!), you may not know that I love some good historical fiction, and yes, particularly set in and around the World Wars. Since I read so many, I’ve been finding recently that I’m much more picky about the stories that I’m reading as I’m now searching (somewhat desperately) for new and different stories that captivated me when these books got super popular. I thought perhaps The Resistance Painter was going to give me something new but the majority of it felt like a repeat of another historical novel I read a year or so ago. Is it Kath Jonathan’s fault that another author told a similar story and got their book published first? No. And it wasn’t the only issue I had with the novel. This should have been a winner but it ended up being quite the let down.
As you can see from the book’s description, this was a dual narrative novel. I know. Another one. In the author’s note, Jonathan says that it was actually Jo’s story that she started with but then added in Irena’s POV. I found this a little surprising because the “present day” storyline was really weak to me and I always found myself wanting to go back into the past. Jo and her art just wasn’t riveting enough for me (which is weird since I do love a good art story).
Even though I did want to read the past part of the story more than the present, that doesn’t mean I was particularly thrilled with that storyline either. Characters and their actions didn’t always seem consistent but I will concede that they were dealing with a war and I can’t imagine how hard it would be to live and fight (or not) through that. As I said, I recently read another book that featured the invasion of Poland and it kind of felt like both authors were reading from the exact same references. Both books featured girls who were older teens, 16 or so, at the start of the invasion and were in Guides. Both girls had Jewish best friends. Both girls fought in the resistance in some way. Now, that’s where things got a little more interesting - Irena worked in the tunnels and ferried people through the sewers to safety. That’s a neat little tidbit (albeit a bit heartbreaking) but I didn’t need pages and pages of explanation on how they got people through the sewers or how badly it smelled.
Speaking of pages and pages - this book was 448 pages long. That was FAR too long. I do admit that I was skimming near the end because I just wanted to find out how everyone made it through the war (or not).
I can see that Johnathan was trying to show that war is messy and hard and you don’t always know how you’re going to act until you’re in it. Which is scarily on point for today’s environment. I know some people made choices so they could save themselves and their families and others probably over exaggerated how much resistance work they did. But it gets hard to read about those who sided with Nazis and didn’t see how their actions impacted others. I don’t blame Irena one bit for how she felt. And I didn’t like reading about some of those characters and feeling like Jonathan wanted me to have more empathy for them. I could see where she was going, but I don’t think she hit the mark - at least not for me.
Some historical fiction readers may enjoy The Resistance Painter but I, sadly, was not one of them. I wanted to like Kath Jonathan’s debut novel but it missed the mark for me.
*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Simon & Schuster Canada, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*
April 7, 2025
This story is one of my best reads so far this year.
The Resistance Painter is a historical fiction with dual timelines. One involving the main character in the story, Irena and the other based around her granddaughter, Jo.
In 1939 Warsaw (WW2) Irena was a young girl who had to make sacrifices to her life to keep her friends and family safe and to try to protect Warsaw and fight the Germans from taking over. She lived through many horrific events as a woman in the resistance.
In 2010 Toronto, the truth of the past starts to reveal itself as Jo learns more about what her grandmother endured.
This story is heartbreaking, emotional, and eye opening to the reality of what once was.
The author did an excellent job taking stories of the past and writing this fictional novel with explicit detail, dialogue and descriptions.
Periodically the chapters change from the point of view of Irena to Jo. It is an extremely smooth transition and builds the story well.
There were many times within the story I thought I knew what was going on, and who was the mystery person and so on, but it kept surprising me with little twists.
The reality of the suffering, famine, violence and choices in WW2 are realistically written, it’s hard not to feel the emotional within this story.
I am not a big historical fiction reader, however, I am grateful I was given the opportunity to read this book because I didn’t want to put it down.
Recommend.
The Resistance Painter is a historical fiction with dual timelines. One involving the main character in the story, Irena and the other based around her granddaughter, Jo.
In 1939 Warsaw (WW2) Irena was a young girl who had to make sacrifices to her life to keep her friends and family safe and to try to protect Warsaw and fight the Germans from taking over. She lived through many horrific events as a woman in the resistance.
In 2010 Toronto, the truth of the past starts to reveal itself as Jo learns more about what her grandmother endured.
This story is heartbreaking, emotional, and eye opening to the reality of what once was.
The author did an excellent job taking stories of the past and writing this fictional novel with explicit detail, dialogue and descriptions.
Periodically the chapters change from the point of view of Irena to Jo. It is an extremely smooth transition and builds the story well.
There were many times within the story I thought I knew what was going on, and who was the mystery person and so on, but it kept surprising me with little twists.
The reality of the suffering, famine, violence and choices in WW2 are realistically written, it’s hard not to feel the emotional within this story.
I am not a big historical fiction reader, however, I am grateful I was given the opportunity to read this book because I didn’t want to put it down.
Recommend.
March 3, 2025
In the legacy of freedom fighters like Harriet Tubman, The Resistance Painter by Kath Jonathan is an exceptionally moving story about the little known history of the Polish resitance during WWII.
This dual narrative and timeline captures the haunting tale of a grandmother’s legacy as a young woman and resistance figther, who helps strangers escape while simultaneously losing the people she loves. As the war comes to an end, her raw talent as a painter saves her from the fate of so many others. Sharing her grandmother’s artistic talent, the granddaughter unintentionally unlocks a past that threatens to unravel a lifetime of buried memories.
I enjoyed the dual POV, especially Irena's (the grandmother). I knew nothing about the Home Army in German occupied Poland and felt transported and emotionally invited into Irena’s incredible journey as she overcame the bitter and horrifying challenges brought on by war. Every chapter dedicated to her story felt like an intimate bts of a movement.
I also really enjoyed Jo’s timeline, Irena’s granddaughter. Her dedication to her grandmother while managing her own grief and the desire to know more about her past - the devastating consequences included - was so relatable. Her and her grandmother smoking cigarettes and sipping on liquor though? I just loved those shared, quiet moments between them.
There were a lot of really dark and frightening moments in this novel, so I really appreciated how the story was fully resolved… similar to Irena’s life, hope in the face of heartbreak.
This book is for those interested in women led activism under fascism and the role of art in preserving culture.
Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the ARC
This dual narrative and timeline captures the haunting tale of a grandmother’s legacy as a young woman and resistance figther, who helps strangers escape while simultaneously losing the people she loves. As the war comes to an end, her raw talent as a painter saves her from the fate of so many others. Sharing her grandmother’s artistic talent, the granddaughter unintentionally unlocks a past that threatens to unravel a lifetime of buried memories.
I enjoyed the dual POV, especially Irena's (the grandmother). I knew nothing about the Home Army in German occupied Poland and felt transported and emotionally invited into Irena’s incredible journey as she overcame the bitter and horrifying challenges brought on by war. Every chapter dedicated to her story felt like an intimate bts of a movement.
I also really enjoyed Jo’s timeline, Irena’s granddaughter. Her dedication to her grandmother while managing her own grief and the desire to know more about her past - the devastating consequences included - was so relatable. Her and her grandmother smoking cigarettes and sipping on liquor though? I just loved those shared, quiet moments between them.
There were a lot of really dark and frightening moments in this novel, so I really appreciated how the story was fully resolved… similar to Irena’s life, hope in the face of heartbreak.
This book is for those interested in women led activism under fascism and the role of art in preserving culture.
Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the ARC
March 2, 2025
Rating - 4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Date Read - January 19, 2025
Publication Date - March 25, 2025
*I received an ARC of this book for free in exchange for an honest review* - Thank you @kathjonathanauthor and @simonschusterca!
The Resistance Painter starts with action right away, which was great because I love being thrown into a story. There are past and present alternating timelines and POVs, and I liked that they were well marked, so I never felt lost or confused. My favourite parts happened during the past timeline with Irena because I felt more connected to her than Jo. However, the present was still interesting to read because of the mystery and suspense! A cool extra in this book is the inclusion of book club questions at the end. WW2 is my favourite time period to read about in historical fiction books and I am extra happy to support a fellow Canadian! It was fun being able to recognize landmarks. Also, this cover is gorgeous and caught my eye right away (it looks amazing on my bookshelf and will be a lovely addition to yours, too)!
If you like WW2 historical fiction, you should try The Resistance Painter!
Get excited to read The Resistance Painter, available March 25! 🎉
*Please check trigger warnings*
Date Read - January 19, 2025
Publication Date - March 25, 2025
*I received an ARC of this book for free in exchange for an honest review* - Thank you @kathjonathanauthor and @simonschusterca!
The Resistance Painter starts with action right away, which was great because I love being thrown into a story. There are past and present alternating timelines and POVs, and I liked that they were well marked, so I never felt lost or confused. My favourite parts happened during the past timeline with Irena because I felt more connected to her than Jo. However, the present was still interesting to read because of the mystery and suspense! A cool extra in this book is the inclusion of book club questions at the end. WW2 is my favourite time period to read about in historical fiction books and I am extra happy to support a fellow Canadian! It was fun being able to recognize landmarks. Also, this cover is gorgeous and caught my eye right away (it looks amazing on my bookshelf and will be a lovely addition to yours, too)!
If you like WW2 historical fiction, you should try The Resistance Painter!
Get excited to read The Resistance Painter, available March 25! 🎉
*Please check trigger warnings*
May 25, 2025
This was an excellent book that I couldn’t put down at the end. The character development was very good and I wanted to know what happened to everyone. The act of using sewer tunnels during WWII was new to me. I loved it that part of the story took place in Toronto, Canada. Kath has ‘idea’ packed sentences that gives the writing style depth. I highly recommend this author.
November 29, 2025
3.5 This was a good story overall but I thought there were some holes and character stories that felt incomplete.
December 10, 2025
Amazing, stunning, obsessed. I was hooked right from the start. What a story. Need to immerse myself in more history like this.
December 27, 2025
When I started this, I texted a friend to rhetorically ask why I was reading yet another world war 2 book, but for this one, I am so glad I read it. Really compelling and well written.
July 21, 2025
Another great book about WWII. It was interesting learning more about the fall of Warsaw and the work of the resistance. Good author’s note as well
April 16, 2025
“The Resistance Painter”, is a superb historical fiction novel that pays homage to those Polish Resistance heroes of World War II who should never be forgotten. Amidst the stench in the sewer system, many lives were spared from the bowels of hell, cunningly right under the Germans noses. These people were brave, courageous, the epitome of resiliency flowed through their hearts. This novel is a first for Kath Jonathan and it is absolutely outstanding, it’s visceral. It depicts wholeheartedly the unimaginable horrors of war, and the importance of sewer systems during wartime in transporting people to safety.
In this dual timeline novel, we are introduced to Jo, a creative artist living in Toronto and her Polish grandmother Irena in Warsaw during World War II. The duality of the timelines in this compelling novel was well executed, uniting the past with the present in a gripping story, a story of survival where you are forced to deviate from your moral code and do the unthinkable in order to survive, the pathway to save loved ones and the people you hold dear to your heart, however, is never deviated from in its format. It’s for freedom.
Irena is a tenacious character her role in the Polish Resistance Group AK is pivotal. She always resists and always endures, and in the darkest moments her vision is crystal clear, like the depths of a painting she envisions the big picture, the ultimate goal of the German invasion or the “dragons”, her label for them is to be free, to outwit and outlast. Her vulnerability makes her a strong and brave, her artistic creativity will paint many pictures of the atrocities of war. Her granddaughter Jo, inherits her creative talent artistically, but unintentionally rips the bandage off those memories her grandmother buried many decades ago, opening Pandora’s Box and sending shockwaves through the familial line. Jo’s new Polish client Stefan is at the core of this revelation. Children become immersed in wartime experiences many decades later, its impact once again resurrected. It’s a riveting read.
The writing is solidly impressive, authentic and melancholic, the details are vividly descriptive and the characters are vulnerable, brave and courageous beyond measure. The plot is engaging, a poignant wartime tale of life, extreme loss, love, family, trust, friendship, grief, perseverance and betrayal. This book has it all, it is insightful and emotional. Freedom sometimes carries a hefty price tag, unknowingly the price is sometimes buried and never surfaces, but the spirit gets to live on despite it.
“The Resistance Painter” is an eloquently written debut novel inspired by real-life familial events that deeply resonates survival of any level often involves many heartbreaking choices, moral dilemmas, loss and, beyond all else, unimaginable sacrifice, integrity and courage. Sometimes, dreams do come true. What an absolutely amazing story.
Note: The word “cholera” appears many times in this book and in Polish it means “damn” a word used when irritated or angry. You will see it a lot. The author’s note at the end is informative.
In this dual timeline novel, we are introduced to Jo, a creative artist living in Toronto and her Polish grandmother Irena in Warsaw during World War II. The duality of the timelines in this compelling novel was well executed, uniting the past with the present in a gripping story, a story of survival where you are forced to deviate from your moral code and do the unthinkable in order to survive, the pathway to save loved ones and the people you hold dear to your heart, however, is never deviated from in its format. It’s for freedom.
Irena is a tenacious character her role in the Polish Resistance Group AK is pivotal. She always resists and always endures, and in the darkest moments her vision is crystal clear, like the depths of a painting she envisions the big picture, the ultimate goal of the German invasion or the “dragons”, her label for them is to be free, to outwit and outlast. Her vulnerability makes her a strong and brave, her artistic creativity will paint many pictures of the atrocities of war. Her granddaughter Jo, inherits her creative talent artistically, but unintentionally rips the bandage off those memories her grandmother buried many decades ago, opening Pandora’s Box and sending shockwaves through the familial line. Jo’s new Polish client Stefan is at the core of this revelation. Children become immersed in wartime experiences many decades later, its impact once again resurrected. It’s a riveting read.
The writing is solidly impressive, authentic and melancholic, the details are vividly descriptive and the characters are vulnerable, brave and courageous beyond measure. The plot is engaging, a poignant wartime tale of life, extreme loss, love, family, trust, friendship, grief, perseverance and betrayal. This book has it all, it is insightful and emotional. Freedom sometimes carries a hefty price tag, unknowingly the price is sometimes buried and never surfaces, but the spirit gets to live on despite it.
“The Resistance Painter” is an eloquently written debut novel inspired by real-life familial events that deeply resonates survival of any level often involves many heartbreaking choices, moral dilemmas, loss and, beyond all else, unimaginable sacrifice, integrity and courage. Sometimes, dreams do come true. What an absolutely amazing story.
Note: The word “cholera” appears many times in this book and in Polish it means “damn” a word used when irritated or angry. You will see it a lot. The author’s note at the end is informative.
July 30, 2025
Fascinating historical fiction novel about the WWII resistance fighters in Warsaw. I have read a fair bit about the resistance in France, so it was interesting to learn how Polish citizens fought their oppression.
May 8, 2025
What a vivid, immersive and heartbreaking story! I loved the moral complexity of the characters, which felt human and real (and, like the book itself, all too painfully timely, given our own contemporary era of rising authoritarianism and threats to peace). It's everything you'd want from historical fiction, and with its focus on an under-examined part of Europe (Poland), I learned so much, and felt right there with every fraught breath and step of Irena, Mati, and Zofia.
May 9, 2025
Wow! Wonderful historical fiction. Set as the Nazis overtake Poland and in the present. The story flips back and forth from the past as the brave woman joins the resistance to help preserve her homeland to the present as her granddaughter cares for her in her last days. During this time of caring she discovers the past travails of her beloved grandmother. Beautifully told.
February 18, 2025
i read another historical fiction that has a dual timeline (one set during WWII) and a strong female protagonist. are we surprised? this is a current contender for my top book of 2025. it had twists that i didn't see coming, was extremely well written, and is so relevant to our world today (as much as i wish that weren't the case). the author based the story on her partner's mother who lived through being captured by the nazis during the warsaw uprising, was a military prisoner in a concentration camp, and was an integral part of the underground resistance group in warsaw. this is a fascinating, heartbreaking story that also manages to focus on the small moments of happiness that take place during times of tragedy. i do wish the 2010 storyline in toronto was developed a bit more, there were some conversations that i felt could have been more productive. overall i really enjoyed this and highly recommend. as the author states in the author's notes: "historical wars have repercussions that reverberate across the globe, far into the future".
cw: heavy themes
thanks to netgalley and simon & schuster canada for my advance copy of the resistance painter by kath jonathan. all opinions are my own.
cw: heavy themes
thanks to netgalley and simon & schuster canada for my advance copy of the resistance painter by kath jonathan. all opinions are my own.
March 3, 2025
The Resistance Painter is such a powerful story. Written in a dual timeline from WWII during the Nazi occupation of Poland and 2010 Canada. It tells the story of a young Irena, a Resistance Fighter who transfers people through the Polish sewer systems to get them to safety and the current time where her granddaughter Jo is working on a grave sculpture and soon becomes intrigued by possible connections to her grandmother's time during the war.
This story is filled with so much heartache and grief. Add into this that so many people experienced this war and it hits you in the most heartbreaking way. Such a well written book giving us just a tiny glimpse at the atrocities these people went through. How some survived and lived to share their stories while so many others brutally lost their lives.
**Received ARC through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed**
This story is filled with so much heartache and grief. Add into this that so many people experienced this war and it hits you in the most heartbreaking way. Such a well written book giving us just a tiny glimpse at the atrocities these people went through. How some survived and lived to share their stories while so many others brutally lost their lives.
**Received ARC through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed**
March 26, 2025
This is an incredibly moving, sad but beautiful story. It’s exactly the kind of book I thought I’d be getting, especially when you know going in that it focuses on the Second World War.
It was a long book, and there was a lot of information packed into those 450 pages, but I think it needed to be that length to get through the full story.
Even though it was set during a horrific time in human history, Jonathan was also able to bring out some humour from the characters, to show that they were still able to find little joys in the scary place they were in.
Fantastic book, and thank you to Jonathan and Simon & Schuster Canada for the chance to read and review this early!
It was a long book, and there was a lot of information packed into those 450 pages, but I think it needed to be that length to get through the full story.
Even though it was set during a horrific time in human history, Jonathan was also able to bring out some humour from the characters, to show that they were still able to find little joys in the scary place they were in.
Fantastic book, and thank you to Jonathan and Simon & Schuster Canada for the chance to read and review this early!
April 2, 2025
I can’t even begin to say how much I loved this debut by this Canadian authour. I was captivated by the story itself, told in duo timelines, of a grandmother and her granddaughter. The story of the Polish Resistance during WWII is the main setting of this tragic tale of strength and bravery in unthinkable circumstances. There are unsettling connections and questions that are revealed throughout the novel and all the answers are brought forward gradually as the story unfolds. I loved it and couldn’t put it down!
January 22, 2025
The more I read about WW2 the more my heart breaks for everyone who had to live through it. This book focuses on the Polish resistance during the Nazi occupation of Poland. Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for my ARC.
October 3, 2025
Such an interesting story, learning about the Polish resistance during WWII was new for me and I really enjoyed it! I was definitely more invested in the 1940s Poland story line than the Toronto one, and I found the book was a bit longer than it needed to be. 4.5 stars!
April 4, 2025
This is a dual timeline novel.
Irena Marianowska is an art student living in Warsaw with her mother and sister when the Nazis invade Poland. She immediately joins the Home Army and remains involved in the resistance movement throughout the war, becoming an expert in navigating the sewer system of the city to transport people and goods.
In Toronto, 2010, Jo Blum looks after her grandmother Irena, a decorated war hero and renowned painter. An artist herself, Jo creates sculptures for grave sites based on the lives of her clients. She is hired to do one for Stefan Cegielski. When Jo comes to interview him, she discovers parallels between his wartime past and that of her grandmother. Intrigued, she starts investigating further and uncovers some surprising family secrets.
One issue with the novel is the number of names one character can have. It’s easy to remember that Jo is Josephine and Mati is Mateusz, but things become more confusing: Irena Marianowska, Irena Iwanowska, Renka, Ala, and Wit are the same person; Alexandra, Ola, Olenka, and Zofia are the same person; and Szarlota, Lotka, and Charlotte are the same person. I’m not sure there’s a need for so much obfuscation.
I enjoyed learning about the Armia Krajowa, the Home Army, which was the dominant resistance movement in German-occupied Poland during World War II. Though my ancestors come from Poland, I knew little about his period in the country’s history. I had never heard about how the sewer system allowed the Polish Home Army to move supplies and people between isolated districts. The descriptions of the smells and rats emphasize the horrors of navigating these underground routes.
I found it difficult to believe that Jo knows so little about her grandmother. Jo, her mother, and her grandparents lived together yet Jo asks, “How is it that I know so little about my grandmother’s life?” Then as she becomes more curious, she avoids asking, more than once using the weak excuse “Now is not the time to ask.”
There are other issues with Jo’s behaviour. Despite her Polish heritage, she can’t differentiate German and Polish when spoken? She has a confidentiality agreement with her client Stefan but she breaks it so unthinkingly, telling what she’s learned not only to Irena but also to Irena’s art dealer? She looks after Irena as her health fails, yet only at the very end does she notice “for the first time a small, deep scar on her left leg above her ankle”? She struggles to make doctor’s appointments for her grandmother, but then she doesn’t insist on Irena going?
There are a lot of coincidences that had me shaking my head in disbelief. How many times does Ala encounter Davey just by chance? Irena doesn’t figure out the clue about meeting at the bakery, but she manages to arrive just at the right time?
To add local colour, the author added some Polish words, but I found the repetition of cholera (23 times) tedious after a while. Some terms like łapanka and Hitlerow are not explained.
The book is unnecessarily long. It drags at time; for instance, Jo’s avoidance of questioning her grandmother feels like plot manipulation. There’s interesting information, but there’s also some unnecessary repetition.
Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) or substack (https://doreenyakabuski.substack.com/) for over 1,100 of my book reviews.
Irena Marianowska is an art student living in Warsaw with her mother and sister when the Nazis invade Poland. She immediately joins the Home Army and remains involved in the resistance movement throughout the war, becoming an expert in navigating the sewer system of the city to transport people and goods.
In Toronto, 2010, Jo Blum looks after her grandmother Irena, a decorated war hero and renowned painter. An artist herself, Jo creates sculptures for grave sites based on the lives of her clients. She is hired to do one for Stefan Cegielski. When Jo comes to interview him, she discovers parallels between his wartime past and that of her grandmother. Intrigued, she starts investigating further and uncovers some surprising family secrets.
One issue with the novel is the number of names one character can have. It’s easy to remember that Jo is Josephine and Mati is Mateusz, but things become more confusing: Irena Marianowska, Irena Iwanowska, Renka, Ala, and Wit are the same person; Alexandra, Ola, Olenka, and Zofia are the same person; and Szarlota, Lotka, and Charlotte are the same person. I’m not sure there’s a need for so much obfuscation.
I enjoyed learning about the Armia Krajowa, the Home Army, which was the dominant resistance movement in German-occupied Poland during World War II. Though my ancestors come from Poland, I knew little about his period in the country’s history. I had never heard about how the sewer system allowed the Polish Home Army to move supplies and people between isolated districts. The descriptions of the smells and rats emphasize the horrors of navigating these underground routes.
I found it difficult to believe that Jo knows so little about her grandmother. Jo, her mother, and her grandparents lived together yet Jo asks, “How is it that I know so little about my grandmother’s life?” Then as she becomes more curious, she avoids asking, more than once using the weak excuse “Now is not the time to ask.”
There are other issues with Jo’s behaviour. Despite her Polish heritage, she can’t differentiate German and Polish when spoken? She has a confidentiality agreement with her client Stefan but she breaks it so unthinkingly, telling what she’s learned not only to Irena but also to Irena’s art dealer? She looks after Irena as her health fails, yet only at the very end does she notice “for the first time a small, deep scar on her left leg above her ankle”? She struggles to make doctor’s appointments for her grandmother, but then she doesn’t insist on Irena going?
There are a lot of coincidences that had me shaking my head in disbelief. How many times does Ala encounter Davey just by chance? Irena doesn’t figure out the clue about meeting at the bakery, but she manages to arrive just at the right time?
To add local colour, the author added some Polish words, but I found the repetition of cholera (23 times) tedious after a while. Some terms like łapanka and Hitlerow are not explained.
The book is unnecessarily long. It drags at time; for instance, Jo’s avoidance of questioning her grandmother feels like plot manipulation. There’s interesting information, but there’s also some unnecessary repetition.
Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) or substack (https://doreenyakabuski.substack.com/) for over 1,100 of my book reviews.
April 7, 2025
In a style worthy of beloved Canadian treasures, Genevieve Graham and Roberta Rich, debut novelist Kath Jonathan details in her novel, The Resistance Painter, the courageous and ingenious journey of resistance fighters who battled for freedom as they shepherded Jewish families through the sewers of occupied Poland during the Second World War.
Inspired by the true story of her mother-in-law, Janina, who following WWII was awarded the Virtuti Militari, one of Poland’s highest honours of bravery, Jonathan’s historical fiction toggles between 1939-1941 Warsaw and 2010 Toronto, as she develops each of the magnificently crafted characters in ways that profoundly affect the reader.
The main protagonist, Irena, uses her artistic talents, unbridled courage, resilience, and unflagging sense of hope and good cheer, to first join and then lead Warsaw’s resistance movement.
Often times a breathless thriller packed with emotional wallop, Jonathan’s masterful depictions of her characters, including that of her best friend Leah, who is Jewish, her sister Lotka, with whom Irena has a confusing relationship, Irena’s mother, who unequivocally favours Lotka, the resistance fighter Zofia, whose allegiance Irena is suspicious of, the delightful boyfriend, Mati, and the hard-drinking neighbour Mr. Godlewski, are so true-to-life that The Resistance Painter attains page-turner status.
Jonathan builds dramatic tension alongside vested intimacy through the shared voice narratives of Irena and her granddaughter, Toronto-based Josephine Blum. It is Blum’s love and curiosity for her grandmother as she meets and records interviews with her new Polish client, Stefan, that ultimately leads to the paintings that depict Irena’s horrific yet endearing concentration camp experiences. .
What sets The Resistance Painter apart is Jonathan’s attention to detail, an intricate puzzle with thousands of pieces, which the author masterfully snaps into place, sometimes one or two at a time, others in a flurry of activity.
Resistance members chew mint leaves and wild gingerroot to help keep nausea of smell in sewers at bay as people hide from German soldiers, known as dragon patrols, who are “ghastly in their perfect uniforms, menacing in their oily black boots that boast of polished cruelty.”
Indeed, ordinary scenes transform into portraits of the ravages that war inflicts on the humblest of homes with, “everything upended in a heap of shattered glass, twisted wood, charred sofa cushions…all clownishly topped by a kettle.”
Resistance fighters climb through the stink of the tunnels, “where human excrement and discarded skulls keep them company.”
An intriguing and inspiring story, Jonathan creates a conclave of emotions - fear, betrayal, disgust, and despair painted over by hope and resilience and love for humankind– all of which hang dramatically on the delicate branches of the resistance movement.
A reminder that it is important to stand up for what we believe in, what is honourable and right, The Resistance Painter instills in readers both a sense of wonder and a searing question – How far would we go to help our fellow man, our friends, our neighbours, and of course those we hold dear in similar circumstances.
That in itself is a true testament to the story Jonathan tells.
Inspired by the true story of her mother-in-law, Janina, who following WWII was awarded the Virtuti Militari, one of Poland’s highest honours of bravery, Jonathan’s historical fiction toggles between 1939-1941 Warsaw and 2010 Toronto, as she develops each of the magnificently crafted characters in ways that profoundly affect the reader.
The main protagonist, Irena, uses her artistic talents, unbridled courage, resilience, and unflagging sense of hope and good cheer, to first join and then lead Warsaw’s resistance movement.
Often times a breathless thriller packed with emotional wallop, Jonathan’s masterful depictions of her characters, including that of her best friend Leah, who is Jewish, her sister Lotka, with whom Irena has a confusing relationship, Irena’s mother, who unequivocally favours Lotka, the resistance fighter Zofia, whose allegiance Irena is suspicious of, the delightful boyfriend, Mati, and the hard-drinking neighbour Mr. Godlewski, are so true-to-life that The Resistance Painter attains page-turner status.
Jonathan builds dramatic tension alongside vested intimacy through the shared voice narratives of Irena and her granddaughter, Toronto-based Josephine Blum. It is Blum’s love and curiosity for her grandmother as she meets and records interviews with her new Polish client, Stefan, that ultimately leads to the paintings that depict Irena’s horrific yet endearing concentration camp experiences. .
What sets The Resistance Painter apart is Jonathan’s attention to detail, an intricate puzzle with thousands of pieces, which the author masterfully snaps into place, sometimes one or two at a time, others in a flurry of activity.
Resistance members chew mint leaves and wild gingerroot to help keep nausea of smell in sewers at bay as people hide from German soldiers, known as dragon patrols, who are “ghastly in their perfect uniforms, menacing in their oily black boots that boast of polished cruelty.”
Indeed, ordinary scenes transform into portraits of the ravages that war inflicts on the humblest of homes with, “everything upended in a heap of shattered glass, twisted wood, charred sofa cushions…all clownishly topped by a kettle.”
Resistance fighters climb through the stink of the tunnels, “where human excrement and discarded skulls keep them company.”
An intriguing and inspiring story, Jonathan creates a conclave of emotions - fear, betrayal, disgust, and despair painted over by hope and resilience and love for humankind– all of which hang dramatically on the delicate branches of the resistance movement.
A reminder that it is important to stand up for what we believe in, what is honourable and right, The Resistance Painter instills in readers both a sense of wonder and a searing question – How far would we go to help our fellow man, our friends, our neighbours, and of course those we hold dear in similar circumstances.
That in itself is a true testament to the story Jonathan tells.
August 17, 2025
I did not like Irene, the main character of the book. I personally found her a very hostile and somewhat juvenile person right from the get-go. I get that she was a resistance fighter in Poland during the Second World War and had a legitimate reason to be angry, but it was more the way it was portrayed.
My Mom lived through the Blitz and would go on to serve in the RCAF during the War. She didn't talk a lot about that time, and I am not suggesting that she endured what the Poles did. But I do remember her talking about being scared, of the bombers overhead, of the threat of invasion, of the what-ifs if Germany won the war. Irene is never scared, she is angry a lot, guilty, pensive, every emotion except anger. To me, that makes her not fully developed or mature. She responds to events like a toddler denied a piece of candy. A flare-up of anger before something else distracts her. And her anger is with her from the get-go. From page 1 of the book we find she is perpetually angry at her mother for something, which makes me feel it's more of a character flaw than an effect of the war.
We also have the obligatory Jewish friend, that Irene protects despite everyone else's lack of approval. Why a resistance group would waste time and resources to save one Jewish family when thousands more are left to their fate is never really explained, unless the author is trying to underscore Irene's value to the resistance. But Leah is saved and then basically forgotten about. Her younger brother shows up as a convenient young child casualty later in the book, but the entire theme of what happened to the Polish Jews is just dropped.
Irene as the old woman is just your typical caricature of the grumpy senior, drinks too much, smokes too much, and is whimsically bad tempered. Nothing new there. And her grand daughter, who was originally supposed to carry the entire book, was very under-developed.
Overall, I just found the book to be underdeveloped, even at 460 pages. Story lines were started and dropped when the author got bored or didn't know where to take them. Characters didn't have interesting personalities and their back stories were explored just enough to provide reasons for Irene's actions, and we have the obligatory repentant Nazi. Nothing terrible new or original.
My Mom lived through the Blitz and would go on to serve in the RCAF during the War. She didn't talk a lot about that time, and I am not suggesting that she endured what the Poles did. But I do remember her talking about being scared, of the bombers overhead, of the threat of invasion, of the what-ifs if Germany won the war. Irene is never scared, she is angry a lot, guilty, pensive, every emotion except anger. To me, that makes her not fully developed or mature. She responds to events like a toddler denied a piece of candy. A flare-up of anger before something else distracts her. And her anger is with her from the get-go. From page 1 of the book we find she is perpetually angry at her mother for something, which makes me feel it's more of a character flaw than an effect of the war.
We also have the obligatory Jewish friend, that Irene protects despite everyone else's lack of approval. Why a resistance group would waste time and resources to save one Jewish family when thousands more are left to their fate is never really explained, unless the author is trying to underscore Irene's value to the resistance. But Leah is saved and then basically forgotten about. Her younger brother shows up as a convenient young child casualty later in the book, but the entire theme of what happened to the Polish Jews is just dropped.
Irene as the old woman is just your typical caricature of the grumpy senior, drinks too much, smokes too much, and is whimsically bad tempered. Nothing new there. And her grand daughter, who was originally supposed to carry the entire book, was very under-developed.
Overall, I just found the book to be underdeveloped, even at 460 pages. Story lines were started and dropped when the author got bored or didn't know where to take them. Characters didn't have interesting personalities and their back stories were explored just enough to provide reasons for Irene's actions, and we have the obligatory repentant Nazi. Nothing terrible new or original.
January 15, 2026
Very good book. The parts about the reistance fighters in Warsaw was gripping. Their courage and determination was remarkable. Sometimes when I think I don’t want to read another book about the 2nd World War, another story comes around that changes my mind. I’m more familiar with the Resitance in France, but there were similar fights in all the occupied countries.
Irenka and Mati fell in love during the ristance and were fortunate to be able to continue their life and story following the war. If the book would have only chronicled the war years it would have been a harder book to read. But the book also tells the story of Irenka’s graddaughter Jo in presnet day Toronto which gives the reader a break from the horrors of war.
Jo, like her grandmother, is an artist. Jo’s parents are dead as is her grandfather Mati so it is just Irenka and Jo left. In the last days of Irenka’s life, Jo learns more about her grandmother’s time in the war.
Although a work of fiction, it is based on historical fact. The author’s mother-in-law Janina Zaborowska was Polish and was a decorated restistance war hero. Unfortunately by the time the author met Janina, she had suffered a serious stroke and could no longer speak. Janina’s autobiographical history was recorded. Also there were friends of Janina who lived through the the war and who the author was able to meet. Like Irenka, Janina also painted later in life. But the book is not an autobiography of Janina but informed the author. More info about Janina can be found on the author’s website: kathjonathanauthor.com.
Irenka and Mati fell in love during the ristance and were fortunate to be able to continue their life and story following the war. If the book would have only chronicled the war years it would have been a harder book to read. But the book also tells the story of Irenka’s graddaughter Jo in presnet day Toronto which gives the reader a break from the horrors of war.
Jo, like her grandmother, is an artist. Jo’s parents are dead as is her grandfather Mati so it is just Irenka and Jo left. In the last days of Irenka’s life, Jo learns more about her grandmother’s time in the war.
Although a work of fiction, it is based on historical fact. The author’s mother-in-law Janina Zaborowska was Polish and was a decorated restistance war hero. Unfortunately by the time the author met Janina, she had suffered a serious stroke and could no longer speak. Janina’s autobiographical history was recorded. Also there were friends of Janina who lived through the the war and who the author was able to meet. Like Irenka, Janina also painted later in life. But the book is not an autobiography of Janina but informed the author. More info about Janina can be found on the author’s website: kathjonathanauthor.com.
April 24, 2025
The Resistance Painter is a dual timeline novel that takes place in Warsaw, Poland during World War II and in Toronto, Canada in 2010-11.
In Warsaw in 1939, Irena is a teenaged art student living with her widowed mother and her older sister, Lotka, who is a nurse. After the Nazis invade Poland, she sets aside her dreams of attending art school in Paris to join the Home Army and, along with members of her resistance cell, she risks her life guiding people to safety through the sewers of Warsaw even after Lotka is abducted by the Gestapo.
In 2010 in Toronto, Jo moves in with her grandmother, Irena, a decorated war hero and a celebrated World War II painter, who's health is failing as she approaches her 90th birthday. Jo is also an artist who makes grave sculptures and is working on a commission which leads to questions about her grandmother's experience during the war.
This is a well-written novel - interesting and informative with respect to the Polish Resistance movement during World War II and also the role of artists in sharing their war-time experiences. An inspiring story of courage - definitely recommend for readers of World War II historical fiction particularly those looking to read more about the war in Eastern Europe and Hitler's invasion of Poland.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for sending a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
In Warsaw in 1939, Irena is a teenaged art student living with her widowed mother and her older sister, Lotka, who is a nurse. After the Nazis invade Poland, she sets aside her dreams of attending art school in Paris to join the Home Army and, along with members of her resistance cell, she risks her life guiding people to safety through the sewers of Warsaw even after Lotka is abducted by the Gestapo.
In 2010 in Toronto, Jo moves in with her grandmother, Irena, a decorated war hero and a celebrated World War II painter, who's health is failing as she approaches her 90th birthday. Jo is also an artist who makes grave sculptures and is working on a commission which leads to questions about her grandmother's experience during the war.
This is a well-written novel - interesting and informative with respect to the Polish Resistance movement during World War II and also the role of artists in sharing their war-time experiences. An inspiring story of courage - definitely recommend for readers of World War II historical fiction particularly those looking to read more about the war in Eastern Europe and Hitler's invasion of Poland.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for sending a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
March 11, 2025
Poland was gripped with despair and desperation during the Nazi occupation during World War II. Life grew from living to survival. People, especially Jews, were heavily cloaked with constant threat of persecution, humiliation, torture and death. Germans devised so many layers of torment which caused confusion and terrible fear. But the fate of Ravensbrück prisoners meted out by pure evil is even more impossible to contemplate.
One extended Warsaw family lived in a four-buulding home. Papa had died before the war and Mama worked for the Education Ministry. Though sisters Irena, an artist, and Lotka, a specialist nurse, felt helpless, they became a crucial cog in the Resistance by smuggling others through the dangerous and fetid sewer system. The vivid descriptions took me there immediately. All my senses were involved there and in the Ravensbrück scenes.
In Toronto in 2011, sculptor Jo discovers connections to her grandmother, Irena. A client of hers has a secret past.
I like dual timeline stories and was especially invested I the war timeline.
The author has a personal link to this terrible time in history through her partner's Polish family. It is important to tell these stories and I am glad she felt compelled to share a bit of it. Bravery and courage shown by so many is astounding. Ordinary people are capable of extraordinary things.
One extended Warsaw family lived in a four-buulding home. Papa had died before the war and Mama worked for the Education Ministry. Though sisters Irena, an artist, and Lotka, a specialist nurse, felt helpless, they became a crucial cog in the Resistance by smuggling others through the dangerous and fetid sewer system. The vivid descriptions took me there immediately. All my senses were involved there and in the Ravensbrück scenes.
In Toronto in 2011, sculptor Jo discovers connections to her grandmother, Irena. A client of hers has a secret past.
I like dual timeline stories and was especially invested I the war timeline.
The author has a personal link to this terrible time in history through her partner's Polish family. It is important to tell these stories and I am glad she felt compelled to share a bit of it. Bravery and courage shown by so many is astounding. Ordinary people are capable of extraordinary things.
July 5, 2025
In this new World War II dual-timeline historical fiction novel, readers follow Irena Marianowska in 1939 Warsaw as she exchanges her dreams of art school in Paris for the Home Army for work as a guide for the Polish resistance. In Toronto seventy years later, Jo Blum lives with her grandmother, a painter from World War II and decorated war hero, and works as a sculptor for grave sites. As she interviews her new Polish client Stefan about his experiences in World War II, Jo realizes that his stories are similar to her grandmother’s, sending her on a fascinating and possibly disruptive investigation of her family history. Intense, interesting, and immersive, this book is incredibly detailed, descriptive, and complex, and fans of World War II historical fiction will love this new addition to the genre. The world-building is particularly well-done, and the characters are the stars of the novel, especially Jo’s relationships with Stefan and her grandmother. The historical details are well-done and really bring World War II Poland and women’s roles in the resistance to life in incredible detail, and Jonathan has really done their research to tell this fascinating and entertaining story that historical fiction fans will appreciate.
Thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada, and Simon & Schuster for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada, and Simon & Schuster for the advance copy.
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