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The Girl in the Oil Painting: A heart-wrenching, emotional WW2 historical fiction novel, based on a true story
A heartbreaking saga of hope, family, and longing set in one of the untold parts of war-torn Europe.
Rhodes, 1940. Sixteen-year-old Dora Behar and her cousin Sarah are as close as sisters, planning their future and painting the sunsets that wash over the Mediterranean. But that was before the Nazis rose to power, blackening every corner of their once-peaceful Jewish district. And while some believe the war and discrimination will eventually pass, Dora’s family is about to make an impossible choice that will change her life forever…
2023. The war is long over, and for many, it remains in memory, a story to pass down to the next generation. But for a particular young artist, the war is more than just a memory—it’s a recurring a solemn figure standing on the very edges of an abandoned harbor, watching a ship sailing away, unaware that it will never come back to Rhodes…
With its heart based on real historical events, The Girl in the Oil Painting is an unputdownable story of hope and longing, perfect for fans of Kristin Harmel and Rhys Bowen.
This is a standalone novel in the Art of Resistance series and can be enjoyed independently.
Rhodes, 1940. Sixteen-year-old Dora Behar and her cousin Sarah are as close as sisters, planning their future and painting the sunsets that wash over the Mediterranean. But that was before the Nazis rose to power, blackening every corner of their once-peaceful Jewish district. And while some believe the war and discrimination will eventually pass, Dora’s family is about to make an impossible choice that will change her life forever…
2023. The war is long over, and for many, it remains in memory, a story to pass down to the next generation. But for a particular young artist, the war is more than just a memory—it’s a recurring a solemn figure standing on the very edges of an abandoned harbor, watching a ship sailing away, unaware that it will never come back to Rhodes…
With its heart based on real historical events, The Girl in the Oil Painting is an unputdownable story of hope and longing, perfect for fans of Kristin Harmel and Rhys Bowen.
This is a standalone novel in the Art of Resistance series and can be enjoyed independently.
239 pages, Paperback
Published November 2, 2025
About the author
Uri Dushy
11 books17 followersNo. 1 Amazon Bestselling Author. Uri Dushy writes sweeping World War II historical fiction about extraordinary women who risked everything. His Art of Resistance series, including The Girl in the Oil Painting, The Librarian of Amsterdam, and The Painter of Hidden Children, follows women who used art, forgery, and courage to save lives under Nazi occupation. Inspired by true stories of resistance, his novels are for readers who love Kristin Hannah, Pam Jenoff, and Kate Quinn.
An internationally exhibited artist for over 40 years, Uri brings a visual artist's eye to his storytelling, weaving art, identity, and survival into every page.
An internationally exhibited artist for over 40 years, Uri brings a visual artist's eye to his storytelling, weaving art, identity, and survival into every page.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
January 21, 2026
Mr Dushy
I am writing to you about your book which I finished a couple days ago.
First of all -congratulations on this magnificent little book ! (By the way why is it so cheap on Amazon?)
I cannot get this book out of my mind , for many reasons.
First question - was your family from Rhodes?
Are you now Israeli? Where do you live? Why my interest?
Well both my parents were from Rhodes, they were the lucky ones who left before the war , and ended up in the Congo, where I was born, in 1952.
I grew up speaking French and learning Ladino.
My life’s journey bounced me around from Congo, to Rhodesia , back to the Congo, to South Africa and now I live in Dallas Texas.
I too am an artist , not as well known as and successful as you. However my artistic journey through the years has also bounced around.
My first inkling of my Rhodes heritage was when my mom took me to visit Rhodes when I was 10. At that point Rhodes had not really rebuilt since the WW bombings.
She had never talked about the losses that she had known - but somehow I knew that she lost her mother and father and 6 or 7 siblings.
She wanted to take me to see the house they had lived in - right in the middle of the Judeiria, across from the famous fountain.
She took me by the hand and we climbed the outside steps and she knocked on the door. She explained to the Greek lady that she had lived here before the war with her big family and just wanted to show her daughter where she had lived. ( my mom spoke Greek so that made it easier)
We walked in , looked around in silence - and then we climbed the top floor - it was still roofless as it had been bombed.
Not much explanation to a 10 year old , except repeating « pour doulor, pour doulor » her mom, dad and all her siblings were taken to Auswitz.
The only other interesting thing was sitting on the Rhodes beach , next to us were some folks speaking German… she immediately struck up a conversation about how beautiful it is here, have you been here before… and the man said « yes, I was here during the war » and she said « oh so you came to take the Jews away ? »
And that was that …
No more words, no more « pour doulor »-silence set in about the war. I was too young to question it and understand the silence….
I grew up , Rhodes remained in my psyche, I ended up in Dallas and started painting.
This was my very first painting , at age 30…
http://www.colorofmemory.com/phantoms...
After that , it was a whirlwind of creation…
Rhodes as the centerpiece - I joined with another artist whose family came from Hungary- and we exhibited « the Color of Memory »
I am now 72 , both my parents are long gone , still painting, my Holocaust obsession turned to educating about the Holocaust- I am a docent educator at the Dallas Holocaust Museum.
And then I found your book!
It has touched me so deeply I cannot stop thinking about it - finally I get it ! I get my parents silence, I get my obsession about Rhodes, the island where my youngest daughter got married, in the old synagogue, at the time before they started restoring it - during the ceremony, birds were were flying through the broken windows - our ancestors?
My passion about making bourekitas and rishikas and speaking Ladino with my dear cousin… remembering the beautiful sayings in Ladino.
And now I want my 3 adult kids to read your book because it has opened the door of a silent past.
Now I know why the silence - it was left for me to discover and explore through reading, learning about the Holocaust and expressing that knowledge with art.
I am eternally grateful to you for this gift .
Sincerely
Veronique Jonas Soriano
June 27, 2026
I didn’t find anything in this book to be real emotionally moving. To me it was just your basic World War II story. It’s likely I won’t even recall reading this book after the passage of even a few months.
March 9, 2026
Five Stars for Historical Fiction
I give 5 stars for what I learned about the history of Rhodes. I am always searching for WWII Historical Fiction that is seldom written about.
But I did get frustrated with the volume of repetitive prose. If something was repeated for a second, third or fourth time I just skipped over those pages.
So overall I give ⭐️⭐️⭐️.
I give 5 stars for what I learned about the history of Rhodes. I am always searching for WWII Historical Fiction that is seldom written about.
But I did get frustrated with the volume of repetitive prose. If something was repeated for a second, third or fourth time I just skipped over those pages.
So overall I give ⭐️⭐️⭐️.
March 26, 2026
This one was ok. I learned a lot but the story felt unfinished.
April 3, 2026
I have heard stories and read other books that touched on the plight of the Jews of Rhodes. I wasnt sure I knew many of the specifics. Here we uncover painful revelations. This was a heartbreaking tale of the fascist and Italian controlled island that fell to Nazi occupation during WWII. This novel describes the very picturesque and beautiful Mediterranean landscape where many people Iived and thrived until the war broke out across Europe. Jews lived in fear as their rights and livelihood eroded. Many of them setting sail seeking asylum in foreign ports only to be denied entry. As one family makes a decision to leave and escape, they also leave behind other family members who do not. The story is about the unbreakable bond of family, perseverance and longing. In a second timeline we meet a young artist with memories on paintings that dont belong to them. Only a compulsion to paint beautiful long lost memories they dont understand. Overall, it's a beautiful memoir paying respect and homage to a difficult time in history and the memories we try to hold on to.
September 25, 2026
This is a parallel story. The book synopsis is:
Rhodes, 1940. Sixteen-year-old Dora Behar and her cousin Sarah are as close as sisters, planning their future and painting the sunsets that wash over the Mediterranean. But that was before the Nazis rose to power, blackening every corner of their once-peaceful Jewish district. And while some believe the war and discrimination will eventually pass, Dora’s family is about to make an impossible choice that will change her life forever…
2023. The war is long over, and for many, it remains in memory, a story to pass down to the next generation. But for a particular young artist, the war is more than just a memory—it’s a recurring a solemn figure standing on the very edges of an abandoned harbor, watching a ship sailing away, unaware that it will never come back to Rhodes…
This book was a 1st hand look at what it is like to be a refugee, to be a survivor. It was a different view of WWII than I have read before. It was enlightening and sad at the same time. I'm glad I read it even though it was sometimes hard to want to pick it up.
Rhodes, 1940. Sixteen-year-old Dora Behar and her cousin Sarah are as close as sisters, planning their future and painting the sunsets that wash over the Mediterranean. But that was before the Nazis rose to power, blackening every corner of their once-peaceful Jewish district. And while some believe the war and discrimination will eventually pass, Dora’s family is about to make an impossible choice that will change her life forever…
2023. The war is long over, and for many, it remains in memory, a story to pass down to the next generation. But for a particular young artist, the war is more than just a memory—it’s a recurring a solemn figure standing on the very edges of an abandoned harbor, watching a ship sailing away, unaware that it will never come back to Rhodes…
This book was a 1st hand look at what it is like to be a refugee, to be a survivor. It was a different view of WWII than I have read before. It was enlightening and sad at the same time. I'm glad I read it even though it was sometimes hard to want to pick it up.
July 31, 2026
A Must-Read, for History's Sake
This story is so beautifully written. As a writer/copy editor and historical fiction fan, I am immensely impressed by how Uri Dushy reaches inside his readers to evoke such strong emotions through his words--as if we are transported back in time, living alongside his characters during WWII. I can look around every scene and visualize everyone, everything, every setting. I feel the fear, sorrow, hope of every character. The Holocaust deserves this author, who so beautifully portrays life on the other side of concentration camps--Jews who hid, fled, risked and lost everything, and survived...then lived on with survivors' guilt and grief. For the sake of all who died during WWII, these stories, though fiction, will tell future generations of the horrors of humanity so that we might not repeat history. (Warning: This book made me sob!! Keep tissues nearby!)
This story is so beautifully written. As a writer/copy editor and historical fiction fan, I am immensely impressed by how Uri Dushy reaches inside his readers to evoke such strong emotions through his words--as if we are transported back in time, living alongside his characters during WWII. I can look around every scene and visualize everyone, everything, every setting. I feel the fear, sorrow, hope of every character. The Holocaust deserves this author, who so beautifully portrays life on the other side of concentration camps--Jews who hid, fled, risked and lost everything, and survived...then lived on with survivors' guilt and grief. For the sake of all who died during WWII, these stories, though fiction, will tell future generations of the horrors of humanity so that we might not repeat history. (Warning: This book made me sob!! Keep tissues nearby!)
September 7, 2026
I usually love dual timeline stories, and have read dozens of brilliant stories of love and courage set during WWII. This one, however, was a huge disappointment.
This is my first time reading this author’s work and unfortunately I found that the story lacked any arc, lacked substance, lacked emotion (the emotion felt completely contrived), the characters were one dimensional and it seemed to consist of pages of ‘filler’ about painting and colours and brushstrokes where virtually nothing happened.
The dual timeline narrative was completely pointless. I don’t like leaving negative reviews but honestly, I’m shocked at the high review score on this. I couldn’t wait to finish it and get it over with.
This is my first time reading this author’s work and unfortunately I found that the story lacked any arc, lacked substance, lacked emotion (the emotion felt completely contrived), the characters were one dimensional and it seemed to consist of pages of ‘filler’ about painting and colours and brushstrokes where virtually nothing happened.
The dual timeline narrative was completely pointless. I don’t like leaving negative reviews but honestly, I’m shocked at the high review score on this. I couldn’t wait to finish it and get it over with.
August 4, 2026
The two parts of this story just didn't do it for me. I thought the part that took place during the war was excellent. It really highlighted the plight of the Jewish refugees. I'd never read anything about those who fled, especially from Italy and the heartbreak of being turned away from shore as wwll as the instability once they landed but didn't know where "home" was going to be. Then the fate of their relatives - heartbreaking.
However, the flashforward to modern times was just not good. I felt the author tried to hard to make it relevant, but it just didn't work. The main story itself would have been enough.
However, the flashforward to modern times was just not good. I felt the author tried to hard to make it relevant, but it just didn't work. The main story itself would have been enough.
May 2, 2026
The girl in the oil painting
I read the book in one day. I did not realize before reading this book that Rhodes even had a Jewish population. The story opens on Rhodes wit Dora and Sarah, cousins who were the same age and could have almost been twins. Dora leaves Rhodes with her family while Sarah's family stays to care for aging parents. The story is told by Dora's daughter who paints painting that she can not explain. I won't spoil the story by revealing more. However, it is well worth reading for insite to the Holacost, and its effect even on future generations.
I read the book in one day. I did not realize before reading this book that Rhodes even had a Jewish population. The story opens on Rhodes wit Dora and Sarah, cousins who were the same age and could have almost been twins. Dora leaves Rhodes with her family while Sarah's family stays to care for aging parents. The story is told by Dora's daughter who paints painting that she can not explain. I won't spoil the story by revealing more. However, it is well worth reading for insite to the Holacost, and its effect even on future generations.
August 7, 2026
Holocaust survivors didn’t all come from the camps
A different aspect of the Holocaust is presented in this book when a girl, Dora, at a pivotal time in her life, leaves behind all she knows and faces uncertainty with her family as they search for safety. Safety. How basic and simple that sounds to us in our present lives, yet during WW2 was so elusive for so many people. Dora struggles to make sense of her situation and shows the reader that all Holocaust survivors did not come from the camps.
A different aspect of the Holocaust is presented in this book when a girl, Dora, at a pivotal time in her life, leaves behind all she knows and faces uncertainty with her family as they search for safety. Safety. How basic and simple that sounds to us in our present lives, yet during WW2 was so elusive for so many people. Dora struggles to make sense of her situation and shows the reader that all Holocaust survivors did not come from the camps.
May 10, 2026
heartache
We read much about the Holocaust, so much so that it becomes statistics. Then we read about the reality of Anne Frank, of those who “played for time,” of the tattooist…and faces fill in those numbers. This book tells of a population of which I had not heard—the Jews of Rhodes. Through the eyes of one daughter of one family, the reader sees once again the atrocities visited upon people whose only fault was to be different. This book is well-written with heart.
We read much about the Holocaust, so much so that it becomes statistics. Then we read about the reality of Anne Frank, of those who “played for time,” of the tattooist…and faces fill in those numbers. This book tells of a population of which I had not heard—the Jews of Rhodes. Through the eyes of one daughter of one family, the reader sees once again the atrocities visited upon people whose only fault was to be different. This book is well-written with heart.
June 12, 2026
Prepare to feel
This story is so very heavy with emotion. I cried all through it. I just can't understand how any human can feel superior over another. It's truly gut wrenching. There is much love throughout though, and much to be learned from that horrible time in history, and from the families and culture described so beautifully. It is well worth the read, and also the tears.
This story is so very heavy with emotion. I cried all through it. I just can't understand how any human can feel superior over another. It's truly gut wrenching. There is much love throughout though, and much to be learned from that horrible time in history, and from the families and culture described so beautifully. It is well worth the read, and also the tears.
June 28, 2026
A storyline based on the historical events of Rhodes during WW2. The plight of Dora, her family and Jewish community is told through the paintings her daughter is working on for her next exhibition. Descriptive of the characters emotions, their fears and hope for the future as they are forced to flee Rhodes. Deeply subconscious memories and conversations from the past drive the artist to paint, telling the story of her family and time for personal reflection. An interesting and emotive way to weave history and fiction. I would recommend.
March 27, 2026
I hoped for more to the story,
I hoped for more to the story, Never the less it did finish. I was hoping that someone had survived and come to the exhibition.
I was drawn into the story quickly and felt part of it. Perhaps what I feel is a smidgen of what the people who made it through felt..wanting and hoping for someone to have survived.
I hoped for more to the story, Never the less it did finish. I was hoping that someone had survived and come to the exhibition.
I was drawn into the story quickly and felt part of it. Perhaps what I feel is a smidgen of what the people who made it through felt..wanting and hoping for someone to have survived.
May 19, 2026
A girl in a painting. Let it stick to you like oil paint.
Not much can be said about this story in a few short words. It needs to be absorbed in its entirety. It needs to be felt and remembered. Especially in this day when much of it is being repeated. Differently, but the same. Read. Absorb. Understand. Paint it in indelible colors of oil. And remember. And pass it on.
Not much can be said about this story in a few short words. It needs to be absorbed in its entirety. It needs to be felt and remembered. Especially in this day when much of it is being repeated. Differently, but the same. Read. Absorb. Understand. Paint it in indelible colors of oil. And remember. And pass it on.
June 2, 2026
Emotional
This story made me really think about life as a refugee, losing loved ones, not knowing where you belong, starting again from nothing. It was also a story of strong family ties and faith that allowed so many to survive and so many to perish during a time of unimaginable inhumanity and horror. Very well written.
This story made me really think about life as a refugee, losing loved ones, not knowing where you belong, starting again from nothing. It was also a story of strong family ties and faith that allowed so many to survive and so many to perish during a time of unimaginable inhumanity and horror. Very well written.
June 11, 2026
superb read
This is a very well written novel capturing all the emotions of the Second World War dovetailed with later after the war ended. Readers can imagine through childhood and painting the traumas and relationships experienced through war . I would highly recommend this novel.
This is a very well written novel capturing all the emotions of the Second World War dovetailed with later after the war ended. Readers can imagine through childhood and painting the traumas and relationships experienced through war . I would highly recommend this novel.
July 7, 2026
Have a box of tissues ready
A compelling story of strength and resilience despite a world of evil, prejudice, and horror one can barely imagine.. A history but also a glimpse of the humanity and sadness that real people faced. The question is, have we truly learned so as not to repeat?
A compelling story of strength and resilience despite a world of evil, prejudice, and horror one can barely imagine.. A history but also a glimpse of the humanity and sadness that real people faced. The question is, have we truly learned so as not to repeat?
September 8, 2026
A very heart rending story
The Girl in the Oil Painting is a very emotional story filled with pain and loss. It is a story of Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazis and finding they have no home anymore, and most places not accepting them. It is a story with many moving moments and much food for thought. It is a story I very much recommend.
The Girl in the Oil Painting is a very emotional story filled with pain and loss. It is a story of Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazis and finding they have no home anymore, and most places not accepting them. It is a story with many moving moments and much food for thought. It is a story I very much recommend.
September 26, 2026
What a beautiful way to write an absolutely horrible story. The holocaust as seen by a family of Jews living in Rhodes, Italy. Fleeing for their lives not knowing who or where would accept them as WW2 rages around them.
The story is full of hope, acceptance and courage but does not belittle at all the horror of what was happening.
The story is full of hope, acceptance and courage but does not belittle at all the horror of what was happening.
October 6, 2026
Powerful, Gripping, Tangible
A powerful story set during WW2 that reinforces the extreme reach of the holocaust.
The story follows a Jewish family's journey from.Rhodes to Tangled on a refugee ship. Their experiences with relocation, losing family, and starting completely over are gripping.
Well done.
A powerful story set during WW2 that reinforces the extreme reach of the holocaust.
The story follows a Jewish family's journey from.Rhodes to Tangled on a refugee ship. Their experiences with relocation, losing family, and starting completely over are gripping.
Well done.
April 27, 2026
Very Good
As a lover of WW2 historical fiction, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this well written novel it the story of s Jewish family who survived the Holocaust. It is a book about family. I highly recommend.
As a lover of WW2 historical fiction, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this well written novel it the story of s Jewish family who survived the Holocaust. It is a book about family. I highly recommend.
May 6, 2026
Great read!!
This was a very interesting read. I could hardly put it down. I felt bad for the way the Jews were treated in WWII. Hitler was a monster. I read where he was almost killed in WWI. If that had happened maybe WWII would not has happened.
This was a very interesting read. I could hardly put it down. I felt bad for the way the Jews were treated in WWII. Hitler was a monster. I read where he was almost killed in WWI. If that had happened maybe WWII would not has happened.
May 12, 2026
A part of WWII I didn’t know of
I wasn’t able to get into this book at first but later totally embraced it. For me, at least, this was an unknown part of WWII history. Hitler truly did intend to take over the entire world.
I wasn’t able to get into this book at first but later totally embraced it. For me, at least, this was an unknown part of WWII history. Hitler truly did intend to take over the entire world.
June 2, 2026
Interesting story of the Holocaust in North Africa. History is full of little stories, quiet stories, and detail that often doesn't have the banner headlines. But, each story has merit and the whole is comprised of all these parts.
June 11, 2026
The Jews of Rhodes
A community torn apart by the cruelty of WWII. This story follows the lives of two cousins whose paths in life were changed by the war. Wonderful characters held together by their familial bonds. I found the writing to be seamless.
A community torn apart by the cruelty of WWII. This story follows the lives of two cousins whose paths in life were changed by the war. Wonderful characters held together by their familial bonds. I found the writing to be seamless.
July 24, 2026
great read
A very thought provoking book about the unfortunate life of Jews during WWII. All the emotions in this book were experienced by real people. My father-in-law served in WWII war and saw so much hate.
A very thought provoking book about the unfortunate life of Jews during WWII. All the emotions in this book were experienced by real people. My father-in-law served in WWII war and saw so much hate.
August 9, 2026
Family
I'm not sure what I was expecting but the story was intense. To hear of the loss and war in a realistic manner was different. The main character a young girl during WW2 really brought some things to light, especially knowing it was based on truth. Worth the read.
I'm not sure what I was expecting but the story was intense. To hear of the loss and war in a realistic manner was different. The main character a young girl during WW2 really brought some things to light, especially knowing it was based on truth. Worth the read.
September 8, 2026
Excellent WWII story from a young woman's perspective and from Rhodes and becoming a Jewish refugee in Tangiers. It has some modern day chapters from the young woman's mother and her wondering about the mother's life in WWii.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews