Even in Darkness

by Barbara Stark-Nemon

Spanning a century and three continents, Even in Darkness tells the story of Kläre Kohler, whose early years as a dutiful daughter of a prosperous German-Jewish family hardly anticipate the often-harrowing life she faces as an adult—a saga of family, a lover, two world wars, a concentration camp and the unconventional life she builds in post-war Germany. As the world changes around her, Kläre makes boundary-crossing choices in order to protect the people she loves—and to save herself.

Based on a true story, Even in Darkness highlights the intimate experience of Kläre’s reinvention as she faces the destruction of life as she knew it, and traces her path beyond survival to wisdom, meaning, and—most unexpectedly—love.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Holocaust, World War II, Family, 20th Century, Novels

328 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2015

About the author

Every story needs a narrator, and Barbara stepped up early in life. She learned storytelling, and a fascination with the magic of language from her grandfather. He wove unforgettable tales of a former life in Germany to his family in America. Barbara learned to speak the language of her German family, and later, the signs of the deaf children with whom she worked.

An undergraduate degree in English literature and Art History and a Masters in Speech-language Pathology from the University of Michigan led to a teaching and clinical career. Everywhere, there were stories. Barbara has come to appreciate that different languages impact the form of stories, and that everyone has the need to be heard and seen.

Barbara lives and writes in Ann Arbor and Northport, Michigan

Reviews

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pub date 03/31/15

Much has been written, both fiction and non-fiction, about World War II, Germany, the Nazis, the Jews, the Halocaust. Barbara Stark-Nemon's debut novel, Even in Darkness, is one of the most compelling that I have ever read. Based loosely on members of her own family and their personal recollections, the story begins when Klare Ente, an 18-year-old Jewish woman, marries Jakob Kohler, a promising Jewish lawyer and notary.

We follow Klare and Jakob as they begin to enjoy married life and start their family with two boys: Erwin and Werner. We feel their anxiety rising as day after day more restrictions are placed on Jews and their lives. We fear the knock at the door, the sound of a car in the street, the lingering glances of their neighbors, the delivery of the mail. Jakob develops a tremor, first in his hands, and then spreading throughout his body. They cannot obtain Visas to emigrate because of Jakob's health, and so we agonize with them as they face the most difficult decisions trying to save their sons.

Throughout all that happens in their lives, Klare is the constantly loving wife, daughter, mother. She never tires, never fails to have a smile, shares her meager food, is always a comforting listener and has a God-given gift of Spirit.

This story of a woman of incredible strength is an unforgettable must-read.

I read this e-ARC courtesy of Net Galley

[Andi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I think about this book, my heart sighs with hope a little. It's a hard subject - a woman living in Germany under the growing Nazi regime, a woman finding herself as she lives through that circumstance, a woman loving hard in that time - but Stark-Nemon has done a beautiful rendering of a life.

I will admit that I struggled just a bit to fit all the pieces together, but the through-line of Claire kept me invested in knowing how each of the chapters wove into her story.

The language in the book is lovely but not distracting, and I finished reading the book with a quiet sense of joy that is rare in this literary world of bleak endings and oversimple conclusions.

I highly recommend this book.

[Michelle Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a rule, I’m not a big fan of contemporary fiction and would only call a handful truly great. In my humble opinion, Even in Darkness is certainly one of those, and it could easily contend for the Pulitzer.

Barbara Stark-Nemon has taken what is obviously a family story and instead of “fictionalizing” it into a novel, has truly breathed into it its own soul and made it its own being. On the surface, I was very intrigued by the story of these ordinary German citizens caught up in a war that was not of their making and the relationships that continued between them despite their Judaism or Christianity. I normally don’t read “Holocaust” stories because they are so terribly depressing, and though the Holocaust is a part of Even in Darkness, it does not overshadow the story as a whole. This is really Klare’s story, at least on the surface, of which the Holocaust was only a part. I did think that it particularly touching, and true, that Klare seemed to experience more aching despair and sadness over the death of her child, Werner, than any of her experiences in the camp. I think this would be the case for myself, and all mothers, as well.

So not only was the surface story very intriguing to me and extremely well written, the deeper theme of love in its myriad forms was beautifully expressed in the life of Klare and in the rich symbolism you employed. Through her, you were able to expertly express romantic love, marital love, maternal love, familial love, platonic love and finally, in Ansel, divine love. It is so perfectly symbolic that she is a Jewish woman and he a Catholic priest and that their love goes beyond man and woman, beyond religion, to something more pure - more divine - in which they both experience peace.

This was a superbly written book. A true classic for our times. I highly recommend it!!!!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

When judging this book, it's only fair to take into consideration the authors research and analysis of the topic. Although a work of fiction, the author draws on family history to put a new spin on her writing. The result is her story is very in depth to the point of almost monotonous. As a fan of World War Two history and wartime fiction, this was disappointing to see.

The book does perk up mid way through but then again becomes slow towards the latter half. If you have the patience for this style of writing and enjoy the genre you will probably rate it higher than I have. Otherwise, it's not a book I would hasten to recommend.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books about the holocaust that I've ever read. A testament to the resiliency of the human spirit!

[Nicole Overmoyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for World War II fiction. There really isn't any other way to put it. That being said, I was very excited to get into Barbara Stark-Nemon's EVEN IN DARKNESS. The story she writes is one of those tricky historical fiction ones that are based on actual events, in this case her great-aunt Klare's experiences during World War I, World War II, and the years in between.

This balance, I've learned from reading a lot of these books, can be delicate because the author must keep true to historical fact, keep true to the characters who were real and who were important, and keep a narrative going that makes everyone want to keep reading.

Stark-Nemon does that well in this story.

The places her great-aunt existed, including Thereseinstadt, are described in ways that I have read them described before but not with the intense detail that might leave the narrative lacking. The focus is kept solely, for the most part, on Klare Kohler and what she sees as she goes from an eighteen year old girl with the world at her fingertips to a survivor of Nazi death camps and beyond.

Honestly, the thing I wanted more from the story was a longer, more detailed note at the end. Stark-Nemon referenced her family and how they survived but she didn't mention Ansel Beckmann, the Catholic priest who figured so heavily in the story and who I am not sure was even real, or details on Bernhardt Steinmann and Melisande Durr, who were heroes in the story. I want to know more about them. So, basically, I want a non-fiction accounting of this story too.

And that, it seems, makes it an excellent book.

(I received a copy of EVEN IN DARKNESS through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest and original review. All thoughts are my own.)

[Icy_Space_Cobwebs · Rating 5 out of 5]

REVIEW: EVEN IN DARKNESS by Barbara Stark-Nemon

Compelling, heartwrenching, terrifying; yet simultaneously heartwarming, reassuring, and encapsulating the triumph of the human spirit and soul, this novel may incite tears, but I believe that at the end, readers Will say, "I'm glad I read this." Dealing with one of the ugliest eras in human history, EVEN IN DARKNESS demonstrates that behind every historical event are individuals: alive, human, good or evil, but nevertheless people. History plays out not only on the Grand Stage, but also in individual lives.

[Rita Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara Stark-Nemon’s novel “Even In Darkness” is a journey into and out of the darkness of World War II Germany. Masterfully written, the story draws you into the life of protagonist Kläre Ente from the very beginning. I felt like I had entered a lovingly-crafted tapestry torn by the horrors of war, but also filled with love and color, and vibrant with life. Woven throughout were threads of brilliant description and pitch-perfect dialogue. An added bonus was learning the characters were based on lives of Stark-Nemon’s own family members. A very satisfying read.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful tour de force. Haunting, bleak, hopeful, balanced and lovely. I almost passed it by......

[Romalyn Tilghman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on a true story, Even in Darkness is important historical fiction. It gives us a front row seat at the horrors of World War II, but takes us further, opening the curtain on what happens next, at least to a few survivors. Readers will be reminded of Anne Frank and realize this might have been her fate. Far more complicated than "happily-ever-after," but love offering redemption nonetheless.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked how intimate this book was. I don’t know if it was the writing style or just the circumstances of seeing the developing horror of the Holocaust and Nazi Germany through one family and individual. Yet, I felt immediately drawn to Klare and her survival story. I wanted to know how she fared almost from page one. I think some of it can be attributed to how the author presents the story and its emotions; it’s very immediate and engrossing.

Having the story cover decades, from the 1910’s all the way through to the latter half of the 20th century, gives the reader a real picture of the story of Nazism and how it reverberated for years. Seeing the beginning in WWI all the way through to the devastation of Europe post-WWII made this history buff happy. Seeing how all those events impacted one family was very interesting.

All the characters being based off the author’s real family was an interesting idea. It made everyone more real to me, knowing that most of the events portrayed actually happened. Once Klare and family got into the camp system, this became even more immediate and jarring, especially Klare’s experiences.

I loved the relationships in the book and the exploration of love in all its many forms. Husband/wife, between lovers, friendships, mother/daughter, siblings, and random people coming together to create a family. So many different links kept things fresh and interesting. I especially enjoyed Klare’s and Ansel’s relationship. They only had the barest connections but had such a soul deep relationship. Such a deep love that developed between two people sucked me in. It can’t really be defined by any descriptor that exists; it’s just Klare and Ansel.

My only hitch with the book was Klare’s overall characterization. There were times where she came off as far too perfect. She’s the perfect angel: taking care of everyone before herself, completely understanding, loyal to a fault, having a wellspring of strength so deep that nothing can shake it. I really wanted her to have more warts and faults than she did.

This book is a great examination of the start and rise of Nazi Germany, it’s powerful rule, and the backlash after it fell. It examined all of this through the intimate window of Klare and her family. The author does a great job in making everything come to life, both in the story and emotionally through the relationships. While sometimes characters come across as too perfect, that still doesn’t decrease my enjoyment. I’d recommend this book to lovers of the WWII genre; it will be one to savor.

[Mystica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a true story, this again is a book about persecution of the worst imaginable and the subsequent survival of a family.

Beginning in 1895 Klare Kohler was a happy familied woman. She came from an affluent family in Germany never considered herself anything other than a loyal German. Then came Hitler and his persecution of anyone he considered non Aryan and with it Klare's life as she knew it was never the same. Those of her family who could emigrate did but Klare's husband Jakob always thought that the idea of Nazi rule was an unimaginable one and then it was too late for them. The story of how Klare arranged and got her two children out of Germany - one via Switzerland to Palestine and one to England through different escape routes, the myriad non Jews who helped people escape at the risk to their own lives and families and finally to Klare and Jakob's imprisonment in a camp and how they were two of the lucky few to have survived forms the story.

Survive they did but with scars which would never leave and the trauma was always hidden whilst Klare got on with her life. Klare was a wonderful human being, compassionate and always ready to help others. Klare faced tragedy after tragedy head on. Bruised by the death of her 21 year old son in a terrorist attack she nevertheless never gave up.

After Jakob's death Klare made a life for herself with Ansel a Catholic priest as his housekeeper. This unconventional choice must have raised eye brows at the time but she knew that this was where she found comfort and solace.

To have had an ancestor like this would make anyone very proud. A woman of such courage and compassion is hard to find. The story is very delicately told despite the ugliness and bestiality that is part of the Holocaust. Suffering of every kind, man's inhumanity to man, the division of families and at the same time the kindness of strangers, the support of neighbours and man's support to man in times of adversity are all played out in this book.

[Jalynn Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even in Darkness

About the Book:

Spanning one century and three continents, Even in Darkness tells the story of Kläre Kohler, whose early years as beloved daughter of a prosperous German-Jewish family hardly anticipate the often harrowing life she faces as an adult—a long saga of family, lovers, two world wars, concentration camps, and sacrifice. As the world changes around her, Kläre is forced to make a number of seemingly impossible choices in order to protect the people she loves—and to save herself.

Based on a true story, Even in Darkness highlights the intimate experience of Kläre’s reinvention as she faces the destruction of life as she knew it, and traces her path beyond survival to wisdom, meaning, and—most unexpectedly—love.



My Review:

Klare Kohler, a mother, a wife, and a Jew has way too much to worry about as Germans surround everything and everyone she loves. Although she and her husband still are wealthy during these uncertain times, they still are in danger. Her husband soon appears weak and tired, with a doctors visit she knows he is quite sick. She meets a man who makes her feel better about her day to day life and troubling situations, and most of all he makes her feel like the only girl in the world. He treats her like a true woman, a woman with brains and beauty. But when she begins helping with his mother as a masseur, they soon become more than just friends. Her kids are sent in opposite directions to keep them out of the Nazis grasps. But soon the Nazis are on Klare's doorstep and she knows she will no longer be able to hide.


Even In Darkness was an amazing read. I really liked how intense and descriptive the author really was. This book is a true page-turner. I couldn't stop reading once I started. I do hope that the author will write another book soon.


**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

“When had the florid Christian neighbors pedaling their way to and from the shops lost their stolid place in the scenery and begun to etch menace into the landscape instead?” Jewish Klare ponders this thought as the First World War approaches, in Barbara Stark-Nemon’s Even in Darkness. Klare’s brother reminds her, “Jews cannot sit and wait. We have to fight harder and more bravely than anyone to prove ourselves.” It must have been a hard thought then and, for others, a hard thought now. But Klare is far more than just an obedient Jewish daughter. She longs to be a wife and mother, and more, to have something of her own to offer when proud successful brothers tell their tales.

This novel has an appealing short-story, long-story feel, told in chapters like steps in time, each tied to year, month and place, as they form a staircase to the future. Lives and deaths fill the space in between, and voices speak with a convincing cadence through natural and pleasing dialog.
Another war looms with ever-increasing terrors. A loving mother longs to protect her sons. A father presides over the death of hopes and dreams. Lands as different as England and Palestine offer different kinds of promise, while Klare, “A woman of valor,” learns that an ability to make everyone love her might still not save her family.

There are wonderful images which linger long after reading this tale—one-winged angels, supporting each other; Christ on the cross in a Catholic church; love in its many guises and kindnesses. Klare asks, “What does God mean by such agony?” But there’s beauty in the chapters and the moment, providing the sort of answers that words can’t tell, though the author tells them well. A long book, an absorbing, thought-provoking, and heart-rending read, and a beautiful tale of a wonderful life, well-lived.

Disclosure: I was given a copy by a publicist and I offer my honest review

[Connie Mayo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually steer clear of Holocaust fiction, but after hearing Barbara Stark-Nemon speak at an author event, I was intrigued, partly because I found it fascinating that she wrote this fictionalized account of her great aunt Klare's life while Klare was still alive, and was able to interview her. The real people in historical fiction are often long dead, which gives the author leeway to fabricate a lot of the detail - I kept wondering how one would navigate this when there was a resource alive that could definitively say, "It didn't happen like that!".

So my review can't compare this book to a pile of other Holocaust novels, but here it is: There are many things to like about this book. As a reader, you get to follow Klare through both World Wars and beyond, so it's not just about the Holocaust. I appreciated the way the author depicted how Jews didn't seem their future coming from a mile away, how Klare's husband is just keeping his head down and waiting for all the craziness to blow over, and how everyone in the family comes to the realization that they should get out or are trapped at different times. One character has his mother confess that she is Jewish (and thus he is too) just as the war is ramping up, and I found this something to ponder, how you could suddenly be in danger when you thought you were relatively safe.

This is a well-researched book, and Stark-Nemon is clearly a smart cookie - I would call this book "brainy" if that didn't sound negative. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, but it's well written and the story is bittersweet. Klare experiences love but this is anything but a Romance - there are bigger things in her life than her romantic passions, and I respected this story for that. An admirable debut.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Courage and Love in War-Torn Germany

In the days leading up to WWI, Klare, an eighteen-year-old German-Jewish girl, has a big decision to make. Jakob Kohler, a young Jewish attorney, wants to marry her before he goes off to fight. Klare likes him. He has good prospects, but she's unsure whether she loves him. In the pressure of a country going to war, Klare agrees to the wedding and soon finds herself a housewife and mother.

The novel follows Klare's story from her marriage before WWI through the horrors of WWII and beyond. The book is well researched and paints a realistic picture of the fate of German-Jews before, during and after the two world wars. The experiences of the author's family, which form the basis of the narrative, add realistic detail.

The book is worth reading to get the flavor of the life of an average person during the wars. However, the narrative moves very slowly. In some ways, Klare is a compelling character for the bravery with which she faces the privations and discrimination of war. However, she is a very average person. Circumstances drive her. She shows ingenuity in dealing with some of the worst problems of WWII, however, she does it in a quiet way. If you want excitement and fast-paced action, this is not a book you'll enjoy. If you're interested in life in Germany during and after the wars, the book is well done.

I reviewed this book for PR by the Book.

[Jacqueline Masumian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had not ventured far into Barbara Stark-Nemon's Even in Darkness before I was totally caught up in the lives of the Entes and the Kohlers, two German-Jewish families who come to experience the horrific losses and terrors of World War II. Though prosperous and well-connected, the families have no shield against the Nazi takeover of Germany in the 1930s. The author creates a chilling atmosphere as more and more restrictions are placed on Jews until they look around and realize they have been left with nothing.

The central character of this compelling story, Klare, struggles with the painful separation from her two sons, and the caretaking of her frail mother and her ailing husband within the Theresienstadt concentration camp. Though Klare loses nearly everything, her indomitable spirit moves her forward until she finds profound love in a most unexpected place.

Stark-Nemon has written a set of interesting characters in this book. Klare's relationship with Ansel, a young Catholic priest, is particularly intriguing.

Readers who wish to come to understand more about the plight of wealthy Jewish families in Nazi Germany, as well as the aftermath of that era, will find this a fascinating novel.

[Leslie Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are books about WWII and there are books about love. Heck, there are even books that combine the two. And then there is Barbara Stark-Nemon's EVEN IN DARKNESS, which marries a family saga with chords of courage and bravery. Spanning over one hundred years and several generations, Stark-Nemon takes us on an unforgettable journey through 1940s-era Germany rife with social injustice, war, love, and a kernel of resilience.

We delve into the life of Klare, a German-Jew who uses her unconventional profession and her tenacity to get what what she's always wanted in life: true love. But it comes at a price as there are many obstacles standing in her way.

Based partly on historical real-life happening of Stark's own family, EVEN IN DARKNESS is richly researched and well-written, although it is not exactly a fast-paced read. Be prepared to curl up with a German pastry and cup of coffee as this is one you'll want to savor. The ending will have you cheering and perhaps even questioning your own allegiances.

This book was provided to me by the author's publicist in exchange for an honest review. Find my Q&A of the author on my website after the book releases, April 8th 2015 www.leslielindsay.com

[Barbara Ridley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing take of survival and resilience, the story follows a young Jewish woman from the early days of the Nazi rise to power in Germany, through the war and its aftermath. Klara and her husband, a lawyer who is in ill-health, struggle with the decisions about whether to try to leave the country, and once it is clear that it is too late for that, how to smuggle their two young sons to safety abroad. Based on the author's family history, this novel offers new insights into lives of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary times. Klara is an unassuming heroine, surviving great losses, and finding strength and love in an affair with a gentle man who helps save her younger son, and through an unusual friendship with a young family friend who becomes a Catholic priest. I especially found the post-war story interesting, when Klara returns to the Displaced Persons camp. She is reunited with her older son, who left for England and now returns in the occupying British Army, while waiting for news from Werner, the younger son who reached Palestine, who is now caught up in the early stages of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. A good read, a valuable addition to the field of Holocaust literature.

[Missie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barbara Stark-Nemon did an amazing job of writing a fictional account of her great aunt's past. The writing was amazing, with so much depth. I loved Klare's character and her passion for life. She was always torn between a life of desire and a life of responsibility. The story follows Klare all the way through the World War 2, including the toil that Jewish families faced during the war.

The writing was so in-depth that the narrative moved pretty slowly. I struggled sometimes to keep with the story and found that I wanted to flip further into the story so that I could get more action. The book truly is a love letter to Stark-Nemon's family and I am sure that I would have loved the book even more if it was about my own family.

If you are interested in stories based on true life, historical accounts of WWII and a beautiful story of Klare's life, than this is a great book to take your time and savor.

For more reviews visit
A Flurry of Ponderings

[Joe Broadmeadow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even in Darkness by Barbara Stark-Nemon chronicles the life in Germany of Klare Kohler and her family. The story takes place during 1913 to 1996. Encompassing two World Wars, internment in Theresienstadt concentration camp, and the dispersal of the family to England, America, and Palenstine, the story covers a remarkable rich, and sad, time period of human history.

Stark-Nemon’s colorful use of language, her ability to portray the emotional interactions of her characters, and her depicting the joys and horrors of Germany make for a captivating story.

While she makes clear the horrors faced by Klare and her family, she does it without resorting to graphic unnecessary images of the horrors, instead relying on the reader to use their own imagination as they try to picture their own reaction to being in such circumstances.

This is a wonderful story well told and one to be appreciated by anyone that enjoys quality writing.

[Gretta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was reluctant to read this and started it only because it was a book group selection. My group has chosen to read a number of holocaust memoirs and, while they are important, they are all painful. However, the story of Klare drew me in and I followed it eagerly--until the final chapters when it dragged a bit for me. It was important to connect her to the others in her family and have her travel to the US and Israel, but I found this tidying up slower than what preceded it.

Klare was an amazing character whom Barbara brought to life. The locations had substance as well. That Klare survived the Holocaust while taking care of her husband, who went into the Theresienstadt ill to begin with, and her elderly mother was incredible.

[J.A. Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara Stark-Nemon has done an excellent job of gently guiding readers through one woman's journey of resilience and resolution. The protagonist, Klare, is an uncomplicated and brave woman who becomes a Holocaust victim in her twenties and is forced to find ways to survive and to help others do the same. The settings, descriptions, and Klare's various challenges provided me with insight to the three weeks I spent in Germany not so long ago. I did all the tourist things; ate the great pastries, visited the various churches and memorials and went on bus tours of places that should have never existed.

PS- In my opinion, every high school student should be required to watch Twelve Years a Slave and to read Even in Darkness.

[Nina Romano · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible story--not just a Holocaust story but a family story of love and loss. I could not put the book down. I've read many novels set in Germany covering this era in time, but I never came away from the books feeling a sense of peace and closure, or that they were in anyway true to life as this novel was for me. Bbarbara Stark-Nemon has written a heart-rending narrative that will remain with me for a long time. The protagonist was a complete character. Klare came across to me as a human being in every sense of the term--with flaws and failings, and with longings. She possessed a heart that had a huge capacity for love in her yearnings, a woman with a blessed soul. BRAVA!

[Claudia Whitsitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara Stark-Nemon's debut novel is a stunning portrait of her real-life aunt, Klare Kohler, as she negotiates impossible hardship--parting with her children, a concentration camp, the loss of family and immense sacrifice. Klare demonstrates survival with grace and dignity in this expertly crafted, engaging read. At times the immeasurable pain is too much to bear, yet Klare teaches us that with faith and perseverance, survival can lead to reinvention, and to a life filled with love and gratitude.

[Susan Birrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read many books about the Holocaust I never cease to be shocked by the horror families endured. I am not sure it is even possible to not be shocked by these events! I am in complete amazement as to the lengths families .... especially mothers ... went to to protect their children and families. I could not put this book down and found myself thinking about Klare when daily life took me away. Her courage, her loyalty to Jakob , even when she has a chance to leave was inspiring. I loved this book!!!

[Marilyn Oser · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating story, based on the author's own family history, of the twists and turns fate takes--and the resilience of human beings in response. It seems we never can exhaust the varieties of calamity and courage and kindness that came out of the Nazi era. Kudos to Stark-Nemon for this remarkable book.

[Leslie Nack]

I thoroughly enjoyed Even In Darkness. The writing is intriguing and compelling me to turn the page to find out what happens next. The story is so touching and of course difficult, but well worth the read. I can understand why this book is winning so many awards. I highly recommend it.

[The Jewish Book Council]

Review by Miriam Bradman Abrahams for the Jewish Book Council.

[Mish · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little slow at times but overall a good read.