Rembrandt's Shadow

by Janet Lee Berg

A TRUE STORY BASED ON OUR FAMILY: YOU MAY LOVE AND HATE ONE OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS - SYLVIE ROSENBERG. SHE WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH AND CRY, SIMULTANEOUSLY. SHE IS REAL. SHE CAME OUT OF THE HOLOCAUST.

With the stroke of a pen, Hermann Goering eliminated Jews when he signed the “Final Solution”. With the stroke of a brush, Rembrandt van Rijn, unknowingly, had saved Jewish lives. With a stroke of luck and at the last moment, grandfather, “Opa” Benjamin Katz, a Dutch art dealer, was able to trade one of Rembrandt’s masterpieces to the Nazis in exchange for some of his family’s escape. His daughter, Sylvie, wondered if the train doors would open to their freedom or to the death camps. She questioned her survival for many years while in America and only lived for her son, Michael. Luckily, Opa was not alive to see his grandson Michael fight in the war that never should have happened – Vietnam. Michael counted his lucky stars when he met a girl with “angel” in her name – Angela. What luck would befall the young couple?

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

304 pages, Paperback

First published September 20, 2016

Reviews

[Sharfina Kiasati · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book from goodreads giveaway.

When I reading the synopsis for the first time, I'm so attached. And you know what great about this book? This book is based on true events of a family. The story was complex with a lot of conflicts. But I learned a lot about a story of hope, family values, true love, forgiveness, sacrifice from this story. Sometimes I cried in the middle of the pages, sometimes holding my breath. Because the war was cruel. I can't imagine it. Really. What a fascinating story! Ohh, I really want to read the second book.

[Kathryn Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Berg has taken on a huge project in writing about the Holocaust and the confiscation of priceless art from the Jewish population during World War II. While much has been written about both, the fact that this work is based on her own family's personal story makes it resonate all the more with readers!

[Susan Sherwin · Rating 1 out of 5]

This Holocaust themed novel is based on the true life story of a woman whose father was able to buy some of the family's freedom in Nazi occupied Holland by trading life for art works. Having said that, the premise of the story is compelling. However, I found Berg's writing to be choppy and superficial. Having read this as an advance reading copy, I initially had high hopes for the novel and I wish I could have rated it better than I did. That I didn't like the Sylvie character or the writing contributed to my rating.

[Judie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing choppy and over simplified.

[Vicki · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was a HUGE disappointment for me. It makes it sound like a WWII history, based on real people-that part was true, but it was back and forth between WWII in Holland and the meeting of 2 kids in late 60’s. It barely delved into the WWII part which is why I read it. I kept expecting it to go back and tell more of the escape from the Nazi’s and it did but it went from living in Holland to an internment camp in Jamaica. I only wanted to read it due to the history of WWII. Had I realized it never got more into the war than it did, I would have quit reading. As it was, it took me about 5 days to MAKE myself read it.
I also do not like when I read a book and someone is “losing” something but it comes up as “loosing”. That’s just one example of many.
Big disappointment all the way around. It gives a preview of the next book in the back. No way will I consider reading more. Just too boring for me.

[Angelica Berglund · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book on a giveaway here at Goodreads and it has taken me a while to start reading it. I dont know why I didnt start but anyway. Now afterwards I must say I wish I had read it earlier.

This is not the most typical book based on events during WW II but that dont bother me. I like fresh things and everything dont have to be about the most horrible events you can imagine. This is mild but still very good. It feels very real and I can imagine a lot of people going through stuff like this in the war, not everyone got to the camps.

The writing is easy and the language is easy but the story is compelling. It is a lot of jumping back and forth between the war and "present" which is 1970 america.

A brilliant book in its own way and I so loved to read. It really is love stories written together in a beautiful way!

[Alyce Conlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rembrant's Shadow engages the reader from the very beginning. It is a touching story of family struggles and love. While parts are sad and bring tears, Ms. Berg manages to also bring smiles throughout her story lines. You are taken to Holland at the most horrifying time, Vietnam, the shores of Long Island and Woodstock. Although Angela and Michael come from different family backgrounds the past affects each of them. You feel how life changes drastically for the characters and how they manage to overcome all obstacles. A truly great read, evoking many emotions and provoking many thoughts. I love reading it.

Alyce

[Mark · Rating 1 out of 5]

I usually give a book 50 pages before I quit reading. In this case, I stuck with it and I must say, I'm sorry I did. What a mediocre book. I thought it would get interesting but it never did. The writing was weak and the character development lame at best. What this author needs is a good editor. The story had potential but the payoff? Meh. And then at the end of the book, we get some historic photos. A chapter sort of explaining what happened, and an essay trying to justifying why the family traded the paintings to save family members. And out of nowhere, a chapter about one of the main characters becoming a kleptomaniac!?!?

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodread giveaway so here is my review. I wish the story focused more on Sylvie's story than on Angela and Michael. We learn so muh more about her in the last chapter than in the rest of the book! The writing is a little poor at first but gets better throughout the book though the dialogue are a little stilted even at the end.

[L.S.]

DNF.
It pains me to say it, but I just couldn't get used to this style of writing. I got to 45% and still felt I was drowning in waffle.
I won't rate it, as that would be unfair. Suffice it to say, this book wasn't for me.

[Cynthia Russo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not likable

The story rotates around a very foolish little girl during the holocaust. Her life before and after! She was spoiled and a little strange even before Hitler, so she really manifested unusual behavior after the war was over.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of story that draws you in right away. I was captivated by the amount of historical knowledge woven throughout and the personal touch from Berg brings the heart of the story to light. Would highly recommend this novel!

[Kathy Sumpter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully developed characters illustrate aspects of Nazi Germany and WW II that I never knew before. Lives and fortunes were destroyed and even those who survived death never really recovered.
I couldn't put this book down! Great book for a Book Club.

[A Lamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well-written story, based on real-life events in the author's family's past, that seamlessly melds current day events with tragic events that took place during the Holocaust. A very engrossing book.

[Deborah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poorly written...

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written

[Nancy K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming and painful story.

[Linda Scroggins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book isn't about Rembrandt as I'd hoped. More a correlation of WWII and Vietnam. It switches back and forth between the 2 even in a chapter. But these are real people too so worthy to take in.

[Anne Nail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great multi-generational, historical fiction novel. It switches between WW II & the Vietnam wars all with a love story woven in. It is based on a true story & is unique in that it is told from the point of view of a Jewish family in Holland during the Nazi invasion.

[Janet Berg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing "Rembrandt's Shadow" was a personal family story and took every ounce of energy out of me over the years. I cried on my pages, and I tossed in my sleep, as Nazis loomed over me. I felt the fear our family had to endure looking in the faces of pure evil during WWII. I was fortunate to have the world's leading expert in art looted by the Nazis do the research. I also got to visit the actual home of the characters I wrote about in my book(s) when I visited Dieren, Holland. I stood at the bottom of the grand staircase where our relatives once stood and let them fill in my blank pages with their secrets.

[Judie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rembrandt's Shadow succeeds on many levels, especially where survivor guilt is concerned - the effects on the survivor and her child. There are so many adjectives used in the professional reviews, so I refer you to them. There are two aspects of the book that I didn't care for: Angela's story was too in depth and the time lines are jarring - they don't flow or connect as far as the story or characters are concerned. I will definitely read the second book when it's published.

[Elaine Dreyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another Holocaust themed novel---not so literary but easy to read and get involved with. Not much substance and not very compelling.