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The Paradise Ghetto
In 1944 two young Dutch women, Julia and Suzanne, are deported to the German concentration camp for so-called ‘privileged’ Jews at Theresienstadt. As an antidote to their appalling conditions they begin to write a novel.
At first their novel is just an escape – an imaginary world into which they can withdraw and find comfort – but as their story unfolds it becomes the way they communicate their feelings to each other and, ultimately, confront their own demons.
They become convinced that the war will end when they finish their story. But it is the frenzied last year of the Final Solution. As the darkness gathers around them, they find themselves in a race not just to finish the novel but to somehow find a means of survival.
The Paradise Ghetto is the story of two people whose lives are drawn together in unimaginable circumstances, and a reflection on the part books play in our lives.
At first their novel is just an escape – an imaginary world into which they can withdraw and find comfort – but as their story unfolds it becomes the way they communicate their feelings to each other and, ultimately, confront their own demons.
They become convinced that the war will end when they finish their story. But it is the frenzied last year of the Final Solution. As the darkness gathers around them, they find themselves in a race not just to finish the novel but to somehow find a means of survival.
The Paradise Ghetto is the story of two people whose lives are drawn together in unimaginable circumstances, and a reflection on the part books play in our lives.
384 pages, Paperback
Published March 2, 2017
8 people are currently reading
736 people want to read
About the author
Fergus O'Connell
71 books38 followersMy mum read Treasure Island to me when I was four and I think that was when I decided to become a writer.
I used to think I’d like to spend all my time writing, but spending all day alone in a room with your imaginary friends isn’t necessarily the healthiest way to pass the time. (It’s easy to see why so many great writers’ best friend has been the whisky bottle!) So I also write books and teach and speak on project management. I’ve written sixteen non-fiction books and had seven novels published. My most recent, The Paradise Ghetto is now in development based on my own screenplay.
I’ve been shortlisted for prizes – the Kerry Ingredients Irish Fiction Prize for my first novel, Call The Swallow; in non-fiction, for my book on common sense, Simply Brilliant which was runner-up in the W H Smith Book Awards. My books have been translated into twenty-five languages.
So far, all my novels have been set during wartime but I don’t think of myself as a war novelist. I write about people caught up in great events and how they try to find love in the most difficult of circumstances.
I’m widowed, have two grown-up children and have lived in lots of places. Currently I’m living in England but that could be about to change.
I used to think I’d like to spend all my time writing, but spending all day alone in a room with your imaginary friends isn’t necessarily the healthiest way to pass the time. (It’s easy to see why so many great writers’ best friend has been the whisky bottle!) So I also write books and teach and speak on project management. I’ve written sixteen non-fiction books and had seven novels published. My most recent, The Paradise Ghetto is now in development based on my own screenplay.
I’ve been shortlisted for prizes – the Kerry Ingredients Irish Fiction Prize for my first novel, Call The Swallow; in non-fiction, for my book on common sense, Simply Brilliant which was runner-up in the W H Smith Book Awards. My books have been translated into twenty-five languages.
So far, all my novels have been set during wartime but I don’t think of myself as a war novelist. I write about people caught up in great events and how they try to find love in the most difficult of circumstances.
I’m widowed, have two grown-up children and have lived in lots of places. Currently I’m living in England but that could be about to change.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 12, 2016
n 1944 two young Dutch women, Julia and Suzanne, are deported to the German concentration camp for so-called privileged Jews at Theresienstadt. As an antidote to their appalling conditions they begin to write a novel. At first their novel is just an escape an imaginary world into which they can withdraw and find comfort but as their story unfolds it becomes the way they communicate their feelings to each other and, ultimately, confront their own demons. They become convinced that the war will end when they finish their story. But it is the frenzied last year of the Final Solution. As the darkness gathers around them, they find themselves in a race not just to finish the novel but to somehow find a means of survival.
The horrors witnessed by the girls are awful and yet they become seemingly immune,eg stepping over bodies,all to survive ,blocking it out. It's like their own humanity is taken as well as everything else.However as we read on,we realise that is not the case,there is hope in the form of writing a book. The book which is set in Britain and Pompeii involves a girl called Birkita who becomes a slave and who wants to fight back against the Romans. Birkita's story mirrors theirs -whole families killed,tortured,people starving ,being enslaved with Soldiers everywhere.. Therefore,we not only want to find out about Julia and Suzanne,we want to know what happens to Birkita.
It's very cleverly done as is the ending which left me with all sorts of questions/thoughts. I cannot say anymore as it would spoil the book.
Thought provoking as in human behaviour,good versus evil and how we treat each other. Were the Nazis much different from The Romans? Has the world learnt anything ?
Despite the horrors in both stories, it's a really good read.
The horrors witnessed by the girls are awful and yet they become seemingly immune,eg stepping over bodies,all to survive ,blocking it out. It's like their own humanity is taken as well as everything else.However as we read on,we realise that is not the case,there is hope in the form of writing a book. The book which is set in Britain and Pompeii involves a girl called Birkita who becomes a slave and who wants to fight back against the Romans. Birkita's story mirrors theirs -whole families killed,tortured,people starving ,being enslaved with Soldiers everywhere.. Therefore,we not only want to find out about Julia and Suzanne,we want to know what happens to Birkita.
It's very cleverly done as is the ending which left me with all sorts of questions/thoughts. I cannot say anymore as it would spoil the book.
Thought provoking as in human behaviour,good versus evil and how we treat each other. Were the Nazis much different from The Romans? Has the world learnt anything ?
Despite the horrors in both stories, it's a really good read.
August 30, 2018
What a book! As always there are elements I enjoyed and elements I wasn't too keen on but overall I really enjoyed this book and read it quite quickly due to the fact that I couldn't put it down. This review will remain as spoiler free as possible with any major spoilers hidden.
Here is a short summary of the premise: ' In 1944 Julia and Suzanne are deported to a German concentration camp for privileged Jews. As an antidote to the appalling conditions they begin to write a novel. As their story unfolds it becomes the way they communicate their feelings to each other and, ultimately, confront their demons. The Paradise Ghetto is the story of two people whose lives are drawn together in unimaginable circumstances, and a reflection on the part books play in our lives'.
As I have previously studied this period of time and the events of the Holocaust the premise of this novel intrigued me very much. This book has basis in true events such as that of the camp that Julia and Suzanne are in and the conditions they were subjected to. Something I would have preferred would be more in depth descriptions of life in the camp how it would have been for the real people living there.
This book, from the start, was clearly never going to be a light hearted happy read and I felt, at times, that Julia and Suzanne were not in a concentration camp of World War Two as they never seemed to face some of the horrors that were within them. I never felt like they were faced with the true feelings of others. People faced hours and hours stood in freezing conditions with no relief of any kind, they were tortured, they died of disease, malnutrition etc. This wasn't portrayed in the book as fully as I had thought it would be. The events of the propaganda film and inspections was done really well and I enjoyed these parts quite a lot. To see how they manipulated people into believing all was well.
I really enjoyed the two story element of this novel and felt that the swapping of stories was done well. I was never confused about where I was in each story and the parallels drawn between what Julia and Suzanne were experiencing with the horrors of those during the Roman invasions was done well. I liked that the two characters took to story writing as a way of escape and I liked the fact that they failed and started again and swapped what they wanted to write. The choice of the Roman invasions was a good choice I feel as It means that you can't get confused as to what time period you are reading as there is a clear difference. It also highlights the fact that during numerous times in history such atrocities happened. Atrocities where there were innocent victims faced with unimaginable hurt, those who committed those horrors and the every day people who were made to feel like this was normal and for the greater good. Two completely different times and worlds, yet such similarities.
An aspect of Julia and Suzanne's story that I am not sure I understand is the constant sex scenes throughout. I completely understand Birkita's (lead character in their story) job once she has been sold as a slave, but their story is smothered in sex scenes and I don't fully understand what they bring to the story. Her job and subsequent sexual encounters are relevant, but the rest I feel are thrown in unnecessarily as it adds nothing to either story. If someone has a view on this please let me know and we can discuss! I may have missed a small detail which would explain and i am open to an opinion change on this little topic.
I think I would have preferred a more honest ending of what happened to both Julia and Suzanne, however, the ending to this was still great and it may just be my inner historian wanting a clear cut ending of how it was. The final chapter was a great finishing moment and I am very glad this was at the end to conclude their journey.
I would happily recommend this to people, with the knowledge that there are graphic scenes throughout of sex and violence, but nothing that completely churns your stomach as it is based on truths.
Again, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and connected with it almost instantly and couldn't put it down! I would definitely read more from this author. The only reason I have given this a 4 star rating rather than a five is that I would have liked to see Julia and Suzanne's camp life more, more realistic and more detail of it.
Here is a short summary of the premise: ' In 1944 Julia and Suzanne are deported to a German concentration camp for privileged Jews. As an antidote to the appalling conditions they begin to write a novel. As their story unfolds it becomes the way they communicate their feelings to each other and, ultimately, confront their demons. The Paradise Ghetto is the story of two people whose lives are drawn together in unimaginable circumstances, and a reflection on the part books play in our lives'.
As I have previously studied this period of time and the events of the Holocaust the premise of this novel intrigued me very much. This book has basis in true events such as that of the camp that Julia and Suzanne are in and the conditions they were subjected to. Something I would have preferred would be more in depth descriptions of life in the camp how it would have been for the real people living there.
This book, from the start, was clearly never going to be a light hearted happy read and I felt, at times, that Julia and Suzanne were not in a concentration camp of World War Two as they never seemed to face some of the horrors that were within them. I never felt like they were faced with the true feelings of others. People faced hours and hours stood in freezing conditions with no relief of any kind, they were tortured, they died of disease, malnutrition etc. This wasn't portrayed in the book as fully as I had thought it would be. The events of the propaganda film and inspections was done really well and I enjoyed these parts quite a lot. To see how they manipulated people into believing all was well.
I really enjoyed the two story element of this novel and felt that the swapping of stories was done well. I was never confused about where I was in each story and the parallels drawn between what Julia and Suzanne were experiencing with the horrors of those during the Roman invasions was done well. I liked that the two characters took to story writing as a way of escape and I liked the fact that they failed and started again and swapped what they wanted to write. The choice of the Roman invasions was a good choice I feel as It means that you can't get confused as to what time period you are reading as there is a clear difference. It also highlights the fact that during numerous times in history such atrocities happened. Atrocities where there were innocent victims faced with unimaginable hurt, those who committed those horrors and the every day people who were made to feel like this was normal and for the greater good. Two completely different times and worlds, yet such similarities.
An aspect of Julia and Suzanne's story that I am not sure I understand is the constant sex scenes throughout. I completely understand Birkita's (lead character in their story) job once she has been sold as a slave, but their story is smothered in sex scenes and I don't fully understand what they bring to the story. Her job and subsequent sexual encounters are relevant, but the rest I feel are thrown in unnecessarily as it adds nothing to either story. If someone has a view on this please let me know and we can discuss! I may have missed a small detail which would explain and i am open to an opinion change on this little topic.
I think I would have preferred a more honest ending of what happened to both Julia and Suzanne, however, the ending to this was still great and it may just be my inner historian wanting a clear cut ending of how it was. The final chapter was a great finishing moment and I am very glad this was at the end to conclude their journey.
I would happily recommend this to people, with the knowledge that there are graphic scenes throughout of sex and violence, but nothing that completely churns your stomach as it is based on truths.
Again, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and connected with it almost instantly and couldn't put it down! I would definitely read more from this author. The only reason I have given this a 4 star rating rather than a five is that I would have liked to see Julia and Suzanne's camp life more, more realistic and more detail of it.
June 18, 2018
This novel gave me layers, layers, and more layers! But first, let’s talk about the beginning. The reader is immediately thrown into the shocking detail of Julia, our heroine's, way of making a living. Immediately, I knew I wasn’t in for an easy breezy read. Julia is a Jew, trying to survive in occupied Amsterdam during World War II, but she is discovered, arrested and shipped to a Jewish prison camp, The Paradise Ghetto, a place for ‘privileged’ Jews. Here she meets Suzanne, and an intense relationships develops between the two girls. They decide to write a book together as a way of coping with the atrocities around them, and soon it becomes a way of exploring their feelings and confronting the hidden demons of their pasts. They decide for it to be a revenge story, where they are able to pour out their anger and hurt into their characters, and take vengeance on the perpetrators. Their story takes us along the path of another heroine, Birkita, an enslaved warrior woman from Roman Britain. We take turns flitting between the Paradise Ghetto and their book, and it becomes clear how the book is an escape from the harsh realities of the prison camp. I even found myself wanting to escape to the more dynamic plot of their story, far away from the grey, starving and monotonous conditions of Julia and Suzanne’s surroundings.
I was impressed by O’Connell’s ability to create two such hypnotising worlds. However, the final chapter added a twist, and while thought-provoking, it dragged it down to a confusing end. It was one too many layers. Despite this, The Paradise Ghetto was a memorable read, that has left a lasting impression through its use of allegories. An unusual story of survival, the power of the written word, and finding love in the unlikeliest of places.
I was impressed by O’Connell’s ability to create two such hypnotising worlds. However, the final chapter added a twist, and while thought-provoking, it dragged it down to a confusing end. It was one too many layers. Despite this, The Paradise Ghetto was a memorable read, that has left a lasting impression through its use of allegories. An unusual story of survival, the power of the written word, and finding love in the unlikeliest of places.
April 18, 2020
😊
The paradise ghetto is a story within a story. It all starts of with Julia and how she attempts to make ends meet during the second world war, adult films. After one of these such films she is outed as a Jew and henceforth is eventually arrested and put in a cell with other Jews, this is where she meets Suzanne. Julia finds her childish and annoying but as the pair both end up in the Paradise Ghetto their friendship grows. To escape the horrors of life as they now know it they create an imaginary world and begin to write a book together based around the Roman Empire and invasion. Their belief is once the story is finished the war will end. When finally the story is completed they secrete the notebooks in a wall in the hopes of one day coming back to find it. Suzanne is transported out of the Paradise Ghetto. Julia thinks she will never see her again. War is over and Julia sees a crowd gathering and in the middle is a woman being attacked and a big black swastika is being painted on her forehead. In the crowd Julia sees a very pale emaciated woman, it's Suzanne but before she can do anything Suzanne turns away and she's gone. The pair never see each other again.
Years later their book is found and due to be published.
I liked this book but it wasn't what I expected it to be. Just simply a story about the holocaust. In amongst the atrocities that happened we also get this other story which isn't too far from what's happening at the time. Instead of Nazis it's the Roman Empire. Both stories were good with the same kind of backgrounds.
The paradise ghetto is a story within a story. It all starts of with Julia and how she attempts to make ends meet during the second world war, adult films. After one of these such films she is outed as a Jew and henceforth is eventually arrested and put in a cell with other Jews, this is where she meets Suzanne. Julia finds her childish and annoying but as the pair both end up in the Paradise Ghetto their friendship grows. To escape the horrors of life as they now know it they create an imaginary world and begin to write a book together based around the Roman Empire and invasion. Their belief is once the story is finished the war will end. When finally the story is completed they secrete the notebooks in a wall in the hopes of one day coming back to find it. Suzanne is transported out of the Paradise Ghetto. Julia thinks she will never see her again. War is over and Julia sees a crowd gathering and in the middle is a woman being attacked and a big black swastika is being painted on her forehead. In the crowd Julia sees a very pale emaciated woman, it's Suzanne but before she can do anything Suzanne turns away and she's gone. The pair never see each other again.
Years later their book is found and due to be published.
I liked this book but it wasn't what I expected it to be. Just simply a story about the holocaust. In amongst the atrocities that happened we also get this other story which isn't too far from what's happening at the time. Instead of Nazis it's the Roman Empire. Both stories were good with the same kind of backgrounds.
December 4, 2017
You know that moment when you start to read a book and connect with it from the first pages? This is what happened to me when I began to read “Paradise Ghetto.”
he story starts with the presentation of Julia, a Dutch girl with a rough past, who is forced to play in adult movies in order to get money and survive during the World War II. She is arrested and sent to a concentration camp where she meets the innocent and frighted Suzanne. Soon after their arrest, they are deported to a place named Theresienstadt. This camp was used by the Nazis to impress the Red Cross and create propaganda movies to show how well they treat the Jews. See the whole review here: https://readingbadger.club/2017/11/30...
I loved the idea of two totally separated stories in one big picture. Even though they were completely different, they were also so similar and both captivating. I don’t know which character I enjoyed following the most, but I must say that because of this I couldn’t leave the book out of my hands.
he story starts with the presentation of Julia, a Dutch girl with a rough past, who is forced to play in adult movies in order to get money and survive during the World War II. She is arrested and sent to a concentration camp where she meets the innocent and frighted Suzanne. Soon after their arrest, they are deported to a place named Theresienstadt. This camp was used by the Nazis to impress the Red Cross and create propaganda movies to show how well they treat the Jews. See the whole review here: https://readingbadger.club/2017/11/30...
I loved the idea of two totally separated stories in one big picture. Even though they were completely different, they were also so similar and both captivating. I don’t know which character I enjoyed following the most, but I must say that because of this I couldn’t leave the book out of my hands.
June 21, 2018
Oh dear ..... two novels in one book, neither of them particularly well written. The author uses proper nouns instead of personal pronouns constantly (probably so that the reader can keep track) which become frustratingly annoying after several chapters. As a retired teacher, its the kind of thing that young children do in their writing and shows the inexperience of the writer. This is a shame, as te story began well enough and I was quite enjoying it, however it soon became terribly cliché and unbelievable! Its almost like the author ran out of ideas and was struggling to know where to go next. Thus, a potentially good story was ruined.
Note to author: Instead of writing two stories badly - write one well! The ending was a complete synopsis of the entire book , confused, pointless and totally unbelievable! So after all, this the two main characters never went to the 'Ghetto' at all .... ??? or did they and their liberation in Holland was a fantasy? I repeat, confused!!!
Note to author: Instead of writing two stories badly - write one well! The ending was a complete synopsis of the entire book , confused, pointless and totally unbelievable! So after all, this the two main characters never went to the 'Ghetto' at all .... ??? or did they and their liberation in Holland was a fantasy? I repeat, confused!!!
May 5, 2019
This book is something...the writer can be excellent at points, but I feel as though it got lazy when he tried to tell two complete stories at once.
Additionally, all of the sex makes it almost a quasi erotic novel. I’m not a prude, but I also am not a huge fan of sex scenes unless they’re to advance the story. Most of these were not. There was also a ton of random breasts, women with “breasts the size of oranges” and lots of letting you know that by age 30, women are no longer attractive.
Potentially a good story that was bogged down heavily by a ridiculous male gaze...which is a bit preposterous considering a lot of the book centered on lesbian relationships in which the male gaze is completely absent.
Additionally, all of the sex makes it almost a quasi erotic novel. I’m not a prude, but I also am not a huge fan of sex scenes unless they’re to advance the story. Most of these were not. There was also a ton of random breasts, women with “breasts the size of oranges” and lots of letting you know that by age 30, women are no longer attractive.
Potentially a good story that was bogged down heavily by a ridiculous male gaze...which is a bit preposterous considering a lot of the book centered on lesbian relationships in which the male gaze is completely absent.
March 8, 2023
Paradise Ghetto by Fergus O'Connell. The book talks about Jewish families being held in the Terezin ghetto during the second World War. The book also talks about the suffering that the people had to go trough. Paradise Ghetto also gives a pretty good portrayal of the harsh living conditions and the constant fear of death. I recommend this book for people who are interested of the Holocaust during the II World War.
October 3, 2017
A bit hit and miss. I felt like the book couldn't make its mind up on what story or plot it wanted to focus on. Basic details were also absent such as living in the camp, the other Jews seemed to disappear into thin air. Overall though it was an OK book.
January 7, 2019
I love the concept of the book, the idea is very inspirational. However I found the story that the characters write very boring, and it’s a big portion of the book. I also don’t like to read such detailed sexual stories, for me it was too much.
February 5, 2019
Will stay with you.
This is a book within a book. Both are interesting and harrowing. This book is based on true events in the 1940’s and is all the more distressing because of this.
This is a book within a book. Both are interesting and harrowing. This book is based on true events in the 1940’s and is all the more distressing because of this.
September 30, 2017
Didn't like.it
Confusing read .Story was all over the place. Didn't make sense and felt awkward to read. It wasn't what I thought it would be.
Confusing read .Story was all over the place. Didn't make sense and felt awkward to read. It wasn't what I thought it would be.
February 18, 2017
Excellent book. The story takes several turns.
April 4, 2017
The Paradise Ghetto by Fergus O' Conner tells the story of two Dutch Women living in 1944 during World War II. They are deported to a concentration camp in Theresienstadt. The two become close friends and begin to write a book together about a woman called Birkita who is captured by the Romans and sent to Pompeii. Birkita and Julia's life as mirrors of each other and through their stories we learn more about Julia's character. At first, this novel they are writing is a way to escape the appalling conditions of the camp but soon the book brings these two women together, and they become very close friends.
The Structure of the book allows for the reader to feel just as invested in Julia and Suzanna's life as you do about Birkita, and the novel becomes very meta. The book is a way for Julia and Suzanna to communicate to the other their feeling for one another and confronting their past.
O'Connell has created many twists and turns and manages to leave her reader desperate for the women to be okay.
I found the ending difficult but for the genre, it seems inevitable it would be interesting to see others views on the end of The Paradise Ghetto.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me this copy for a fair review
The Structure of the book allows for the reader to feel just as invested in Julia and Suzanna's life as you do about Birkita, and the novel becomes very meta. The book is a way for Julia and Suzanna to communicate to the other their feeling for one another and confronting their past.
O'Connell has created many twists and turns and manages to leave her reader desperate for the women to be okay.
I found the ending difficult but for the genre, it seems inevitable it would be interesting to see others views on the end of The Paradise Ghetto.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me this copy for a fair review
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews