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Light At The End Of The Day
A rich, moving, sweeping novel about a family forced to escape Krakow during the Holocaust
When Alicia and her family are forced to flee Krakow to escape the Nazis, they leave behind all their possessions, including Alicia’s most prized object – the portrait her father commissioned of her.
As they move from country to country, desperate to find safety, their once luxurious life in Krakow seems like a memory of another world. But Alicia never forgets the painting and what it represents, and after the war, she resolves to find the artist and recover what is hers.
When Alicia and her family are forced to flee Krakow to escape the Nazis, they leave behind all their possessions, including Alicia’s most prized object – the portrait her father commissioned of her.
As they move from country to country, desperate to find safety, their once luxurious life in Krakow seems like a memory of another world. But Alicia never forgets the painting and what it represents, and after the war, she resolves to find the artist and recover what is hers.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published July 8, 2020
35 people are currently reading
858 people want to read
About the author
Eleanor Wasserberg
4 books62 followersEleanor Wasserberg studied at Oxford University and has a Creative Writing MA from the University of East Anglia. She’s lived in Kerala, Paris and London, and was awarded a writing grant from the Arts Council to complete her debut novel Foxlowe (UK: 4th Estate, US: Penguin). A compulsive and chilling debut, Foxlowe is set in the Staffordshire Moorlands, where she grew up. She now lives in Norwich.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
January 17, 2022
4.5🌟
This was a harrowing but fantastic read.
It’s so close to being 5🌟 I knocked half off because at times the writing is a little confused and I had to go back and re-read to make sure I knew which character was speaking or being referred to.
This was a harrowing but fantastic read.
It’s so close to being 5🌟 I knocked half off because at times the writing is a little confused and I had to go back and re-read to make sure I knew which character was speaking or being referred to.
December 12, 2020
#AD: gifted product
I was provided with a free eARC* of this book via NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest review.
*eARC: electronic Advance Review Copy.
This review also published on my blog.
So, I have a soft spot for historical fiction, if you didn’t know already! I know WWII fiction is everywhere but I still go for it every time. You can imagine my excitement then, when I spotted this on NetGalley to request! The title reminded me of All The Light We Cannot See, which is another WWII historical fiction, but The Light at the End of the Day follows a Polish-Jewish family, while All The Light We Cannot See follows French characters and German characters. While of course I knew Poland was invaded by the Nazis, I didn’t know many of the details, so it was interesting to read about what was quite a different experience.
Before the war, the Oderfeldt family are wealthy, a sophisticated couple with two young daughters. The early part of the story establishes their life as it was before the war, which I really enjoyed reading. The father, Adam, commissions a painter, Jozef, to paint his youngest (and favourite) daughter Alicia. I love reading about art in fiction, and the description of the painting and the process was so interesting. The painting scenes as well really brought the two young girls and Jozef into their own, and gave them beautifully developed characters. Initially I saw Alicia as a spoilt brat, and Karolina as stand-offish and reclusive, but through the painting scenes their characters, as well as the painting, became more fleshed out, colourful, believable. Adam and Anna, the parents, came into their own as well, though Adam is more of a minor character than the women of the family.
Something I really enjoyed about this book was the displacement it showed. The characters are forced to move from place to place, initially fleeing their homes before being caught up in a flood of refugees fleeing Poland to Ukraine, in the hopes that the Soviets will arrive in Ukraine before the Germans do. With so many settings in the book, it would’ve been easy to have them all blur into one, or to have them all feel the same, but every setting the characters end up has a unique atmosphere that distinguishes it from the rest: even returning to a previous setting after a lot of time has passed feels completely different. Wasserberg manged the split across settings and time periods beautifully, jumping from country to country, backwards and forwards in time without creating any confusion or uncertainty: the reader is there every step of the way. The straightforward writing style allows for this, keeping the reader on track. While I do love stylistically innovative books, I think Wasserberg’s writing style was perfect for the story.
A warning to anyone who reads this book: it might just rip your heart out at the end. I don’t want to spoil anything, but the ending was quite bittersweet, and one seemingly small decision has a massive ripple effect. I’m not one to get emotional at books, but I did feel a bit emotional at the end. No tears, but definitely a sense of a circle having been completed and the weightiness of the implications of that. I can certainly imagine the potential for tears is there if you are someone who tends to get emotional at books!
Continue reading on my blog.
This review also posted to The StoryGraph and NetGalley.
I was provided with a free eARC* of this book via NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest review.
*eARC: electronic Advance Review Copy.
This review also published on my blog.
So, I have a soft spot for historical fiction, if you didn’t know already! I know WWII fiction is everywhere but I still go for it every time. You can imagine my excitement then, when I spotted this on NetGalley to request! The title reminded me of All The Light We Cannot See, which is another WWII historical fiction, but The Light at the End of the Day follows a Polish-Jewish family, while All The Light We Cannot See follows French characters and German characters. While of course I knew Poland was invaded by the Nazis, I didn’t know many of the details, so it was interesting to read about what was quite a different experience.
Before the war, the Oderfeldt family are wealthy, a sophisticated couple with two young daughters. The early part of the story establishes their life as it was before the war, which I really enjoyed reading. The father, Adam, commissions a painter, Jozef, to paint his youngest (and favourite) daughter Alicia. I love reading about art in fiction, and the description of the painting and the process was so interesting. The painting scenes as well really brought the two young girls and Jozef into their own, and gave them beautifully developed characters. Initially I saw Alicia as a spoilt brat, and Karolina as stand-offish and reclusive, but through the painting scenes their characters, as well as the painting, became more fleshed out, colourful, believable. Adam and Anna, the parents, came into their own as well, though Adam is more of a minor character than the women of the family.
Something I really enjoyed about this book was the displacement it showed. The characters are forced to move from place to place, initially fleeing their homes before being caught up in a flood of refugees fleeing Poland to Ukraine, in the hopes that the Soviets will arrive in Ukraine before the Germans do. With so many settings in the book, it would’ve been easy to have them all blur into one, or to have them all feel the same, but every setting the characters end up has a unique atmosphere that distinguishes it from the rest: even returning to a previous setting after a lot of time has passed feels completely different. Wasserberg manged the split across settings and time periods beautifully, jumping from country to country, backwards and forwards in time without creating any confusion or uncertainty: the reader is there every step of the way. The straightforward writing style allows for this, keeping the reader on track. While I do love stylistically innovative books, I think Wasserberg’s writing style was perfect for the story.
A warning to anyone who reads this book: it might just rip your heart out at the end. I don’t want to spoil anything, but the ending was quite bittersweet, and one seemingly small decision has a massive ripple effect. I’m not one to get emotional at books, but I did feel a bit emotional at the end. No tears, but definitely a sense of a circle having been completed and the weightiness of the implications of that. I can certainly imagine the potential for tears is there if you are someone who tends to get emotional at books!
Continue reading on my blog.
This review also posted to The StoryGraph and NetGalley.
December 20, 2020
This is a genre I normally love, and I was looking forward to this one, but I just didn’t like it. I felt the writing was a bit disjointed and big events just happened without any explanation... for example I didn’t understand the relationship between Adam and his wife and his French lover. Nor did I feel any chemistry between Karolina and Józef, all of a sudden, she was in love with him. I really didn’t connect with any of the characters and I think for this reason I found it hard to remember who was who, and had to keep reading back to remember what was going on. The pace of the book was a bit slow for me, I found I had read 40% and we were still in Kraków and only now was the painting finished. I struggled to get through this one and if it hadn’t been for a Better Reading Review, I don’t think I would have finished. A positive of the book was how the Polish Jews ended up in the labour camps, this part of the book was interesting and well written, but it wasn’t enough to make me like the book anymore.
July 3, 2021
It took me long time to get into this novel (over half-way), but I am glad I persevered. I likes the continuing thread if the painting being what tied it all together. However, I would have liked a little more character development of all the principle players.
I would not have thought that Alicia would be the main character and then towards the end she just disappears. They all do.
It was suddenly over! What happened to Jozef, Alicia, Karolina? There were many pages of waffling story-line whilst the reader has to fill in the blanks when the story once again kicked in.
However, I was happy with the ending. Nothing 'Hollywood' in this one.
As far as WW2 stories go, this one is only fair.
I would not have thought that Alicia would be the main character and then towards the end she just disappears. They all do.
It was suddenly over! What happened to Jozef, Alicia, Karolina? There were many pages of waffling story-line whilst the reader has to fill in the blanks when the story once again kicked in.
However, I was happy with the ending. Nothing 'Hollywood' in this one.
As far as WW2 stories go, this one is only fair.
August 24, 2020
DNF at 161 pages.
It felt like very little had happened in the first 40% of the book, just rich people having dinner parties, being petty, and sitting in one room having a portrait painted. I had no interest in the characters or storyline, and couldn’t be bothered plodding through to find out the ending, which would probably have been equally dissatisfying.
It felt like very little had happened in the first 40% of the book, just rich people having dinner parties, being petty, and sitting in one room having a portrait painted. I had no interest in the characters or storyline, and couldn’t be bothered plodding through to find out the ending, which would probably have been equally dissatisfying.
June 28, 2020
It’s 1937, Adam Oderfeldt commissions a painting of his daughter, Alicia, as a birthday gift. Artist, Jozef Pienta comes into their apartment and their lives as Alicia sits for this portrait. His life is changed and his art work changes the lives of the Oderfeldt family through the decades that follow.
Two years later, Poland is about to be invaded and the Oderfeldt family prepare to flee Krakow. In trying to escape, Adam is separated from his wife, Anna and daughters, Karolina and Alicia. The painting, Alicia’s prized possession, is left behind.
Eleanor Wasserberg, weaves her story around this painting and the horrors of Poland and Russia during WWII. Family secrets, first love, and survival.
Some of the descriptions of light in this book are delightful. The historical information about Jews in Russia is interesting. While a little disjointed and it finishes in a bit of a rush in the last few chapters, I did enjoy this read.
Two years later, Poland is about to be invaded and the Oderfeldt family prepare to flee Krakow. In trying to escape, Adam is separated from his wife, Anna and daughters, Karolina and Alicia. The painting, Alicia’s prized possession, is left behind.
Eleanor Wasserberg, weaves her story around this painting and the horrors of Poland and Russia during WWII. Family secrets, first love, and survival.
Some of the descriptions of light in this book are delightful. The historical information about Jews in Russia is interesting. While a little disjointed and it finishes in a bit of a rush in the last few chapters, I did enjoy this read.
September 30, 2020
Oh I really loved this book - it was a slow burner to begin with, as the author laid the foundations of all of the interpersonal relationships. However, when I finished the book I just sat with it for a little while to gather my thoughts and feelings.
The first section is pre-Second World War and it deals with the wealthy Oderfelt family, and the events after they hire a young artist, Jozef, to do a painting of their youngest daughter Alicia. Alicia is somewhat spoiled and her older sister Karolina is hidden in the shade of her younger sister. While Jozef paints Alicia, he is privvy to the goings on in the Oderfelt household as tensions across Europe rise and the Jewish Oderfelts begin to understand the danger that they may be in. How Jozef reacts to different situations is interesting, and some of the things he overhears or sees, in terms of Anti-Semitism, are truly shocking and disgusting.
The next part of the book follows members of the family, and Jozef, as they flee, spend time in concentration camps and lose their loved ones.
What really pulled at my emotions was the fact that we are omniscient readers and can see when there are missed opportunities for the family to reunite, or for Jozef to find Karolina again.
The whole plot just reminded me that, not only was the war itself tragic, but the impact afterwards was felt for many years and generations. I felt this deep sadness at the end as things could have gone so much better for our characters had events been even just slightly different.
I agree with some reviewers in that a lot of time was spent on the initial section of the book but, for me, this is what contributed to my emotional reaction to subsequent events.
I look forward to reading more by this author.
The first section is pre-Second World War and it deals with the wealthy Oderfelt family, and the events after they hire a young artist, Jozef, to do a painting of their youngest daughter Alicia. Alicia is somewhat spoiled and her older sister Karolina is hidden in the shade of her younger sister. While Jozef paints Alicia, he is privvy to the goings on in the Oderfelt household as tensions across Europe rise and the Jewish Oderfelts begin to understand the danger that they may be in. How Jozef reacts to different situations is interesting, and some of the things he overhears or sees, in terms of Anti-Semitism, are truly shocking and disgusting.
The next part of the book follows members of the family, and Jozef, as they flee, spend time in concentration camps and lose their loved ones.
What really pulled at my emotions was the fact that we are omniscient readers and can see when there are missed opportunities for the family to reunite, or for Jozef to find Karolina again.
The whole plot just reminded me that, not only was the war itself tragic, but the impact afterwards was felt for many years and generations. I felt this deep sadness at the end as things could have gone so much better for our characters had events been even just slightly different.
I agree with some reviewers in that a lot of time was spent on the initial section of the book but, for me, this is what contributed to my emotional reaction to subsequent events.
I look forward to reading more by this author.
July 12, 2020
I usually don't read more than the blurb before starting a new book, because in some instances it influences my enjoyment/opinions. In this case it was a mistake. Knowing that peace of info would have helped me enjoyed this more than I did.
I have no issues with the writing itself. My problem was with the characters and to a certain extent the plot. Alice and her family were a bunch of snobs, rather unlikable, definitely not characters I could identify with, or feel empathy for. I've even puzzled over why the author decided to present us with such unappealing characters: was it to show that even the rich are in the end vulnerable human beings..? Due to this, I just couldn't care less about their dinners, the portrait and everything else narrated in the first half of the book. After their escape to Lwow I was just bored because dear Lord how many times have I read the exact same story? And in this part of the book, the writing lacked emotions. Despite going through all that I couldn't feel a thing for them. Everything changed after the 70% mark when they are forced into the trains: finally emotions and a bit of originality. It was the first time I've read about Jews being sent to work camps in Russia instead of the German concentration camps. I've finally been able to feel sorry and horrified for Alice and her mamma, and all their friends. And then the injustice of the end, it was really heart-wrenching.
*Book from NetGalley with thanks to the publisher.
** My next mission is to read about the real portrait and the family, if I can found anything(fingers crossed)
I have no issues with the writing itself. My problem was with the characters and to a certain extent the plot. Alice and her family were a bunch of snobs, rather unlikable, definitely not characters I could identify with, or feel empathy for. I've even puzzled over why the author decided to present us with such unappealing characters: was it to show that even the rich are in the end vulnerable human beings..? Due to this, I just couldn't care less about their dinners, the portrait and everything else narrated in the first half of the book. After their escape to Lwow I was just bored because dear Lord how many times have I read the exact same story? And in this part of the book, the writing lacked emotions. Despite going through all that I couldn't feel a thing for them. Everything changed after the 70% mark when they are forced into the trains: finally emotions and a bit of originality. It was the first time I've read about Jews being sent to work camps in Russia instead of the German concentration camps. I've finally been able to feel sorry and horrified for Alice and her mamma, and all their friends. And then the injustice of the end, it was really heart-wrenching.
*Book from NetGalley with thanks to the publisher.
** My next mission is to read about the real portrait and the family, if I can found anything(fingers crossed)
July 13, 2020
The Light at the End of the Day opens on the eve of the German invasion of Poland. Adam and Anna think they have left their Jewish roots and the Krakow ghetto behind. Life is good and they believe their wealth and status will protect them.
A struggling artist is commissioned to paint a portrait of their youngest daughter. From the long, languid days spent with the young artist, the narrative rapidly switches to the family’s terrifying flight across Poland. They face chaos, squalor and cruelty. They are scattered. After the war ends, the survivors search for each other. While I did not warm to any of the characters at the outset, I grew to like them more through their journey. Fascinating insight into portrait painting and and a new perspective on the treatment of the Jewish people during WW2.
A compelling story of exile and survival, and ultimately the power of love.
Thanks to the author, publisher and #BetterReadingAu for the opportunity to preview this title.
#historicalfiction
A struggling artist is commissioned to paint a portrait of their youngest daughter. From the long, languid days spent with the young artist, the narrative rapidly switches to the family’s terrifying flight across Poland. They face chaos, squalor and cruelty. They are scattered. After the war ends, the survivors search for each other. While I did not warm to any of the characters at the outset, I grew to like them more through their journey. Fascinating insight into portrait painting and and a new perspective on the treatment of the Jewish people during WW2.
A compelling story of exile and survival, and ultimately the power of love.
Thanks to the author, publisher and #BetterReadingAu for the opportunity to preview this title.
#historicalfiction
February 25, 2024
It reminded me of Black Butterflies though from a very different time period. But again it was ordinary people swept up by the horrors of war. Their whole lives changed upside down because they were Jews in Poland in 1939.
It is a well written book but a tough read because of knowing the history. The deaths Eleanor deals with wonderfully. They are painful to the reader but with none of the horror that there could be. And the end is superb. Well worth it.
It is a well written book but a tough read because of knowing the history. The deaths Eleanor deals with wonderfully. They are painful to the reader but with none of the horror that there could be. And the end is superb. Well worth it.
July 26, 2020
Eleanor Wasserberg brings fans of historical fiction her second novel, The Light At The End Of The Day. Switching between 1937-1946, the timeline then leaps forward to 1977 and 2009. This is the story of a wealthy, yet normal family in extraordinary circumstances. The Oderfeldt family live in Krakow, Poland and comprise of married couple Adam and Anna, and their two children, seventeen year old Karolina and twelve year old Alicia. The story begins with the portrait painting of Alicia by Jozef in 1937. Wasserberg has based this slow building, emotional page turner on her own family history and the history of the Portrait Of A Girl In A Red Dress. The portrait is that of Jozefa Oderfeldowna, the great aunt of Wasserberg. Wasserberg has brilliantly merged history with fiction to reveal to readers what it was like to be an ordinary Polish Jew over the course of the war.
Like all families, the Olderfeldt’s are flawed. Before the war, Affluence has made them elitists who believe they can buy their way out of any problems. Living in a prestigious area opposite Wawel Castle, they are hosts to many dinner parties with people of the same social status. Anna and Adam constantly flaunt their wealth, but they hide the truth of their marital situation from acquaintances. Adam has a mistress who he regularly sees, which has impacted his relationship with Anna. While their love was once all consuming, it is now fractured.
Anna is far from the perfect mother as she constantly shows favouritism towards her youngest daughter. Alicia is a spoilt little girl who is unable to cope with change. It takes a stranger to reveal her unexpected talent but her disturbingly violent thoughts are there from the start. Karolina is the opposite, bookish and quiet, she is almost invisible. She loves Alicia and is falling for a man for the first time. When the Germans and Russians invade, the non-practising Jewish family soon learn that they cannot buy their way out of their problems.
When Poland is invaded the Oderfeldt’s are forced to flee. Finding themselves in the unexpected company of their neighbour Janina, they are fortunate to have the family car to load up with their precious belongings, including Alicia’s portrait. When the car is confiscated by the Germans, split second decisions are made that will forever change the course of their lives. Anna, Janina, Karolina and Alicia escape into the heaving crowd, leaving Adam to be taken by the soldiers. The fear and the uncertainty is felt by everyone as they try to find their way back to each other. Fate is not on the Odeefeldt’s side though. Readers experience the fear of being put on a train with an unknown destination, the agony of walking kilometres to reach the camps and the horror of living in the camps themselves.
Will the Oderfeldt’s find each other once again? Or is does the reality of war moments of missed
opportunities?
With themes of World War II, survival, family, wealth, secrets, first love and the art world, this is a poignant reminder of what the Jews, and many others, experienced during the Holocaust.
Like all families, the Olderfeldt’s are flawed. Before the war, Affluence has made them elitists who believe they can buy their way out of any problems. Living in a prestigious area opposite Wawel Castle, they are hosts to many dinner parties with people of the same social status. Anna and Adam constantly flaunt their wealth, but they hide the truth of their marital situation from acquaintances. Adam has a mistress who he regularly sees, which has impacted his relationship with Anna. While their love was once all consuming, it is now fractured.
Anna is far from the perfect mother as she constantly shows favouritism towards her youngest daughter. Alicia is a spoilt little girl who is unable to cope with change. It takes a stranger to reveal her unexpected talent but her disturbingly violent thoughts are there from the start. Karolina is the opposite, bookish and quiet, she is almost invisible. She loves Alicia and is falling for a man for the first time. When the Germans and Russians invade, the non-practising Jewish family soon learn that they cannot buy their way out of their problems.
When Poland is invaded the Oderfeldt’s are forced to flee. Finding themselves in the unexpected company of their neighbour Janina, they are fortunate to have the family car to load up with their precious belongings, including Alicia’s portrait. When the car is confiscated by the Germans, split second decisions are made that will forever change the course of their lives. Anna, Janina, Karolina and Alicia escape into the heaving crowd, leaving Adam to be taken by the soldiers. The fear and the uncertainty is felt by everyone as they try to find their way back to each other. Fate is not on the Odeefeldt’s side though. Readers experience the fear of being put on a train with an unknown destination, the agony of walking kilometres to reach the camps and the horror of living in the camps themselves.
Will the Oderfeldt’s find each other once again? Or is does the reality of war moments of missed
opportunities?
With themes of World War II, survival, family, wealth, secrets, first love and the art world, this is a poignant reminder of what the Jews, and many others, experienced during the Holocaust.
July 14, 2020
For me, The Light at the End of the Day was a good book. It was very nearly a great book, but there were just a couple of things that, in my opinion, stopped the book from flowing as it could have and made it, at times, slow to get through.
I really enjoyed getting to know the characters. Despite many of them being flawed, I found them relatable and believable. The trouble with this was, I wanted to know them more. There were a lot of characters and I felt that very few of them were explored and explained adequately. I found myself forgetting who was who at times. Many of my favourite characters just disappeared until they were briefly mentioned again at the end. I wanted more from and about many of the personalities in the story.
I loved the setting/s which were so far removed from anything I've experienced. Despite this, though, I did find the frequent place and time hopping a bit difficult to keep up with at times and regularly found myself flipping back to remember what year I had been in in relation to the section I was about to begin.
I also felt that there were a few occasions where the build up to a certain event/change/moment was insufficient. There was often a lot of talking about what seemed like fairly unimportant parts of the story and then something fairly major would happen, seemingly out of nowhere (or maybe I'm just not good at picking up on subtle hints?!). I felt as though more build up would have made the story and characters more compelling.
Despite the above comments, however, I was so impressed by the originality of this story. It is truly unlike anything I've ever read before. I would certainly recommend it to lovers of historical fiction (though I would perhaps warn them of the few faults).
Many thanks to the author, Better Reading and Harper Collins for allowing me a sneak peek preview in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed getting to know the characters. Despite many of them being flawed, I found them relatable and believable. The trouble with this was, I wanted to know them more. There were a lot of characters and I felt that very few of them were explored and explained adequately. I found myself forgetting who was who at times. Many of my favourite characters just disappeared until they were briefly mentioned again at the end. I wanted more from and about many of the personalities in the story.
I loved the setting/s which were so far removed from anything I've experienced. Despite this, though, I did find the frequent place and time hopping a bit difficult to keep up with at times and regularly found myself flipping back to remember what year I had been in in relation to the section I was about to begin.
I also felt that there were a few occasions where the build up to a certain event/change/moment was insufficient. There was often a lot of talking about what seemed like fairly unimportant parts of the story and then something fairly major would happen, seemingly out of nowhere (or maybe I'm just not good at picking up on subtle hints?!). I felt as though more build up would have made the story and characters more compelling.
Despite the above comments, however, I was so impressed by the originality of this story. It is truly unlike anything I've ever read before. I would certainly recommend it to lovers of historical fiction (though I would perhaps warn them of the few faults).
Many thanks to the author, Better Reading and Harper Collins for allowing me a sneak peek preview in exchange for my honest review.
July 3, 2020
I received an electronic preview copy of this book from Harper Collins and Better Reading Preview and after a few glitches working out how to get the pdf onto my new Kobo e-reader - I was away...
As an avid reader of WWII books including The Diary of Anne Frank, The Nightingale and The Book Thief I really enjoyed this new novel by Eleanor Wasserberg. Her ability to create beautiful and at times confronting and painful imagery reminds me of my favourite novels, The Power of One and Jessica by the late Bryce Courtney. Her main characters, especially Alicia and Jozef are lovingly flawed human beings who despite their circumstances never completely lose sight of hope for a reunion and finding happiness. I found it to be a somewhat ironic and inspiring read in this time of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Thank you #BRPreview and #HarperCollins, I'm definitely still old school and love paper ;-)
As an avid reader of WWII books including The Diary of Anne Frank, The Nightingale and The Book Thief I really enjoyed this new novel by Eleanor Wasserberg. Her ability to create beautiful and at times confronting and painful imagery reminds me of my favourite novels, The Power of One and Jessica by the late Bryce Courtney. Her main characters, especially Alicia and Jozef are lovingly flawed human beings who despite their circumstances never completely lose sight of hope for a reunion and finding happiness. I found it to be a somewhat ironic and inspiring read in this time of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Thank you #BRPreview and #HarperCollins, I'm definitely still old school and love paper ;-)
August 7, 2020
Kraków, 1937: Painter, Jozef is commissioned to paint the portrait of the pampered younger daughter of a well-to-do Jewish family, and although he is reluctant, the dire straits he finds himself in mean that he is forced to accept the job.
When Jozef meets the Oderfeldt family, he has little liking for the parents, the spoiled Alicia, or her bookish older sister, Karolina. But as work on the painting progresses, his destiny becomes irrevocably entwined with the Oderfeldt family, as he develops an understanding of Alicia and falls in love with the quiet Karolina - and it is the magic of the painting that binds them.
But then war comes to Poland and the Odefeldts are forced to flee their home. The family become scattered, the lovers are divided, and the painting is lost, as they become caught up in the fortunes of war.
This is a story of love, survival and remembrance....
*******************************************
The Light At The End Of The Day is a heartbreaking tale of a Jewish family torn apart by war, that draws heavily on the experiences of Eleanor Wasserberg's own family.
The book begins at the point where the Oderfeldt family are forced to flee Kraków in 1939, when it becomes clear that the German invasion is inevitable. Unfortunately, they have left their escape attempt too late, having decided to wait until the last minute to see whether the rumoured approaching war would come their way, and events sadly go awry.
The story then jumps back in time to 1937, when Jozef is commissioned to undertake the painting of Alicia. This seems a bit disorienting at first, but actually proves a skillful way for us to get to know the family, their foibles and secrets, and to establish the importance of Jozef's painting - before moving back to 1939 and continuing with what happens next.
Jozef's painting of Alicia is central to the novel and proves a rather original way to establish the relationships between the characters and tie all the strands together in the most magical of ways. The commissioning of the painting lays bare the inner workings of the Oderfeldt family; its creation forms the bond between Alicia, Jozef and Karolina; the mere idea of it proves a talisman; and its providence brings the threads of the story back together many years in the future.
I was very impressed how Eleanor Wasserberg brilliantly plays out the narrative on both the German and Russian sides of occupied Europe, so we learn about the lesser known fates of Jewish refugees in the Russian work camps. I was also very struck by how the beginning of her tale plays upon the fact that the Oderfeldts were busy keeping up appearances and entertaining their wealthy and influential friends while the events of Kristallnacht played out in Berlin, and how this shapes the reader's opinion of them as a dysfunctional family.
This is an epic tale of love, loss, suffering, survival and the bonds of family. It is an important and poignant account of a period of history we should never be allowed to forget. I found myself completely engrossed by both the story and the writing, and brokenhearted by the tragic nature of events, but they also show us that there can be hope even in the darkest of times - and it can be the strangest of things that give us solace and bring us back together.
When Jozef meets the Oderfeldt family, he has little liking for the parents, the spoiled Alicia, or her bookish older sister, Karolina. But as work on the painting progresses, his destiny becomes irrevocably entwined with the Oderfeldt family, as he develops an understanding of Alicia and falls in love with the quiet Karolina - and it is the magic of the painting that binds them.
But then war comes to Poland and the Odefeldts are forced to flee their home. The family become scattered, the lovers are divided, and the painting is lost, as they become caught up in the fortunes of war.
This is a story of love, survival and remembrance....
*******************************************
The Light At The End Of The Day is a heartbreaking tale of a Jewish family torn apart by war, that draws heavily on the experiences of Eleanor Wasserberg's own family.
The book begins at the point where the Oderfeldt family are forced to flee Kraków in 1939, when it becomes clear that the German invasion is inevitable. Unfortunately, they have left their escape attempt too late, having decided to wait until the last minute to see whether the rumoured approaching war would come their way, and events sadly go awry.
The story then jumps back in time to 1937, when Jozef is commissioned to undertake the painting of Alicia. This seems a bit disorienting at first, but actually proves a skillful way for us to get to know the family, their foibles and secrets, and to establish the importance of Jozef's painting - before moving back to 1939 and continuing with what happens next.
Jozef's painting of Alicia is central to the novel and proves a rather original way to establish the relationships between the characters and tie all the strands together in the most magical of ways. The commissioning of the painting lays bare the inner workings of the Oderfeldt family; its creation forms the bond between Alicia, Jozef and Karolina; the mere idea of it proves a talisman; and its providence brings the threads of the story back together many years in the future.
I was very impressed how Eleanor Wasserberg brilliantly plays out the narrative on both the German and Russian sides of occupied Europe, so we learn about the lesser known fates of Jewish refugees in the Russian work camps. I was also very struck by how the beginning of her tale plays upon the fact that the Oderfeldts were busy keeping up appearances and entertaining their wealthy and influential friends while the events of Kristallnacht played out in Berlin, and how this shapes the reader's opinion of them as a dysfunctional family.
This is an epic tale of love, loss, suffering, survival and the bonds of family. It is an important and poignant account of a period of history we should never be allowed to forget. I found myself completely engrossed by both the story and the writing, and brokenhearted by the tragic nature of events, but they also show us that there can be hope even in the darkest of times - and it can be the strangest of things that give us solace and bring us back together.
July 4, 2020
I started this on book on a Saturday afternoon, bored by chores and bound to this by a review promise. I was almost 150 pages in when I realised I had no idea if I was enjoying it or not, but those 150 pages had passed by quickly and I had no signs of slowing down. I was simultaneously intrigued and annoyed by the characters, but the next thing you know it’s nearly midnight and I’ve hit the end.
The Light at the End of the Day tells the story of a painting and the family who commissioned it. Favourite daughter Alicia is asked by her parents to sit for painter Jozef in 1937. In this time, Jozef becomes part of the family and falls for older daughter Karolina. But in 1939, the war is on their doorstep in Krakow, Poland and life changes in previously unimaginable ways. We follow the family as they are separated – well mostly we follow mother Anna and her daughters across countries as they search for refuge in increasingly hostile situations. Through it all, Alicia holds to the idea of the painting as a talisman – if only she can find her way back to it, all can be right in the world again.
The Oderfeldts and their acquaintances that we meet through the novel are an interesting cast of characters, but what we get is almost not enough. The story flicks between various perspectives to give the reader the widest range of knowledge, but unfortunately it did mean that for me as a reader, I didn’t ever really connect with any of the characters. I felt like I knew Alicia or Anna best as the most time is spent on them but I couldn’t really tell you if I liked them or not. Alicia’s petulance and cunning as a child was frustrating and her whining drove me to distraction at one point, and I felt that if I heard another word about the lost painting I would reach through the pages and strangle her. But by the time she emerges on the other side of the war, her growth was clear and by the time we catch up with her in Krakow, I understood more of why the painting is so important. I would have liked to see some more of that character growth on the page.
With the varied perspectives, I was itching for more information on Karolina and Jozef in the time we were following Alicia and felt their summation towards the end was rushed. What was strikingly and heartbreakingly clear was how easy it was for people to lose each other during the chaos and confusion of not just the early days of the war, but the whole thing. While I wasn’t sure I believed in Karolina and Jozef’s love – it felt more like an infatuation between people who are bored with their lives – it still shows that devastating fact. Even at the end, when you think you are so close and you are safe, you would just assume like Alicia does that you will be able to find those missing pieces of your family. That’s what got to me the most.
I think this book sneaks a 4 star rating just from the fact it got me hooked!
The Light at the End of the Day tells the story of a painting and the family who commissioned it. Favourite daughter Alicia is asked by her parents to sit for painter Jozef in 1937. In this time, Jozef becomes part of the family and falls for older daughter Karolina. But in 1939, the war is on their doorstep in Krakow, Poland and life changes in previously unimaginable ways. We follow the family as they are separated – well mostly we follow mother Anna and her daughters across countries as they search for refuge in increasingly hostile situations. Through it all, Alicia holds to the idea of the painting as a talisman – if only she can find her way back to it, all can be right in the world again.
The Oderfeldts and their acquaintances that we meet through the novel are an interesting cast of characters, but what we get is almost not enough. The story flicks between various perspectives to give the reader the widest range of knowledge, but unfortunately it did mean that for me as a reader, I didn’t ever really connect with any of the characters. I felt like I knew Alicia or Anna best as the most time is spent on them but I couldn’t really tell you if I liked them or not. Alicia’s petulance and cunning as a child was frustrating and her whining drove me to distraction at one point, and I felt that if I heard another word about the lost painting I would reach through the pages and strangle her. But by the time she emerges on the other side of the war, her growth was clear and by the time we catch up with her in Krakow, I understood more of why the painting is so important. I would have liked to see some more of that character growth on the page.
With the varied perspectives, I was itching for more information on Karolina and Jozef in the time we were following Alicia and felt their summation towards the end was rushed. What was strikingly and heartbreakingly clear was how easy it was for people to lose each other during the chaos and confusion of not just the early days of the war, but the whole thing. While I wasn’t sure I believed in Karolina and Jozef’s love – it felt more like an infatuation between people who are bored with their lives – it still shows that devastating fact. Even at the end, when you think you are so close and you are safe, you would just assume like Alicia does that you will be able to find those missing pieces of your family. That’s what got to me the most.
I think this book sneaks a 4 star rating just from the fact it got me hooked!
February 10, 2022
A family that are forced to flee due to unnerving fear from war opens up the start of this moving number. Heavily written from a Jewish perspective, we travel back and forth in time through Poland and Russia as the story unfolds. It comes on strong from the very beginning with what felt like a united family leaving for safety, becoming a broken union within moments throwing the reader full force into the book. This intense start captivated my attention from the get go (which I love!) For sisters Alicia and Karolina, this separation from their father hits hard, and this paints the main theme for what’s to come. Alicia isn’t just struggling with not having her father there though but feels as if part of her is missing without her portrait. The light is mentioned very early on in regards to the painting. But one can argue that this could be interpreted as the very light that kept young Ala going throughout the entire war. Did it reflect her hope, her fear.. or was it in fact her saviour? Her obsession with the painting is noted throughout the entire novel and can be seen as if it was actually her defining her personality, her worth, and what she felt was important.. details and perception. Little did she know, the painting was kept safe all along because her father knew her and loved her well. It was also what led her home and was the gift enabling a fresh start. It’s not until the very end that all the dots come full circle and connect. And just like the beginning, it’s the portrait that ties it all together. The ending will bring a warmness and make you smile that beautiful things can happen. The magnitude of the events is heavily detailed within the chapters but it sometimes felt disjointed when switching character focus. This is another classic historical fiction gem of a read acknowledging the forever divide known and wedged by war.
December 29, 2022
A novel covering some of the most traumatic events of the 20thC - beautifully written, describing the changes that politics and subsequent actions can have on a family that thought nothing could change. This is the story of an upper class Polish Jewish family living in Krakow in 1939, and we all know what happens then....
Blurb:
When Jozef is commissioned to pain a portrait of Alicia, the younger daughter of Krakow's grand Oderfeldt family, it is only his desperate need for money that drives him to accept. He has no wish to indulge a pampered child-princess or her haughty, condescending parents - and almost doesn't notice Alicia's bookish older sister, Karolina.
But when he is ushered by a servant into their house on Krakow's fashionable Berdardynska street in the winter of 1937, he has no inkling of the way his life will become entangled with the Oderfeldts'. Or of the impact that the German invasion will have upon them all.
As Poland is engulfed by war, and Jozef's painting is caught up in the tides of history, Alicia, Karolina and their parents are forced to flee - their Jewish identity transformed into something dangerous, and their comfortable lives overturned...
Spanning countries and decades, The Light at the End of the Day is a heartbreaking novel of exile, survival and how we remember what is lost.
An absolute keeper, and shall be passing it on to friends for their reading. Thanks to #ABoS A Box of Stories for sending such a good novel in my surprise box.
Blurb:
When Jozef is commissioned to pain a portrait of Alicia, the younger daughter of Krakow's grand Oderfeldt family, it is only his desperate need for money that drives him to accept. He has no wish to indulge a pampered child-princess or her haughty, condescending parents - and almost doesn't notice Alicia's bookish older sister, Karolina.
But when he is ushered by a servant into their house on Krakow's fashionable Berdardynska street in the winter of 1937, he has no inkling of the way his life will become entangled with the Oderfeldts'. Or of the impact that the German invasion will have upon them all.
As Poland is engulfed by war, and Jozef's painting is caught up in the tides of history, Alicia, Karolina and their parents are forced to flee - their Jewish identity transformed into something dangerous, and their comfortable lives overturned...
Spanning countries and decades, The Light at the End of the Day is a heartbreaking novel of exile, survival and how we remember what is lost.
An absolute keeper, and shall be passing it on to friends for their reading. Thanks to #ABoS A Box of Stories for sending such a good novel in my surprise box.
September 21, 2022
When a novel begins with a Jewish family in Krakow in 1939, you know what you are letting yourself in for. And as the plight of the Oderfeldt family, their loved ones, friends, neighbours and acquaintances plays out, the author focuses on details which are meticulously researched and beautifully (cinematically) described. The novel uses a really unusual shifting viewpoint narrative to capture the widely varying responses of each of the characters to what is taking place. At first I found this really disconcerting, but once I'd got used to it, it really helps to capture the feeling of incredulous disbelief which accompanies their chaotic flight from their home city. But the real heart of this novel is the painting of Alicia Oderfeldt - Portrait of a Girl in a Red Dress - so tangibly described it feels like a character in its own right and the final chapters of the novel finally give it its rightful place centre stage. (I was delighted to find from the acknowledgements that the painting does exist and that it can be seen on line!)
This is a really subtle novel which doesn't shy away from the horrors of war and displacement, but also celebrates the power of creation and re-creation. I only wish it had been longer - there are so many other stories packed away in its pages that would also have been worth hearing.
This is a really subtle novel which doesn't shy away from the horrors of war and displacement, but also celebrates the power of creation and re-creation. I only wish it had been longer - there are so many other stories packed away in its pages that would also have been worth hearing.
June 19, 2020
‘Are you leaving?’
The novel opens in Kraków, Poland in 1939. Jewish families are starting to leave. By the time the wealthy Oderfeldt family decides to flee, it is too late for them to travel together, too late for them to take their possessions. Of all the possessions they must leave behind, Alicia’s most prized possession is a painting. It is a portrait of her that her father commissioned, painted by Jozef Pienta. The family: parents Adam and Anna, sisters Karolina and Alicia, are separated by the war.
Anna, Karolina, and Alicia travel together, trying to find refuge and safety. Their life of luxury in Kraków becomes a distant memory. After the war ends, Alicia wants to recover the painting.
There are several characters with different stories in this novel and, sadly, not all endings are happy. Once I started reading, I found it difficult to put the novel down. The contrasts between the Odefeldt’s life in Kraków and the indignities and horrors of war, the courage shown by Anna, Karolina and Alicia. The significance of the painting to Alicia, and the journey to find it and reconnect with others is the heart of the story. Recommended.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
#BRPreview
The novel opens in Kraków, Poland in 1939. Jewish families are starting to leave. By the time the wealthy Oderfeldt family decides to flee, it is too late for them to travel together, too late for them to take their possessions. Of all the possessions they must leave behind, Alicia’s most prized possession is a painting. It is a portrait of her that her father commissioned, painted by Jozef Pienta. The family: parents Adam and Anna, sisters Karolina and Alicia, are separated by the war.
Anna, Karolina, and Alicia travel together, trying to find refuge and safety. Their life of luxury in Kraków becomes a distant memory. After the war ends, Alicia wants to recover the painting.
There are several characters with different stories in this novel and, sadly, not all endings are happy. Once I started reading, I found it difficult to put the novel down. The contrasts between the Odefeldt’s life in Kraków and the indignities and horrors of war, the courage shown by Anna, Karolina and Alicia. The significance of the painting to Alicia, and the journey to find it and reconnect with others is the heart of the story. Recommended.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
#BRPreview
June 21, 2020
The Light at the End of the Day by Eleanor Wasserberg is a story describing a period in a life of a Polish Jewish family set shortly before, during and after the World War II. Being Polish, I expected the book to take me home, instead it took me to an apartment in Krakow, where 50% of the story takes place, and its privileged occupants, who are impossible to relate to. The characters lack depth and their stories don’t always make sense. There is no build-up to any of the major events, they just come out of nowhere and it makes you wonder whether you have skipped a few pages as it is hard to understand the logic behind them. The first half of the book feels drawn out with its focus on the process of painting of a portrait of one of the main characters, which can be assumed was meant to set centre to the story, but the parallel plots are unclear and confusing at the best of times. The historical aspect of the book is correct and quite informative, but unfortunately this was the only positive for me.
August 13, 2020
I loved this sweeping family story set in Poland and elsewhere during World War 2, following the well to do Oderfeldt family. The early part of the novel establishes their life prior to the war, largely following the process of a commissioned portrait of the youngest daughter, Alicia. Later we see their fall from grace and their exile from Krakow as Polish Jews.
The story is beautifully written - I love well-researched and well-written historical fiction, and this ticked every box for me: interesting, educational, entertaining, and beautifully done. I also liked that while a lot of fiction relating to the wars can be graphic and brutal, this novel focused instead more on familial connection and the impact of war on relationships.
After reading "Foxlowe" by the same author, I was excited to read her subsequent novel, and I wasn't disappointed - I think it's safe to say I'd read Eleanor Wasserberg's shopping lists at this point!
Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for granting me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story is beautifully written - I love well-researched and well-written historical fiction, and this ticked every box for me: interesting, educational, entertaining, and beautifully done. I also liked that while a lot of fiction relating to the wars can be graphic and brutal, this novel focused instead more on familial connection and the impact of war on relationships.
After reading "Foxlowe" by the same author, I was excited to read her subsequent novel, and I wasn't disappointed - I think it's safe to say I'd read Eleanor Wasserberg's shopping lists at this point!
Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for granting me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2020
Lately I've been going in blind when it comes to books - I very rarely read the synopsis because I find that sometimes it takes away from my enjoyment of the book. They often get overhyped in my head and then I'm let down.
I think this is what happened with The Light at the End of the Day by Eleanor Wasserberg. Or maybe I'm burnt out on historical fiction from the WWII era! That being said, The Light at the End of the Day follows the Oderfeldt family in the years leading up to, during, and following WWII. The timeline shifts back and forth throughout the first half of the book and I found it a little bit confusing, since I'd forget what year the previous chapter took place in.
I only really got into the story about 70% of the way in - I had no idea that Polish Jews were sent to Russian concentration camps instead of German ones. I finally started feeling sorry for this rich family that was torn apart by the war. However, the ending felt really rushed and all over the place and it was hard to keep up. That being said, the final few chapters were heart-wrenching and captured the injustices experienced really well.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you @HarperCollinsCa for the ARC!
I think this is what happened with The Light at the End of the Day by Eleanor Wasserberg. Or maybe I'm burnt out on historical fiction from the WWII era! That being said, The Light at the End of the Day follows the Oderfeldt family in the years leading up to, during, and following WWII. The timeline shifts back and forth throughout the first half of the book and I found it a little bit confusing, since I'd forget what year the previous chapter took place in.
I only really got into the story about 70% of the way in - I had no idea that Polish Jews were sent to Russian concentration camps instead of German ones. I finally started feeling sorry for this rich family that was torn apart by the war. However, the ending felt really rushed and all over the place and it was hard to keep up. That being said, the final few chapters were heart-wrenching and captured the injustices experienced really well.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you @HarperCollinsCa for the ARC!
June 22, 2021
This book started quite slowly & was quite lengthy in the first half for me ( as stated in several reviews I had read previously).. but at end the family history was researched well !
A time of unimaginable wealth for some in the beautiful city of Krakow , a comfortable life for two young girls spoiled by their parents . Until the arrival of Hitler and his Nazi henchmen and so begins the loss of the Jewish population of Poland .
A different slant of this time treaded together thru a family painting of young Alicia ..
A few shallow flawed characters and few I would have enjoyed getting to know better ..
I did find the final chapters not what I expected and perhaps this section could have been expanded on .. but overall a very satisfying read for me !
A time of unimaginable wealth for some in the beautiful city of Krakow , a comfortable life for two young girls spoiled by their parents . Until the arrival of Hitler and his Nazi henchmen and so begins the loss of the Jewish population of Poland .
A different slant of this time treaded together thru a family painting of young Alicia ..
A few shallow flawed characters and few I would have enjoyed getting to know better ..
I did find the final chapters not what I expected and perhaps this section could have been expanded on .. but overall a very satisfying read for me !
July 14, 2020
Thanks to Better Reading and Harper Collins I was able to read a preview copy of the manuscript for The Light At the end of the Day : This is far from just another survival story, or a sad family tragedy. I was so caught up in the emotional tale towards the end, and hoping the survivors could be reunited... The characters were all very human and I felt for all of them, even crotchety old Janina (their neighbour). The bulk of the book concerns Alicia, the younger sister, and her growth from a spoiled child to a resilient survivor. I was glad there was some resolution for her, and eventually for the different branches of her immediate family - though rather belatedly...
November 8, 2020
I found the start of this book a bit slow. The build up of the relationships in this Jewish family and the working of the painting takes a big part of this book. Although I get that the painting is the theme, and I enjoyed the process of portraiture, I found the ending so rushed. How did Karolina and Alicia survive the war and then forge new lives? I enjoyed the depiction of pre war Krakow and the misery and uncertainty of the war years, but felt more could have been made of the character’s experiences. I didn’t really engage with any of the characters and the chopping and changing in POV didn’t help this.
February 9, 2021
What a strangely choppy book! Bits of it were excellent, but it was almost as if the author ran out of time. The section in Krakow on the eve of the war was drawn out and rich in description. And then the family's flight to safety and then on to a Soviet prisoner of war camp were also very moving, but then... Suddenly, the war is over, and there's an oddly hit-and-miss section that carries us first to 1946, then to 1977 (slightly pointless section) and eventually 2009. There was at least one interesting character from the prison camp that disappears from the story altogether. Honestly, it almost felt as if that second section was written by a different author. Disappointing ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2022
This book is a bit of a mixed bag - the first half about the painting and characters all of whom you do not warm too due to the writing style and lack of character development. Once the war starts and the story moves to the Russian labour camps it gets better but again there is no emotional connection with the characters for such an emotive subject.
The end of the book there is no tying up on what happened to the family they all just disappear and it feels a disjointed, quick ending. I don’t know if that is what she wanted with the fact so many Jews just disappeared but it would have been nice to read what happened to Josef, Alicia etc
The end of the book there is no tying up on what happened to the family they all just disappear and it feels a disjointed, quick ending. I don’t know if that is what she wanted with the fact so many Jews just disappeared but it would have been nice to read what happened to Josef, Alicia etc
January 4, 2022
Obviously this book is one that evokes a lot of feelings given the setting and when it takes place however that feels washed away in places and you come to care for this family as if your own. I wept for them. I laughed with them. I enjoyed their company. I became frustrated with them and I grieved with them. It's really exciting to know that Alcia's painting is based on a real one (which I intend to see one day) the characters are so real and I think this is becuase they are largely based on the authors own family. A great read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2023
This was a bit of a weird take on a WWII story. The story felt disjointed, as though the author kept losing focus, jumping weirdly from art and Polish high society to war stuff back to art etc. The Olderfeldt family was pretty unlikeable, as were most of the other characters. I learned that many Polish Jews were sent to Russian work camps to "save" them from the Germans, but the conditions in those work camps were as bad as concentration camps, minus the ovens. Had not known that, so that was a plus. Many loose ends left, as we never find out what happened to lots of characters.
March 2, 2024
I did not like this book at all, if it wasn’t for reviews that I read saying it would get better I would have put that book down and never looked at it again.
I usually like this genre of books, but this one was a huge let down, at the start I had to keep going back and forwards to make sure I have the right character, I only got interested at chapter 29, and then unfortunately the book ended how it started. There was no story or information on major events that happened, and I felt things were not detailed enough. Highly disappointed and wouldn’t recommend.
I usually like this genre of books, but this one was a huge let down, at the start I had to keep going back and forwards to make sure I have the right character, I only got interested at chapter 29, and then unfortunately the book ended how it started. There was no story or information on major events that happened, and I felt things were not detailed enough. Highly disappointed and wouldn’t recommend.
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