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Anioł z Auschwitz
Opowieść o miłości i walce o przeżycie. Nic nie mogło rozdzielić Christophera i Rebekki: ani jej wyrodni rodzice, ani nawet narzeczony, z którym wróciła do domu po ucieczce do Anglii. Lecz gdy do sielankowej wyspy Jersey dociera II wojna światowa, nazistowscy najeźdźcy, realizując Ostateczne Rozwiązanie Kwestii Żydowskiej swojego Führera, wywożą Rebeccę na kontynent.
Gdy naziści deportują Christophera i jego rodzinę do ojczystego kraju – Niemiec, w desperackiej próbie ratowania ukochanej zgłasza się na ochotnika do szeregów SS. Rozpoczyna służbę w Auschwitz, gdzie sprawuje nadzór nad pieniędzmi skradzionymi ofiarom, które zginęły w komorach gazowych. Poszukując Rebekki, musi nie tylko ukrywać podwójną tożsamość, ale i walczyć o własną duszę. W koszmarnym świecie Auschwitz Christopher pilnuje przepływu rzeki splamionych krwią pieniędzy, dzięki czemu staje przed nieoczekiwaną szansą. Czy starczy mu sił i odwagi, by zaakceptować nowy los, który na zawsze może zmienić nie tylko jego życie, ale i wielu innych ludzi?
Gdy naziści deportują Christophera i jego rodzinę do ojczystego kraju – Niemiec, w desperackiej próbie ratowania ukochanej zgłasza się na ochotnika do szeregów SS. Rozpoczyna służbę w Auschwitz, gdzie sprawuje nadzór nad pieniędzmi skradzionymi ofiarom, które zginęły w komorach gazowych. Poszukując Rebekki, musi nie tylko ukrywać podwójną tożsamość, ale i walczyć o własną duszę. W koszmarnym świecie Auschwitz Christopher pilnuje przepływu rzeki splamionych krwią pieniędzy, dzięki czemu staje przed nieoczekiwaną szansą. Czy starczy mu sił i odwagi, by zaakceptować nowy los, który na zawsze może zmienić nie tylko jego życie, ale i wielu innych ludzi?
300 pages, Paperback
First published November 3, 2012
4760 people are currently reading
9336 people want to read
About the author
Eoin Dempsey
37 books1,035 followersEoin Dempsey was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1977. He grew up in the beautiful Dublin suburb of Dalkey, where he and his friends would jump into the icy waters of the Irish Sea (during summertime) to prove their manliness. Eoin had a fantastic time attending Blackrock College, where he played rugby (poorly) and did his best to coast his way through. Eoin’s first ambition was to play rugby for Ireland. Due to a lack of talent, he soon abandoned that goal for the more reasoned path of the rock star. He played in bands through his teens and well into his twenties before harsh reality came calling, and his dreams of being the next Keith Moon faded.
Eoin made the ill-reasoned decision to study business in university and was accepted into University College Dublin to study Commerce in 1995. While Eoin did attend college, studying wasn’t his priority there.
He met his beautiful wife, Jill, while traveling to the USA in 1997, though it would be several years before he managed to break her down and they got together as a couple. It was during Eoin’s second stint in the USA, which he spent with his brother in New York City, that he decided to start writing a novel, for the express purpose of impressing women. This effort was met with mixed success. Eoin finished his first novel a year later. The over hundred and fifty rejections he received from publishers didn’t discourage him. He pinned them to his wall. After spending a year in Australia, where he was fired from many jobs, including picking red and green peppers and toiling for scallops miles out to sea on a fishing trawler, he returned home and decided to write again. Another novel followed while he phoned it in at a number of jobs in financial services in Dublin.
By this time Eoin had managed to convince Jill, the girl he’d met in the USA years before to move over to Dublin. She did so in 2004. It was the best negotiation he ever undertook. They were married in 2007. Jill’s more brilliant negotiating skills led Eoin to move to her hometown of Philadelphia in 2008, just in time for the economy to collapse. The plan to live with her parents for a few weeks turned into eighteen months, as Eoin struggled to retain employment in a fractured economy. It was during this time that he wrote FINDING REBECCA, which would go on to be his first published novel and be translated into fourteen different languages.
Eoin and Jill have three beautiful sons, Robbie, who was born in 2015, Sam, born in 2017, and Jack who came in 2019. Eoin enjoys playing with them and marveling at how much more talented they are at the sports that he loves, particularly golf.
Eoin made the ill-reasoned decision to study business in university and was accepted into University College Dublin to study Commerce in 1995. While Eoin did attend college, studying wasn’t his priority there.
He met his beautiful wife, Jill, while traveling to the USA in 1997, though it would be several years before he managed to break her down and they got together as a couple. It was during Eoin’s second stint in the USA, which he spent with his brother in New York City, that he decided to start writing a novel, for the express purpose of impressing women. This effort was met with mixed success. Eoin finished his first novel a year later. The over hundred and fifty rejections he received from publishers didn’t discourage him. He pinned them to his wall. After spending a year in Australia, where he was fired from many jobs, including picking red and green peppers and toiling for scallops miles out to sea on a fishing trawler, he returned home and decided to write again. Another novel followed while he phoned it in at a number of jobs in financial services in Dublin.
By this time Eoin had managed to convince Jill, the girl he’d met in the USA years before to move over to Dublin. She did so in 2004. It was the best negotiation he ever undertook. They were married in 2007. Jill’s more brilliant negotiating skills led Eoin to move to her hometown of Philadelphia in 2008, just in time for the economy to collapse. The plan to live with her parents for a few weeks turned into eighteen months, as Eoin struggled to retain employment in a fractured economy. It was during this time that he wrote FINDING REBECCA, which would go on to be his first published novel and be translated into fourteen different languages.
Eoin and Jill have three beautiful sons, Robbie, who was born in 2015, Sam, born in 2017, and Jack who came in 2019. Eoin enjoys playing with them and marveling at how much more talented they are at the sports that he loves, particularly golf.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,129 reviews
October 3, 2014
As it is in most books about the holocaust, there are scenes in this book that are so difficult to read but it is rightly so. Even after so many years, it is still so important that we are reminded of these horrific acts. Mothers are torn from their children; women are herded off the trains and told they would be reunited with their children after their shower which we know was the gas chamber; children are shot at point blank range. We need to remember that even though this is a novel, these things happened and I thank the author for reminding us.
Christopher, born in Germany and raised on the island of Jersey, falls in love with Rebecca, the Jewish girl that he has befriended since they were six. When Rebecca is taken to a concentration camp in Germany, Christopher because he is German decides to fight for the Reich. But his motive in joining the SS and working for the Nazis is to find and save Rebecca, the love of his life. When he is told that she is dead, Christopher uses his position and cash that he has access to because of his job as accountant of the valuables of the Jewish people coming into the camp, to try and save as many women and children as he can from the gas chamber. This did not seem too far-fetched to me because we know that in real life there were Germans who helped save Jews.
This is not just a story about the holocaust, but it is a love story and it is one that reflects a sense of the goodness of people and a sense of family. So why three stars? I would give it three and a half stars if I could , but there was just something lacking in the writing for me. The style was too simplistic at times and just didn't convey the emotion I wanted to feel from these characters. The story itself was compelling and there are some memorable characters. I would recommend it because it retells an important time that we shouldn’t forget.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley.
April 7, 2021
Finding Rebecca was a long winded tale that neither excited or delighted me.
This is my second novel by Eoin Dempsey having read The Longest Echo which I really enjoyed, I was delighted to source another book by this author. Unfortunately this one didn't live up to my expectations and I struggled all the way through. Everything about the story just felt forced and contrived and the was full of unexplained co-instances. The ending felt rushed and disjointed. The characterization was poorly done and while I finished the book, I really could have abandoned at any stage and not cared what happened to any of the characters. Having read a lot of non fiction and historical fiction books on WWII this one just doesn't cut the mustard.
I listened to this one on Audible and the narrator really annoyed me when he narrated the female characters of the story in a silly, high pitched tone. Just read the story and be done with it.
By all means read The Longest Echo
as this book was in a different league altogether.
This is my second novel by Eoin Dempsey having read The Longest Echo which I really enjoyed, I was delighted to source another book by this author. Unfortunately this one didn't live up to my expectations and I struggled all the way through. Everything about the story just felt forced and contrived and the was full of unexplained co-instances. The ending felt rushed and disjointed. The characterization was poorly done and while I finished the book, I really could have abandoned at any stage and not cared what happened to any of the characters. Having read a lot of non fiction and historical fiction books on WWII this one just doesn't cut the mustard.
I listened to this one on Audible and the narrator really annoyed me when he narrated the female characters of the story in a silly, high pitched tone. Just read the story and be done with it.
By all means read The Longest Echo
as this book was in a different league altogether.
January 29, 2013
This book was like a rare gem that you aren't looking for, but just stumble across by mistake. I had never heard of it or the author before and it showed up on the free kindle book list one day. I'm usually not a fan of love stories but I'm facinated by the Holocaust so I decided to give it a shot and it turned into one of the best books I've read in a long time. It wasn't a cheesy-romance kind of love story, it was a beautiful heartbreaking love story that spans several decades. It literally breaks your heart. It starts out when they are children and progresses through one obstacle after another. I think the message here is that love can withstand even under the most dire of circumstances. Aside from the love story, this book is also a history lesson. It goes through the motions of WW2 and eventually ends up at Auschwitz. It gives a first person look at the camp thru the eyes of the SS. It describes the monstrosities of everyday life at the camp being told by someone who hates every minute of it. The character, Christopher, shows us the lies, the death, the complete disregard of human life while struggling with all of it. Unlike the other SS men, he hates everything about it and is only there for one reason....to find Rebecca. I would give this book 100 stars if I could. I can't possibly stress enough how wonderful this book was or how much I loved it. It was stellar and I highly recommend it.
June 3, 2015
So, I thought I am doomed to automatically love any WWII book...
In this book I did not feel the connection between the two MCs and I could not feel for them the way I should have.
The story line, of a Jewish girl and a German, childhood friends, that falls in love and what happens to them during WWII, should have captivated me, but it failed to do so.
It got better at around 80% but then it failed, for me again, with an ending that was rushed and not as emotionally right for the story.
Shame :(
In this book I did not feel the connection between the two MCs and I could not feel for them the way I should have.
The story line, of a Jewish girl and a German, childhood friends, that falls in love and what happens to them during WWII, should have captivated me, but it failed to do so.
It got better at around 80% but then it failed, for me again, with an ending that was rushed and not as emotionally right for the story.
Shame :(
May 2, 2020
Finding Rebecca by Eoin Dempsey was a beautifully written book. This was one of those books that was hard to put down. The characters and their stories were believable, sad and and sometimes hopeful. It took place on the Island of Jersey that was located south of England just before and during the Nazi invasion. Finding Rebecca was both a love story and a story of the atrocities of the day to day life within the concentration camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Christopher Seeler, lived on the Island of Jersey with his father, Stefan and his sister Alexandra. They were the only German family that lived there. Christopher's mother had died and his father had moved his children to this quiet and peaceful island to live. His Uncle Uli had come over from Germany to help them move into their new house. On that first day, Christopher was excited to go down to the sea. That was when he first met Rebecca Cassin. The two children, Christopher and Rebecca, were both six years old. From that very first encounter, it was evident that a bond was forming between the two children. They would become best friends first and then fall in love. Rebecca lived in an abusive home, though. Her father hit her and he drank too much. By the time Rebecca was fifteen she knew she had to leave the island. She left and went to live with a relative in England. Christopher was devastated. Even at fifteen, he knew he was in love with Rebecca. He was sad that she had never written to him. Then when Christopher was nineteen, he learned that his father had chosen to hold the letters Rebecca had sent and not give them to Christopher. Christopher was outraged at his father and his deceit. His father was doing what he thought was best for Christopher at the time. However, nothing would be able to keep Rebecca and Christopher apart though. Not even when she returned to Island of Jersey engaged to another man. Rebecca and Christopher knew that they were hopelessly in love with each other so Rebecca ended her engagement. Their last obstacle was the one that would tear the two apart. The Nazis invaded Jersey and since Rebecca was Jewish she was ultimately shipped to a concentration camp in Europe.
Christopher and his family were eventually deported back to Germany. Determined to find Rebecca and save her from the fate she would surely endure by the Nazis, Christopher became an SS officer at Auschwitz. Since he was an accountant before becoming an SS officer, Christopher found himself in charge of the Sonderkommandos or Canada as the prisoners called it. In Canada, the Jews assigned to work there sorted through the goods and valuables of the prisoners who were not so lucky and went straight to the crematorium or gas chamber. Christopher's job was to come up with a system to record what they had reclaimed and then make sure all the valuables and money were sent safely back to the Reich. He had not anticipated seeing and witnessing the horrors that occurred within the camp. Although, Christopher's main objective was to find Rebecca and save her he could not have lived with himself if he couldn't have at least tried to help some of the others. By the end of the war, Christopher was able to save three hundred and forty-two children from the gas chamber and he protected the lives of more than six hundred women. Even after the camp was liberated, Christopher made sure the women that worked in Canada were taken to Dachau instead of Bergen-Belsen. He had heard there was an outbreak of typhus at Bergen-Belsen so he used the last of the monies from the safe at Canada to bribe the officials in charge to take the ladies from Canada and the few Sonderkommandos that remained to Dachau. Men like Christopher were few and far between during the Holocaust. Sadly, he never found Rebecca though.
The ending was both uplifting and satisfying. I cried a lot while reading this book. The descriptions and acts that occurred during Christopher's employment at Auschwitz were hard to take in. The uncaring and inhumane ways of the majority of the SS officers reminds us that this can never happen again. This was the first book that I have read by Eoin Dempsey but I will be quick to read others. Finding Rebecca was a beautiful, yet sad, yet uplifting story. I highly recommend it.
Christopher Seeler, lived on the Island of Jersey with his father, Stefan and his sister Alexandra. They were the only German family that lived there. Christopher's mother had died and his father had moved his children to this quiet and peaceful island to live. His Uncle Uli had come over from Germany to help them move into their new house. On that first day, Christopher was excited to go down to the sea. That was when he first met Rebecca Cassin. The two children, Christopher and Rebecca, were both six years old. From that very first encounter, it was evident that a bond was forming between the two children. They would become best friends first and then fall in love. Rebecca lived in an abusive home, though. Her father hit her and he drank too much. By the time Rebecca was fifteen she knew she had to leave the island. She left and went to live with a relative in England. Christopher was devastated. Even at fifteen, he knew he was in love with Rebecca. He was sad that she had never written to him. Then when Christopher was nineteen, he learned that his father had chosen to hold the letters Rebecca had sent and not give them to Christopher. Christopher was outraged at his father and his deceit. His father was doing what he thought was best for Christopher at the time. However, nothing would be able to keep Rebecca and Christopher apart though. Not even when she returned to Island of Jersey engaged to another man. Rebecca and Christopher knew that they were hopelessly in love with each other so Rebecca ended her engagement. Their last obstacle was the one that would tear the two apart. The Nazis invaded Jersey and since Rebecca was Jewish she was ultimately shipped to a concentration camp in Europe.
Christopher and his family were eventually deported back to Germany. Determined to find Rebecca and save her from the fate she would surely endure by the Nazis, Christopher became an SS officer at Auschwitz. Since he was an accountant before becoming an SS officer, Christopher found himself in charge of the Sonderkommandos or Canada as the prisoners called it. In Canada, the Jews assigned to work there sorted through the goods and valuables of the prisoners who were not so lucky and went straight to the crematorium or gas chamber. Christopher's job was to come up with a system to record what they had reclaimed and then make sure all the valuables and money were sent safely back to the Reich. He had not anticipated seeing and witnessing the horrors that occurred within the camp. Although, Christopher's main objective was to find Rebecca and save her he could not have lived with himself if he couldn't have at least tried to help some of the others. By the end of the war, Christopher was able to save three hundred and forty-two children from the gas chamber and he protected the lives of more than six hundred women. Even after the camp was liberated, Christopher made sure the women that worked in Canada were taken to Dachau instead of Bergen-Belsen. He had heard there was an outbreak of typhus at Bergen-Belsen so he used the last of the monies from the safe at Canada to bribe the officials in charge to take the ladies from Canada and the few Sonderkommandos that remained to Dachau. Men like Christopher were few and far between during the Holocaust. Sadly, he never found Rebecca though.
The ending was both uplifting and satisfying. I cried a lot while reading this book. The descriptions and acts that occurred during Christopher's employment at Auschwitz were hard to take in. The uncaring and inhumane ways of the majority of the SS officers reminds us that this can never happen again. This was the first book that I have read by Eoin Dempsey but I will be quick to read others. Finding Rebecca was a beautiful, yet sad, yet uplifting story. I highly recommend it.
December 23, 2018
Well a fantastic read if you like reading war stories it's a hard hitting love story.but heartbreaking when Christopher and his family live in Jersey and meets a girl upset on a beach as children he takes her home to hide in his room,his dad finds her and she becomes part of the family.they fall for each other.but Germans take over she must leave as she's a jewish.he ends up looking for her in the worst place Auschwitz,he was shocked what happens there but does he find rebecca.fantastic read looking forward reading more books from this author.
March 17, 2013
I just finished Finding Rebecca and all I can say is "WOW". It was extremely hard to read some of the scenes, and not because they were overly graphic, but because it left a mental picture, and a feeling of overwhelming sadness to think that this really did happen. And it was just a small glimpse of the horror that took so many innocent lives. I think that everyone should read this book, and never forget what kind of brutality really went on at those concentration camps. Well done Mr. Dempsey!
May 18, 2015
I'll read most anything about World War II and the Holocaust, specifically, because I find it morbidly fascinating. So obviously this book was appealing and with the good reviews, I figured it would be a win.
This book is about Christopher, a German national living on an island that is considered Great Britain's territory, and Rebecca, a Jewish national. They meet as children and develop a close friendship sustained throughout the years, and Christopher's family becomes Rebecca's replacement family in lieu of her often drunk, abusive parents. Rebecca eventually leaves the island to escape their treatment, but eventually returns to reunite with Christopher. This is right around the time Germany takes over the island they're living on, and while Christopher tries to protect her, eventually Rebecca is registered as a Jew and is forcibly removed from the island. When Christopher learns that she would have been sent to a concentration camp, he pulls some strings to get himself sent to Auschwitz as an SS officer. While there he desperately searches for Rebecca while trying to maintain his sense of self and help as many Jews as he can. But will he find Rebecca alive, and even if he does, will she be the same Rebecca who left?
I found sections of this book to be very moving and well-written; specifically the descriptions of the concentration camps and the treatment of the prisoners. I felt the love story between Christopher and Rebecca to be a bit stilted and awkward, and although it was supposed to be the focal point of the book, I got much more enjoyment out of Christopher's time at the concentration camp and his efforts to aid the Jews in his care. It seemed as though the author themselves felt more at east with the historical fiction writing than the love story.
Would still recommend for those interested in World War 2 fiction!
This book is about Christopher, a German national living on an island that is considered Great Britain's territory, and Rebecca, a Jewish national. They meet as children and develop a close friendship sustained throughout the years, and Christopher's family becomes Rebecca's replacement family in lieu of her often drunk, abusive parents. Rebecca eventually leaves the island to escape their treatment, but eventually returns to reunite with Christopher. This is right around the time Germany takes over the island they're living on, and while Christopher tries to protect her, eventually Rebecca is registered as a Jew and is forcibly removed from the island. When Christopher learns that she would have been sent to a concentration camp, he pulls some strings to get himself sent to Auschwitz as an SS officer. While there he desperately searches for Rebecca while trying to maintain his sense of self and help as many Jews as he can. But will he find Rebecca alive, and even if he does, will she be the same Rebecca who left?
I found sections of this book to be very moving and well-written; specifically the descriptions of the concentration camps and the treatment of the prisoners. I felt the love story between Christopher and Rebecca to be a bit stilted and awkward, and although it was supposed to be the focal point of the book, I got much more enjoyment out of Christopher's time at the concentration camp and his efforts to aid the Jews in his care. It seemed as though the author themselves felt more at east with the historical fiction writing than the love story.
Would still recommend for those interested in World War 2 fiction!
April 22, 2018
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
This was an infuriating book. The concept was fascinating; but it contains a central plot hole that is so huge, and bothered me so much, that I forced myself to finish just to see if the author explained it somehow. He did not.
The story focuses on Christopher and Rebecca, who have known each other since their childhood growing up on an island off the coast of England. He is German, she is Jewish. Besides the plot hole mentioned, the love story between them lacked heat and didn’t provide the emotional core needed.
These two main characters continually act in ways that threaten not just their own best interests, but their survival. As the Nazi occupation spreads toward them, Rebecca refuses to leave for a safer location to wait out the war, as Christopher keeps asking her to do. Christopher and his father, as German nationals, are pressed into service for the Fatherland when the takeover finally comes. With this cover, they are able to keep Rebecca hidden - until she idiotically takes it upon herself to march down to Nazi headquarters and register as a Jew, putting both herself and her protectors in danger. She is quickly deported.
Christopher is devastated by the loss of the love of his life. He and his father are at least suspected to have hidden a Jew, and although they lose their assignments they are not punished more harshly, which doesn’t ring true based on what we know of Hitler’s regime. But even more incredible, when we next meet Christopher, he has somehow risen through the Nazi ranks and scored a plumb assignment at the Auschwitz concentration camp. His plan is to find Rebecca and bring her to Auschwitz so he can save her.
It would seem to be obvious to absolutely EVERYONE in the world except for Christopher, that he needed to make sure he had lots and lots of allies within the extremely corruptible walls of Auschwitz. He was put in charge of “Canada,” the part of the camp responsible for receiving the inmates and collecting all valuable, which put him in an ideal position to bribe and grease all the palms that would be needed for his audacious plot to have any chance of success.
This is where the huge plot hole I mention comes in. Instead, of capitalizing on this golden opportunity, he soon notices that everyone in camp is skimming off their share of the loot. So he establishes strict new procedures and organizes raids to weed out all the cheating. Why for the love of God would Christopher do this? It turns everyone in the camp into his mortal enemy and ensures that every other SS officer was watching him like a hawk, out to get him in any way possible. Besides dooming his plan to save Rebecca, this fatal miscalculation on his part directly led to the death of the little girl, Anka, who had miraculously survived the gas chamber and was being hidden by the inmates. In the larger sense, why should he care if the guards were taking money? All that Christopher accomplished was to ensure that MORE money would get to Hitler, thus potentially prolonging the war he hated This enormous void of logic made the book, in my opinion, a complete failure.
This was an infuriating book. The concept was fascinating; but it contains a central plot hole that is so huge, and bothered me so much, that I forced myself to finish just to see if the author explained it somehow. He did not.
The story focuses on Christopher and Rebecca, who have known each other since their childhood growing up on an island off the coast of England. He is German, she is Jewish. Besides the plot hole mentioned, the love story between them lacked heat and didn’t provide the emotional core needed.
These two main characters continually act in ways that threaten not just their own best interests, but their survival. As the Nazi occupation spreads toward them, Rebecca refuses to leave for a safer location to wait out the war, as Christopher keeps asking her to do. Christopher and his father, as German nationals, are pressed into service for the Fatherland when the takeover finally comes. With this cover, they are able to keep Rebecca hidden - until she idiotically takes it upon herself to march down to Nazi headquarters and register as a Jew, putting both herself and her protectors in danger. She is quickly deported.
Christopher is devastated by the loss of the love of his life. He and his father are at least suspected to have hidden a Jew, and although they lose their assignments they are not punished more harshly, which doesn’t ring true based on what we know of Hitler’s regime. But even more incredible, when we next meet Christopher, he has somehow risen through the Nazi ranks and scored a plumb assignment at the Auschwitz concentration camp. His plan is to find Rebecca and bring her to Auschwitz so he can save her.
It would seem to be obvious to absolutely EVERYONE in the world except for Christopher, that he needed to make sure he had lots and lots of allies within the extremely corruptible walls of Auschwitz. He was put in charge of “Canada,” the part of the camp responsible for receiving the inmates and collecting all valuable, which put him in an ideal position to bribe and grease all the palms that would be needed for his audacious plot to have any chance of success.
This is where the huge plot hole I mention comes in. Instead, of capitalizing on this golden opportunity, he soon notices that everyone in camp is skimming off their share of the loot. So he establishes strict new procedures and organizes raids to weed out all the cheating. Why for the love of God would Christopher do this? It turns everyone in the camp into his mortal enemy and ensures that every other SS officer was watching him like a hawk, out to get him in any way possible. Besides dooming his plan to save Rebecca, this fatal miscalculation on his part directly led to the death of the little girl, Anka, who had miraculously survived the gas chamber and was being hidden by the inmates. In the larger sense, why should he care if the guards were taking money? All that Christopher accomplished was to ensure that MORE money would get to Hitler, thus potentially prolonging the war he hated This enormous void of logic made the book, in my opinion, a complete failure.
July 8, 2015
I am so glad to have won this from Goodreads First Reads! It was an excellent book that I enjoyed very much even though it was sad to read about the atrocities at the concentration camp. The story starts out harshly with Christopher as an SS officer at Auschwitz. Then, we are taken to the beginning when a young Christopher first meets Rebecca on the isle of Jersey. Theirs is a deep friendship and love, but outside forces strive to keep them apart, first Christopher's father and then World War II when Rebecca who is Jewish is sent for relocation. As the story progresses we learn why Christopher became an SS officer and all that he has done to find his beloved Rebecca. This was a beautifully written book. I look forward to more by this author.
November 7, 2016
I can handle implausible if it's well written, and I can handle bad writing if there's a good plot. This was completely unbelievable, flat/one-dimensional characters, and painfully cliched, stilted, and disjointed. Really don't know why I finished it, except for my compulsive nature.
October 28, 2014
Eoin Dempsey’s historical novel FINDING REBECCA is the sort of book you really want to be real. You want to have some confidence that a real human being somewhere in time did the things that the character he’s created did in the time and place he put them. But even knowing that Dempsey’s creation is fictional, that these things are products of imagination put into a series of real events – this is enough to remind you that life isn’t always cut and dry and still, in the end, sometimes the good guys come out on top.
World War II fiction can be tricky. Authors run the risk of seeming too careless with some of the darkest moments in human history. Novels that aren’t researched are easy to spot by anyone who pays attention. Dempsey is neither careless nor uninformed.
Yes, it seems a little extreme that a German-born boy on of the isle of Jersey might fall in love with a Jewish girl just as the Nazi rise to power. Yes, it seems a little extreme that the German boy might join the SS with the sole purpose of finding the Jewish girl who had been sent to the concentration camps. Other things happen that seem a little less extreme, not actual facts but just things that might stretch the imagination of someone who knows the history.
But World War II was an extreme time.
FINDING REBECCA starts like a love story and it stays a love story.
It’s not easy to read. You question the motives of the people. You question what you would do if you were them. You judge the people for what they do and you wonder if it’s all worth it in the end. You realize that maybe the trick of it all is being able to live with yourself in the end.
FINDING REBECCA is available for purchase now.
(I received a copy of FINDING REBECCA through NetGalley in exchange for an honest & original review. This review is cross-posted on my blog and NetGalley & Goodreads accounts.)
World War II fiction can be tricky. Authors run the risk of seeming too careless with some of the darkest moments in human history. Novels that aren’t researched are easy to spot by anyone who pays attention. Dempsey is neither careless nor uninformed.
Yes, it seems a little extreme that a German-born boy on of the isle of Jersey might fall in love with a Jewish girl just as the Nazi rise to power. Yes, it seems a little extreme that the German boy might join the SS with the sole purpose of finding the Jewish girl who had been sent to the concentration camps. Other things happen that seem a little less extreme, not actual facts but just things that might stretch the imagination of someone who knows the history.
But World War II was an extreme time.
FINDING REBECCA starts like a love story and it stays a love story.
It’s not easy to read. You question the motives of the people. You question what you would do if you were them. You judge the people for what they do and you wonder if it’s all worth it in the end. You realize that maybe the trick of it all is being able to live with yourself in the end.
FINDING REBECCA is available for purchase now.
(I received a copy of FINDING REBECCA through NetGalley in exchange for an honest & original review. This review is cross-posted on my blog and NetGalley & Goodreads accounts.)
December 28, 2019
Kolejna na polskim rynku po „Biała róża, czarny las” książka Dempsey’a nie wywołała już u mnie tak pozytywnego odbioru. Dlaczego? Bo zbyt nieprawdopodobne były poczynania głównego bohatera powieści „Anioł z Auschwitz” SS-mana Christophera Seelera. Człowiek ten mający niemiecko-angielskie korzenie wstąpił do SS, aby odszukać swoją ukochaną Rebeccę, Żydowkę, która stała się ofiarą nazistowskiejo systemu „ostatecznego rozwiązania kwestii żydowskiej”. Jak to możliwe, że w obozie zagłady Auschwitz-Birkenau, do którego trafia na służbę jako księgowy Christopher, może on bez żadnych konsekwencji wchodzić w kompetencje swoich przełożonych, ustalać ważne dla funkcjonowania obozu kwestie z samym komendantem, wprowadzać tak szybko po przybyciu swoje zasady, mające na celu ochronę kobiet w podlegającym mu magazynom zwanym „Kanadą”? Za jakiekolwiek próby ułatwiania Żydom życia w obozach groziła tylko i wyłącznie śmierć i chociaż rozumiem, jak wielką moc miała sowita łapówka, jednak raczej nie aż taką, aby z innego obozu na zlecenie Seelera mogła przybyć z transportem jego ukochana. Niewątpliwe Dempsey sugerował się historiami tzw. „dobrych Niemców”, jednak uważam, że zbeletryzowana opowieść miłosna z obozem śmierci w tle, to naprawdę zły pomysł w wydaniu zaproponowanym przez autora.
Żałuję, że autor nie pokusił się o posłowie, w którym wyjaśniłby, skąd zaczerpnął inspirację, bo pobrzmiewa mi w tej książce wątek austriackiego SS-mana z KL Auschwitz Wunscha oraz słowackiej Żydówki Citronowej, jednak to nasz rodzimy Wojciech Dutka doskonale oddał ich historię w „Czerni i purpurze”.
Fikcja literacka w kontekście tematyki obozowej powinna mieć jednak jakieś rozsądne granice.
Żałuję, że autor nie pokusił się o posłowie, w którym wyjaśniłby, skąd zaczerpnął inspirację, bo pobrzmiewa mi w tej książce wątek austriackiego SS-mana z KL Auschwitz Wunscha oraz słowackiej Żydówki Citronowej, jednak to nasz rodzimy Wojciech Dutka doskonale oddał ich historię w „Czerni i purpurze”.
Fikcja literacka w kontekście tematyki obozowej powinna mieć jednak jakieś rozsądne granice.
May 2, 2018
Huge disappointment!
As a lover of historical fiction and being the daughter of survivors, I tend to read a lot of Holocaust literature (both fiction and nonfiction). This one certainly did not live up to the hype, and I'm totally clueless as to how it is so highly rated!
Yes, the author did convey some of the horrors of life in a concentration camp, and for that he deserves some credit, but the whole story was just so unbelievable. Don't get me wrong: I'm willing to read lots of unbelievable ideas in fiction, spiders can spell out messages in webs, kids can make it through invisible barriers to board a train to learn to be magicians at an exclusive boarding school, people can transport themselves back and forth through time, etc. I'm fine with all of it, IF THE WRITER MAKES IT WORK. If the writer pulls me into the story and makes it real, it's wonderful. Here that never happened.
We start off with Christopher Saaler, a Berlin-born German raised on the British island of Jersey who becomes an SS officer and finagles a posting as head accountant in Auschwitz to search for the love of his life, a Jewish girl named (surprise surprise) Rebecca. How does a young, healthy guy in his early twenties, raised in an enemy country land and with no party affiliation land such a plush position? Well, that is sort of glossed over. Supposedly his uncle (whose been in the army for all of 3 or 4 years) manages to arrange it for him. Yeah, sure.
And then we discover he doesn't even know that Rebecca is in Auschwitz. So huh? What's the point?
As a lover of historical fiction and being the daughter of survivors, I tend to read a lot of Holocaust literature (both fiction and nonfiction). This one certainly did not live up to the hype, and I'm totally clueless as to how it is so highly rated!
Yes, the author did convey some of the horrors of life in a concentration camp, and for that he deserves some credit, but the whole story was just so unbelievable. Don't get me wrong: I'm willing to read lots of unbelievable ideas in fiction, spiders can spell out messages in webs, kids can make it through invisible barriers to board a train to learn to be magicians at an exclusive boarding school, people can transport themselves back and forth through time, etc. I'm fine with all of it, IF THE WRITER MAKES IT WORK. If the writer pulls me into the story and makes it real, it's wonderful. Here that never happened.
We start off with Christopher Saaler, a Berlin-born German raised on the British island of Jersey who becomes an SS officer and finagles a posting as head accountant in Auschwitz to search for the love of his life, a Jewish girl named (surprise surprise) Rebecca. How does a young, healthy guy in his early twenties, raised in an enemy country land and with no party affiliation land such a plush position? Well, that is sort of glossed over. Supposedly his uncle (whose been in the army for all of 3 or 4 years) manages to arrange it for him. Yeah, sure.
And then we discover he doesn't even know that Rebecca is in Auschwitz. So huh? What's the point?
May 9, 2020
Niestety, ale książka niczym mnie nie zachwyciła. Historia nie zaskoczyła mnie, nie wywołała we mnie żadnych uczuć. Nudziłam się podczas jej słuchania, więc cieszę się, że nie postanowiłam sama jej przeczytać. Jest to jedna z najsłabszych pozycji po jakie sięgnęłam w tym roku. Zaczęła się dobrze, ale niestety im dalej tym bardziej się nudziłam. Nie można jednak nie dodać, że momentami działy się "piękne" momenty, chociaż przez tematykę nie powinno się tego tak ujmować.
February 6, 2013
I came across this book by accident and it pulled me in from the beginning. It's a gorgeous, heartbreaking story, difficult to read, but ultimately thoroughly satisfying. It's a story that will stick with you, make you appreciate all you have in life and provide a better understanding of the horrors that took place during the holocaust.
November 9, 2014
Wow! What a diamond of a book! It's powerful in its Holocaust brutality, in its vivid emotions, and characters. If you're going to read any fictional book on the Holocaust, make it this one. To me, it's the epitome of what a Holocaust fictional book should be.
Now that mention of Holocaust brutality... Definitely keep that in mind while reading this. This book pulls no punches. It portrays the Holocaust exactly the way it was, with all the violence and evil that conveys. From gassings, shootings, and the destruction of miracles/hope, this book will tear your heart out, stomp on it for awhile, then give it back to you with some duck tape for good measure. So read with caution.
That being said, the overall message of hope and love in this book makes up for the extremes it goes to in portraying the Holocaust. Through Rebecca's and Christopher's love story and the story of how Christopher is able to keep his humanity and save others, the reader gets a glimpse at how bright the human spirit can shine, even during the horrors of the Holocaust.
Even though Rebecca isn't even physically present for a good half or more of the book, her presence as Christopher's motivation and her "spirit" keep her front and center in the minds of the reader. I liked that their relationship never got the pat happy ending that is so common in so many books. Even towards the end after the Holocaust has been survived and post-WWII Europe has scarred our individuals, there are still bumps in the road to happiness and a full relationship. Yet for all that, the love these two share is timeless and soul-deep. This is a romance for the ages.
The struggles Christopher goes through to weave his way through horrors and mind-numbing evil is the meat of the story for me. I felt for him during every confrontation with the Final Solution and every failed rescue attempt (prepare the tissues, peeps!). His triumphs are all the more sweeter for these horrific failures. Christopher's constant fight to keep those he can safe and to somehow balance out the horrors of the Holocaust with his light is a story I never got tired of reading.
One last note I have to point out is the author's efforts at historical research. Not only does the author plop his readers down directly into Auschwitz and Nazi-occupied Jersey through historical detail and atmosphere (though there's plenty of that!), but he incorporates actual historical events into the narrative. I've personally read about/heard about two distinct events in Auschwitz that really brought this novel home to me, to know these events actually happened (though maybe not exactly as written in this novel) just hit me in the gut. Fantastic job on the research, Eoin!
I can't get enough of this novel. Though incredible historical research, a vivid and realistic portrayal of the Holocaust, and characters/romance that stay with the reader, this book is destined for the favorites shelf. It comes highly recommended if you're looking for a Holocaust historical novel to enjoy and think about.
Now that mention of Holocaust brutality... Definitely keep that in mind while reading this. This book pulls no punches. It portrays the Holocaust exactly the way it was, with all the violence and evil that conveys. From gassings, shootings, and the destruction of miracles/hope, this book will tear your heart out, stomp on it for awhile, then give it back to you with some duck tape for good measure. So read with caution.
That being said, the overall message of hope and love in this book makes up for the extremes it goes to in portraying the Holocaust. Through Rebecca's and Christopher's love story and the story of how Christopher is able to keep his humanity and save others, the reader gets a glimpse at how bright the human spirit can shine, even during the horrors of the Holocaust.
Even though Rebecca isn't even physically present for a good half or more of the book, her presence as Christopher's motivation and her "spirit" keep her front and center in the minds of the reader. I liked that their relationship never got the pat happy ending that is so common in so many books. Even towards the end after the Holocaust has been survived and post-WWII Europe has scarred our individuals, there are still bumps in the road to happiness and a full relationship. Yet for all that, the love these two share is timeless and soul-deep. This is a romance for the ages.
The struggles Christopher goes through to weave his way through horrors and mind-numbing evil is the meat of the story for me. I felt for him during every confrontation with the Final Solution and every failed rescue attempt (prepare the tissues, peeps!). His triumphs are all the more sweeter for these horrific failures. Christopher's constant fight to keep those he can safe and to somehow balance out the horrors of the Holocaust with his light is a story I never got tired of reading.
One last note I have to point out is the author's efforts at historical research. Not only does the author plop his readers down directly into Auschwitz and Nazi-occupied Jersey through historical detail and atmosphere (though there's plenty of that!), but he incorporates actual historical events into the narrative. I've personally read about/heard about two distinct events in Auschwitz that really brought this novel home to me, to know these events actually happened (though maybe not exactly as written in this novel) just hit me in the gut. Fantastic job on the research, Eoin!
I can't get enough of this novel. Though incredible historical research, a vivid and realistic portrayal of the Holocaust, and characters/romance that stay with the reader, this book is destined for the favorites shelf. It comes highly recommended if you're looking for a Holocaust historical novel to enjoy and think about.
August 15, 2019
4,5/5 ⭐️
Każdy z nas doskonale zdaje sobie sprawę, że literatura wojenna nie należy do najlżejszych, co dotyczy również omawianej dzisiaj przeze mnie książki. Eoin Dempsey wykreował bohaterów z krwi i kości, którym przyszło żyć w najgorszym możliwym okresie dla ludzkości. Christopher i Rebekka to fikcyjni bohaterowie, jednak musicie wiedzieć, że autor w piękny sposób manewrował między swoją fantazją, a prawdą o tym jak wyglądało codzienne życie w obozie pracy. "Anioł z Auschwitz" to niewątpliwie jedna z tych książek, która nie ma i nigdy nie będzie miała swojego okresu ważności. Zawsze będzie aktualna, bo uważam, że każdy z nas powinien w życiu przeczytać chociaż jedną książkę z literatury obozowej.
Christopher i Rebekka poznali się w wieku 6 lat na wyspie Jersey. Już od pierwszego spotkania stali się nierozłączni, mimo, że pochodzili z dwóch różnych światów. On, Niemiec z dobrego domu, ona z pochodzenia Żydówka, żyjąca w patologicznej rodzinie. Przyjaźń, która z czasem przerodziła się w prawdziwą miłość, była im po prostu pisana. Niestety młodzi ludzie nie mogli długo cieszyć się swoim szczęściem, bo po wybuchu II wojny światowej Rebekka zostaje deportowana, a Christopher w celu ratowania ukochanej, wstępuje w szeregi SS i zaczyna pracę w Auschwitz. Przymusowa służba dla Rzeszy Niemieckiej na którą skazał się Christopher, niejednokrotnie go przerasta, nasz bohater nie jest w stanie pogodzić się, ani zaakceptować tego z jakim okrucieństwem i bestialstwem traktowani są obozowicze. Stara się z całych sił pomagać pokrzywdzonym, często narażając samego siebie. I każdego dnia modli się o cud, aby znowu spotkać Rebekkę, żywą.
Miłość głównych bohaterów to niewątpliwie jeden z najważniejszych wątków tej historii, ale nie jedyny. Autor w dobitny sposób pokazuje również, jak wygląda codzienna walka i próba przetrwania w obozie pracy, oraz jak ogromny wpływ na człowieka i jego zachowanie ma wojna. Nie owija w bawełnę i nie koloryzuje niczego na potrzeby czytelnika. To wręcz niewiarygodne, ile bohaterowie książki doświadczyli w ciągu jednego życia i ile rzeczy wydarzyło się na tych zaledwie 300 stronach. Trzymałam się, naprawdę długo się trzymałam, lecz na ostatniej stronie już nie dałam rady i polały się łzy...
Z racji tego, że chcę być obiektywna w swojej ocenie, to na koniec wspomnę o jednej fakcie, który nie do końca przypadł mi do gustu. A mam tu na myśli trzecioosobową narrację, za którą niestety nie przepadam. Jednak biorąc pod uwagę, że "Anioł z Auschwitz" to debiutancka powieść autora jestem w stanie przymknąć na to oko. 😊
Każdy z nas doskonale zdaje sobie sprawę, że literatura wojenna nie należy do najlżejszych, co dotyczy również omawianej dzisiaj przeze mnie książki. Eoin Dempsey wykreował bohaterów z krwi i kości, którym przyszło żyć w najgorszym możliwym okresie dla ludzkości. Christopher i Rebekka to fikcyjni bohaterowie, jednak musicie wiedzieć, że autor w piękny sposób manewrował między swoją fantazją, a prawdą o tym jak wyglądało codzienne życie w obozie pracy. "Anioł z Auschwitz" to niewątpliwie jedna z tych książek, która nie ma i nigdy nie będzie miała swojego okresu ważności. Zawsze będzie aktualna, bo uważam, że każdy z nas powinien w życiu przeczytać chociaż jedną książkę z literatury obozowej.
Christopher i Rebekka poznali się w wieku 6 lat na wyspie Jersey. Już od pierwszego spotkania stali się nierozłączni, mimo, że pochodzili z dwóch różnych światów. On, Niemiec z dobrego domu, ona z pochodzenia Żydówka, żyjąca w patologicznej rodzinie. Przyjaźń, która z czasem przerodziła się w prawdziwą miłość, była im po prostu pisana. Niestety młodzi ludzie nie mogli długo cieszyć się swoim szczęściem, bo po wybuchu II wojny światowej Rebekka zostaje deportowana, a Christopher w celu ratowania ukochanej, wstępuje w szeregi SS i zaczyna pracę w Auschwitz. Przymusowa służba dla Rzeszy Niemieckiej na którą skazał się Christopher, niejednokrotnie go przerasta, nasz bohater nie jest w stanie pogodzić się, ani zaakceptować tego z jakim okrucieństwem i bestialstwem traktowani są obozowicze. Stara się z całych sił pomagać pokrzywdzonym, często narażając samego siebie. I każdego dnia modli się o cud, aby znowu spotkać Rebekkę, żywą.
Miłość głównych bohaterów to niewątpliwie jeden z najważniejszych wątków tej historii, ale nie jedyny. Autor w dobitny sposób pokazuje również, jak wygląda codzienna walka i próba przetrwania w obozie pracy, oraz jak ogromny wpływ na człowieka i jego zachowanie ma wojna. Nie owija w bawełnę i nie koloryzuje niczego na potrzeby czytelnika. To wręcz niewiarygodne, ile bohaterowie książki doświadczyli w ciągu jednego życia i ile rzeczy wydarzyło się na tych zaledwie 300 stronach. Trzymałam się, naprawdę długo się trzymałam, lecz na ostatniej stronie już nie dałam rady i polały się łzy...
Z racji tego, że chcę być obiektywna w swojej ocenie, to na koniec wspomnę o jednej fakcie, który nie do końca przypadł mi do gustu. A mam tu na myśli trzecioosobową narrację, za którą niestety nie przepadam. Jednak biorąc pod uwagę, że "Anioł z Auschwitz" to debiutancka powieść autora jestem w stanie przymknąć na to oko. 😊
April 13, 2013
Lately I have been interested in history/fiction novels and specifically those about WWI and WWII. My education as a young girl was deficient in the history past Christopher Columbus and very deficient regarding European history.
I have read a number of books trying to ascertain why the wars began; what brought people to that place, what motivated them and what their lives were. Now that I have read enough to allow me the knowledge of the why, I now want to read about people and their experiences in a fictional setting.
Finding Rebecca was a real eye-opener as to the make up of the SS and the reaction of the Germans to what they found to be happening during the "rein" of Hitler. This was a hard to put down book with characters that had moral strength beyond what one would assume would be present. The lead character, Christopher, a misplaced German who became an SS officer, was an individual with only one commitment; to find his lost love. As life would have it, one cannot achieve just one goal without stumbling across other challenges and this was met by Christopher with astounding strength.
I was horrified by what was done as this story went into far more detail than I had ever experienced before. I was not looking for the horror of what had happened, just an insight as to how people managed to exist and move forward.
This story had an underlying theme representing the love of two people but more poiginant was how they dealt with life during and after the war.
I would recommend this book if one is trying to see into the "soul" shall we say of individuals during difficult and impossible times.
I have read a number of books trying to ascertain why the wars began; what brought people to that place, what motivated them and what their lives were. Now that I have read enough to allow me the knowledge of the why, I now want to read about people and their experiences in a fictional setting.
Finding Rebecca was a real eye-opener as to the make up of the SS and the reaction of the Germans to what they found to be happening during the "rein" of Hitler. This was a hard to put down book with characters that had moral strength beyond what one would assume would be present. The lead character, Christopher, a misplaced German who became an SS officer, was an individual with only one commitment; to find his lost love. As life would have it, one cannot achieve just one goal without stumbling across other challenges and this was met by Christopher with astounding strength.
I was horrified by what was done as this story went into far more detail than I had ever experienced before. I was not looking for the horror of what had happened, just an insight as to how people managed to exist and move forward.
This story had an underlying theme representing the love of two people but more poiginant was how they dealt with life during and after the war.
I would recommend this book if one is trying to see into the "soul" shall we say of individuals during difficult and impossible times.
May 11, 2018
I have read a lot of books set during the Holocaust and decided to give this one a listen.
A lot of the reviews mention that they don't believe that there were any SS Officers or Nazis that had any redeeming qualities. I find that hard to believe and even though this is fiction, I would like to think that some so-called Nazis had compassion and did what they could to try to save Jews being held in the concentration camps.
Reviewers also mention that the book contains too much graphic detail about the atrocities that occurred in the concentration camps. DUH! Why would you read a book about the Holocaust and not think that some of the atrocities would be mentioned? Most of the actual violence is only hinted at, not graphically described.
I do agree that Christopher becoming a high ranking SS Officer assigned to Auschwitz is highly unlikely to have happened. He was too young, had lived outside of Germany for most of his life and had a long-term relationship with a Jewish girl.
However, if you enjoy a romance that surpasses obstacles, death, atrocities, decades and so much more, give this book a chance. The writer does a great job conveying the love between Rebecca and Christopher. And, yes, there is a HEA ending, so don't despair!
I listened to this book on Audible and the narrator did an excellent job. He didn't try to imitate a German accent, but did vary his voice for the different characters. And, you could really feel the emotion in his narration.
A lot of the reviews mention that they don't believe that there were any SS Officers or Nazis that had any redeeming qualities. I find that hard to believe and even though this is fiction, I would like to think that some so-called Nazis had compassion and did what they could to try to save Jews being held in the concentration camps.
Reviewers also mention that the book contains too much graphic detail about the atrocities that occurred in the concentration camps. DUH! Why would you read a book about the Holocaust and not think that some of the atrocities would be mentioned? Most of the actual violence is only hinted at, not graphically described.
I do agree that Christopher becoming a high ranking SS Officer assigned to Auschwitz is highly unlikely to have happened. He was too young, had lived outside of Germany for most of his life and had a long-term relationship with a Jewish girl.
However, if you enjoy a romance that surpasses obstacles, death, atrocities, decades and so much more, give this book a chance. The writer does a great job conveying the love between Rebecca and Christopher. And, yes, there is a HEA ending, so don't despair!
I listened to this book on Audible and the narrator did an excellent job. He didn't try to imitate a German accent, but did vary his voice for the different characters. And, you could really feel the emotion in his narration.
August 5, 2020
I have read three of Dempsey's books so far and this is probably my least favorite.. that being said it still had me crying in public and gasping out loud at the more troubling moments in the narrative.
Finding Rebecca is a love story between a German boy and a Jewish girl in the beginning and during WWII torn Germany, if that isn't a story that just screams "read me" I'm not sure what is.
There are many reviews on here that speak of the pose and mention the word "awkward".. while I probably would not disagree, please take into account that this was the authors first novel and I promise you they only get better from here.
If you read this novel, or even just this review please continue on your Eoin Dempsey Journey.. you would be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't consume everything this man has written. He tells stories like poetry, with the most amazing characters, and the research that was put into these novels leaps from the pages in volumes! Go now.. you are wasting time. Towards that Midnight Sun.. is waiting..
Finding Rebecca is a love story between a German boy and a Jewish girl in the beginning and during WWII torn Germany, if that isn't a story that just screams "read me" I'm not sure what is.
There are many reviews on here that speak of the pose and mention the word "awkward".. while I probably would not disagree, please take into account that this was the authors first novel and I promise you they only get better from here.
If you read this novel, or even just this review please continue on your Eoin Dempsey Journey.. you would be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't consume everything this man has written. He tells stories like poetry, with the most amazing characters, and the research that was put into these novels leaps from the pages in volumes! Go now.. you are wasting time. Towards that Midnight Sun.. is waiting..
January 24, 2019
Well. In recent times, I have imbibed myself with war books (especially WWII) learning about genocide and holocaust. So, the other day I came across this book in kindle since it was about WWII I thought to give it a go.
The concept of the book daunting.. a German boy becoming an SS officer for the sole purpose to save the Jewish women he loves. I could never have imagined Rebecca to still be alive after what she did to that ss officer saving her friend's life. On the other hand, in Auschwitz, The valiant things Christopher did to save Anka; the 600 women he tried to keep alive in Canada and the hundreds of children he smuggled to safety from the gas chamber was astounding.
Though the concept was pretty good, there was a wide gap between the portrayal of the events and situations. The narrative style and the weak grammar made it frustrating to keep reading the book any longer. I had to skip through some pages to keep myself reaching the end.
The concept of the book daunting.. a German boy becoming an SS officer for the sole purpose to save the Jewish women he loves. I could never have imagined Rebecca to still be alive after what she did to that ss officer saving her friend's life. On the other hand, in Auschwitz, The valiant things Christopher did to save Anka; the 600 women he tried to keep alive in Canada and the hundreds of children he smuggled to safety from the gas chamber was astounding.
Though the concept was pretty good, there was a wide gap between the portrayal of the events and situations. The narrative style and the weak grammar made it frustrating to keep reading the book any longer. I had to skip through some pages to keep myself reaching the end.
December 17, 2015
I don't often wrote reviews anymore sine i have a toddler and a business, but, i feel i need to with this one.
I must admit, i almost stopped reading it- i almost stopped several times, it is so moving, so sad, so terrifying, and so heartbreaking.
I am a history major with 2 masters degree's, i have taught the Holocaust to HS and MS students countless times over the last 12 years. I have even gone to the WWII museum in NOLA several times. I KNOW what happened, i believe that these things happened, but reading this book made it all so much more real.
If i could, i would want my students to read it. though it is gory, there is no sex. there is references to rape but the word is not used, that i remember.
lets just say this was amazing and should be a book everyone reads.
I must admit, i almost stopped reading it- i almost stopped several times, it is so moving, so sad, so terrifying, and so heartbreaking.
I am a history major with 2 masters degree's, i have taught the Holocaust to HS and MS students countless times over the last 12 years. I have even gone to the WWII museum in NOLA several times. I KNOW what happened, i believe that these things happened, but reading this book made it all so much more real.
If i could, i would want my students to read it. though it is gory, there is no sex. there is references to rape but the word is not used, that i remember.
lets just say this was amazing and should be a book everyone reads.
February 21, 2016
Stayed up late finishing. I love historical fiction and memoirs. I own many memoirs of true accounts from the Holocaust. I love the cover. And was thrilled for a weekend to read. Unfortunately, I thought it dragged...not because of the subject matter but the pacing, unnecessary details, unfortunate skipping important moments... I really wanted to like this novel and characters. Was disappointed. I didn't even feel connected to Rebecca or Christopher in this story--just pity for the actual history we know is true, that real tragedies like these surely occurred. The story has all the bones for a powerful read but it needs to be tightened. There are better written true accounts of this horrific time like "Mischling Second Degree" by Ilse Koehn. But I was at least satisfied with the happily-ever-after.
February 22, 2017
GAB This was an excellent book about the inhabitants of the Isle of Jersey from 1924 until the end of WWII, and how WWII divided loyalties and relationships. We follow Christopher and Rebecca from their first meeting at six years old until they meet again in New York in September 1954. The war years are well researched and the protagonists are portrayed sympathetically. The details are intricate and the story flows well. This was a hard book to put down, and is one I will keep, to read again. If you loved The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society you will enjoy this book, as well.
November 16, 2014
Chilling
One of those books which should be required reading for all Americans over sixteen. We all need to be reminded of the atrocities levied on innocent people simply because of their race. If our younger generation isn't educated about these true events it can happen again. It's a terrible, chilling, achingly difficult book to read but please read it and recommend it to your friends. It's distressing to realize there are people out there who are denying the killing of millions ever happened - don't let them succeed.
One of those books which should be required reading for all Americans over sixteen. We all need to be reminded of the atrocities levied on innocent people simply because of their race. If our younger generation isn't educated about these true events it can happen again. It's a terrible, chilling, achingly difficult book to read but please read it and recommend it to your friends. It's distressing to realize there are people out there who are denying the killing of millions ever happened - don't let them succeed.
April 4, 2016
I found this novel to be your typical holocaust novel in that it was a story had all the elements of novels taking place in this time frame. Lovers torn apart by war, the horrors of the concentration camps, miscommunications, etc. There was nothing that really set this novel apart from other Holocaust stories in my opinion. Overall, a decent story but it's not a Holocaust story I would recommend over others. I would recommend The Lost Wife instead.
November 15, 2014
Disappointing. For such a promising subject, the writing was flat and didn't evoke much emotion. The love story lacked passion, and the war story lacked excitement. The subject matter is very well know (at least for me), and the author didn't really bring anything new or interesting to it. It felt more like a reporting of events with some dialog thrown in, and it was frankly a slog to finish. I guess I prefer a more literary writing style, where the author shows rather than tells.
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