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Where Butterflies Go
IndieReader Discovery Award Winner for Best Historical Fiction IAN Book of the Year Awards Finalist for Outstanding Historical FictionMeira Sokolow had the misfortune of being born to Jewish parents in Warsaw, Poland, in 1912. Before she took her first breath, her fate had been sealed.Residing in the Jewish Quarter of the city, Meira's early life was typical. She fell in love with a local boy, got married, and had a daughter. Then the German army marched into Warsaw and everything changed. Forced into the ghetto with her family, she found survival to be a daily struggle. Hunger, disease, and unimaginable cruelty were her stark realities. When the ghetto was purged and she was sent to a concentration camp, Meira still had her family, and that was all that mattered. Then the camp was liquidated, and only a handful of survivors remained out of thousands. Meira Sokolow was one of them.No longer a wife or mother, Meira emigrated to New York City. After World War II, the world wanted to move on and start a new chapter, but Meira couldn't turn the page so easily. She walked through her days alone, like a ghost with nothing to tether her to the earth. Then she met Max, a handsome American, who first mistook her for one of the boring socialites he encountered every day. He soon learned she was unlike anyone he had met before, seeing her strength and resilience, even when she couldn't. Max knew he could breathe life into her again, if only she would let him.Based on the harrowing true story of one woman's survival during the Nazi occupation of Poland, and her struggle to find meaning in the aftermath.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 7, 2020
175 people are currently reading
3504 people want to read
About the author
Debra Doxer
13 books372 followersDebra Doxer was born in Boston, and other than a few lost years in the California sunshine, she has always resided in the Boston area. She writes fiction, technical software documents, illegible scribbles on sticky notes, and texts that get mangled by AutoCorrect. She writes for a living, and she writes for fun. When not writing, she’s walking her Havanese puppy and forcing her daughter to listen to New Wave 80s music.
Connect with Debra:
www.facebook.com/AuthorDebraDoxer
www.instagram.com/debradoxer
www.twitter.com/debradoxer
debradoxer@gmail.com
Connect with Debra:
www.facebook.com/AuthorDebraDoxer
www.instagram.com/debradoxer
www.twitter.com/debradoxer
debradoxer@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
July 7, 2024
WOW...I am sitting here crying after just finishing this book, but I wanted to write this review when my feelings are fresh.
This is a historical fiction that the first half took place in Poland, but the second half takes place in United States. This book is told by Meira the main character. This historical fiction does not jumps time instead it tells her life starting in 1912 through the WWII and after the war. This book was written so beautifully, and the characters came to life as you read the book. The events and hard ships that Meira went through during this book you felt like you where there with her. I cried and I laughed while I was reading this book. I have read a ton of Historical Fiction, but this is one of the best written and one of my one favorites. I have to say I like to go into book without knowing a lot about them, so I mainly pick up books by their covers. I have to say this book has been sitting on my Netgalley shelf because I had forgotten this was historical fiction. The cover made me think this book was a Thriller, and I just had not be in the mood to read a thriller. After I have read the book I understand the cover and I think it goes with the book, but I still feel the cover as I thriller feel to it. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher or author (Debra Doxer) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
This is a historical fiction that the first half took place in Poland, but the second half takes place in United States. This book is told by Meira the main character. This historical fiction does not jumps time instead it tells her life starting in 1912 through the WWII and after the war. This book was written so beautifully, and the characters came to life as you read the book. The events and hard ships that Meira went through during this book you felt like you where there with her. I cried and I laughed while I was reading this book. I have read a ton of Historical Fiction, but this is one of the best written and one of my one favorites. I have to say I like to go into book without knowing a lot about them, so I mainly pick up books by their covers. I have to say this book has been sitting on my Netgalley shelf because I had forgotten this was historical fiction. The cover made me think this book was a Thriller, and I just had not be in the mood to read a thriller. After I have read the book I understand the cover and I think it goes with the book, but I still feel the cover as I thriller feel to it. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher or author (Debra Doxer) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
March 5, 2022
Historical fiction is one of my favourite genres as I love looking at the past through these modern eyes and trying to understand what life was like then. Many of the books I’ve read in this genre centre around WWII, specifically the Holocaust. These books usually depict a specific phase in the life of the survivor; they either begin just before the start of WWII and focus on the Jewish tribulations, or they begin just at the end of the war and focus on the ‘life after’ for these lucky-unlucky survivors. But if you are looking for a book that goes the whole hog, “Where Butterflies Go” would be a wonderful option to try out.
Story:
The book can be broadly divided in four sections:
1. Meira’s early life in free Poland.
2. Meira’s life in the ghetto and concentration camp.
3. Meira’s struggle to rebuild her life in New York.
4. Meira’s acceptance of the past and her way ahead.
I must admit that the second part was my favourite, even though it was the most emotionally traumatic. (I won’t bother to give trigger warnings; it’s a true historical account of life under a brutal siege. You need to go in mentally prepared.) This section is well-written, intense, and painful to read. At times, I wondered if the content bordered on being trauma porn, but I soon rectified my thinking: the entire Holocaust is nothing but ghastly trauma and any accurate detail about it is bound to feel extreme.
I also loved the first and third parts of the book. Meira’s early years prior to the WWII gave a nice glimpse into a Polish teen’s life. I enjoyed the cute romance and the parents’ mentality. Reading this section gave the right background to knowing the personality of the entire family and hence, a better understanding of their reactions in the ghetto. The third part, which is set in 1950s New York, is also a eye-opener. What happens to survivors, how easy is it when people say ‘you need to move on”, what does it feel like when people tell you that “you are lucky”? All the aspects of PTSD are covered in this particular section without mentioning the term outright. Really well done!
My rating dipped because of the below reasons:
👉 The final section, while still having its moments of beauty, provides needless information at times. I don’t want to reveal spoilers here, so I’ll just say that some of the details related to the new relationship (especially but not limited to the physical details) didn't add to the story and hence weren't required.
👉 The writing goes frequently into vocalisation of personal thoughts and opinions. While this happens at times in first person narratives, it becomes boring if it happens again and again.
👉 Quite often, the writing shifts gears into ‘telling’ rather than ‘showing’. At times this also leads to a repetition in the writing, as the same content is verbalised in multiple ways consecutively. There need to be some things left to the intelligence and the imagination of the reader. This particular flaw becomes even more obvious in audiobooks as the reiteration of thoughts comes out very clearly when you are listening rather than reading.
👉 I am not sure how I feel about the political stance taken by a couple of the characters. There seemed to be an undertone of finger-pointing in these scenes, and I don’t particularly relish that in the books I read. As far as I am concerned, it is always individuals to be blamed, never religions or countries.
Regardless of these minor shortcomings in the writing, this is still a story I would recommend to all historical fiction fans who don’t want to stop reading a character’s life story at the end of the war but also want to know what happens afterwards. It's an emotional, insightful and inspiring narrative.
I heard the audiobook narrated by Rebecca Gibel and she was an absolutely fantastic narrator. Her accent, her enunciation, her voicing of the individual characters and her emotional nuances – all were spot on.
I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from Audiobooks.com at my request and these are my honest thoughts about it.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Story:
Meira Sokolow is a young Polish Jew residing in Warsaw. Her early life was typical and yet not without its standout moments. After a few hiccups, she gets married to the boy of her dreams and begins her family. Six years after this marriage, the Germans come invading and her life changes almost overnight. Her family is forced into a ghetto and the first priority of every single day was survival - against hunger, against disease, against the German brutalities… After some long and torturous years, with only a handful of survivors left from the concentration camp, Meira decides to go to New York to begin her life anew. But is it so easy to lay to rest the ghosts of the past?
The story, written in the first person perspective of Meira, is based on the true story of the author’s great-aunt.
The book can be broadly divided in four sections:
1. Meira’s early life in free Poland.
2. Meira’s life in the ghetto and concentration camp.
3. Meira’s struggle to rebuild her life in New York.
4. Meira’s acceptance of the past and her way ahead.
I must admit that the second part was my favourite, even though it was the most emotionally traumatic. (I won’t bother to give trigger warnings; it’s a true historical account of life under a brutal siege. You need to go in mentally prepared.) This section is well-written, intense, and painful to read. At times, I wondered if the content bordered on being trauma porn, but I soon rectified my thinking: the entire Holocaust is nothing but ghastly trauma and any accurate detail about it is bound to feel extreme.
I also loved the first and third parts of the book. Meira’s early years prior to the WWII gave a nice glimpse into a Polish teen’s life. I enjoyed the cute romance and the parents’ mentality. Reading this section gave the right background to knowing the personality of the entire family and hence, a better understanding of their reactions in the ghetto. The third part, which is set in 1950s New York, is also a eye-opener. What happens to survivors, how easy is it when people say ‘you need to move on”, what does it feel like when people tell you that “you are lucky”? All the aspects of PTSD are covered in this particular section without mentioning the term outright. Really well done!
My rating dipped because of the below reasons:
👉 The final section, while still having its moments of beauty, provides needless information at times. I don’t want to reveal spoilers here, so I’ll just say that some of the details related to the new relationship (especially but not limited to the physical details) didn't add to the story and hence weren't required.
👉 The writing goes frequently into vocalisation of personal thoughts and opinions. While this happens at times in first person narratives, it becomes boring if it happens again and again.
👉 Quite often, the writing shifts gears into ‘telling’ rather than ‘showing’. At times this also leads to a repetition in the writing, as the same content is verbalised in multiple ways consecutively. There need to be some things left to the intelligence and the imagination of the reader. This particular flaw becomes even more obvious in audiobooks as the reiteration of thoughts comes out very clearly when you are listening rather than reading.
👉 I am not sure how I feel about the political stance taken by a couple of the characters. There seemed to be an undertone of finger-pointing in these scenes, and I don’t particularly relish that in the books I read. As far as I am concerned, it is always individuals to be blamed, never religions or countries.
Regardless of these minor shortcomings in the writing, this is still a story I would recommend to all historical fiction fans who don’t want to stop reading a character’s life story at the end of the war but also want to know what happens afterwards. It's an emotional, insightful and inspiring narrative.
I heard the audiobook narrated by Rebecca Gibel and she was an absolutely fantastic narrator. Her accent, her enunciation, her voicing of the individual characters and her emotional nuances – all were spot on.
I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from Audiobooks.com at my request and these are my honest thoughts about it.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
November 26, 2020
If there is any book that's left me impassioned completely, it has to be this one. Debra has produced an elegant job of recreating her great-aunt survival story of the Holocaust. The circumstances are horrific yet heartfelt at the same point. I am incapable of comprehending how it must have felt to beget the memories of the past that no one would ever desire to revisit. I would suggest everyone read this novel at least once.
The book, as based on actual experiences, instantly stimulates curiosity. It's based on the Holocaust, hence more the interest to know how it must have felt really existing in it. The book cover and the title especially stand out for me; the exact meaning of the name is revealed in the end, and it gave me goosebumps. It is definitely an inspirational novel; the protagonist's strength and resilience unquestionably speak volumes.
The book, as based on actual experiences, instantly stimulates curiosity. It's based on the Holocaust, hence more the interest to know how it must have felt really existing in it. The book cover and the title especially stand out for me; the exact meaning of the name is revealed in the end, and it gave me goosebumps. It is definitely an inspirational novel; the protagonist's strength and resilience unquestionably speak volumes.
October 3, 2020
WHERE BUTTERFLIES GO
BY DEBRA DOXER
If you only read one Holocaust book or historical fiction book about World War II this year I implore you to read this one called, "Where Butterflies Go," written by the talented author Debra Doxer. In the epilogue of this historical fiction novel Ms. Doxer states that it took her many years to write this presumably because it is based on a true story about her Great Aunt who had something so devastatingly, horrifying happen to her I am amazed that she survived and then went on to emigrate to New York. The Holocaust word is not written throughout the main narrative of this book because what happened to the Jewish population in Europe during World War II was referred to in the 1930's as the biblical term "Shoah" to describe the mass killings of its people. I didn't know that the term "Holocaust," was not coined as a term to describe the horrible atrocities visited on the Jewish population until the 1970's. Hitler and his Nazi forces always called it, "the final solution."
I absolutely loved the main character Meira, whom this author has made to base this harrowing tale on. Her only crime was fate and being born in Warsaw, Poland in 1912. I had no idea and was greatly saddened to learn that the Polish ethic group treated the Jewish people so badly in their own country of origin as the German's were later to do so. Meira's character is what gives this book so much of its stunning beauty because of her strength and resilience. So this story is very balanced. On the one hand we get to be an armchair witness to all of the gut wrenching events that unfold as Meira grows from a beautiful young girl who catches the eye of her future husband whom was picked out by her mother for Meira's older sister, Zotia.
Meira's mother invites Avrom, a young boy from the same village to dinner to marry off her eldest daughter Zotia and the only reason he attends with his parents is because he mistakenly thinks it is Meira that he is going to be paired up with. Meira's mother starts a rumor that Avrom and Zotia are to be married and when Zotia finds out that he is not interested in her she is so embarrassed that she flees to America to be married by a young man whom her friend Yuri makes the arrangements. In 1939, Warsaw starts being invaded by the Nazi's who liquidate village after village forcing many people from their homes without their belongings. This means Meira's family who consist of her mother, father, younger sister Leah and her husband Avrom and their beloved daughter Tovah and his parents all crowded in one flat. There is a shortage of food and starvation soon sets in, disease and bombing on a regular basis.
Meira's daughter Tovah is only ten year's old and the family is getting bombed regularly as well as other's and have to flee to the stairs for shelter. Meira's daughter Tovah is so pure and so innocent and asks Meira one day why can't we just say we are sorry to the German's and maybe all of this suffering will stop. One day Tovah says to Meira that a yellow butterfly with black wings landed on her and she thinks it was Meira's father who had perished that came to visit her. Tovah says to Meira that she will come back and visit Meira in the form of this same yellow butterfly with black wings. If this doesn't break your heart nothing will except what lays in Meira's future which I won't spoil.
This novel isn't all bleak. There is hope when Meira emigrates to New York. She is truly a heroic character to be a survivor and for a time she wanders through her life aimlessly without a purpose other than being lucky to survive the concentration camp. She has spunk to her character and even though she is living day to day there are many good things in store for her. She is talented and can earn a living cutting hair where she meets a client named Karen who takes a liking to Meira and invites her over to dinner where she tries to play matchmaker with her brother Max. Meira isn't interested and Max is incensed at the idea of meeting another gold digger socialite interested only in his money. Max sees the perseverance and strength of Meira's stellar character even though she doesn't realize it about herself.
I loved this work of historical fiction based on a factual person and wanted to read it again from start to finish after I read it for the first time. This is truly a standout book for me among all the other Holocaust books or World War II books that I have ever read. At times the stark beauty was so touching to me that I couldn't keep from crying. Debra Doxer writes with an authentic voice in the first person so I got to witness Meira's sadness and happiness. If ever a novel was written that pays homage to a real life survivor overcoming tremendous adversity this one is it. It publishes on October 7, 2020, which is in three days. I promise you that if you purchase this book you will not be sorry and maybe you will even thank me for recommending it so highly. This is a favorite that is a story that I will never forget and one that I am purchasing for myself as a special keepsake that is going on that special bookshelf. Haunting, Brilliant, Stunning and I want to thank Debra Doxer for having the courage to write this narrative about her Great Aunt and making it available to all of us readers. This book really resonated with me personally for several reasons. Between 2013 and 2020 I have lost my whole family. Some to shocking and tragic death which I had no time to prepare. Other's no less tragic but brutally painful and life scarring which is why I can relate to Meira's needing to find a purpose. This book symbolizes for me that with courage and perspective hope can be found in the places we least expect to find it and there are Angel's that walk this earth in humanity. I have found myself in this novel and Meira's character I hope that I can find redemption and my authentic friend's are my gifts. Thank you Debra Doxer for having the courage and stamina for sharing your journey. I believe things happen for a reason as senseless and painful as they may seem at the time and finding this novel has been as random as it seems was part of my destiny to discover it.
Publication Date: October 7, 2020
A huge debt of gratitude from me to Net Galley, Debra Doxer for so generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
#WhereButterfliesGo #DebraDoxer #NetGalley
BY DEBRA DOXER
If you only read one Holocaust book or historical fiction book about World War II this year I implore you to read this one called, "Where Butterflies Go," written by the talented author Debra Doxer. In the epilogue of this historical fiction novel Ms. Doxer states that it took her many years to write this presumably because it is based on a true story about her Great Aunt who had something so devastatingly, horrifying happen to her I am amazed that she survived and then went on to emigrate to New York. The Holocaust word is not written throughout the main narrative of this book because what happened to the Jewish population in Europe during World War II was referred to in the 1930's as the biblical term "Shoah" to describe the mass killings of its people. I didn't know that the term "Holocaust," was not coined as a term to describe the horrible atrocities visited on the Jewish population until the 1970's. Hitler and his Nazi forces always called it, "the final solution."
I absolutely loved the main character Meira, whom this author has made to base this harrowing tale on. Her only crime was fate and being born in Warsaw, Poland in 1912. I had no idea and was greatly saddened to learn that the Polish ethic group treated the Jewish people so badly in their own country of origin as the German's were later to do so. Meira's character is what gives this book so much of its stunning beauty because of her strength and resilience. So this story is very balanced. On the one hand we get to be an armchair witness to all of the gut wrenching events that unfold as Meira grows from a beautiful young girl who catches the eye of her future husband whom was picked out by her mother for Meira's older sister, Zotia.
Meira's mother invites Avrom, a young boy from the same village to dinner to marry off her eldest daughter Zotia and the only reason he attends with his parents is because he mistakenly thinks it is Meira that he is going to be paired up with. Meira's mother starts a rumor that Avrom and Zotia are to be married and when Zotia finds out that he is not interested in her she is so embarrassed that she flees to America to be married by a young man whom her friend Yuri makes the arrangements. In 1939, Warsaw starts being invaded by the Nazi's who liquidate village after village forcing many people from their homes without their belongings. This means Meira's family who consist of her mother, father, younger sister Leah and her husband Avrom and their beloved daughter Tovah and his parents all crowded in one flat. There is a shortage of food and starvation soon sets in, disease and bombing on a regular basis.
Meira's daughter Tovah is only ten year's old and the family is getting bombed regularly as well as other's and have to flee to the stairs for shelter. Meira's daughter Tovah is so pure and so innocent and asks Meira one day why can't we just say we are sorry to the German's and maybe all of this suffering will stop. One day Tovah says to Meira that a yellow butterfly with black wings landed on her and she thinks it was Meira's father who had perished that came to visit her. Tovah says to Meira that she will come back and visit Meira in the form of this same yellow butterfly with black wings. If this doesn't break your heart nothing will except what lays in Meira's future which I won't spoil.
This novel isn't all bleak. There is hope when Meira emigrates to New York. She is truly a heroic character to be a survivor and for a time she wanders through her life aimlessly without a purpose other than being lucky to survive the concentration camp. She has spunk to her character and even though she is living day to day there are many good things in store for her. She is talented and can earn a living cutting hair where she meets a client named Karen who takes a liking to Meira and invites her over to dinner where she tries to play matchmaker with her brother Max. Meira isn't interested and Max is incensed at the idea of meeting another gold digger socialite interested only in his money. Max sees the perseverance and strength of Meira's stellar character even though she doesn't realize it about herself.
I loved this work of historical fiction based on a factual person and wanted to read it again from start to finish after I read it for the first time. This is truly a standout book for me among all the other Holocaust books or World War II books that I have ever read. At times the stark beauty was so touching to me that I couldn't keep from crying. Debra Doxer writes with an authentic voice in the first person so I got to witness Meira's sadness and happiness. If ever a novel was written that pays homage to a real life survivor overcoming tremendous adversity this one is it. It publishes on October 7, 2020, which is in three days. I promise you that if you purchase this book you will not be sorry and maybe you will even thank me for recommending it so highly. This is a favorite that is a story that I will never forget and one that I am purchasing for myself as a special keepsake that is going on that special bookshelf. Haunting, Brilliant, Stunning and I want to thank Debra Doxer for having the courage to write this narrative about her Great Aunt and making it available to all of us readers. This book really resonated with me personally for several reasons. Between 2013 and 2020 I have lost my whole family. Some to shocking and tragic death which I had no time to prepare. Other's no less tragic but brutally painful and life scarring which is why I can relate to Meira's needing to find a purpose. This book symbolizes for me that with courage and perspective hope can be found in the places we least expect to find it and there are Angel's that walk this earth in humanity. I have found myself in this novel and Meira's character I hope that I can find redemption and my authentic friend's are my gifts. Thank you Debra Doxer for having the courage and stamina for sharing your journey. I believe things happen for a reason as senseless and painful as they may seem at the time and finding this novel has been as random as it seems was part of my destiny to discover it.
Publication Date: October 7, 2020
A huge debt of gratitude from me to Net Galley, Debra Doxer for so generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
#WhereButterfliesGo #DebraDoxer #NetGalley
March 11, 2023
A poignant, emotive, nicely constructed piece of Holocaust/Shoah historical fiction.
My sense is this is a modestly popular, but by no means mainstream, offering, the kind of thing you'd find on an indie booklist or through word of mouth (which is how I came to it). In that context, I expect there will be different receptions/reactions based upon the readers' familiarity with the historical context. At a time when (sadly, for the last 5-6 years) anti-Semitism appears on the rise both in the US and around the world, I think this type of literature/historical fiction is incredibly important and makes a great contribution to awareness/consciousness. Information is power, ignorance benefits no one.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, my guess is that many consumers (fully versed in the history) will read it more as a novel/drama. But while I find myself in the later group (I grew up knowing people with surprisingly similar histories, I've visited a number of the original camps, etc.), that in no way diminishes the value of the work.
As linear (and appropriately predictable - it's historical fiction, so context matters) much of the storyline played out, I didn't see either of the two late-in-the-book plot twists coming. Both were as gratifying as (for me) they were) unexpected.
As much as I enjoyed it, the prose, while clear and direct, was so sparse (bordering on simple) that I hoped for a little more ... color, lyricism, or whatever ... but, overall, the total package was effective and highly worthwhile.
Did I cry through almost the entirety of the five-page Epilogue? Of course.
Reviewer's quirky suggestion: the word lucky appears frequently in the book with appropriate baggage and complexity. It reminded me of the related, but incredibly different, non-fiction offering by Thomas Burgenthal, A Lucky Child, which I cannot recommend enough.
My sense is this is a modestly popular, but by no means mainstream, offering, the kind of thing you'd find on an indie booklist or through word of mouth (which is how I came to it). In that context, I expect there will be different receptions/reactions based upon the readers' familiarity with the historical context. At a time when (sadly, for the last 5-6 years) anti-Semitism appears on the rise both in the US and around the world, I think this type of literature/historical fiction is incredibly important and makes a great contribution to awareness/consciousness. Information is power, ignorance benefits no one.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, my guess is that many consumers (fully versed in the history) will read it more as a novel/drama. But while I find myself in the later group (I grew up knowing people with surprisingly similar histories, I've visited a number of the original camps, etc.), that in no way diminishes the value of the work.
As linear (and appropriately predictable - it's historical fiction, so context matters) much of the storyline played out, I didn't see either of the two late-in-the-book plot twists coming. Both were as gratifying as (for me) they were) unexpected.
As much as I enjoyed it, the prose, while clear and direct, was so sparse (bordering on simple) that I hoped for a little more ... color, lyricism, or whatever ... but, overall, the total package was effective and highly worthwhile.
Did I cry through almost the entirety of the five-page Epilogue? Of course.
Reviewer's quirky suggestion: the word lucky appears frequently in the book with appropriate baggage and complexity. It reminded me of the related, but incredibly different, non-fiction offering by Thomas Burgenthal, A Lucky Child, which I cannot recommend enough.
October 12, 2020
Wow, wow, wow! This book was so beautiful, I don't even know how I can write a review worthy of it!
Where Butterflies Go is a stunning and highly emotional read that will grab you from the start and not let go. I read it in one sitting - it's that good!
Based on the life of Author Debra Doxer's grandmother's sister, Where Butterflies Go tells the story of Meira, who is living with her sisters and parents in the Jewish quarter in Warsaw, Poland, at the time when the book begins. The anti-semitism in the country is on the rise and a few years later when she is married and has a young daughter the German army marches into Poland. The Polish government does nothing to help protect them so they are forced to leave their homes and taken by the Nazis to various camps around the country. Meira and her family are taken to a ghetto where Meira works as a seamstress until one day when the Nazis removed everyone from the camp and murdered them. Miraculously, Meira survives and perseveres to eventually make it to America.
"I was the luckiest unlucky person I knew."
"Entire families were eradicated from the face of the earth. Their stories ended abruptly, and the generations meant to follow would never come. It wasn't only the people who were gone-their history was gone too. Heirlooms were stolen. Synagogues were burned down. Traditions were erased."
Once in America, she reunites with her long lost sister though their relationship is strained because of something that happened in their past. Meira forges on though - working as a hairstylist and then seamstress again. When she meets Max a new future is now a possibility, but can she move on with someone new?
This was a seriously amazing read! Yes, it was extremely sad and I swear I went through an entire box of Kleenex but it's so important to me that we hear these stories so that we may bear witness and have the foresight to make sure that something like this never happens again. While there was a lot of loss and horrific things that happened, there is also hope and love. I think the Author's family should be very proud of her loving telling of Meira's story, and I am grateful for having had the chance to read it. I know I will never forget Meira, and Avrom, and especially little Tovah.
Where Butterflies Go is a stunning and highly emotional read that will grab you from the start and not let go. I read it in one sitting - it's that good!
Based on the life of Author Debra Doxer's grandmother's sister, Where Butterflies Go tells the story of Meira, who is living with her sisters and parents in the Jewish quarter in Warsaw, Poland, at the time when the book begins. The anti-semitism in the country is on the rise and a few years later when she is married and has a young daughter the German army marches into Poland. The Polish government does nothing to help protect them so they are forced to leave their homes and taken by the Nazis to various camps around the country. Meira and her family are taken to a ghetto where Meira works as a seamstress until one day when the Nazis removed everyone from the camp and murdered them. Miraculously, Meira survives and perseveres to eventually make it to America.
"I was the luckiest unlucky person I knew."
"Entire families were eradicated from the face of the earth. Their stories ended abruptly, and the generations meant to follow would never come. It wasn't only the people who were gone-their history was gone too. Heirlooms were stolen. Synagogues were burned down. Traditions were erased."
Once in America, she reunites with her long lost sister though their relationship is strained because of something that happened in their past. Meira forges on though - working as a hairstylist and then seamstress again. When she meets Max a new future is now a possibility, but can she move on with someone new?
This was a seriously amazing read! Yes, it was extremely sad and I swear I went through an entire box of Kleenex but it's so important to me that we hear these stories so that we may bear witness and have the foresight to make sure that something like this never happens again. While there was a lot of loss and horrific things that happened, there is also hope and love. I think the Author's family should be very proud of her loving telling of Meira's story, and I am grateful for having had the chance to read it. I know I will never forget Meira, and Avrom, and especially little Tovah.
October 29, 2020
In this incredibly touching story by Debra Doxer we meet Meira Sokolow, a Jewish woman born in Poland in 1912. She married young to a man her parents wanted for her older sister. Then after the German army invaded Warsaw, everything Meira had was lost. Along with her husband and daughter, she survived in the ghetto for years. Things were horrid during those years. They suffered from hunger and disease, with things ending very badly for everyone Meira loved.
A rare survivor, she was able to emigrate to New York City, and had hopes of starting over, and at the very least, with her sister who fortunately got out of Poland before things changed so drastically there. Although Meira is now safe, she is hardly the woman she used to be, and is more like a shadow passing through time. While she struggled to make her way she met a man named Max, who was enamored with her from the very start.
The seriousness of this book did not let up, especially as Meira went through the various phases of her life, to the moments of levity when hope began to shine through. I loved the tie in with the butterflies as the story progressed, all the way through to the heartwarming ending.
While reading this book I felt for Meira more than words could express. To see her go through the motions every day of her life, with challenge after challenge facing her was so very hard. But to see her life take a turn for the better, especially when love began to slowly enter into the picture was quite remarkable. This incredible story is one that I will not forget any time soon.
Many thanks to Debra Doxer and HF Virtual Book Tours for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
A rare survivor, she was able to emigrate to New York City, and had hopes of starting over, and at the very least, with her sister who fortunately got out of Poland before things changed so drastically there. Although Meira is now safe, she is hardly the woman she used to be, and is more like a shadow passing through time. While she struggled to make her way she met a man named Max, who was enamored with her from the very start.
The seriousness of this book did not let up, especially as Meira went through the various phases of her life, to the moments of levity when hope began to shine through. I loved the tie in with the butterflies as the story progressed, all the way through to the heartwarming ending.
While reading this book I felt for Meira more than words could express. To see her go through the motions every day of her life, with challenge after challenge facing her was so very hard. But to see her life take a turn for the better, especially when love began to slowly enter into the picture was quite remarkable. This incredible story is one that I will not forget any time soon.
Many thanks to Debra Doxer and HF Virtual Book Tours for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
October 19, 2020
Touching and so beautifully written, this is the story of a Jewish girl living in Poland with her parents and sisters. Meira grows up and lives her life even having a daughter Tovah before the Nazi come and wreck her life. Meira can't imagine what's to come but the days gets worse and worse and the killing is endless.
This story was different from most WW2 novels because it really isn't a story just about the war. We see Meira grow and make mistakes during the first part of the book. We see her married and living her life. Then we see her life shattered by the despicable Nazis. The parts during the war are hard to read but not graphic. The emotional detail made me choke up a bit but it really shows you what millions went through.
The last part is probably my favorite part of this emotional journey. Getting to see what Jewish refugees faced after war broke my heart again. Not many books show this side. As well as the fact that most Nazis never paid for their crimes. Can you believe that?
A necessary look at tragedy, rising up and living again, this story will stay with you long after you stopped reading.
This story was different from most WW2 novels because it really isn't a story just about the war. We see Meira grow and make mistakes during the first part of the book. We see her married and living her life. Then we see her life shattered by the despicable Nazis. The parts during the war are hard to read but not graphic. The emotional detail made me choke up a bit but it really shows you what millions went through.
The last part is probably my favorite part of this emotional journey. Getting to see what Jewish refugees faced after war broke my heart again. Not many books show this side. As well as the fact that most Nazis never paid for their crimes. Can you believe that?
A necessary look at tragedy, rising up and living again, this story will stay with you long after you stopped reading.
October 1, 2020
First of all...thank you to NetGalley and Debra Doxer for an ARC copy of this phenomenal book. It’s definitely one of the best books I’ve read this year and I devoured it in a little over a day. Once you crack the spine, you won’t be able to put it down.
Meira is your typical girl growing up in Poland during the 1930’s. She falls in love with the handsome Avrom and they have a wonderful life together with a beautiful little girl. The only thing that sets them apart is that they’re Jewish and when the Nazis come marching in...their life turns upside down and drips with tragedy. We follow Meira from her teenage years and walk right along side of her when she and her family are forced into a ghetto and then sent to a concentration camp. We feel her pain at the loss of her family under the hands of evil. As the book progresses, we follow Meira to the US, the sole survivor of her family. Thanks to the sponsorship of a sister who immigrated years before the war, Meira sets out to try to start again. Until she meets Max, Meira is just “marking time”. She isn’t ready to move forward. She isn’t ready to tell her story. She isn’t ready to let go of the past, afraid to lose the memories. Max helps her come to turns with all she has lost and awakens her spirit. With him to lean on, Meira realizes that life is still worth living.
This story is unbelievably emotional but it’s beautiful. I love that it immediately draws you in. I love that it’s written in first person and you’re able to see things through Meira’s eyes. You feel her pain, you feel her joy, you feel what she feels every step of the way. It touches on the importance of PTSD and survivors guilt. Those things went ignored so often after WWII. It’s relevant today. Being able to talk, to share their story not only educates us but it helps them heal. The importance of listening, I think has a hidden symbolism in this story. And I beg you to read the authors notes at the end. You’ll learn that while it is fiction, it’s based on a true story and has familial ties to the author. I’m going to carry this book with me for a long time. Thank you Ms Doxer for sharing this story with us.
Meira is your typical girl growing up in Poland during the 1930’s. She falls in love with the handsome Avrom and they have a wonderful life together with a beautiful little girl. The only thing that sets them apart is that they’re Jewish and when the Nazis come marching in...their life turns upside down and drips with tragedy. We follow Meira from her teenage years and walk right along side of her when she and her family are forced into a ghetto and then sent to a concentration camp. We feel her pain at the loss of her family under the hands of evil. As the book progresses, we follow Meira to the US, the sole survivor of her family. Thanks to the sponsorship of a sister who immigrated years before the war, Meira sets out to try to start again. Until she meets Max, Meira is just “marking time”. She isn’t ready to move forward. She isn’t ready to tell her story. She isn’t ready to let go of the past, afraid to lose the memories. Max helps her come to turns with all she has lost and awakens her spirit. With him to lean on, Meira realizes that life is still worth living.
This story is unbelievably emotional but it’s beautiful. I love that it immediately draws you in. I love that it’s written in first person and you’re able to see things through Meira’s eyes. You feel her pain, you feel her joy, you feel what she feels every step of the way. It touches on the importance of PTSD and survivors guilt. Those things went ignored so often after WWII. It’s relevant today. Being able to talk, to share their story not only educates us but it helps them heal. The importance of listening, I think has a hidden symbolism in this story. And I beg you to read the authors notes at the end. You’ll learn that while it is fiction, it’s based on a true story and has familial ties to the author. I’m going to carry this book with me for a long time. Thank you Ms Doxer for sharing this story with us.
September 20, 2020
Meira Is a typical young Jewish girl growing up in Poland. Who has a crush on a boy. That boy becomes her husband and they live happily ever after ...at least that was the plan ...until Poland is invaded and they are forced into the ghetto and then the concentration camps.
This book is about Meira and her life before, during and after the war.
We watch as Meira suffers such devastating loss even though the world is telling her to move on, she’s can’t seem to.
This book takes us from pre war Poland, to concentration camps to New York . A story of resilience, strength, and remembrance.
Based on a true story and one that needs to be handed down from generation to generation .
This was such a beautiful, inspirational story that had me in tears.
This book is about Meira and her life before, during and after the war.
We watch as Meira suffers such devastating loss even though the world is telling her to move on, she’s can’t seem to.
This book takes us from pre war Poland, to concentration camps to New York . A story of resilience, strength, and remembrance.
Based on a true story and one that needs to be handed down from generation to generation .
This was such a beautiful, inspirational story that had me in tears.
October 17, 2020
Don’t let this title fool you! I was very intrigued by the title, and a tidbit here was given, and a reminder of butterflies was mentioned there and then it is brought full circle, just when you are wondering how the title ties in with this story or war, love, loss, faith and new beginnings. Based on a true story, this novel is very well written and goes beyond just the story of war, but this woman’s survival through the rest of her life after the war. Often we do not hear about how it ends, this one gives us a look into life after such an atrocity of history.
Meira was another victim of WWII, camps and seeing death first hand everyday. She and her family believed in their faith and the continued thought that it could not get any worse. No one had any inclination of just how devastating the war turned out to be. Meira either lost her family members to death during the invasions, or they were sent to camps to die. The only family she had left was her sister, in America. Her sister who had fled after any embarrassing event, and little did she know, she saved her own life on such a rash decision.
Meira, by the grace of sheer luck – although no one felt lucky during the war, survives a mass shooting and eventually heads into the woods hoping to find refuge and safety amongst someone trustworthy. She eventually makes her way to American through refugee status, and because she had family already established there.
When Meira arrives to this country of new beginnings, she can hardly believe it’s like a war never happened. Yes soldiers are retuning home, and thousands of people are coming as refugees to start anew but everything is so different, and colorful and bring and bourgeois. She has a hard time understanding how to fit into this new world, and to be accept that often people do not want to hear about the war and don’t seem to care about all she lost. She’s often give the “it happened, it’s over, let’s move on” cold shoulder.
Meira somewhat floats through life feeling empty and without cause, as she continues to try to understand her grief but to remain positive in the new life she has been give. On a whim, she accepts a dinner invitation from a woman who has become like a friend, and after what seemed to be a disastrous dinner, over time comes to realize that maybe there is more to life than the same routine.
Meira learns that there are those who do want to hear about her horror of the war, they want to know the truth of what happened. They want all the details and she soon learns that this is what she needed to help with her grief, and to help feel as if she has meaning once again. Becoming outspoken about what she endured has also helped her to open up to love and the thought of family once again.
I loved this novel! I also will smile every time I see a butterfly from now on, and I may just have to look a little more closely for the yellow ones. Thank you to the author, Debra Doxer for sending me an autographed copy and taking the time to share your aunts story! Also, thank you to Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for the invite – I may not have found this book otherwise!
Meira was another victim of WWII, camps and seeing death first hand everyday. She and her family believed in their faith and the continued thought that it could not get any worse. No one had any inclination of just how devastating the war turned out to be. Meira either lost her family members to death during the invasions, or they were sent to camps to die. The only family she had left was her sister, in America. Her sister who had fled after any embarrassing event, and little did she know, she saved her own life on such a rash decision.
Meira, by the grace of sheer luck – although no one felt lucky during the war, survives a mass shooting and eventually heads into the woods hoping to find refuge and safety amongst someone trustworthy. She eventually makes her way to American through refugee status, and because she had family already established there.
When Meira arrives to this country of new beginnings, she can hardly believe it’s like a war never happened. Yes soldiers are retuning home, and thousands of people are coming as refugees to start anew but everything is so different, and colorful and bring and bourgeois. She has a hard time understanding how to fit into this new world, and to be accept that often people do not want to hear about the war and don’t seem to care about all she lost. She’s often give the “it happened, it’s over, let’s move on” cold shoulder.
Meira somewhat floats through life feeling empty and without cause, as she continues to try to understand her grief but to remain positive in the new life she has been give. On a whim, she accepts a dinner invitation from a woman who has become like a friend, and after what seemed to be a disastrous dinner, over time comes to realize that maybe there is more to life than the same routine.
Meira learns that there are those who do want to hear about her horror of the war, they want to know the truth of what happened. They want all the details and she soon learns that this is what she needed to help with her grief, and to help feel as if she has meaning once again. Becoming outspoken about what she endured has also helped her to open up to love and the thought of family once again.
I loved this novel! I also will smile every time I see a butterfly from now on, and I may just have to look a little more closely for the yellow ones. Thank you to the author, Debra Doxer for sending me an autographed copy and taking the time to share your aunts story! Also, thank you to Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for the invite – I may not have found this book otherwise!
October 23, 2020
I read a lot of WWII historical fiction and its one of my favorite genres. This book is different because it's not only about the war but it's also about acclimating to the United States after the war where people don't really want to hear or remember what went on in Europe. According to the author, the book was based on the life of the author's great aunt.
Part 1 takes place in Europe. In 1932, Meira lived in the Jewish Quarter of Warsaw with her parents, older sister and younger sister. They were poor but had all they needed and were a loving family. Meira married Avrom and they had a daughter, Tovah. When they began to hear rumors about Germany invading Poland, they knew they would be safe because they were good, hardworking people. In 1939, the German Army invaded Poland and the family learned how difficult life would be. They were soon forced to move to the Warsaw Ghetto where people barely got enough to eat and life was very difficult. When the Germans decided to destroy the ghetto, the small family of three was sent to a work camp where they treated even worse.
By the end of the war, only Meira was still alive. Without her family and her home, she knew that she needed to leave Europe behind and try to start a new life.
Part 2 takes place in NYC where Meira has an apartment and a job in New York. She felt like a ghost 'unable to process the horrors of the past few years, unable to think about my life after. For me there was no after. After didn't matter...I lived but I had nothing to live for." (loc1324) It was difficult for her in American where everyone wanted to look ahead and not think about the war. As she acclimated to America and met a man who understood her and loved her, she began to realize that her family would want her to move ahead and try to find happiness in her new life.
Part 1 of this book was difficult to read because of the brutality that the Nazis inflicted on the Jewish prisoners at the camp. The author provided a very personal look at the atrocities. Part 2 was difficult to read but from a mental perspective. I cried for Meira as she tried to begin her new life bogged down in her past and her memories of her family. She was a brave and resilient woman even when she didn't realize it. It was fantastic to see her finding happiness while she never forgot the past.
This is one of the best books that I've read about this horrific time in history. It was very sad to read about the survivors of the camps and their struggle to overcome their survivors guilt as they tried to begin their lives again. If you enjoy WWII historical fiction, you don't want to miss this one!
Part 1 takes place in Europe. In 1932, Meira lived in the Jewish Quarter of Warsaw with her parents, older sister and younger sister. They were poor but had all they needed and were a loving family. Meira married Avrom and they had a daughter, Tovah. When they began to hear rumors about Germany invading Poland, they knew they would be safe because they were good, hardworking people. In 1939, the German Army invaded Poland and the family learned how difficult life would be. They were soon forced to move to the Warsaw Ghetto where people barely got enough to eat and life was very difficult. When the Germans decided to destroy the ghetto, the small family of three was sent to a work camp where they treated even worse.
By the end of the war, only Meira was still alive. Without her family and her home, she knew that she needed to leave Europe behind and try to start a new life.
Part 2 takes place in NYC where Meira has an apartment and a job in New York. She felt like a ghost 'unable to process the horrors of the past few years, unable to think about my life after. For me there was no after. After didn't matter...I lived but I had nothing to live for." (loc1324) It was difficult for her in American where everyone wanted to look ahead and not think about the war. As she acclimated to America and met a man who understood her and loved her, she began to realize that her family would want her to move ahead and try to find happiness in her new life.
Part 1 of this book was difficult to read because of the brutality that the Nazis inflicted on the Jewish prisoners at the camp. The author provided a very personal look at the atrocities. Part 2 was difficult to read but from a mental perspective. I cried for Meira as she tried to begin her new life bogged down in her past and her memories of her family. She was a brave and resilient woman even when she didn't realize it. It was fantastic to see her finding happiness while she never forgot the past.
This is one of the best books that I've read about this horrific time in history. It was very sad to read about the survivors of the camps and their struggle to overcome their survivors guilt as they tried to begin their lives again. If you enjoy WWII historical fiction, you don't want to miss this one!
October 29, 2020
‘Those that love us never really leave us.’ ~ Sirius Black
My mum found me sitting earlier staring blankly at my laptop screen and asked me what was wrong. I explained I didn’t know where to start with my review of this book and was struggling to find the words. (Yup, the irony was not lost on me either!)
Since my mum has witnessed first-hand the emotional impact this story has had on me, she simply told me to write from the heart. “Tell them how you felt”, she said.
So, *deep breath* here goes...
Meira’s story shook me to the very core of my being. I was utterly spellbound from start to finish. I couldn’t bear to tear myself away even when it felt like my heart was breaking at all Meira has witnessed, suffered, and endured.
It was heart-rending, tragic, emotive, inspiring, and uplifting all at the same time. In short, it’s a story that I will never forget. Telling of a time that we need to remember even if we’ll never truly be able to understand it. But as Meira said herself in the book, “Sometimes hate has no reason.”
For Meira to find the strength and fortitude to forge a new life in a new country after losing everyone and everything made my heart soar. I know she didn’t see it like that, but she is a hero in my book.
Can I tell you all something? I sorta, kinda, okay totally, fell in love with Max. This gorgeous, tender man that fell in love with a woman and all her broken pieces. His only wish to help her fit them back together again, all the while knowing there will always be a few pieces missing. Nevertheless, hoping to add a new piece from him to help her heart beat once again.
Where Butterflies Go was my first introduction to Debra Doxer’s work and I could tell how much this story meant to her. I can’t wait to read more of her books. And she writes PNR (my fav genre!).
Even though I currently feel like I’ve been hit by an emotional two by four and I’m worried this isn’t the correct way to phrase this – I loved this story.
*sigh*
There is no place for hate in this world. End of.
My mum found me sitting earlier staring blankly at my laptop screen and asked me what was wrong. I explained I didn’t know where to start with my review of this book and was struggling to find the words. (Yup, the irony was not lost on me either!)
Since my mum has witnessed first-hand the emotional impact this story has had on me, she simply told me to write from the heart. “Tell them how you felt”, she said.
So, *deep breath* here goes...
Meira’s story shook me to the very core of my being. I was utterly spellbound from start to finish. I couldn’t bear to tear myself away even when it felt like my heart was breaking at all Meira has witnessed, suffered, and endured.
It was heart-rending, tragic, emotive, inspiring, and uplifting all at the same time. In short, it’s a story that I will never forget. Telling of a time that we need to remember even if we’ll never truly be able to understand it. But as Meira said herself in the book, “Sometimes hate has no reason.”
For Meira to find the strength and fortitude to forge a new life in a new country after losing everyone and everything made my heart soar. I know she didn’t see it like that, but she is a hero in my book.
Can I tell you all something? I sorta, kinda, okay totally, fell in love with Max. This gorgeous, tender man that fell in love with a woman and all her broken pieces. His only wish to help her fit them back together again, all the while knowing there will always be a few pieces missing. Nevertheless, hoping to add a new piece from him to help her heart beat once again.
Where Butterflies Go was my first introduction to Debra Doxer’s work and I could tell how much this story meant to her. I can’t wait to read more of her books. And she writes PNR (my fav genre!).
Even though I currently feel like I’ve been hit by an emotional two by four and I’m worried this isn’t the correct way to phrase this – I loved this story.
*sigh*
There is no place for hate in this world. End of.
September 28, 2020
The story begins with Meira Sokolow living in the Jewish Quarter in Warsaw, Poland in 1932 with her mother, father, and two sisters. Through a case of mistaken identity, her older sister Zotia is publicly embarrassed and leaves America and an arranged marriage. By 1939, Meira is married and has a daughter. By 1941, people are going hungry and Meira's family is kept alive by the aid of a child in Warsaw who can sneak out. However, in 1943 Meira and her husband and daughter are sent to Poniatowa, in Poland and when the commandant closes the camp, Meira is one of a few survivors. She survives long enough to make it to a Displaced Persons camp in 1948 she makes it to her sisters in New York City. Here through the help of the United Service for New Americans she finds lodging and a few jobs. She makes a few friends, reconnects with a Warsaw friend and rediscovers hope and love. The author states in the end notes that her story is based on her great aunt and she had to set it aside a few times because of the emotional burden. It is a rough read and I read it all in a day because I could not set it aside without knowing Meira thrives by the end. The characters tug at you. I received a copy on NetGalley for an honest review.
October 24, 2020
Exquisite
I had my tissue box close to me as I read the final pages of this beautifully written book. This is a book about the atrocities perpetrated against the Polish Jews. It is a book about faith, loss,
indescribable pain and loss and about the triumph of the human spirit. It is a book about the power of love.
It is a book that reminds us all that truly, we must never, ever, forget what happened during WWII. Thank you for the gift of this book...
I had my tissue box close to me as I read the final pages of this beautifully written book. This is a book about the atrocities perpetrated against the Polish Jews. It is a book about faith, loss,
indescribable pain and loss and about the triumph of the human spirit. It is a book about the power of love.
It is a book that reminds us all that truly, we must never, ever, forget what happened during WWII. Thank you for the gift of this book...
Read
November 1, 2020Well this book is an emotional rollercoaster! And yet it was so beautifully written given the horrors found within. But it takes a special skill to write a poignant story like this on such a terrifying and horrific topic. And what makes this story that much more impactful is the fact that it is based off of the authors great aunt’s personal experiences.
This book is one of those books that you won’t be able to look away from. The pages will capture you and force you to sit down and finish it. And what sets this book apart from many Holocaust stories is that it takes you on a journey before the war, through the war and atrocities, and then afterwards learning how to become a human again. And perhaps the most poignant part of this this book is the emotion behind everything.
There are always a lot of stories about the Holocaust, but each and every single one of them is so important. They each give us a different glimpse at the evil humans possess as well as the endurance of humanity. And Where Butterflies Go is a beautifully devastating addition to these stories.
You can view my full review & giveaway on my blog! I also post about a lot of different types of books!
Reader | Bookstagrammer | Blogger | Reviewer
@ya.its.lit - https://www.instagram.com/ya.its.lit/
Blog - https://yaitslitblog.wordpress.com/
This book is one of those books that you won’t be able to look away from. The pages will capture you and force you to sit down and finish it. And what sets this book apart from many Holocaust stories is that it takes you on a journey before the war, through the war and atrocities, and then afterwards learning how to become a human again. And perhaps the most poignant part of this this book is the emotion behind everything.
There are always a lot of stories about the Holocaust, but each and every single one of them is so important. They each give us a different glimpse at the evil humans possess as well as the endurance of humanity. And Where Butterflies Go is a beautifully devastating addition to these stories.
You can view my full review & giveaway on my blog! I also post about a lot of different types of books!
Reader | Bookstagrammer | Blogger | Reviewer
@ya.its.lit - https://www.instagram.com/ya.its.lit/
Blog - https://yaitslitblog.wordpress.com/
October 26, 2020
SEE REVIEW ON MY BLOG: https://sarainbooklandblog.blogspot.c...
I often apply for eARCs online and I won't hide! Half the time they don't give me much if not the pride and satisfaction of knowing that I'm helping an emerging author. But this book was on a whole 'nother level. This didn't feel like a book from an emerging author, this was by all means a story with a great power, such as that of Kristin Hanna's The Nightingale, which is one of my favorite of the genre.
Let's start by saying that the fact that it was a Historical Romance was already a thumb-up for me. I love the genre and I find it impossible not to get touched by books that are set in specific historical context such as WW2. But it's not easy to write about such topics. You have to have a certain sensitivity in order to portay certain pictures and convey important messages without being too harsh or too soft. I really liked how the author decided to narrate Meira's experience of the occupation: at first, I though it was too fast-paced and that it deserved more focus. But then I probably understood the decision: the days were all the same. You have gaps of years that do not need to be recounted because what the characters were living was just a routine of horrors and injustices. The escalation of horror our protagonist had to endure was heart-breaking until we reach a climax of harshness and cruelty that I was not expecting but that it totally serves to smash the truth into the reader's face.
And that's what Meira will learn to do: to narrate her story, to keep telling the truth no matter how harsh it is because certain atrocities can not be forgotten. I loved how the book can be divided into Meira's experience of the war and her attempt at starting a new life. I believe it is a point of view not often explored as most books I've read just center around the historical events and not on how the war might have impacted the survivors and their chance at a new beginning. It was wrenching and emotional to follow Meira through her struggles and to see how much courage it takes to push the past aside and start living again. I found it incredibly relatable how Meira's rebirth does not come from her forgetting her family - as Esther seemed to do! - but how she managed to find a way to honour her family despite her willingness to start over: it made me feel so much closer to the character and more supportive of her choices.
Another detail that I particularly enjoyed is how the author managed to pull all the narrative threads together. It happens often that a novel brings out topics or sub-stories that in the end are left aside, but this does not happen with Debra Doxer: every bit of the story mentioned, find its conclusion in the end.. sometimes in unexpected ways! I was completely taken aback by a couple twists that the author brings out in the end and that I though were a really ingenious and touching way to bring closure to Meira's story. So, if by the end of the book I was already reading through heavy tears, you can imagine what my state was when I learned that the beautifully narrated story was based on the true life of the author's great-aunt!
So for those of you who like historical romances just like I do and for those who want to read a touching testimony of a war's survivor, you should definitely read this great novel, full of historical facts, everyday struggles and deep with emotions!
I often apply for eARCs online and I won't hide! Half the time they don't give me much if not the pride and satisfaction of knowing that I'm helping an emerging author. But this book was on a whole 'nother level. This didn't feel like a book from an emerging author, this was by all means a story with a great power, such as that of Kristin Hanna's The Nightingale, which is one of my favorite of the genre.
Let's start by saying that the fact that it was a Historical Romance was already a thumb-up for me. I love the genre and I find it impossible not to get touched by books that are set in specific historical context such as WW2. But it's not easy to write about such topics. You have to have a certain sensitivity in order to portay certain pictures and convey important messages without being too harsh or too soft. I really liked how the author decided to narrate Meira's experience of the occupation: at first, I though it was too fast-paced and that it deserved more focus. But then I probably understood the decision: the days were all the same. You have gaps of years that do not need to be recounted because what the characters were living was just a routine of horrors and injustices. The escalation of horror our protagonist had to endure was heart-breaking until we reach a climax of harshness and cruelty that I was not expecting but that it totally serves to smash the truth into the reader's face.
And that's what Meira will learn to do: to narrate her story, to keep telling the truth no matter how harsh it is because certain atrocities can not be forgotten. I loved how the book can be divided into Meira's experience of the war and her attempt at starting a new life. I believe it is a point of view not often explored as most books I've read just center around the historical events and not on how the war might have impacted the survivors and their chance at a new beginning. It was wrenching and emotional to follow Meira through her struggles and to see how much courage it takes to push the past aside and start living again. I found it incredibly relatable how Meira's rebirth does not come from her forgetting her family - as Esther seemed to do! - but how she managed to find a way to honour her family despite her willingness to start over: it made me feel so much closer to the character and more supportive of her choices.
Another detail that I particularly enjoyed is how the author managed to pull all the narrative threads together. It happens often that a novel brings out topics or sub-stories that in the end are left aside, but this does not happen with Debra Doxer: every bit of the story mentioned, find its conclusion in the end.. sometimes in unexpected ways! I was completely taken aback by a couple twists that the author brings out in the end and that I though were a really ingenious and touching way to bring closure to Meira's story. So, if by the end of the book I was already reading through heavy tears, you can imagine what my state was when I learned that the beautifully narrated story was based on the true life of the author's great-aunt!
So for those of you who like historical romances just like I do and for those who want to read a touching testimony of a war's survivor, you should definitely read this great novel, full of historical facts, everyday struggles and deep with emotions!
October 3, 2020
This was such a huge emotional roller coaster ride for me. It's soft and lovely at the start and then it goes so very dark and then it turns bittersweet in Part 2. My first thought after reading it was, "how am I supposed to review this book?" So I'm not going to, not in my conventional way at least. I'm just gonna tell you about the book and how I felt.
The story revolves around Meira Sokolow, a Jewish girl living in Warsaw during 1932. She finds love, marries and then the war arrives. What will become of her life after this horrible war brought upon them by Germany?
That's all I'm going to say so that I don't spoil anything. The first three chapters of this book were all soft and warm and had me wondering what will happen next because there was a clear indication that something was gonna happen. The next five chapters are really dark and I was crying through almost all of them. Part 2 brings out a whole different side but it is still beautifully tragic. There are soft parts that make you go all warm and fuzzy again but then there are parts that make it so easy to cry again. Bittersweet is what I'll call this part.
This book deals with anti-Semitism. We all know about World War 2 and Hitler and what he intended to do. Holocaust and Shoah are the words to describe what happened to Jewish people, Hitler and his Nazi forces used "The Final Solution". It tells the story about what happened to people who lived in Poland, Warsaw during World War 2, what happened to the survivors and how they dealt with their lives after the war was over. The holocaust, the concentration camps, the torture, and the struggle to survive will leave you questioning that how can humans be so inhuman, can inflict so much pain on others without even blinking an eye.
Moreover, it is based on a true story of the author's great-aunt who was a Holocaust survivor. It must have been very painful to write and tell this story. It has struck a chord within me and I know this book will always stay with me.
I urge you all to read this book. However beware of trigger warnings such as rape, war, torture, and death.
The story revolves around Meira Sokolow, a Jewish girl living in Warsaw during 1932. She finds love, marries and then the war arrives. What will become of her life after this horrible war brought upon them by Germany?
That's all I'm going to say so that I don't spoil anything. The first three chapters of this book were all soft and warm and had me wondering what will happen next because there was a clear indication that something was gonna happen. The next five chapters are really dark and I was crying through almost all of them. Part 2 brings out a whole different side but it is still beautifully tragic. There are soft parts that make you go all warm and fuzzy again but then there are parts that make it so easy to cry again. Bittersweet is what I'll call this part.
This book deals with anti-Semitism. We all know about World War 2 and Hitler and what he intended to do. Holocaust and Shoah are the words to describe what happened to Jewish people, Hitler and his Nazi forces used "The Final Solution". It tells the story about what happened to people who lived in Poland, Warsaw during World War 2, what happened to the survivors and how they dealt with their lives after the war was over. The holocaust, the concentration camps, the torture, and the struggle to survive will leave you questioning that how can humans be so inhuman, can inflict so much pain on others without even blinking an eye.
Moreover, it is based on a true story of the author's great-aunt who was a Holocaust survivor. It must have been very painful to write and tell this story. It has struck a chord within me and I know this book will always stay with me.
I urge you all to read this book. However beware of trigger warnings such as rape, war, torture, and death.
February 12, 2021
*** I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***
Wow! Is all I can say after finishing Where Butterflies Go. This book is written so well and is such a remarkable story. It is actually the author's great aunt's true story of surviving the Nazi occupancy in Poland as a Jew during WWII and her life afterwards in New York City. This is a story of survival, family, history, and love. I whole heartedly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys WWII historical fiction books. I have read several books in this genre and this one is an unforgetable, inspiring, unique, and heart-wrenching story unlike any I've ever read. It's just so good. Just read it.
Wow! Is all I can say after finishing Where Butterflies Go. This book is written so well and is such a remarkable story. It is actually the author's great aunt's true story of surviving the Nazi occupancy in Poland as a Jew during WWII and her life afterwards in New York City. This is a story of survival, family, history, and love. I whole heartedly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys WWII historical fiction books. I have read several books in this genre and this one is an unforgetable, inspiring, unique, and heart-wrenching story unlike any I've ever read. It's just so good. Just read it.
October 25, 2020
Where Butterflies go was a touching read.. Full of love, hope and heartbreak. When Germany invaded Meira's small town in Poland watching her family die by the Nazi's, my heart broke.
With her husband and daughters time in the concentration camps, so horrible more years fell.
This was not the end to Meira's story. The symbolism was endearing. The almost supernatural aspect. Finding love again. A beautiful story I had the pleasure to read.
With her husband and daughters time in the concentration camps, so horrible more years fell.
This was not the end to Meira's story. The symbolism was endearing. The almost supernatural aspect. Finding love again. A beautiful story I had the pleasure to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2020
Imagine you are a Jewish girl in Warsaw, Poland in 1932. Further imagine what your life would have been like as you grew up, married, was moved to a concentration camp, saw one sister move to New York to marry a stranger and saw another sister be led away to a death camp. Imagine you heard the shots that killed your husband as the Germans cleared the concentration camp, and imagine when you and your daughter were put in a pit, the bullet went through your arm and killed her. How do you survive and continue to function after experiencing all that? Can you begin to enjoy life again?
This is the story of Meira as told in Where Butterflies Go by Debra Doxer.. It is based on the life of the author's great-aunt, a Holocaust survivor. It is at times horrifying, sad, yet full of love and hope. I was allowed to read it on NetGalley.
This is the story of Meira as told in Where Butterflies Go by Debra Doxer.. It is based on the life of the author's great-aunt, a Holocaust survivor. It is at times horrifying, sad, yet full of love and hope. I was allowed to read it on NetGalley.
October 25, 2020
Where Butterflies go was a touching read.. Full of love,hope and heartbreak. When Germany invaded Meira's small town in Poland watching her family die by the Nazi's, my heart broke.
Make a with her husband and daughters time in the concentration camps,so horrible more years fell.
This was not the end to Meira's story. The symbolism was endearing. The almost supernatural aspect.Finding love again. A beautiful story I had the pleasure to read.
Make a with her husband and daughters time in the concentration camps,so horrible more years fell.
This was not the end to Meira's story. The symbolism was endearing. The almost supernatural aspect.Finding love again. A beautiful story I had the pleasure to read.
November 15, 2020
This is a biographical-fiction tale based on actual true events of incredible triumph over tragedy. One of the most informative and surreal books based on the Holocaust that I’ve read in some time, although it was sad at times it was also very uplifting and inspirational too.
November 12, 2020
Where Butterflies Go is told in first-person and in two parts. The first part of the book starts in Warsaw, Poland, in 1932, and the second part of the book begins in 1948 as Meira immigrates to Great Neck, New York.
We follow Meira’s family as the Nazis invade Poland, and hostilities increase daily and year after year until family members are lost, and those who survive are starving. Finally, Meira’s family is packed onto a train and sent to a concentration camp.
As Part I climaxes to its end, it left me scarcely able to breathe. That night, I wasn’t able to sleep. I don’t want to give spoilers away, but I recommend you have plenty of tissues nearby when you read this book.
The first part of the book is written in chilling and heartbreaking details. From the depravity of the Nazis’ actions to the desperation of the ghetto dwellers as they fight to exist in a world of cruelty and heartlessness. Meira’s thoughts as a daughter, wife, and especially mother are heart-wrenching in their candor, and I challenge anyone not to be moved by them.
As Ms. Doxer moves us to the second part of the book, the tone lightens—as it should—but as we reside in Meira’s thoughts, we feel her despair, loss, and emptiness as well. Ms. Doxer has such a profound gift with character development and creating that all-important ambiance which pulls the reader in so we become part of the story. Though some of the characters were unlikable, that was intentional.
Each character had an arc, but our primary focus was on Meira and her journey. While I loved Max, Karen, Avrom, and so many other characters, and of course, sweet little Tovah, I adored Mr. Diamond. We all need a Mr. Diamond in our lives. He was the shoulder to cry on, the understanding heart, the wise advice, and the little push Meira required at just the right moment.
As Meira walks through her journey of healing, we, the reader, walk through it with her, and I felt myself profoundly changed because of it. I recognized those feelings of emptiness and earth-shattering grief, of pain so deep you fear you’ll never recover. Ms. Doxer’s ability to tap into that human consciousness and communicate those emotions in such an evocative way continued to draw me deeper and deeper into Meira’s story. I wanted so desperately for her to find love, but most of all, peace.
Ms. Doxer is an absolutely brilliant writer, weaving factual and fictional elements seamlessly into this poignant story following her great-aunt’s harrowing journey from Warsaw, Poland to New York. Blending family stories, archival information from Yad Vashem, and her incredible vision, she has created an extraordinary book of hope, love, and renewal. In the end, you are left with a powerful reminder that through tremendous loss, you can heal.
I’ve read many books on WWII and the Holocaust. All of them have moved me and left an impression on me, but the manner in which Ms. Doxer presented this particular story in all its starkness, brutality, beauty, and humanity will stay with me for a very long time.
*I was given the book by the author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed for NovelsAlive.com
We follow Meira’s family as the Nazis invade Poland, and hostilities increase daily and year after year until family members are lost, and those who survive are starving. Finally, Meira’s family is packed onto a train and sent to a concentration camp.
As Part I climaxes to its end, it left me scarcely able to breathe. That night, I wasn’t able to sleep. I don’t want to give spoilers away, but I recommend you have plenty of tissues nearby when you read this book.
The first part of the book is written in chilling and heartbreaking details. From the depravity of the Nazis’ actions to the desperation of the ghetto dwellers as they fight to exist in a world of cruelty and heartlessness. Meira’s thoughts as a daughter, wife, and especially mother are heart-wrenching in their candor, and I challenge anyone not to be moved by them.
As Ms. Doxer moves us to the second part of the book, the tone lightens—as it should—but as we reside in Meira’s thoughts, we feel her despair, loss, and emptiness as well. Ms. Doxer has such a profound gift with character development and creating that all-important ambiance which pulls the reader in so we become part of the story. Though some of the characters were unlikable, that was intentional.
Each character had an arc, but our primary focus was on Meira and her journey. While I loved Max, Karen, Avrom, and so many other characters, and of course, sweet little Tovah, I adored Mr. Diamond. We all need a Mr. Diamond in our lives. He was the shoulder to cry on, the understanding heart, the wise advice, and the little push Meira required at just the right moment.
As Meira walks through her journey of healing, we, the reader, walk through it with her, and I felt myself profoundly changed because of it. I recognized those feelings of emptiness and earth-shattering grief, of pain so deep you fear you’ll never recover. Ms. Doxer’s ability to tap into that human consciousness and communicate those emotions in such an evocative way continued to draw me deeper and deeper into Meira’s story. I wanted so desperately for her to find love, but most of all, peace.
Ms. Doxer is an absolutely brilliant writer, weaving factual and fictional elements seamlessly into this poignant story following her great-aunt’s harrowing journey from Warsaw, Poland to New York. Blending family stories, archival information from Yad Vashem, and her incredible vision, she has created an extraordinary book of hope, love, and renewal. In the end, you are left with a powerful reminder that through tremendous loss, you can heal.
I’ve read many books on WWII and the Holocaust. All of them have moved me and left an impression on me, but the manner in which Ms. Doxer presented this particular story in all its starkness, brutality, beauty, and humanity will stay with me for a very long time.
*I was given the book by the author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed for NovelsAlive.com
September 28, 2021
I've read a TON of WW2 historical fiction. The stories do tend to run together at some point, but I think I will remember this one. It had a couple moments that brought me to tears (like Tears of Amber) with some events and descriptions.
This stays in basic chronological order, following a long timeline for our MC (who is based on a real person, relative of the author, based on the author's note). Starting during "normal" times as a teen, through marriage and a child and then as everything starts happening, through many trials, then to later times.
There were tragic moments, but also enough uplifting events to leave me feeling hopeful, not just all depressing and down.
There were a few moments where it felt repetitive ... I might have been able to examine it more in a print/kindle copy (was it in italics? indicating sliding into a memory?) A conversation tied to the title is repeated three times, word for word. There were a few other things that were restated, that felt a little like when an author is recapping earlier events - perhaps from books before with a year or so between for the sequel (which often is appreciated) but here, it was in the same book so when it was recapped (it felt for the reader, not the character telling someone the story, just stated in the text) I would have the feeling "yes I know this, because it was in the book and I just read that" ...
I received the audio files free in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author for tracking me down on GoodReads messages when I'd had a typo on my email address on the request. Instead of an Audible (or other service) for the audiobook, I got a zip file of mp3 files which were harder to get through (I don't have a dedicated program, so I'd have to start each chapter manually) ... it's not too expensive on Amazon (kindle + whispersync) and I almost went and paid for it for easier listening and access to the kindle copy ;) (I'm super cheap though ...)
This stays in basic chronological order, following a long timeline for our MC (who is based on a real person, relative of the author, based on the author's note). Starting during "normal" times as a teen, through marriage and a child and then as everything starts happening, through many trials, then to later times.
There were tragic moments, but also enough uplifting events to leave me feeling hopeful, not just all depressing and down.
There were a few moments where it felt repetitive ... I might have been able to examine it more in a print/kindle copy (was it in italics? indicating sliding into a memory?) A conversation tied to the title is repeated three times, word for word. There were a few other things that were restated, that felt a little like when an author is recapping earlier events - perhaps from books before with a year or so between for the sequel (which often is appreciated) but here, it was in the same book so when it was recapped (it felt for the reader, not the character telling someone the story, just stated in the text) I would have the feeling "yes I know this, because it was in the book and I just read that" ...
I received the audio files free in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author for tracking me down on GoodReads messages when I'd had a typo on my email address on the request. Instead of an Audible (or other service) for the audiobook, I got a zip file of mp3 files which were harder to get through (I don't have a dedicated program, so I'd have to start each chapter manually) ... it's not too expensive on Amazon (kindle + whispersync) and I almost went and paid for it for easier listening and access to the kindle copy ;) (I'm super cheap though ...)
October 3, 2020
Beautifully poignant and moving, this book is truly a gem, one which will stand out in my mind for a very long time. Circumstances are brutal, gripping and heart wrenching. That this is based on a true story makes it even more chilling. It is so easy yet difficult to get lost in. Just let yourself go.
Meira Sokolow is born and raised in Warsaw. Initially her life is almost ordinary except she is a Jew. She falls in love, marries and has a daughter. But Hitler is on the scene and soon Poles begin to actively hate the Jews but this is nothing compared to what happens when the Germans march into Warsaw and take control. Meira's family members are forced to move to a ghetto on the threat of death. Unspeakable terror and horror follow, death at every turn, yet remarkably Meira doesn't feel sorry for herself. And the nightmare gets more and more unbearable.
Meira manages to survive and moves to New York where she exists but doesn't live....she is stuck in inescapable fresh and vivid memories. She meets kind people and finally discovers life again, real life.
The author manages to convey physical and emotional pain as well as incredible tenderness and warmth in this wonderful novel, one which will melt every heart which reads it. You need this extraordinary book...its virtues cannot be emphasized enough. Those interested in the Holocaust, WWII and Historical Fiction based on real life will find beauty in the ashes. Pay attention to the lessons, obvious and subtle. Each page from the first to the last will take your breath away. The story is so riveting you will want to get to the end but my recommendation is to savour its bittersweetness slowly go get all you can out of it. If you read just one book in 2020, make it this one.
My sincere thank you to Debra Doxer and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this meaningful book in exchange for an honest review. I am so honoured to have read it.
Meira Sokolow is born and raised in Warsaw. Initially her life is almost ordinary except she is a Jew. She falls in love, marries and has a daughter. But Hitler is on the scene and soon Poles begin to actively hate the Jews but this is nothing compared to what happens when the Germans march into Warsaw and take control. Meira's family members are forced to move to a ghetto on the threat of death. Unspeakable terror and horror follow, death at every turn, yet remarkably Meira doesn't feel sorry for herself. And the nightmare gets more and more unbearable.
Meira manages to survive and moves to New York where she exists but doesn't live....she is stuck in inescapable fresh and vivid memories. She meets kind people and finally discovers life again, real life.
The author manages to convey physical and emotional pain as well as incredible tenderness and warmth in this wonderful novel, one which will melt every heart which reads it. You need this extraordinary book...its virtues cannot be emphasized enough. Those interested in the Holocaust, WWII and Historical Fiction based on real life will find beauty in the ashes. Pay attention to the lessons, obvious and subtle. Each page from the first to the last will take your breath away. The story is so riveting you will want to get to the end but my recommendation is to savour its bittersweetness slowly go get all you can out of it. If you read just one book in 2020, make it this one.
My sincere thank you to Debra Doxer and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this meaningful book in exchange for an honest review. I am so honoured to have read it.
October 6, 2020
Guys, I do not have enough words for how amazing and touching this book is.
This book is released 10-07-2020 and I can't say it loud enough GO GET THIS BOOK! You won't regret it.
The story is based on the life of the author's great-aunt. I loved that the POV is a little bit different in terms of where the concentration camp is located. It seems like a lot of books are all located in Auschwitz, but this one follows Meira as she lives in Warsaw and grows up. We watch as Meira goes from a young girl, to a wife and mother, to a prisoner of war, to being a survivor and moving to America. We then get to watch her journey as she figures out what her "new" life and days are like.
Meira's story is beyond captivating. I cried for her and with her. There is a scene where Meira is talking to a young boy about her story and it is so real and raw. The author completely nails it where she talks about how many young Americans were idolizing the war and thinking bombs and guns were cool. And how people tend to think each camp is exactly the same, but really they each had their own heartbreaking aspects. Even now, I think it's hard for a younger generation to comprehend the severity and realness of war. I loved the relationship between Meira and Avrom, as well as Meira and Max.
THANK YOU to Debra Doxer, NetGalley, and Xpresso Book Tours for my free ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!!
This book is released 10-07-2020 and I can't say it loud enough GO GET THIS BOOK! You won't regret it.
The story is based on the life of the author's great-aunt. I loved that the POV is a little bit different in terms of where the concentration camp is located. It seems like a lot of books are all located in Auschwitz, but this one follows Meira as she lives in Warsaw and grows up. We watch as Meira goes from a young girl, to a wife and mother, to a prisoner of war, to being a survivor and moving to America. We then get to watch her journey as she figures out what her "new" life and days are like.
Meira's story is beyond captivating. I cried for her and with her. There is a scene where Meira is talking to a young boy about her story and it is so real and raw. The author completely nails it where she talks about how many young Americans were idolizing the war and thinking bombs and guns were cool. And how people tend to think each camp is exactly the same, but really they each had their own heartbreaking aspects. Even now, I think it's hard for a younger generation to comprehend the severity and realness of war. I loved the relationship between Meira and Avrom, as well as Meira and Max.
THANK YOU to Debra Doxer, NetGalley, and Xpresso Book Tours for my free ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!!
October 8, 2020
Where Butterflies Go is a story of the persecution and resistance of the Jews in Poland, and how some of them move on with their lives after the war ends.
Meira, the main character, her husband, and daughter live in Poland, and are affected by the onslaught of Nazi violence and hatred. Meira has great skill as a seamstress since her Dad was a tailor. The Nazis discover this, and come to have their uniforms repaired. When the Nazis ship out the Jews, she is recognized and sent to a camp called Poniotowa to make uniforms for Nazi scum.
What happens at the end of the war is tragic, and Meira manages to escape and ultimately make it to America.
Her story of how she survives and comes to thrive in the US, and becomes a speaker for a Jewish organization is inspiring. WE MUST NEVER FORGET! She helps people to understand the true horrors of the war and the ugly details of Hitler's final solution.
BEWARE FASCISM - whether in 1939 or in 2020!
This was a very compelling story and I recommend it.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for this honest review.
Meira, the main character, her husband, and daughter live in Poland, and are affected by the onslaught of Nazi violence and hatred. Meira has great skill as a seamstress since her Dad was a tailor. The Nazis discover this, and come to have their uniforms repaired. When the Nazis ship out the Jews, she is recognized and sent to a camp called Poniotowa to make uniforms for Nazi scum.
What happens at the end of the war is tragic, and Meira manages to escape and ultimately make it to America.
Her story of how she survives and comes to thrive in the US, and becomes a speaker for a Jewish organization is inspiring. WE MUST NEVER FORGET! She helps people to understand the true horrors of the war and the ugly details of Hitler's final solution.
BEWARE FASCISM - whether in 1939 or in 2020!
This was a very compelling story and I recommend it.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for this honest review.
October 25, 2020
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishing house, Xpresso Book Tours, for providing an advanced e-copy for review. All thoughts and opinions written in this review are my own.
I’ve been very lucky this year to have the opportunity to review some amazing World War II Historical Fiction and Where Butterflies Go by Debra Doxer definitely falls into this category. This book is based on the life of the author’s great-aunt, Meira Sokolow. Ms. Doxer was able to paint a vivid picture of what her great-aunt went through growing up in Poland, living in the Poniatowa concentration camp and her life after World War II in New York. Her life story was an emotional one and I found myself putting the book down multiple times to gather my thoughts and dry my eyes. Meira was unbelievably brave and strong and I am so grateful to Ms. Doxer for sharing her great-aunt’s story with the world. I would suggest this to other historical fiction lovers or those who want to get into historical fiction and I would read another book by this author.
I’ve been very lucky this year to have the opportunity to review some amazing World War II Historical Fiction and Where Butterflies Go by Debra Doxer definitely falls into this category. This book is based on the life of the author’s great-aunt, Meira Sokolow. Ms. Doxer was able to paint a vivid picture of what her great-aunt went through growing up in Poland, living in the Poniatowa concentration camp and her life after World War II in New York. Her life story was an emotional one and I found myself putting the book down multiple times to gather my thoughts and dry my eyes. Meira was unbelievably brave and strong and I am so grateful to Ms. Doxer for sharing her great-aunt’s story with the world. I would suggest this to other historical fiction lovers or those who want to get into historical fiction and I would read another book by this author.
November 10, 2020
“Tears trickled down my cheeks too, as I hugged my family tighter. They weren’t the only ones breaking down tonight. I was falling apart too—slowly, quietly falling to pieces. We all were, and there was nothing to do but keep breathing and deal with each day as it came.”
Beautifully written story based on the life of the author’s great-aunt, a Holocaust survivor. It’s a story of love, constant fear, cruel loss, resilience, unimaginable strength and the will to live. It’s also a story of hope and remembrance as Meira struggles to live, heal and move forward after the war.
Highly recommend to fans of historical fiction.
Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.
Beautifully written story based on the life of the author’s great-aunt, a Holocaust survivor. It’s a story of love, constant fear, cruel loss, resilience, unimaginable strength and the will to live. It’s also a story of hope and remembrance as Meira struggles to live, heal and move forward after the war.
Highly recommend to fans of historical fiction.
Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.
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