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WW2 Girls #1
The Girl Under the Flag: Monique
A previous cover edition for this ASIN can be found here
Monique would do anything to live, when will her identity be found out?
Running for her life from the Nazis, Monique, a seventeen-year-old Jewish girl, escapes through the streets of Paris, searching for a place to hide.
In a dark basement in the city, Philip, a resilient man, offers her a deal; saving her life and changing her identity. In return, she needs to provide information about the Germans and become acquainted with them.
Torn between her feelings for Philip and the fear from Ernest, a German officer who wants to get to know her, Monique steps deeper and deeper into the jaws of the Nazi monster. But on every day that passes, she knows that it is only a matter of time before she makes a mistake and is uncovered by the Germans.
Through her own eyes, Monique tells of her efforts to survive in occupied Paris, torn between the cafés full of people and the poor citizens waiting in lines, holding food ration tickets. But above all, this is a story about a girl who has to fight for her freedom during those dark days—not giving up when the German soldiers walked through Paris, marching the streets with their hobnailed boots.
Monique would do anything to live, when will her identity be found out?
Running for her life from the Nazis, Monique, a seventeen-year-old Jewish girl, escapes through the streets of Paris, searching for a place to hide.
In a dark basement in the city, Philip, a resilient man, offers her a deal; saving her life and changing her identity. In return, she needs to provide information about the Germans and become acquainted with them.
Torn between her feelings for Philip and the fear from Ernest, a German officer who wants to get to know her, Monique steps deeper and deeper into the jaws of the Nazi monster. But on every day that passes, she knows that it is only a matter of time before she makes a mistake and is uncovered by the Germans.
Through her own eyes, Monique tells of her efforts to survive in occupied Paris, torn between the cafés full of people and the poor citizens waiting in lines, holding food ration tickets. But above all, this is a story about a girl who has to fight for her freedom during those dark days—not giving up when the German soldiers walked through Paris, marching the streets with their hobnailed boots.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 22, 2021
935 people are currently reading
772 people want to read
About the author
Alex Amit
113 books44 followersAlex Amit is a historical fiction writer and author of the novel The Girl Under the Flag.
After dedicating more than a decade to learning the history of WW2 and armed with a BSc in Psychology, Alex's writing focuses on woman's bravery during those dark days.
Today he is writing his second novel, The Girl in the White Uniform
.
When Alex was a child, he would lie in his bed at night, reading history books, imagining himself traveling in a time machine to all those great moments. Many years have passed, and finally, he built his time machine, using his words and imagination.
After dedicating more than a decade to learning the history of WW2 and armed with a BSc in Psychology, Alex's writing focuses on woman's bravery during those dark days.
Today he is writing his second novel, The Girl in the White Uniform
.
When Alex was a child, he would lie in his bed at night, reading history books, imagining himself traveling in a time machine to all those great moments. Many years have passed, and finally, he built his time machine, using his words and imagination.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
March 2, 2021
Honestly, for me, I just didn't care for this book, for several reasons. I *almost* didn't finish it, but I pushed on, skimming over several parts, and still ended up not really liking it, which is unusual for me, since I am always intrigued by the resistance movements going on during WW2. If I had known this resistance fighter basically prostituted herself for the sake of information, I would have passed on it, but nothing in any of the blurbs indicated that this was the case. And the details and information was very different from Tracy Groot's book Flame of Resistance which, yes, was about the same thing, but very different in the details the author chose to share.
The story had some good details, but there was no emotion, really. Monique came across as very selfish, very shallow, and very childish. Even though she was 17 at the beginning of the book, she spoke and thought and acted more like she was a young child -- like, younger than 10.
I also took issue with much of the language used in the story. Words like: "Dad", "Mom," "Yeah," and a few others that I can't remember right now, but for a French girl to use these very American terms in 1945, when Americans still considered many of them slang . . . just, no. Not working, at all, for the story line.
There were parts that were very course and crude, several semi-detailed encounters of an intimate nature, and, as another character put it, she allied with the Germans "horizontally in bed." Many of these details and scenes I skimmed through, and I didn't see much discretion used in which details were brought to the forefront.
There was a lot of violence, that seemed to be there just for violence' sake, which was stomach turning at best -- and violence and blood doesn't typically make me squeamish. I understand the part of history we're talking about was a bloody, violent time . . . but we can share details tastefully and in order to move the plot forward, and this details didn't really do much. ((There was one scene at the end that was disgustingly realistic that DID move the plot forward, but a bit of discretion would have been great in the details related!!))
The romance between Philip and Monique seemed really forced, half the time I wasn't following along, and the other half the time I felt that a lot of the physical intimacies were just out of place.
If you're looking for a good French Resistance book, read Flame of Resistance. The writing is better, the details are more discreet (I mean, there WERE people who did gather information in this way, but Groot was VERY discreet in the details shared in what was going on)), and the storyline was better. And there was redemption and recognition of sins at the end.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley to read. I was only asked to honestly share my thoughts and opinions.
The story had some good details, but there was no emotion, really. Monique came across as very selfish, very shallow, and very childish. Even though she was 17 at the beginning of the book, she spoke and thought and acted more like she was a young child -- like, younger than 10.
I also took issue with much of the language used in the story. Words like: "Dad", "Mom," "Yeah," and a few others that I can't remember right now, but for a French girl to use these very American terms in 1945, when Americans still considered many of them slang . . . just, no. Not working, at all, for the story line.
There were parts that were very course and crude, several semi-detailed encounters of an intimate nature, and, as another character put it, she allied with the Germans "horizontally in bed." Many of these details and scenes I skimmed through, and I didn't see much discretion used in which details were brought to the forefront.
There was a lot of violence, that seemed to be there just for violence' sake, which was stomach turning at best -- and violence and blood doesn't typically make me squeamish. I understand the part of history we're talking about was a bloody, violent time . . . but we can share details tastefully and in order to move the plot forward, and this details didn't really do much. ((There was one scene at the end that was disgustingly realistic that DID move the plot forward, but a bit of discretion would have been great in the details related!!))
The romance between Philip and Monique seemed really forced, half the time I wasn't following along, and the other half the time I felt that a lot of the physical intimacies were just out of place.
If you're looking for a good French Resistance book, read Flame of Resistance. The writing is better, the details are more discreet (I mean, there WERE people who did gather information in this way, but Groot was VERY discreet in the details shared in what was going on)), and the storyline was better. And there was redemption and recognition of sins at the end.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley to read. I was only asked to honestly share my thoughts and opinions.
January 20, 2021
Monique is a seventeen year old Jewish girl who goes from hating herself for her religion and arguing over it with her family, to being all alone in the world when they get taken and sent to Auschwitz.
She herself narrowly avoided capture due to her mother's quick thinking, and she's forced to live on the street for a while until a run in with the law sends her into the arms of Philip, and the resistance by extension.
With no other choice, Monique joins up, gets a new identity and befriends a German officer who becomes her main source of information. Monique continues risking her life day after day, dreaming of a better future which doesn't seem to be on the horizon.
I really liked this book. I could've devoured it in one go, but I didn't want it to end.
The story is worth five stars, but I gave it four mainly because of the writing style, that's the one true flaw.
As a non-native English speaker, I'm sure I word my sentences a bit weirdly from time to time, and Monique does the same thing. Except she did it throughout the whole book. I did get used to it, eventually...
Some of the dialogue was choppy. One character would say one thing and the other would parrot it back as if the first never even said it.
There's a general repetitiveness. I can imagine her talking like that, yeah. But if I hear "body odor" one more time in the near future I'll probably start laughing like an idiot. There's just too many mentions of those two words together.
Monique's point of view was interesting to follow. The way she looks at the world is sad for the most part (and how couldn't it be?). She grows as a character, but some wounds never heal.
Philip was a mystery. Both in relation to us learning barely a few things about him and to Monique falling in love with him. I don't see how it happened. I feel like most of their love happened "off-page" because one moment she's relaying info and the next there's hugging (or desires to hug).
Ernest sounds pretty accurate. I don't have much to say about him other than that he's a good character.
I feel bad for Monique's friends, they all seem to have gotten the short end of the stick.
Historical accuracy is always appreciated. The author definitely did research on this and I love the note at the end.
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*
She herself narrowly avoided capture due to her mother's quick thinking, and she's forced to live on the street for a while until a run in with the law sends her into the arms of Philip, and the resistance by extension.
With no other choice, Monique joins up, gets a new identity and befriends a German officer who becomes her main source of information. Monique continues risking her life day after day, dreaming of a better future which doesn't seem to be on the horizon.
I really liked this book. I could've devoured it in one go, but I didn't want it to end.
The story is worth five stars, but I gave it four mainly because of the writing style, that's the one true flaw.
As a non-native English speaker, I'm sure I word my sentences a bit weirdly from time to time, and Monique does the same thing. Except she did it throughout the whole book. I did get used to it, eventually...
Some of the dialogue was choppy. One character would say one thing and the other would parrot it back as if the first never even said it.
There's a general repetitiveness. I can imagine her talking like that, yeah. But if I hear "body odor" one more time in the near future I'll probably start laughing like an idiot. There's just too many mentions of those two words together.
Monique's point of view was interesting to follow. The way she looks at the world is sad for the most part (and how couldn't it be?). She grows as a character, but some wounds never heal.
Philip was a mystery. Both in relation to us learning barely a few things about him and to Monique falling in love with him. I don't see how it happened. I feel like most of their love happened "off-page" because one moment she's relaying info and the next there's hugging (or desires to hug).
Ernest sounds pretty accurate. I don't have much to say about him other than that he's a good character.
I feel bad for Monique's friends, they all seem to have gotten the short end of the stick.
Historical accuracy is always appreciated. The author definitely did research on this and I love the note at the end.
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*
September 5, 2022
2,5
“La vida se le da a los que están dispuestos a luchar por ella”.
Paris, 1942 . Monique Moreno, una joven judía de diecisiete años, se esconde cuando una noche golpean con furia en su casa. Sus padres y su pequeño hermano desaparecen… y ella debe recorrer las calles de París para encontrar un lugar donde ocultarse. Encuentra quien la ayude, pero la conducen hasta un sótano en donde conoce a un hombre de la resistencia, Philip, quien después de escuchar sus ruegos, decide proponerle un trato: una nueva identidad a cambio de espiar y obtener información de los alemanes.
A pesar de que suelo disfrutar de los libros ambientados en la Segunda Guerra Mundial, éste no me aportó nada nuevo y su protagonista no me transmitió mucho… nada tal vez, en comparación con lo que sí hizo “El ruiseñor” de Kristin Hannah.
El libro está narrado casi en su totalidad por nuestra protagonista, y por eso me faltó esa emoción de primera mano. Los capítulos son más o menos amplios en extensión, y la edición (al menos la que yo compré) tenía algunos detalles importantes que te sacaban de la historia. Solo mencionaré como ejemplo que algunas veces las acciones que Monique hacía aparecían en masculino.
El final me resultó un tanto forzado, incluso el romance entre Philip y Monique, sucede de la noche a la mañana… Al principio es su contacto con la resistencia, con quien comparte los momentos de transmitir información, no conoce casi los detalles de su vida… y al final es el amor de su vida. Lo sentí solo como una excusa para cerrar un “tanto rosa”, la trama que había planteado un “tanto descarnada”.
En definitiva, “La chica bajo la bandera” fue un libro más de ficción histórica amparado bajo el escenario de la Segunda Guerra Mundial que no me aportó vistosidad alguna.
“La vida se le da a los que están dispuestos a luchar por ella”.
Paris, 1942 . Monique Moreno, una joven judía de diecisiete años, se esconde cuando una noche golpean con furia en su casa. Sus padres y su pequeño hermano desaparecen… y ella debe recorrer las calles de París para encontrar un lugar donde ocultarse. Encuentra quien la ayude, pero la conducen hasta un sótano en donde conoce a un hombre de la resistencia, Philip, quien después de escuchar sus ruegos, decide proponerle un trato: una nueva identidad a cambio de espiar y obtener información de los alemanes.
A pesar de que suelo disfrutar de los libros ambientados en la Segunda Guerra Mundial, éste no me aportó nada nuevo y su protagonista no me transmitió mucho… nada tal vez, en comparación con lo que sí hizo “El ruiseñor” de Kristin Hannah.
El libro está narrado casi en su totalidad por nuestra protagonista, y por eso me faltó esa emoción de primera mano. Los capítulos son más o menos amplios en extensión, y la edición (al menos la que yo compré) tenía algunos detalles importantes que te sacaban de la historia. Solo mencionaré como ejemplo que algunas veces las acciones que Monique hacía aparecían en masculino.
El final me resultó un tanto forzado, incluso el romance entre Philip y Monique, sucede de la noche a la mañana… Al principio es su contacto con la resistencia, con quien comparte los momentos de transmitir información, no conoce casi los detalles de su vida… y al final es el amor de su vida. Lo sentí solo como una excusa para cerrar un “tanto rosa”, la trama que había planteado un “tanto descarnada”.
En definitiva, “La chica bajo la bandera” fue un libro más de ficción histórica amparado bajo el escenario de la Segunda Guerra Mundial que no me aportó vistosidad alguna.
December 16, 2020
The terror of WW II and a young women’s valor: ‘Tomorrow is a new day’
Israeli author Alex Amit earned his degree in psychology, has worked in graphic design and computer programming, and now is committed to writing. Alex’s in depth research and study of the history of World War Two was the core of his novella, THE CHRISTMAS OF 1943: HOPE FOR THE FUTURE, a chapter from his novel THE GIRL UNDER THE FLAG: MONIQUE focusing on the bravery of women during those trying, dark times. This novel - THE GIRSL UNDER THE FLAG - is the first installment in his WW2 GIRLS series, and will be followed by FOUR FRANC COINS: TO BE LIKE ANY OTHER GIRL.
Alex’s approach to the history of WW II steps beyond the expected emphasis on the Holocaust and instead invites us into the realm of the Jewish Resistance to that hideous timeframe. Few authors imbue their tales of individual valor in wartime with the degree of honoring the feminine victims in the manner that he relates this sensitive and empowering novel.
The novel opens with a grim Telegram, 1942 – ‘Arrest all Jews of Paris and concentrate them in the Velodrome d’Hiver winter sports stadium, in order to cleanse the Paris area of Jews and send them to resettlement in eastern Poland’ followed by the arresting “According to our records, there is a missing person here. A girl, Monique, seventeen years old.” And then we meet Monique: ‘I cling as close as I can to the wall, feeling the roughness of the bricks through my thin nightgown. It seems to me that the cracks in the wall are slitting and injuring my back, but I keep myself quiet…’ Aura established and the story begins.
The story’s impact is major, as the summary attests: ‘Running for her life from the Nazis, Monique, a seventeen-year-old Jewish girl, escapes through the streets of Paris, searching for a place to hide. In a dark basement deep within the city, Philip, a man of the Resistance, offers her a deal in order to save her life by changing her identity. In return, she needs to provide information about the Germans by becoming acquainted with them. Torn between her feelings for Philip and her fear of Herr Ernest, a German officer who shows special interest in her, Monique steps deeper and deeper into the jaws of the Nazi beast. But with every day that passes, she knows that it is only a matter of time before she makes a mistake and becomes discovered by the Germans - the price for that being her life. Through her own eyes, Monique tells of her efforts to survive within occupied Paris, torn between the cafés bustling with people and the poor citizens endlessly waiting in lines, food-ration stubs in hand. Monique is a girl who has to fight for her freedom during those dark and dreadful days, fervently refusing to give up, while the German soldiers march through the streets of Paris, stomping the ground with their hobnailed boots.’
This is a fine beginning for Alex Amit’s new series that underlines the importance of the strength of women in WW II. Highly recommended
Israeli author Alex Amit earned his degree in psychology, has worked in graphic design and computer programming, and now is committed to writing. Alex’s in depth research and study of the history of World War Two was the core of his novella, THE CHRISTMAS OF 1943: HOPE FOR THE FUTURE, a chapter from his novel THE GIRL UNDER THE FLAG: MONIQUE focusing on the bravery of women during those trying, dark times. This novel - THE GIRSL UNDER THE FLAG - is the first installment in his WW2 GIRLS series, and will be followed by FOUR FRANC COINS: TO BE LIKE ANY OTHER GIRL.
Alex’s approach to the history of WW II steps beyond the expected emphasis on the Holocaust and instead invites us into the realm of the Jewish Resistance to that hideous timeframe. Few authors imbue their tales of individual valor in wartime with the degree of honoring the feminine victims in the manner that he relates this sensitive and empowering novel.
The novel opens with a grim Telegram, 1942 – ‘Arrest all Jews of Paris and concentrate them in the Velodrome d’Hiver winter sports stadium, in order to cleanse the Paris area of Jews and send them to resettlement in eastern Poland’ followed by the arresting “According to our records, there is a missing person here. A girl, Monique, seventeen years old.” And then we meet Monique: ‘I cling as close as I can to the wall, feeling the roughness of the bricks through my thin nightgown. It seems to me that the cracks in the wall are slitting and injuring my back, but I keep myself quiet…’ Aura established and the story begins.
The story’s impact is major, as the summary attests: ‘Running for her life from the Nazis, Monique, a seventeen-year-old Jewish girl, escapes through the streets of Paris, searching for a place to hide. In a dark basement deep within the city, Philip, a man of the Resistance, offers her a deal in order to save her life by changing her identity. In return, she needs to provide information about the Germans by becoming acquainted with them. Torn between her feelings for Philip and her fear of Herr Ernest, a German officer who shows special interest in her, Monique steps deeper and deeper into the jaws of the Nazi beast. But with every day that passes, she knows that it is only a matter of time before she makes a mistake and becomes discovered by the Germans - the price for that being her life. Through her own eyes, Monique tells of her efforts to survive within occupied Paris, torn between the cafés bustling with people and the poor citizens endlessly waiting in lines, food-ration stubs in hand. Monique is a girl who has to fight for her freedom during those dark and dreadful days, fervently refusing to give up, while the German soldiers march through the streets of Paris, stomping the ground with their hobnailed boots.’
This is a fine beginning for Alex Amit’s new series that underlines the importance of the strength of women in WW II. Highly recommended
December 24, 2020
Thanks to publisher through Net Galley for ARC of this fine book.
This is some heavy water for holiday reading, but Christmas is one of the holidays included within this very moving story. What could happen to a young Jewish girl whose mother, father and brother are taken by the Germans and sent to Auschwitz leaving her alone in Paris.
Monique must develop survival skills without preparation and is soon given something like shelter by a member of the Resistance wherein she is immediately put to work.
Her challenges continue to escalate and there is no one to trust. The lady who gives her a place to live becomes one more example of the worst that can happen when the Gestapo executes her. Monique is asked to live with a high-level Nazi officer. Her German is perfect as she was born in Strasbourg so that often works to her advantage until it doesn't. It is a harrowing story well told.
The author includes historical notes respecting the reality of Paris police acting against the Jewish population of the time, a bitter pill to swallow.
This is some heavy water for holiday reading, but Christmas is one of the holidays included within this very moving story. What could happen to a young Jewish girl whose mother, father and brother are taken by the Germans and sent to Auschwitz leaving her alone in Paris.
Monique must develop survival skills without preparation and is soon given something like shelter by a member of the Resistance wherein she is immediately put to work.
Her challenges continue to escalate and there is no one to trust. The lady who gives her a place to live becomes one more example of the worst that can happen when the Gestapo executes her. Monique is asked to live with a high-level Nazi officer. Her German is perfect as she was born in Strasbourg so that often works to her advantage until it doesn't. It is a harrowing story well told.
The author includes historical notes respecting the reality of Paris police acting against the Jewish population of the time, a bitter pill to swallow.
August 2, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The main character, Monique is a seventeen year old Jewish girl was the lead. She was exceptionally strong character and was very special it was a female in the lead.
It’s very fast read and think I read it it just under one day over a day. I would recommend it to others.
I received an advance copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It’s very fast read and think I read it it just under one day over a day. I would recommend it to others.
I received an advance copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 18, 2021
Many thanks to #NetGalley, the publisher #BooksGoSocial and author #AlexAmit for allowing me to read an advance reader copy of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
I was first drawn to this book by the cover art which set the time period as being during WW2, a time period of great interest to myself. The author lives in Israel and I couldn’t tell whether this book was originally published in English or was a translation. There were a few spots in the dialogue where things didn’t flow smoothly, but that may well be that the character speaking was supposedly speaking in something other than their first language.
Monique is a girl in her late teens when the story begins. She is the voice of this book and she tells the reader what is happening in real time. I often struggle with this style of writing but in this particular story it worked perfectly for me. As I read, I would find myself holding my breath in fear as she was and dreading the consequences of things that she was forced to do.
Monique is home with her family as the story starts, but the French gendarmes have arrived and she must hide. Her younger brother refuses to hide with her and as her parents are dragged away with him, she knows that she is now on her own and has no clue how she will manage. Turned away by relatives she is forced onto the street where starvation is all too real, and were it not for a fluke encounter with a member of the resistance while running from the police, Monique would no doubt have been captured too. Her desire to survive no matter how makes her a useful tool to the Resistance. She stays with a woman who accepts her no matter what and works at a high-end pastry store that is favoured by the Germans. When the opportunity to befriend a German officer comes her way, she is forced to take advantage of it despite her revulsion. Her only friends become other females who are considered to be collaborateurs horizontale. Just imagine being forced to be intimate over and over again with someone you don’t care for while you can’t even see the man you are truly attracted too. And what happens as the war draws to a close and the mobs want to have their way with those they believe collaborated?
Alix Amit wrote a very quick moving tale that really grabbed me and drew me in. The depth of his research showed and made things seem very real. I would definitely recommend this novel to those interested in learning about what it might take for a Jewish person to survive in wartime France. If you sign up for Amit's email list he will also send a prequel of Monique's story. I have yet to read that.
I was first drawn to this book by the cover art which set the time period as being during WW2, a time period of great interest to myself. The author lives in Israel and I couldn’t tell whether this book was originally published in English or was a translation. There were a few spots in the dialogue where things didn’t flow smoothly, but that may well be that the character speaking was supposedly speaking in something other than their first language.
Monique is a girl in her late teens when the story begins. She is the voice of this book and she tells the reader what is happening in real time. I often struggle with this style of writing but in this particular story it worked perfectly for me. As I read, I would find myself holding my breath in fear as she was and dreading the consequences of things that she was forced to do.
Monique is home with her family as the story starts, but the French gendarmes have arrived and she must hide. Her younger brother refuses to hide with her and as her parents are dragged away with him, she knows that she is now on her own and has no clue how she will manage. Turned away by relatives she is forced onto the street where starvation is all too real, and were it not for a fluke encounter with a member of the resistance while running from the police, Monique would no doubt have been captured too. Her desire to survive no matter how makes her a useful tool to the Resistance. She stays with a woman who accepts her no matter what and works at a high-end pastry store that is favoured by the Germans. When the opportunity to befriend a German officer comes her way, she is forced to take advantage of it despite her revulsion. Her only friends become other females who are considered to be collaborateurs horizontale. Just imagine being forced to be intimate over and over again with someone you don’t care for while you can’t even see the man you are truly attracted too. And what happens as the war draws to a close and the mobs want to have their way with those they believe collaborated?
Alix Amit wrote a very quick moving tale that really grabbed me and drew me in. The depth of his research showed and made things seem very real. I would definitely recommend this novel to those interested in learning about what it might take for a Jewish person to survive in wartime France. If you sign up for Amit's email list he will also send a prequel of Monique's story. I have yet to read that.
January 2, 2021
EBook Review: THE GIRL UNDER THE FLAG by Alex Amit
(T) error
(H) its
(E) verywhere...
(G) athers
( I ) nformation...
(R) eaches
(L) evels
(U) nkown...
(N) ever
(D) one...
(E) agerly
(R) egularly
(T) orment
(H) arass
(E) xploit...
(F) earing
(L) and
(A) ll
(G) one
THE GIRL UNDER THE FLAG, left behind.
She had place to hide, held breath.
Then saved by big man, via trunk.
Becomes part of the resistance, best choice.
Does whatever needs to survive, plus more.
Along the way loses identity, keeps going.
Germans are everywhere in Paris, took control.
For some felt like vacation, from home.
Others praying for Americans to, come soon.
Rumors spreading that they're near, hope grows.
Daily life continues amongst chaos, and fear.
Drop in and see what, it's like.
The details clear and grim, feel there.
What would you do under, such circumstances?
What if were to happen, once again?
There's value in such stories, history important.
This story does ring true, thank you.
I will be following you, yes indeed.
***************************************
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
***************************************
(T) error
(H) its
(E) verywhere...
(G) athers
( I ) nformation...
(R) eaches
(L) evels
(U) nkown...
(N) ever
(D) one...
(E) agerly
(R) egularly
(T) orment
(H) arass
(E) xploit...
(F) earing
(L) and
(A) ll
(G) one
THE GIRL UNDER THE FLAG, left behind.
She had place to hide, held breath.
Then saved by big man, via trunk.
Becomes part of the resistance, best choice.
Does whatever needs to survive, plus more.
Along the way loses identity, keeps going.
Germans are everywhere in Paris, took control.
For some felt like vacation, from home.
Others praying for Americans to, come soon.
Rumors spreading that they're near, hope grows.
Daily life continues amongst chaos, and fear.
Drop in and see what, it's like.
The details clear and grim, feel there.
What would you do under, such circumstances?
What if were to happen, once again?
There's value in such stories, history important.
This story does ring true, thank you.
I will be following you, yes indeed.
***************************************
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
***************************************
May 21, 2021
"Life is given to those who are willing to fight for it."
Seventeen-year-old Monique manages to escape from the Nazi's hands into the streets of Paris, searching for a safe place. But a Jewish girl like her, who would want to take the risk and take her? She will be put into position to transmit information about the Germans while working in a caffe.
Every single day she looks over her shoulder expecting to be arrested or killed. The thought of her family never leaves her mind. She wonders where they took them and why they are not coming back for her. As the war continues she has to make difficult decisions. Will she choose peace with the enemy or danger with the one she fell in love with? Is there even love in a time of war?
I am in love with this book! I adore the way the author wrote such a sad and tragic book in a beautiful way. I love Monique, I felt connection with her from the very start and I was so sad when the book ended. Almost like I lost a friend. It's sad to read about the war and every single time my heart aches for those who went through that and lost their lives. Monique was so strong since she ran away from the Nazi's hands, she never stopped fighting. She's one of those women who risked their lives every single day to help beat the enemy. She made so many risky moves not thinking twice and wishing all that could be over soon.
Is it possible to fall in love when you're at battlefield? This book is going to anwser that question to the reader. Love is not just being together, love is the thought that you care about someone, that you would risk your life for them without blinking an eye. During the war maybe the human evil comes out, but the strongest power we have in us is love. Love can win any war and beat every beast. We just have to let it lead the way.
I enjoyed every single page of this book. The characters, the story, the style... Everything is perfect.
Seventeen-year-old Monique manages to escape from the Nazi's hands into the streets of Paris, searching for a safe place. But a Jewish girl like her, who would want to take the risk and take her? She will be put into position to transmit information about the Germans while working in a caffe.
Every single day she looks over her shoulder expecting to be arrested or killed. The thought of her family never leaves her mind. She wonders where they took them and why they are not coming back for her. As the war continues she has to make difficult decisions. Will she choose peace with the enemy or danger with the one she fell in love with? Is there even love in a time of war?
I am in love with this book! I adore the way the author wrote such a sad and tragic book in a beautiful way. I love Monique, I felt connection with her from the very start and I was so sad when the book ended. Almost like I lost a friend. It's sad to read about the war and every single time my heart aches for those who went through that and lost their lives. Monique was so strong since she ran away from the Nazi's hands, she never stopped fighting. She's one of those women who risked their lives every single day to help beat the enemy. She made so many risky moves not thinking twice and wishing all that could be over soon.
Is it possible to fall in love when you're at battlefield? This book is going to anwser that question to the reader. Love is not just being together, love is the thought that you care about someone, that you would risk your life for them without blinking an eye. During the war maybe the human evil comes out, but the strongest power we have in us is love. Love can win any war and beat every beast. We just have to let it lead the way.
I enjoyed every single page of this book. The characters, the story, the style... Everything is perfect.
December 26, 2022
Una buena historia de una judía luchando por su derecho a la vida durante la ocupación nazi a Francia,con miedo pero con decisión..Los personajes resultan creíbles, algunos hechos ficticios lucen un poco forzados, pero en general es una lectura interesante enmarcada en una época histórica importante y respaldada por una buena investigación que se pone de manifiesto a lo largo de la trama. Su lectura despierta emociones y su ritmo es ágil.
January 6, 2021
Staying Alive
Monique is a Jewish girl born in Germany and her family immigrated to France. When the Nazi soldiers invade Paris her family is taken to Auschwitz by the Gestapo. Monique hides in a cupboard and is not found as her mother tells the soldiers she sent her out to buy food.
Monique wanders the streets find help and food from wherever she can. She is almost caught when a resistance member takes her to the resistance headquarters. She meets Phillip and starts working for the resistance.
Soon she befriends a German officer, Ernest, and ends up living with him . This is so she can steal information and report it to the resistance. She does not enjoy this arrangement, but it is what she must do for her country. She has a false ID card and is passing herself off as a French citizen.
This is a book of the French resistance, and especially about a woman in the French resistance. It tells of the awful links she had to go to in order to stay alive just one more day. Fear was a constant companion.
The book tells of the horrible way the women were treated by the French people because they believed them to be a German collaborator. Sometimes the women were beaten, their heads shaved, and it didn't matter if they were working for the resistance.
The history of the invasion of Paris, the final solution for the Jews by the Nazi's and the liberation of Paris. The book show that not all people in France were monsters and many Jews were helped and saved by French people. The book also tells of those that would turn in anyone for a loaf of bread,
I liked the Characters, the history, and the ending was very good.
The book was sad and it was interesting. I am glad I read it and I do recommend it.
Thanks to Alex Amit, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Monique is a Jewish girl born in Germany and her family immigrated to France. When the Nazi soldiers invade Paris her family is taken to Auschwitz by the Gestapo. Monique hides in a cupboard and is not found as her mother tells the soldiers she sent her out to buy food.
Monique wanders the streets find help and food from wherever she can. She is almost caught when a resistance member takes her to the resistance headquarters. She meets Phillip and starts working for the resistance.
Soon she befriends a German officer, Ernest, and ends up living with him . This is so she can steal information and report it to the resistance. She does not enjoy this arrangement, but it is what she must do for her country. She has a false ID card and is passing herself off as a French citizen.
This is a book of the French resistance, and especially about a woman in the French resistance. It tells of the awful links she had to go to in order to stay alive just one more day. Fear was a constant companion.
The book tells of the horrible way the women were treated by the French people because they believed them to be a German collaborator. Sometimes the women were beaten, their heads shaved, and it didn't matter if they were working for the resistance.
The history of the invasion of Paris, the final solution for the Jews by the Nazi's and the liberation of Paris. The book show that not all people in France were monsters and many Jews were helped and saved by French people. The book also tells of those that would turn in anyone for a loaf of bread,
I liked the Characters, the history, and the ending was very good.
The book was sad and it was interesting. I am glad I read it and I do recommend it.
Thanks to Alex Amit, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 4, 2021
This is my 50th holocaust book; this is nor young or adult book. I continue to read this second book. It is about Monique. The author Alex did a amazing job. His writing is amazing. It was fast paced and packed with tension, I found myself adrenaline because the story plot has got me engage with many suspense and vivid characterizations, with a bit of romance suspense. The story unfolds, events set in Paris. Her mother saved her life when they practice hiding in a secret space in their house. She knew where to hide before Nazis come to find them however the Nazis took her parents and brother away. She had to search for another hiding places where she stayed in a dark basement for a long time until she meets Phillip. Phillip is a resistance fighter and gave her a deal to save her life by changing her identity and in return to provide the resistance information what the Nazis are up to. She had to become acquainted with them. She was torn her feelings for Phillip and fear of Herr Ernst, high rank Nazi who both love her. I honestly think this book should covey to make a great movie.
January 31, 2021
This was a DNF for me simply because the writing was so poor in my opinion. It was choppy and disjointed, leaving me trying to figure out what just happened from one sentence to the next and rereading sections because it would just change course or skip major scene details. The flow was really difficult to wade thru, and the majority of the characters’ conversations didn’t include who was speaking which made it very confusing. The grammar and structure was also off, as if it was translated from another language.
I tried to get thru it simply because the story line was interesting and I love WW2 fiction but it was just so difficult to read and felt so forced, I lost interest.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.
I tried to get thru it simply because the story line was interesting and I love WW2 fiction but it was just so difficult to read and felt so forced, I lost interest.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.
dnf
January 18, 2021DNF'ed @ 55%.
While this was a decent historical fiction, I struggled to connect with the main character. I found myself skimming the pages and losing interest. It's solidly written and researched, just not for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley #TheGirlUnderTheFlag. All opinions are my own.
While this was a decent historical fiction, I struggled to connect with the main character. I found myself skimming the pages and losing interest. It's solidly written and researched, just not for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley #TheGirlUnderTheFlag. All opinions are my own.
January 4, 2021
A Parisian girl's family is taken away in a roundup to Auschwitz, and she must do what it takes to survive. Monique makes a deal with Philip to change her identity, and she begins working at a bakery that German officers frequent. Monique then begins a relationship with a high ranking Nazi officer, sharing information with the Resistance. It helps that she is fluent in German. She is worried that she dives in too deep and that any little mistake can unravel everything.
Just wow! This book kept me up all night. You felt as though you were with Monique as she dived deeper, dealing with the internal struggle she faced. She is a strong, well-developed character.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Just wow! This book kept me up all night. You felt as though you were with Monique as she dived deeper, dealing with the internal struggle she faced. She is a strong, well-developed character.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 29, 2020
This novel about a 17 year old Jewish girl Monique who escapes deportation and eventually joins the French resistance is well researched and interesting. The protagonist’s harrowing infiltration of the German high command by sleeping with the enemy was well described. The writing flowed effortlessly along with suspenseful yet believable occurrences. I have read other books about the French resistance in Paris and this was one of the better ones. The lives of the so-called horizontal collaborators ( mistresses of the German officers) was well detailed. The novel was so suspenseful that I read it in one sitting. Monique is a strong character who is both resilient and careful, risking her life everyday. This is the first in a series about strong women during WW2. I look forward to reading more in this series. The author’s background in psychology only adds to the story of Monique’s feelings towards her handler and her needing to bed the German officer in order to gain information. This novel was an advanced review copy from BookSiren and the author.
April 14, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.
I must admit, I'm a sucker for WW2 books, particularly books about women and the resistance. However, this book missed the mark. Just seemed repetitive and stilted.
I must admit, I'm a sucker for WW2 books, particularly books about women and the resistance. However, this book missed the mark. Just seemed repetitive and stilted.
January 24, 2021
Excellent rendition of a young woman named Monique,who survived 2nd.WW under extreme difficulty and conditions.
Her home of Poland was invaded when she was just 17.
Her parents and little brother who had autism were
taken and put on the train for the worst Death Camp of all.
She barely escaped with her life and was taken to Paris
She spoke outstanding German as well French.
She was taken to a group who had a hard time believing that she could really help them spy on the Elite German Soldiers.
But spy,she did and although she never saw her family again.
She helped a lot of people and earned the respect and love of one of the men in.the group,that she married at the War's end .
A really good story and one that will easily.hold your interest.
Her home of Poland was invaded when she was just 17.
Her parents and little brother who had autism were
taken and put on the train for the worst Death Camp of all.
She barely escaped with her life and was taken to Paris
She spoke outstanding German as well French.
She was taken to a group who had a hard time believing that she could really help them spy on the Elite German Soldiers.
But spy,she did and although she never saw her family again.
She helped a lot of people and earned the respect and love of one of the men in.the group,that she married at the War's end .
A really good story and one that will easily.hold your interest.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2021
This book is okay. It is told in first person and I am not particularly fond of first person narratives. The story is wanders some and the majority of the characters are not well developed. There were times that I wondered if I had skipped a page or two. This could have been such a powerful story, but there are too many things in the writing style that interfere with the story.
December 24, 2020
I received this ARC copy in an exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Booksirens and Alex Amit.
This story, of a young Jewish girl who is simply trying to survive the Nazi occupation of Paris, is compelling and utterly heartbreaking on every page. I finished it in one sitting. As it’s author is a historian, the specificity of this book truly immerses you into the world.
This story, of a young Jewish girl who is simply trying to survive the Nazi occupation of Paris, is compelling and utterly heartbreaking on every page. I finished it in one sitting. As it’s author is a historian, the specificity of this book truly immerses you into the world.
January 15, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this amazing & heart-wrenching read in exchange for an honest review.
I could not put this book down after starting it! I was sucked into Monique's life within the first few pages. I could feel Monique's emotions (happiness, terror, longing, sadness, love, etc.) as experienced along her journey of survival. The author, Alex Amit, painted a realistic picture of what a Jewish girl would have to face in order to live through the Nazi's reign of terror. She did what she had to do to survive, all while secretly helping the resistance. There were some gut-wrenching moments in the end.
While Monique is a fictional character, her story is likely similar to many who lived through this time. Once I learned that the author was a historian, I wasn't surprised at how "real" Monique's story felt.
100% recommend this read! I am looking forward to checking out other books by Alex Amit now!
I could not put this book down after starting it! I was sucked into Monique's life within the first few pages. I could feel Monique's emotions (happiness, terror, longing, sadness, love, etc.) as experienced along her journey of survival. The author, Alex Amit, painted a realistic picture of what a Jewish girl would have to face in order to live through the Nazi's reign of terror. She did what she had to do to survive, all while secretly helping the resistance. There were some gut-wrenching moments in the end.
While Monique is a fictional character, her story is likely similar to many who lived through this time. Once I learned that the author was a historian, I wasn't surprised at how "real" Monique's story felt.
100% recommend this read! I am looking forward to checking out other books by Alex Amit now!
January 16, 2021
Monique is a 17 year old French Jew living in Paris. When the Germans round up all of the Jews she hides in the family apartment and is spared from deportation, unlike the rest of her family. Joining up with the French resistance, she becomes the mistress of a German officer in order to obtain information.
Although the plot was interesting, I really disliked the writing style. The story jumped in places, making me wonder if I had missed a chunk. The dialogue was stilted, which made me wonder if it the story had been written in a different language and subsequently translated. I also felt very little emotion. Monique loves Philip but there is no build up to this declaration so it came as a surprise. There are also many moments when she was terrified for her life, but I didn’t feel it. For me, the story, which should have been FULL of emotion, totally lacked it. The style of writing made me consider giving up on the book several times but I read a review which said it had a good ending which made me persevere.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Although the plot was interesting, I really disliked the writing style. The story jumped in places, making me wonder if I had missed a chunk. The dialogue was stilted, which made me wonder if it the story had been written in a different language and subsequently translated. I also felt very little emotion. Monique loves Philip but there is no build up to this declaration so it came as a surprise. There are also many moments when she was terrified for her life, but I didn’t feel it. For me, the story, which should have been FULL of emotion, totally lacked it. The style of writing made me consider giving up on the book several times but I read a review which said it had a good ending which made me persevere.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 30, 2021
El argumento tiene potencial, pero le falta ahondar más en los personajes y en sus relaciones personales. Se nota la autopublicacion, especialmente en los errores de traducción tanto a nivel del uso de género como el vocabulario (traduce Orbest como obrero 🤣). Los pensamientos de la protagonista estaban mal introducidos y me despistaban. No sé si era mi edición y me ha ocurrido solo a mi. Una pena.
June 4, 2023
I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook…I think I got it on a sale and purchased it based off of reviews. The book flowed really well and kept my interest right from the start. I wished it would’ve had more of Phillip’s point of view from the resistance side…to add more to the spy side of the story. This kept me great company while cleaning the camper. I think I’ll look at what else this Author has to listen to.
October 1, 2021
La historia me parece buena, pero tiene una pésima traducción que hace que no se disfrute ¡Lástima!🥺
February 14, 2021
I was able to read this novel before it was published. WWII historical novels are my favorite fun genre. The French Resistance was the subject of my Master's Thesis and much of my doctoral research. So I am always on the look out for a new book in the French Resistance genre. I thought the story of a Jewish girl on the run provides an interesting twist to the Resistance female genre so popular now. I think this book could also be marketed to high school girls as a great title under the YA genre. Also life under the German Occupation provides a rich resource to mine for great heroic stories especially about women. They were key especially in France where so many of the men were gone. This story revolves around the character of Monique, teen on her own and on the run from the SS sweep of Jews in Paris. Cut loose from the safety of her family and friends, she quickly learns the desperation of life on the run and no one to trust. Quickly, Monique comes under the protection of a resistance member and keeps her safe. He hides her and provides a new identity. And now, with her work in the bakery cafe, she becomes a spy.
Alex Amit knows the nuances of the Occupation well. He accurately portrays the interaction between the differing levels of the resistance and the role of the Communists in the resistance. Amit paid attention to detail regarding how secretly the resistance had to operate. The author included some very good plot points that you don't often see-- the Allied bombing of France, that not all Germans were evil incarnate, and that women did what it took to survive. As for female collaborators, Amit did not vilify the women who sought solace in German arms to survive. The reality of trying to survive at all costs forced women to do things they regretted.
In spite of all the attention to detail about the resistance, Amit's attention to detail slips in certain places. I found it a little hard to believe that the women collaborators never bothered to learned the soldiers last names even after two years. This seems a little weird because German soldiers were regularly addressed by their rank and full name in public. So for Monique to never learn Ernst's last name just didn't ring true especially since she's reading documents in his brief case in her work as a spy.
I know I sound like I am nitpicking but I did catch some other things that just did not ring true. It has to do with language not plot points. Monique refers to her father as dad-- a very American term. A French girl, especially a Jewish girl , would have used the term Papa or Papan, not dad. It was a few little things like that which bothered me such as the term tank top. Other than that, Girl under the Flag is a good quick read. I finished it in two hours. Amit does a good job of creating life under the occupation and the difficult choices people, especially young women, had to make and the prices they paid for those choices.
Alex Amit knows the nuances of the Occupation well. He accurately portrays the interaction between the differing levels of the resistance and the role of the Communists in the resistance. Amit paid attention to detail regarding how secretly the resistance had to operate. The author included some very good plot points that you don't often see-- the Allied bombing of France, that not all Germans were evil incarnate, and that women did what it took to survive. As for female collaborators, Amit did not vilify the women who sought solace in German arms to survive. The reality of trying to survive at all costs forced women to do things they regretted.
In spite of all the attention to detail about the resistance, Amit's attention to detail slips in certain places. I found it a little hard to believe that the women collaborators never bothered to learned the soldiers last names even after two years. This seems a little weird because German soldiers were regularly addressed by their rank and full name in public. So for Monique to never learn Ernst's last name just didn't ring true especially since she's reading documents in his brief case in her work as a spy.
I know I sound like I am nitpicking but I did catch some other things that just did not ring true. It has to do with language not plot points. Monique refers to her father as dad-- a very American term. A French girl, especially a Jewish girl , would have used the term Papa or Papan, not dad. It was a few little things like that which bothered me such as the term tank top. Other than that, Girl under the Flag is a good quick read. I finished it in two hours. Amit does a good job of creating life under the occupation and the difficult choices people, especially young women, had to make and the prices they paid for those choices.
January 2, 2022
I was able to read this novel before it was published. WWII historical novels are my favorite fun genre. The French Resistance was the subject of my Master's Thesis and much of my doctoral research. So I am always on the look out for a new book in the French Resistance genre. I thought the story of a Jewish girl on the run provides an interesting twist to the Resistance female genre so popular now. I think this book could also be marketed to high school girls as a great title under the YA genre. Also life under the German Occupation provides a rich resource to mine for great heroic stories especially about women. They were key especially in France where so many of the men were gone. This story revolves around the character of Monique, teen on her own and on the run from the SS sweep of Jews in Paris. Cut loose from the safety of her family and friends, she quickly learns the desperation of life on the run and no one to trust. Quickly, Monique comes under the protection of a resistance member and keeps her safe. He hides her and provides a new identity. And now, with her work in the bakery cafe, she becomes a spy.
Alex Amit knows the nuances of the Occupation well. He accurately portrays the interaction between the differing levels of the resistance and the role of the Communists in the resistance. Amit paid attention to detail regarding how secretly the resistance had to operate. The author included some very good plot points that you don't often see-- the Allied bombing of France, that not all Germans were evil incarnate, and that women did what it took to survive. As for female collaborators, Amit did not vilify the women who sought solace in German arms to survive. The reality of trying to survive at all costs forced women to do things they regretted.
In spite of all the attention to detail about the resistance, Amit's attention to detail slips in certain places. I found it a little hard to believe that the women collaborators never bothered to learned the soldiers last names even after two years. This seems a little weird because German soldiers were regularly addressed by their rank and full name in public. So for Monique to never learn Ernst's last name just didn't ring true especially since she's reading documents in his brief case in her work as a spy.
I know I sound like I am nitpicking but I did catch some other things that just did not ring true. It has to do with language not plot points. Monique refers to her father as dad-- a very American term. A French girl, especially a Jewish girl , would have used the term Papa or Papan, not dad. It was a few little things like that which bothered me such as the term tank top. Other than that, Girl under the Flag is a good quick read. I finished it in two hours. Amit does a good job of creating life under the occupation and the difficult choices people, especially young women, had to make and the prices they paid for those choices.
Alex Amit knows the nuances of the Occupation well. He accurately portrays the interaction between the differing levels of the resistance and the role of the Communists in the resistance. Amit paid attention to detail regarding how secretly the resistance had to operate. The author included some very good plot points that you don't often see-- the Allied bombing of France, that not all Germans were evil incarnate, and that women did what it took to survive. As for female collaborators, Amit did not vilify the women who sought solace in German arms to survive. The reality of trying to survive at all costs forced women to do things they regretted.
In spite of all the attention to detail about the resistance, Amit's attention to detail slips in certain places. I found it a little hard to believe that the women collaborators never bothered to learned the soldiers last names even after two years. This seems a little weird because German soldiers were regularly addressed by their rank and full name in public. So for Monique to never learn Ernst's last name just didn't ring true especially since she's reading documents in his brief case in her work as a spy.
I know I sound like I am nitpicking but I did catch some other things that just did not ring true. It has to do with language not plot points. Monique refers to her father as dad-- a very American term. A French girl, especially a Jewish girl , would have used the term Papa or Papan, not dad. It was a few little things like that which bothered me such as the term tank top. Other than that, Girl under the Flag is a good quick read. I finished it in two hours. Amit does a good job of creating life under the occupation and the difficult choices people, especially young women, had to make and the prices they paid for those choices.
January 16, 2021
I love historical fiction novels centered around WWII. I have read a tom of them, but this one was super good.
The story begins with Monique hiding as the Nazis come after her family. When they finally depart taking her family with them Monique finds herself utterly alone. No family or friends left for her to turn to for help, she now only has herself, a young girl of seventeen to count on.
A chance meeting with a strange man she encounters while trying to survive living in shadows on the streets of German occupied Paris, Monique finds herself joining the French Resistance, working in a bakery that caters to German officers and soldiers. After her one and only friend dies, Monique throws caution to the wind, taking on more dangerous roles in the fight to free Paris. She is introduced to a German officer Oberst Ernest, and against every fiber in her being she gets close to him, close enough to learn his secrets and report back to the resistance. As D-day draws nearer the tensions between the German soldiers and French citizens become that much greater, making Monique's position of a French woman with a German officer boyfriend that much more precarious. Is Monique able to maintain her cover and survive undetected by the German officer who thinks of her as his property, or is she betrayed, left to face the German fury and almost certain death for her role as a spy?
In some ways this book is like many I have read about courageous men and women during this war. But it is also different, though I will refrain from telling you just what is different, I don't want to give any spoilers. I will say that I believe certain aspects in this book make it more realistic, more believable. The author does a great job with Monique's storyline and with her character development. She becomes a fully convincing character, you can see and hear her clearly, drawing emotional responses from the reader.
I feel this novel is well researched, as always when reading these WWII novels I learn a little bit more about the war than I knew before, that is true of this one as well.
This book has the feel of other novels such as "The Girl From Berlin" and " The German Girl ". So if you are fans of these you will love this one.
I heartily recommend this book to WWII historical fiction fans and to women's literature fans, and hey, why not, to just fiction fans in general. This book has a lot ot offer, great characters, a heroine who is far from perfect, but all the more real because of her imperfections. It has a fantastic storyline, suspense, spies and intrigue. There is something for all.
I give this novel 5 stars because it just doesn't get better than this one. Looking forward to more from this terrific author Alex Amit.
Thank you to the author and publishers for a free advance copy of this novel, in return I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.
The story begins with Monique hiding as the Nazis come after her family. When they finally depart taking her family with them Monique finds herself utterly alone. No family or friends left for her to turn to for help, she now only has herself, a young girl of seventeen to count on.
A chance meeting with a strange man she encounters while trying to survive living in shadows on the streets of German occupied Paris, Monique finds herself joining the French Resistance, working in a bakery that caters to German officers and soldiers. After her one and only friend dies, Monique throws caution to the wind, taking on more dangerous roles in the fight to free Paris. She is introduced to a German officer Oberst Ernest, and against every fiber in her being she gets close to him, close enough to learn his secrets and report back to the resistance. As D-day draws nearer the tensions between the German soldiers and French citizens become that much greater, making Monique's position of a French woman with a German officer boyfriend that much more precarious. Is Monique able to maintain her cover and survive undetected by the German officer who thinks of her as his property, or is she betrayed, left to face the German fury and almost certain death for her role as a spy?
In some ways this book is like many I have read about courageous men and women during this war. But it is also different, though I will refrain from telling you just what is different, I don't want to give any spoilers. I will say that I believe certain aspects in this book make it more realistic, more believable. The author does a great job with Monique's storyline and with her character development. She becomes a fully convincing character, you can see and hear her clearly, drawing emotional responses from the reader.
I feel this novel is well researched, as always when reading these WWII novels I learn a little bit more about the war than I knew before, that is true of this one as well.
This book has the feel of other novels such as "The Girl From Berlin" and " The German Girl ". So if you are fans of these you will love this one.
I heartily recommend this book to WWII historical fiction fans and to women's literature fans, and hey, why not, to just fiction fans in general. This book has a lot ot offer, great characters, a heroine who is far from perfect, but all the more real because of her imperfections. It has a fantastic storyline, suspense, spies and intrigue. There is something for all.
I give this novel 5 stars because it just doesn't get better than this one. Looking forward to more from this terrific author Alex Amit.
Thank you to the author and publishers for a free advance copy of this novel, in return I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.
March 24, 2021
I have really mixed feelings about this book, hence the rating. There were elements I loved and elements that disappointed me. Overall, it was an enjoyable read that passed the time very pleasantly and I don't regret it for a moment. It just didn't quite hit the target in a few areas.
The good: this is an interesting storyline about a fascinating (and terrible) time in history. I don't know a huge amount about what happened in Paris, or in France as a whole, during the Nazi occupation so I found it really interesting to get that perspective. The characters are generally well constructed and I was able to feel some real connection to them. A lot of the emotion came across very well and there are some excellent descriptions of people, places and situations that bring the story to life. Overall, there's some great writing here.
The bad: the pace is very varied for reasons that just don't seem to make sense. A book usually has variations (it would be a dreadful read any other way) but here the decisions are confused. There are areas that drag out to no apparent gain and other parts of the story seem very rushed when detail would be appreciated. Some of the 'everyday' sections get quite repetitive but are still prolonged, whilst mission and action can be covered very quickly and left me wanting a bit more. In addition, it did feel that there was something missing in the overall picture painted of Paris at this time. Surely what's portrayed here wasn't close to the full range of reactions to the Nazi occupation. I'm no expert. As I've said, I know very little about the historical side of this story but I do worry that I've been left with a view that might be somewhat insulting to those who were actually there.
Overall, I did enjoy 'The Girl Under the Flag' as a good piece of fiction writing that kept me engaged and looking forward to the next time I had a few minutes to read. The frustrations in it will hit more intensely those passionate about historical fiction. My own interest lies more in character and emotion and those elements are definitely satisfactory even if I did find myself disliking the vast majority of the characters (not bad writing, just rather unappealing people). I would recommend the book if you want to pass the time in an enjoyable way without getting too tangled up in accuracy of portrayal, and if you can forgive the frustrations of some odd pacing.
I did receive a free ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review to help others decide if it's the book for them. Hopefully the review has been helpful to you and allowed you to make an informed choice about where to spend your money on your next read.
The good: this is an interesting storyline about a fascinating (and terrible) time in history. I don't know a huge amount about what happened in Paris, or in France as a whole, during the Nazi occupation so I found it really interesting to get that perspective. The characters are generally well constructed and I was able to feel some real connection to them. A lot of the emotion came across very well and there are some excellent descriptions of people, places and situations that bring the story to life. Overall, there's some great writing here.
The bad: the pace is very varied for reasons that just don't seem to make sense. A book usually has variations (it would be a dreadful read any other way) but here the decisions are confused. There are areas that drag out to no apparent gain and other parts of the story seem very rushed when detail would be appreciated. Some of the 'everyday' sections get quite repetitive but are still prolonged, whilst mission and action can be covered very quickly and left me wanting a bit more. In addition, it did feel that there was something missing in the overall picture painted of Paris at this time. Surely what's portrayed here wasn't close to the full range of reactions to the Nazi occupation. I'm no expert. As I've said, I know very little about the historical side of this story but I do worry that I've been left with a view that might be somewhat insulting to those who were actually there.
Overall, I did enjoy 'The Girl Under the Flag' as a good piece of fiction writing that kept me engaged and looking forward to the next time I had a few minutes to read. The frustrations in it will hit more intensely those passionate about historical fiction. My own interest lies more in character and emotion and those elements are definitely satisfactory even if I did find myself disliking the vast majority of the characters (not bad writing, just rather unappealing people). I would recommend the book if you want to pass the time in an enjoyable way without getting too tangled up in accuracy of portrayal, and if you can forgive the frustrations of some odd pacing.
I did receive a free ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review to help others decide if it's the book for them. Hopefully the review has been helpful to you and allowed you to make an informed choice about where to spend your money on your next read.
February 8, 2021
** I received this book in exchange for my honest review **
Everyone knows I love a good Holocaust story which I honestly thought this was going in but it was actually the opposite. This was about a young Jewish woman who managed to escape deportation to the concentration camps despite her family being sent away. On the day of her family's arrest, Monique managed to hide from the police and escape from her home without being found. She roams through the city for a few days before someone who is part of the resistance helps her find a new place in the city of Paris. She begins to live a new life right under the noses of the German occupiers. Monique reluctantly begins a relationship with a German soldier who actually treats her very well and allows her to experience luxuries that almost no one else in the occupied city has. But when it comes time for the city's liberation, what will happen to her after all she's sacrificed?!
This book is well written and makes you consider what you would do if you were just trying to survive in a war zone. What would you be willing to sacrifice? Even though we never truthfully know what happened to Monique's family, the readers experience all the emotions of someone who believes they have nothing left to lose. This book is well-researched and includes factual details of the French occupation and resistance and makes you feel like you're living in 1940's Paris for a short time. Any WWII enthusiast should enjoy reading about the war from a different point of view.
I will say that the one thing I would have liked to have seen in the Epilogue was some information about Monique's family. It is common in WWII history for people to start looking for their family and to find out what happened to them. We know that at one point her aunt was trying to escape but we never find out if she was successful or not. Also, I would have been interested to know her immediate family's story.
Everyone knows I love a good Holocaust story which I honestly thought this was going in but it was actually the opposite. This was about a young Jewish woman who managed to escape deportation to the concentration camps despite her family being sent away. On the day of her family's arrest, Monique managed to hide from the police and escape from her home without being found. She roams through the city for a few days before someone who is part of the resistance helps her find a new place in the city of Paris. She begins to live a new life right under the noses of the German occupiers. Monique reluctantly begins a relationship with a German soldier who actually treats her very well and allows her to experience luxuries that almost no one else in the occupied city has. But when it comes time for the city's liberation, what will happen to her after all she's sacrificed?!
This book is well written and makes you consider what you would do if you were just trying to survive in a war zone. What would you be willing to sacrifice? Even though we never truthfully know what happened to Monique's family, the readers experience all the emotions of someone who believes they have nothing left to lose. This book is well-researched and includes factual details of the French occupation and resistance and makes you feel like you're living in 1940's Paris for a short time. Any WWII enthusiast should enjoy reading about the war from a different point of view.
I will say that the one thing I would have liked to have seen in the Epilogue was some information about Monique's family. It is common in WWII history for people to start looking for their family and to find out what happened to them. We know that at one point her aunt was trying to escape but we never find out if she was successful or not. Also, I would have been interested to know her immediate family's story.
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