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Do Not Disclose: A Memoir of Family Secrets Lost and Found
Leora, a juvenile court judge, wife, mother, and daughter, is caught in the routine of work, taking care of her family and aging parents. But she’s also a second-generation Holocaust survivor. It’s an identity she didn’t understand was hers until she accidentally discovered a secret file of handwritten notes addressed to her father.
A further discovery of a seemingly random WWII postcard in a thrift store sets her on a collision course with the past in this lyrical memoir about secrets hidden within secrets, both present-day and buried deep within wartime Europe.
A further discovery of a seemingly random WWII postcard in a thrift store sets her on a collision course with the past in this lyrical memoir about secrets hidden within secrets, both present-day and buried deep within wartime Europe.
198 pages, Paperback
First published August 24, 2021
12 people are currently reading
2237 people want to read
About the author
Leora Krygier
6 books44 followersI think I wrote my first story at the age of eight, a micro-autobiography. Micro? Because, well, how much can you say at the age of eight? But I guess I was hooked. I also love to take photos with my cameras and iPhone, which is always snug in my back pocket.
For me, every photo has a story, and every story is a snapshot.
I'm the author of "When She Sleeps" (Toby Press) a New York Public Library Selection for “Best Books for the Teen Age,” and about which Newsweek said, “Krygier’s luminous prose transports the reader.”
I'm also a former Los Angeles Superior Court judge and the author of "Juvenile Court: A Judge’s Guide for Young Adults and their Parents" (Scarecrow Press).
I live in Los Angeles with my husband. When I'm not not writing, I love to go to the beach, walk the Santa Monica Mountain trails, and snap lots and lots of photographs.
For me, every photo has a story, and every story is a snapshot.
I'm the author of "When She Sleeps" (Toby Press) a New York Public Library Selection for “Best Books for the Teen Age,” and about which Newsweek said, “Krygier’s luminous prose transports the reader.”
I'm also a former Los Angeles Superior Court judge and the author of "Juvenile Court: A Judge’s Guide for Young Adults and their Parents" (Scarecrow Press).
I live in Los Angeles with my husband. When I'm not not writing, I love to go to the beach, walk the Santa Monica Mountain trails, and snap lots and lots of photographs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
March 15, 2022
I have been slowly easing my way back to WWII stories and this one is on the shorter side, so I decided to give it a go. This was a touching, moving memoir by Leora Krygier, a juvenile court judge that has been too caught up in work as well as taking care of family and her aging parents. She is also a second generation Holocaust survivor, something she didn’t fully understand. That is, until she accidentally discovers a secret file of notes addressed to her father. She also finds a somewhat random but kind of not WWII postcard in a thrift store, and both of these set her on a path to learn more about her past.
The writing was wonderfully done, I was captivated from the beginning all the way until the end. I loved the structure of this one as well, it was different than most memoirs and the length was perfect. If you like WWII stories or memoirs in general then I definitely recommend you pick this one up.
Thank you to She Writes Press for the gifted copy to review.
The writing was wonderfully done, I was captivated from the beginning all the way until the end. I loved the structure of this one as well, it was different than most memoirs and the length was perfect. If you like WWII stories or memoirs in general then I definitely recommend you pick this one up.
Thank you to She Writes Press for the gifted copy to review.
June 9, 2021
If you’re a fan of WWII stories or Jewish history or family secrets, then my friend Leora Krygier’s book, DO NOT DISCLOSE, is for you.
Krygier is a second-generation Holocaust survivor. But she didn’t fully understand that part of her identity until she accidentally discovered handwritten notes addressed to her father. Meanwhile, she found a random WWII postcard in a thrift store that set her on a collision course with her past, confronting her family’s secret.
This fascinating story is told in a creative structure and in a beautiful voice. With my reading disorder, I finished reading it in a day and thoroughly enjoyed it too. Highly recommend it!
Krygier is a second-generation Holocaust survivor. But she didn’t fully understand that part of her identity until she accidentally discovered handwritten notes addressed to her father. Meanwhile, she found a random WWII postcard in a thrift store that set her on a collision course with her past, confronting her family’s secret.
This fascinating story is told in a creative structure and in a beautiful voice. With my reading disorder, I finished reading it in a day and thoroughly enjoyed it too. Highly recommend it!
March 24, 2021
I cannot think of an author alive who writes with the soul-stirring, poetic prose of Leora Krygier. Do Not Disclose is an incredibly touching memoir that elegantly weaves together threads from the Holocaust, family secrets, motherhood, and a quest to find a soldier from a discovered postcard. I was captivated from the first page. Here is life in all of its painful, honest, joyful beauty.
June 25, 2021
Krygier keeps us guessing throughout the remarkable and extensive trail she follows to find the provenance of a stranger’s writing, but then turns to her own family’s secrets. The memoir is beautifully written; we eventually become intimate with Krygier and her mother who tried to protect her for years. I found myself constantly underlining the loving and creative passages:
“We came out again to the backyard to gather up the dry, stiffened bedsheets…. We each held two corners outstretched. Then walked toward each other, folding and refolding, until the palms of our hands met.” And later, “I watched my mother’s face as she drove, her purse flat and small on her spotless lap. Unlike me, she never carried a large purse, managing with very little, as if she’d made a purposeful decision to whittle down her needs. It seemed a strange confidence, almost a determination—to survive life solely on her wits.”
I understood the obsession and impatience involved in research as Krygier was becoming “addicted to an instantaneous world [on the computer] and was annoyed when the ‘send’ button took more than four seconds to obey my command. Email was fast food, filling, but it had robbed me of reflection.”
Do Not Disclose is a fascinating and elegant story. Don’t miss it!!!
“We came out again to the backyard to gather up the dry, stiffened bedsheets…. We each held two corners outstretched. Then walked toward each other, folding and refolding, until the palms of our hands met.” And later, “I watched my mother’s face as she drove, her purse flat and small on her spotless lap. Unlike me, she never carried a large purse, managing with very little, as if she’d made a purposeful decision to whittle down her needs. It seemed a strange confidence, almost a determination—to survive life solely on her wits.”
I understood the obsession and impatience involved in research as Krygier was becoming “addicted to an instantaneous world [on the computer] and was annoyed when the ‘send’ button took more than four seconds to obey my command. Email was fast food, filling, but it had robbed me of reflection.”
Do Not Disclose is a fascinating and elegant story. Don’t miss it!!!
August 22, 2021
“Secrets can tear a person apart.”
Thank you @BookSparks & @leorakrygierauthor for a #gifted copy of Do Not Disclose!
This slow-burn nonfiction had me on my toes, unable to put it down until Leora found who she was looking for. This story weaves together the past set in WWII with the present day, filled with family secrets. If you’re looking for a good memoir with some Holocaust ties, pick this up.
Thank you @BookSparks & @leorakrygierauthor for a #gifted copy of Do Not Disclose!
This slow-burn nonfiction had me on my toes, unable to put it down until Leora found who she was looking for. This story weaves together the past set in WWII with the present day, filled with family secrets. If you’re looking for a good memoir with some Holocaust ties, pick this up.
June 13, 2021
Leora Krygier's latest book is a mesmerizing and insightful memoir that is hard to set aside because it is so beautifully written and because the story is so riveting in multiple ways, including the parallel family stories of a British soldier whose postcard somehow made its way to a Los Angeles suburb and Leora's personal family story of her father's escape from World War II-torn Europe and her mother's life and dreams as a young woman born in then-British-controlled Palestine. It is both heartbreaking and heart warming in unexpected ways, giving the reader a glimpse of the strange trajectories life can bring. As a former English literature student who enjoys both fiction and non-fiction books, I can truly say that this is one of the best books I have read.
June 15, 2021
“Do not Disclose” had me from the first line. It’s a mystery—a memoir about a woman’s struggle to unlock a family secret , then to deny it, then to turn it out of her consciousness, then finally to accept it.
Unraveling secrets is the basis of a good mystery, and Krygier is a masterful storyteller. She is ambivalent about facing her family’s secret, and to avoid the pain of that journey she finds another mystery to solve.
A good memoir isn’t just a story. It opens up the writer’s heart and relationships to honest display. If she’s really good she’ll make you her most intimate companion and bring you along with her on her journey. And Krygier is really good.
Do Not Disclose is one of the best memoirs of the dozens I have read.
Unraveling secrets is the basis of a good mystery, and Krygier is a masterful storyteller. She is ambivalent about facing her family’s secret, and to avoid the pain of that journey she finds another mystery to solve.
A good memoir isn’t just a story. It opens up the writer’s heart and relationships to honest display. If she’s really good she’ll make you her most intimate companion and bring you along with her on her journey. And Krygier is really good.
Do Not Disclose is one of the best memoirs of the dozens I have read.
August 29, 2021
I like the cover of this book as it could actually be a still shot of a scene from the book, of the very thing that sets Leora off on investigating her family and what turns out to be its rather complicated history. The picture on the cover made me think of an old handbag my grandmother had full of old photographs too. If I saw this book on a bookstore shelf, I would certainly pick it up to learn some more about it, so I think the cover works well.
I’ll be totally honest from the blurb I thought that perhaps the mention that Leora’s parents were Holocaust survivors that the book was going to be about their life, or their families lives during this dark era of history, but it was more about Leora’s parent’s more recent life history and a secret they have been keeping from Leora. Something neither of her parents talk about even to each other. Leora’s mum Yael has recently retired from her work at the Jewish Federation and is determined to tidy up the house and get rid of some of the things Leora’s dad Levi seems to, in her opinion, hoard. Levi hates to throw anything away saying it may be some use one day. When Leora finds the photograph of herself sat in between her mother and her Aunt Rhea that sets her mind to discovering who Aunt Rhea is and what the “big” family secret is. Leora’s mother tolerates Rhea and her daughter Dena in their life but Leora isn’t sure what happened between her mum and Rhea. I wanted this part about Leora’s parents and Rhea to be more detailed. How Levi and Rhea had met, what had happened. What happened when Yael discovered the reality of the relationship with Levi, Rhea and Dena. I was left with questions unanswered.
As well as that mystery, whilst browsing in an old postcard shop, she comes across a postcard and is determined to find out as much as she can about it. She also wants to find the author of the postcard or someone who knew him. Throughout her research Leora does gain some new long-lasting friendships. In fact, I enjoyed reading about Leora and her daughter bonding whilst visiting one of these friends.
It’s difficult to say a great deal more without revealing too much of the book itself. There were parts of the book that I really enjoyed reading, and certain sections I loved but then when it switched about it felt confusing, I kept wondering how the two sections of the book were going to come together.
My immediate thoughts upon finishing the book were that at times the different themes, parts of the story felt like two books not quite correctly slotted together. I did like both parts of the whole book but together they sometimes didn’t fit that well, it kind of spoilt the flow of the book. It just felt like the book needed tweaking, or fine tuning just a little more. Or even put into two separate books!
Summing up whilst I did enjoy the book as a whole, I honestly found the way it jumped around a tad confusing and at time irritating. I had also worked out the situation/parentage of Dena which I actually thought Leora had revealed earlier in the book so I didn't quite understand the 'big realisation' that Leora had later in the book.
I’ll be totally honest from the blurb I thought that perhaps the mention that Leora’s parents were Holocaust survivors that the book was going to be about their life, or their families lives during this dark era of history, but it was more about Leora’s parent’s more recent life history and a secret they have been keeping from Leora. Something neither of her parents talk about even to each other. Leora’s mum Yael has recently retired from her work at the Jewish Federation and is determined to tidy up the house and get rid of some of the things Leora’s dad Levi seems to, in her opinion, hoard. Levi hates to throw anything away saying it may be some use one day. When Leora finds the photograph of herself sat in between her mother and her Aunt Rhea that sets her mind to discovering who Aunt Rhea is and what the “big” family secret is. Leora’s mother tolerates Rhea and her daughter Dena in their life but Leora isn’t sure what happened between her mum and Rhea. I wanted this part about Leora’s parents and Rhea to be more detailed. How Levi and Rhea had met, what had happened. What happened when Yael discovered the reality of the relationship with Levi, Rhea and Dena. I was left with questions unanswered.
As well as that mystery, whilst browsing in an old postcard shop, she comes across a postcard and is determined to find out as much as she can about it. She also wants to find the author of the postcard or someone who knew him. Throughout her research Leora does gain some new long-lasting friendships. In fact, I enjoyed reading about Leora and her daughter bonding whilst visiting one of these friends.
It’s difficult to say a great deal more without revealing too much of the book itself. There were parts of the book that I really enjoyed reading, and certain sections I loved but then when it switched about it felt confusing, I kept wondering how the two sections of the book were going to come together.
My immediate thoughts upon finishing the book were that at times the different themes, parts of the story felt like two books not quite correctly slotted together. I did like both parts of the whole book but together they sometimes didn’t fit that well, it kind of spoilt the flow of the book. It just felt like the book needed tweaking, or fine tuning just a little more. Or even put into two separate books!
Summing up whilst I did enjoy the book as a whole, I honestly found the way it jumped around a tad confusing and at time irritating. I had also worked out the situation/parentage of Dena which I actually thought Leora had revealed earlier in the book so I didn't quite understand the 'big realisation' that Leora had later in the book.
August 4, 2021
I have been obsessed with Holocaust stories and memoirs for many years. Then I branched out to descendants of Holocaust survivors and accounts of researching family history. Do Not Disclose: A Memoir of Family Secrets Lost and Found by Leora Krygier fulfilled both genres. I devoured it in two days.
Krygier recounts two mysteries in one narrative. She filched a file of notes, strewn on her parents' floor, amidst her mother purging papers. One of the notes said "do not share." The author also purchased a postcard from a British WWII veteran that stated "do not disclose." The similar wording on both documents caught her attention and her inquiry.
I had an inkling as to what the purloined file from her parents would expose, but had to read the entire book for the full revelation. The majority of the story is her account of unearthing every last clue in an attempt to identify the post card writer, A. T. Maynard. I was impressed with how she scoured every little lead, despite numerous dead ends. Much of the research was conducted in 2003, the infancy of online information. It was nostalgic to read and reminisce, especially when the author expressed joy in purchasing a laptop so she could research on the go.
During her sleuthing, Krygier avoided reading the family file. While painful to admit, the papers revealed stains and scars that polluted her memories and how she viewed her parents. One particularly heart-wrenching scene entailed her father not returning her sentiment of affection, after a confrontation. Krygier knew the truth but until she was able to face it she submerged herself in tracing the post card writer.
The author did a good job intertwining the two stories, layering connections at various junctures. I appreciated her epilogue, sharing updates about her family as well as the post card family. All families have secrets that sometimes never see the light of day, but Krygier deserves credit for having the courage to share hers and placing it within the broader context of history and culture.
Story Circle Book Reviews thanks Janilyn Kocher for this review.
Krygier recounts two mysteries in one narrative. She filched a file of notes, strewn on her parents' floor, amidst her mother purging papers. One of the notes said "do not share." The author also purchased a postcard from a British WWII veteran that stated "do not disclose." The similar wording on both documents caught her attention and her inquiry.
I had an inkling as to what the purloined file from her parents would expose, but had to read the entire book for the full revelation. The majority of the story is her account of unearthing every last clue in an attempt to identify the post card writer, A. T. Maynard. I was impressed with how she scoured every little lead, despite numerous dead ends. Much of the research was conducted in 2003, the infancy of online information. It was nostalgic to read and reminisce, especially when the author expressed joy in purchasing a laptop so she could research on the go.
During her sleuthing, Krygier avoided reading the family file. While painful to admit, the papers revealed stains and scars that polluted her memories and how she viewed her parents. One particularly heart-wrenching scene entailed her father not returning her sentiment of affection, after a confrontation. Krygier knew the truth but until she was able to face it she submerged herself in tracing the post card writer.
The author did a good job intertwining the two stories, layering connections at various junctures. I appreciated her epilogue, sharing updates about her family as well as the post card family. All families have secrets that sometimes never see the light of day, but Krygier deserves credit for having the courage to share hers and placing it within the broader context of history and culture.
Story Circle Book Reviews thanks Janilyn Kocher for this review.
August 23, 2021
Thank you to BookSparks and Leora Krygier for a gifted copy of DO NOT DISCLOSE.
This book was a phenomenally written memoir about family secrets and discovering identities and your place in the world. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, waiting to see what comes next. I absolutely couldn't put it down! The memoir reads like a mystery with stories and secrets being uncovered through a series of letters held in a file found at Leora's parents' house.
Leora finds a secret file at her parents house marked, and something compels her to take it. Around the same time, she discovers a postcard from WWII. What draws her to the postcard is the underlined words "Do not disclose." From there on, Leora spends her time trying to track down the owner of the postcard, discovering things about the owner's life and family. All this is parallel to the story of Leora discovering her own family story of her father's escape from the Holocaust, as well as events that occurred afterward and people her father met who would change the course of her life.
As I was reading, I was wondering what the postcard and the family file had in common. The answer is everything. Sometimes searching for something that's not directly related to you can bring out more personal revelations than you may think.
If you're a fan of Jewish history with some Holocaust ties or family secrets and drama, this book is for you. I will be thinking about this book for a while.
This book was a phenomenally written memoir about family secrets and discovering identities and your place in the world. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, waiting to see what comes next. I absolutely couldn't put it down! The memoir reads like a mystery with stories and secrets being uncovered through a series of letters held in a file found at Leora's parents' house.
Leora finds a secret file at her parents house marked, and something compels her to take it. Around the same time, she discovers a postcard from WWII. What draws her to the postcard is the underlined words "Do not disclose." From there on, Leora spends her time trying to track down the owner of the postcard, discovering things about the owner's life and family. All this is parallel to the story of Leora discovering her own family story of her father's escape from the Holocaust, as well as events that occurred afterward and people her father met who would change the course of her life.
As I was reading, I was wondering what the postcard and the family file had in common. The answer is everything. Sometimes searching for something that's not directly related to you can bring out more personal revelations than you may think.
If you're a fan of Jewish history with some Holocaust ties or family secrets and drama, this book is for you. I will be thinking about this book for a while.
September 10, 2021
Reviewed for Chick Lit Central (www.chicklitcentral.com)
Told in the present, as well as the past, Do Not Disclose was the epitome of webbed secrets. I appreciated how each chapter was surrounded by moments Leora remembers from her childhood, and within each one, we learn a little more about the family hurts that remained buried and silent for so long.
The path she takes in order to find out more about the WWII postcard was such a neat concept. I’ve seen similar items at antique stores, and not once had I ever thought beyond the two-dimensional item in my hand. The fact that Leora wants to go deeper into the why behind the postcard, and discover more about the person who wrote it (A.T. Maynard) not only gave the reader mystery and intrigue, but it also tied in well with what Leora is dealing with within her family. Her employment is also struggling due to her sleuthing. That part really bothered me, because I couldn’t see why it would matter what she did in her spare time, but one of her coworkers would remind her that even when she’s not a juvenile court judge, her extra-curricular activities are a reflection on her employment. I wanted to tell that guy to mind his own business!
The deeper vein within Do Not Disclose is family; the family we’re born with, and the family we choose. There is a lot of reconciling and understanding that is involved, and it was all well worth it. This was a beautifully written, five-star read!
Told in the present, as well as the past, Do Not Disclose was the epitome of webbed secrets. I appreciated how each chapter was surrounded by moments Leora remembers from her childhood, and within each one, we learn a little more about the family hurts that remained buried and silent for so long.
The path she takes in order to find out more about the WWII postcard was such a neat concept. I’ve seen similar items at antique stores, and not once had I ever thought beyond the two-dimensional item in my hand. The fact that Leora wants to go deeper into the why behind the postcard, and discover more about the person who wrote it (A.T. Maynard) not only gave the reader mystery and intrigue, but it also tied in well with what Leora is dealing with within her family. Her employment is also struggling due to her sleuthing. That part really bothered me, because I couldn’t see why it would matter what she did in her spare time, but one of her coworkers would remind her that even when she’s not a juvenile court judge, her extra-curricular activities are a reflection on her employment. I wanted to tell that guy to mind his own business!
The deeper vein within Do Not Disclose is family; the family we’re born with, and the family we choose. There is a lot of reconciling and understanding that is involved, and it was all well worth it. This was a beautifully written, five-star read!
September 18, 2021
Leora Krygier moved me as I flip the pages of her story. She tells it with such delicacy you can feel the pull to hold back and not tell “just too much” like her parents.
The title “Do Not Disclose” had a variable of meanings for me. The main one being that traumas are often kept as close to our own hearts and souls as possible, we order ourselves not to share, Even when we don’t, the pain can still be passed down to the next generation, I think it passes on with even more intensity because of the misunderstanding.. The silence is louder.
Leora’s desire to learn more takes her down such an interesting road! I was totally enamored with the postcard found in clothing at a thrift shop! LOVED THIS!
This story will make your heart swell as she digs deeper! And it will make you want to know more!
Leora is a gifted writer. I enjoyed her poetic cadence that showed up often in the story, i felt as though that was when the book was most alive, But, trust me….the other parts are just as important and just as cool to read, this was where I felt her pull to “Not Disclose” too much.
I loved this book!
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review!
The title “Do Not Disclose” had a variable of meanings for me. The main one being that traumas are often kept as close to our own hearts and souls as possible, we order ourselves not to share, Even when we don’t, the pain can still be passed down to the next generation, I think it passes on with even more intensity because of the misunderstanding.. The silence is louder.
Leora’s desire to learn more takes her down such an interesting road! I was totally enamored with the postcard found in clothing at a thrift shop! LOVED THIS!
This story will make your heart swell as she digs deeper! And it will make you want to know more!
Leora is a gifted writer. I enjoyed her poetic cadence that showed up often in the story, i felt as though that was when the book was most alive, But, trust me….the other parts are just as important and just as cool to read, this was where I felt her pull to “Not Disclose” too much.
I loved this book!
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review!
June 29, 2021
In her exquisitely crafted memoir Do Not Disclose, Leora Krygier invites the reader to travel with her along a circuitous, sometimes rocky path that leads to self-understanding and catharsis. This is the best kind of storytelling – vulnerable, passionate and honest. It’s the opposite of the words she found on a hand-written note on a secret file in her parents' house. “Do not share this with anyone. Keep hidden.” Those words are not mere metaphors for second generation Holocaust survivors. Other people have family secrets too. So what does a World War II postcard from a British soldier randomly found in a Los Angeles thrift store have to do with another family’s secret, the Holocaust, motherhood and redemption? Everything, everything. The author weaves these different elements together in her brilliant memoir that follows her journey to understand and make peace with her own family history. Leora Krygier is a gifted writer whose words hold a quiet magnetic magic that leaves the reader with hope. I loved Do Not Disclose.
August 24, 2021
Happy Publication Day!
Leora Krygier is a second-generation Holocaust survivor who finds a postcard in an antique shop from WWII with the words “DO NOT DISCLOSE” underlined. This begins a year long journey to learn about the man who sent the postcard while uncovering secrets about her family along the way.
Krygier writes in a lyrical style while weaving memories of her past with her present. I loved that there was some mystery in this story and kept trying to figure out who sent the postcard, and if/how it would relate to the secrets of her past.
I would recommend this memoir to anyone who enjoys reading about World War II and uncovering the past. Also, the chapters are short which is always a plus in my mind. My only issue was that it started off a little slow so I struggled to get into the story at first.
Thank you @BookSparks and @leorakrygierauthor for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Leora Krygier is a second-generation Holocaust survivor who finds a postcard in an antique shop from WWII with the words “DO NOT DISCLOSE” underlined. This begins a year long journey to learn about the man who sent the postcard while uncovering secrets about her family along the way.
Krygier writes in a lyrical style while weaving memories of her past with her present. I loved that there was some mystery in this story and kept trying to figure out who sent the postcard, and if/how it would relate to the secrets of her past.
I would recommend this memoir to anyone who enjoys reading about World War II and uncovering the past. Also, the chapters are short which is always a plus in my mind. My only issue was that it started off a little slow so I struggled to get into the story at first.
Thank you @BookSparks and @leorakrygierauthor for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 24, 2021
A beautifully written memoir mixed with a little mystery and some Jewish history dating back to the Holocaust.
Krygier tells us the story of her family and its secrets. As she is dealing with a huge secret that will change the way she sees her parents and their relationship, she dives into a little project to find a soldier from WWII whose post card she happened to find in an antique shop.
Krygier's voice comes through clearly in her memoir and so does her heart. She pours out her heart and soul and shares them along with her family’s story with her readers. Her mother and her daughter jump off the page and after finishing this book I feel like I've gotten to know both of them and also to really like them as people.
A captivating portrayal of a family; of a woman struggling to come to terms with a secret that will have her questioning everything she knows; of secrets and the power they have over our lives.
Truly one of the best books I've read this year.
Krygier tells us the story of her family and its secrets. As she is dealing with a huge secret that will change the way she sees her parents and their relationship, she dives into a little project to find a soldier from WWII whose post card she happened to find in an antique shop.
Krygier's voice comes through clearly in her memoir and so does her heart. She pours out her heart and soul and shares them along with her family’s story with her readers. Her mother and her daughter jump off the page and after finishing this book I feel like I've gotten to know both of them and also to really like them as people.
A captivating portrayal of a family; of a woman struggling to come to terms with a secret that will have her questioning everything she knows; of secrets and the power they have over our lives.
Truly one of the best books I've read this year.
October 9, 2021
Do Not Disclose, A Memoir of Family Secrets Lost and Found made me cry--not for any one particular reason but because it really captured the complexity of life, the intense processing that accompanies learning. your parents as adults, and the multitude of stories that are simply out in the world existing that we may never know.
I just loved it. It was a slow burn and a patient, dual mystery. I highly recommend to those who love a multigenerational family tale with history and heartache mixed in.
Publication Date: Aug 24th, 2021
Thank you to @NetGalley & @shewritespress for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#DoNotDisclose #NetGalley #shewritespress
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I just loved it. It was a slow burn and a patient, dual mystery. I highly recommend to those who love a multigenerational family tale with history and heartache mixed in.
Publication Date: Aug 24th, 2021
Thank you to @NetGalley & @shewritespress for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#DoNotDisclose #NetGalley #shewritespress
#memoir #nonfiction #books #bookcover #shortreads #bookstagram #literaryfiction #indiereads #indiepublisher #bookrecommendations #bookblog #book #bookstagrammer #inbookstoresnow #bookclubreads #bookclub #booklover #reading #ilovebooks #currentlyreading #booksbooksbooks #bookreview
August 15, 2021
I really enjoyed this. It took a little bit for me to get into, especially at first with the present voice mixed with reminiscences of the past that I didn't know how they connected. But once I had time to actually sit for a while and read uninterrupted, I finished it quickly and could appreciate the author interweaving the past and present.
Leora is the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, but she finds out a secret later in life about her father and Aunt Rhea that shatters familial relationships. As she struggles with this, she finds a postcard in an antique store that catalyzes a search for a British WW2 soldier. This memoir focuses heavily on family, found family, secrets, and how those secrets can destroy relationships. But ultimately, there is hope, and I was left feeling glad I read Mrs. Krygier's journey to acceptance.
*Thank you to the author and Book Sparks for my copy!*
Leora is the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, but she finds out a secret later in life about her father and Aunt Rhea that shatters familial relationships. As she struggles with this, she finds a postcard in an antique store that catalyzes a search for a British WW2 soldier. This memoir focuses heavily on family, found family, secrets, and how those secrets can destroy relationships. But ultimately, there is hope, and I was left feeling glad I read Mrs. Krygier's journey to acceptance.
*Thank you to the author and Book Sparks for my copy!*
August 1, 2021
The reader follows Leora on her quest to find a WWII soldier, the writer of a postcard that she found in an antique shop. Alongside the detective story, we are pulled into her personal story; the unveiling of a family secret, a story with loving mother-daughter relationships, an immigrant story and world travels.
Many aspects of this beautifully written memoir touched me; as a child of Holocaust survivors I connected to the immigrant story and the baggage that comes with it, and to the special bonds of mother-daughter relationships. And I loved following her steps to find the soldier; the kindness of strangers along the way, her brilliant research skills and the sweet touching culmination of her search.
The story keeps the reader engaged and anxious to learn the truth.
Many aspects of this beautifully written memoir touched me; as a child of Holocaust survivors I connected to the immigrant story and the baggage that comes with it, and to the special bonds of mother-daughter relationships. And I loved following her steps to find the soldier; the kindness of strangers along the way, her brilliant research skills and the sweet touching culmination of her search.
The story keeps the reader engaged and anxious to learn the truth.
September 1, 2021
What a wonderfully heartfelt mystery. Krygier writes passionately about her family's past, their buried secrets and lost moments in history. There is very clearly a lot of emotion behind these words and what she is writing, which can be felt throughout the entire novel. While the writing and pace were a bit off for me, some parts feeling too rushed and others are too drawn out, I cannot deny the dedication put into this novel. Her path to understanding herself and her complex family history is one that gets a little confusing at times but ends with a clear message of hope and survival.
Thank you to the publishers for kindly sending me an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publishers for kindly sending me an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
November 3, 2021
While her mother is undergoing one of her period cleaning bouts, the author notices a file folder with a note attached saying
Do Not Share This
, in her father's handwriting. Although she takes the file, she can hardly bring herself to look at any of its contents. Shortly thereafter, while browsing at an antique mall, she comes across a postcard from World War II. The sender had underlined the printed words Do Not Disclose. Thus begins the author's search for that soldier of his family. The book alternates between the search and the author's own memories, some of them about the secrets in her own family. Altogether this is a fascinating and true story. Highly recommended.
August 18, 2022
Fascinating reverberations of WWII secrets
Leora Kryger’s German Jewish family fled to the US after WWII, in the process creating secrets that had lifelong repercussions. In Do Not Disclose, the story of those secrets reads like a mystery that is revealed in onion-skin layers as Leora follows her intuition to uncover them. As she sifts through the clues and undertones of her family drama, Leora also feels drawn to search for the source of a mysterious postcard from an English stranger during the same era, adding more secrets to the World War II backdrop of her family’s story. A very satisfying book, for the mysteries and connections revealed, and the grand historical backdrop. Beautifully written!
Leora Kryger’s German Jewish family fled to the US after WWII, in the process creating secrets that had lifelong repercussions. In Do Not Disclose, the story of those secrets reads like a mystery that is revealed in onion-skin layers as Leora follows her intuition to uncover them. As she sifts through the clues and undertones of her family drama, Leora also feels drawn to search for the source of a mysterious postcard from an English stranger during the same era, adding more secrets to the World War II backdrop of her family’s story. A very satisfying book, for the mysteries and connections revealed, and the grand historical backdrop. Beautifully written!
July 31, 2021
Leora Krygier brings the reader along as she peels the veneer away from well-kept secrets. In her memoir, Do Not Disclose, the author experiences a startling discovery that her family wasn’t exactly what she believed. As that story line evolves, she weaves it together with a separate quest driven by her curiosity about a World War II postcard. As she researches the postcard, her sleuthing yields another poignant discovery. Her masterful writing propels the two stories forward, while she successfully includes the realities of her daily life with her husband and teenagers, resulting in a journey through the universality of life’s twists and turns. It’s a well written, interesting page-turner.
October 17, 2021
A captivating tale of serendipity!
I’ve always believed that nothing stays hidden forever. That’s life-the truth will be unveiled one way or another if we pay attention. And this excellently written tale of intrigue, proves just that. From the artful way Leora Krygier introduced one mystery then another, I was committed until the end to find out what would unfold. DO NOT DISCLOSE is a book about happening upon secrets in the most serendipitous way and the healing that can happen as one refuses to give up bringing to light what is hidden in plain sight or takes us on a journey to the other side of the world. A must read!
I’ve always believed that nothing stays hidden forever. That’s life-the truth will be unveiled one way or another if we pay attention. And this excellently written tale of intrigue, proves just that. From the artful way Leora Krygier introduced one mystery then another, I was committed until the end to find out what would unfold. DO NOT DISCLOSE is a book about happening upon secrets in the most serendipitous way and the healing that can happen as one refuses to give up bringing to light what is hidden in plain sight or takes us on a journey to the other side of the world. A must read!
December 9, 2022
This powerful memoir, written by a second-generation Holocaust survivor, takes us on a journey to the past as the author discovers long kept family secrets. As the author searches for answers about her family who fled Germany after the war, she also discovers a WWII postcard from a British soldier in a thrift shop. She goes on another quest to discover the identity of this soldier and finds he also has secrets.
The author, a juvenile court judge, wife, mother, daughter, is busy with her own life, and she weaves this personal story beautifully into her search to uncover secrets. The author's persistence and determination to solve these mysteries holds readers captive throughout the book.
The author, a juvenile court judge, wife, mother, daughter, is busy with her own life, and she weaves this personal story beautifully into her search to uncover secrets. The author's persistence and determination to solve these mysteries holds readers captive throughout the book.
June 29, 2021
A gently paced investigation into the depth and beauty of family bonds, flaws and all. In Leora Kryiegers memoir, a search for a stranger on the cryptic thread of an old postcard sets off a parallel search for hidden meaning in her own family narrative. In short, reflective chapters, she draws readers into her family circle. I particularly enjoyed the author's beguiling insistence that investigation of any kind —and she never stops investigating — is bound to yield some form of enlightenment. A pleasant, beautifully crafted, and companionable book.
August 3, 2021
Anytime one of these books comes up for review I am all over it. Do Not Dislose is two secrets in one story. Leora uncovers a stain in her family history while trying to track down a WWII veteran from an old postcard. It was nostalgic to read about her research in 2003 and the marvel of using a laptop instead of being tethered to a desk top, something I well remember. I enjoyed reading about her sleuthing and the secrets of her own family history. Thanks to She Writes Press and NetGalley for the early read.
April 1, 2022
I quickly became engrossed in this book! From the opening pages, the writing engaged me in the author's search for answers about events in the past, in relation both to her own family and a mystery that crossed her path unexpectedly. In each exploration, the narrator's persistence and especially her ultimate trust in intuition to guide her, paid off. I resonated strongly with her process of excavating family history and the experience of reaching unwelcome conclusions based on new understanding, then finally coming to terms with it.
August 9, 2021
Poignant and gripping with extensive research that weaves two stories together. Every family has secrets. Krygier uncovers, with tenacity, the secrets of her family as well as a British soldier's family. This memoir takes the reader back in history and illuminates the loves and tragedies of life. Krygier writes with an openness and honesty that is surprising at times, but welcoming and shows her deep humanity and sensitivities. A must-read for all ages!
July 16, 2021
Do Not Disclose is a well crafted memoir. Leora Krygier is a second generation Holocaust survivor. She impeccably blends her own family secrets with a quest to find a WWII soldier. There is no doubt that Leora Krygier’s sensitive insights will keep you intrigued until the very end of this beautifully written book.
August 9, 2021
A captivating narrative of two separate stories intertwined in one book. As soon as I was done with the first reading, I had to read the book again, this time slowly, in anticipation of discovering hidden details, colors, shapes and allusions. Leora achieved the difficult task of presenting harsh realities as bittersweet tales with her layered prose. Brilliantly written.
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