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A Rapariga Polaca
Inverno de 1939: Depois da invasão da Polónia pelo exército nazi, Danusha é forçada a fugir de casa com a família. A sua mãe, Anna, muda de nome e consegue trabalho como governanta de um médico alemão, em cuja mansão se reúne rotineiramente a Gestapo… O segredo que escondem é a sua salvação, mas aquilo de que Danusha mais se recorda é da profunda solidão que sentia, tendo como única companhia o irmão mais novo, ainda bebé.
Anna sempre desejou que o seu primogénito tivesse sido um rapaz. Tudo o que Danusha sempre quis foi que a sua mãe a amasse como a um primogénito. Em vez disso, teve uma mãe que, ainda que capaz de encarar um nazi nos olhos sem pestanejar, era incapaz de olhar para a própria filha.
Só anos mais tarde, quando os vizinhos se juntam na sua sala de estar para ouvirem as histórias da vida de Anna, é que Danusha descobre finalmente que a mãe, mais do que um mar insondável e frio, foi um céu tempestuoso — ora brilhante, ora sombrio —, que esteve sempre a zelar por si.
Anna sempre desejou que o seu primogénito tivesse sido um rapaz. Tudo o que Danusha sempre quis foi que a sua mãe a amasse como a um primogénito. Em vez disso, teve uma mãe que, ainda que capaz de encarar um nazi nos olhos sem pestanejar, era incapaz de olhar para a própria filha.
Só anos mais tarde, quando os vizinhos se juntam na sua sala de estar para ouvirem as histórias da vida de Anna, é que Danusha descobre finalmente que a mãe, mais do que um mar insondável e frio, foi um céu tempestuoso — ora brilhante, ora sombrio —, que esteve sempre a zelar por si.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 206 reviews
September 15, 2022
When the Germans invade Poland in 1939, life for Danusha and her family changes forever. Her father goes into hiding, her mother altered her two children’s first names and their last name to Kwiatkowski.
Anna Kwiatkowski manages to find a job as a cook for a German doctor, Dr. Helmutt Sopp is a psychiatrist, and he works at a nearby hospital and at the prison on Montelupich Street. Living with him in Krakow are his wife Toni, and two young sons Peter and Ammon. Danusha is allowed to stay with her mother, who has warned her not talk about the past and they don’t know about her brother Yashu.
Anna is a Jewish woman hiding in plain sight, she has forged papers and she’s worries someone will eventually find out. She has no idea if she can trust the Sopp’s, Toni is kind to her, but her husband is a member of the German Army and he entertains members of the Gestapo at the house.
Danusha has always thought her mother favored her younger brother, that she's a bother and got in her mother’s way. Anna was in fact extremely brave, to hold her nerve around the Germans, made sure she didn’t make the smallest mistake, to give away her true heritage and information about her extended family.
When the war starts to turn, the Russians are approaching Krakow and the Kwiatkowski family face further hardships and challenges. Before they make it to safety, members of their family are executed and Danusha loses track of home many different places she has lived in.
I received a copy of The Polish Girl by Malka Adler from Edelweiss and HarperCollins Publishing in exchange for an honest review. An historical saga about the shocking treatment of Jewish people in Poland during WWII, the lengths a mother will go to and keep her children safe. Danusha though her mother was cold, unfeeling, didn’t love her and this is not the case at all. A narrative about survival, during a brutal time in history, one we should never forget, and four stars from me.
Anna Kwiatkowski manages to find a job as a cook for a German doctor, Dr. Helmutt Sopp is a psychiatrist, and he works at a nearby hospital and at the prison on Montelupich Street. Living with him in Krakow are his wife Toni, and two young sons Peter and Ammon. Danusha is allowed to stay with her mother, who has warned her not talk about the past and they don’t know about her brother Yashu.
Anna is a Jewish woman hiding in plain sight, she has forged papers and she’s worries someone will eventually find out. She has no idea if she can trust the Sopp’s, Toni is kind to her, but her husband is a member of the German Army and he entertains members of the Gestapo at the house.
Danusha has always thought her mother favored her younger brother, that she's a bother and got in her mother’s way. Anna was in fact extremely brave, to hold her nerve around the Germans, made sure she didn’t make the smallest mistake, to give away her true heritage and information about her extended family.
When the war starts to turn, the Russians are approaching Krakow and the Kwiatkowski family face further hardships and challenges. Before they make it to safety, members of their family are executed and Danusha loses track of home many different places she has lived in.
I received a copy of The Polish Girl by Malka Adler from Edelweiss and HarperCollins Publishing in exchange for an honest review. An historical saga about the shocking treatment of Jewish people in Poland during WWII, the lengths a mother will go to and keep her children safe. Danusha though her mother was cold, unfeeling, didn’t love her and this is not the case at all. A narrative about survival, during a brutal time in history, one we should never forget, and four stars from me.
May 19, 2022
Winter, 1939: Danusha and her family are forced to flee their home when the Nazis invade Poland. Danusha's mother, Anna, changes her name and and secures a position as housekeeper in a German Doctors mansion in Krakow where Gestapo meetings are hosted in the kitchen. Her secret is their salvation, but what Danusha remembers most is the solitude, with only her baby brother and the girl in the mirror for company. All Anna ever wanted was a firstborn son. All Danusha ever wanted was a mother who would love her like a firstborn son.
The story is told from Danusha's point of view. A life she's forced to live whilst living in Poland with her mother and brother during WWII. Danusha and her mother's relationship is complex. Her mother had wanted her firstborn to be a boy. It happen. but I can never understand a parent who loves one child more than another. This is quite an emotional book to read. The story was inspired by a true story from a woman she used to know.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #MalkaAdler for my ARC of #ThePolishGirl in exchange for an honest review.
The story is told from Danusha's point of view. A life she's forced to live whilst living in Poland with her mother and brother during WWII. Danusha and her mother's relationship is complex. Her mother had wanted her firstborn to be a boy. It happen. but I can never understand a parent who loves one child more than another. This is quite an emotional book to read. The story was inspired by a true story from a woman she used to know.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #MalkaAdler for my ARC of #ThePolishGirl in exchange for an honest review.
May 26, 2022
This book was a real let down. I gave “The Brothers of Auschwitz” five stars, but this book wasn’t nearly as good. The writing was disjointed and choppy. I never connected with the characters and found myself struggling to finish.
April 5, 2022
“All I wanted was to be near Mama.”
When you want to close your eyes and ears, this book compels you to continue. The pages grab you and beg you to read so that you remember - remember so that we don’t fall into the trap of repeating this horror.
The characters are brought to life because Danusha is Nechama Tiechtel, a real person and a true hero. Nechama fought the war on two fronts; one for Poland and one for her mother’s heart.
Told in dual timeline, 1939 and ten years later, this novel captures the anguish of Danusha as she vies for her mother’s attention as war is ravaging her homeland and then comes to terms with the struggle years later. Adler allows readers to view Danusha and her mother, Anna, and their relationship through the lens of a dysfunctional relationship and we can see how this has affected their journey to survival. Several times the author pulls back the curtain and we see Anna for who she really is; unfortunately, her daughter lacks the maturity and discernment to understand. Anna has been left alone and responsible for the safety of her two children as war erupts. The nature motifs of “a cold unknowable sea”, “storm-wracked sky” and “starlight” are used to describe Anna and reflect the background of the realities of war.
She doesn’t shy away from the horrors of war. My heart broke when I read about the shameful destruction; taking the headstones in the Karkow cemetery to build roads and sidewalks! My stomach churned at reading about “the stench of burning and rot in the air,” and tears fell as I imagined the Polish wandering the streets “filling bags and blankets with junk they pulled out of the ruins” to heat their homes. I dare you to read about Danusha and Yashu being referred to as Hansel and Gretel in the refugee camp and not allow it to affect you. I struggled throughout with Anna’s inability to comfort her daughter - after all, “Nechama” means “comfort” in Hebrew! Yes, I got mad and stopped reading….several times.
“Years later, my brother said to me: “I also felt that Mama loved me more than you.” My brother’s words seared my heart, although I already knew it was true.”
Where the narrative lacks fluidity due to the first-person memories and is, at times, stilted, it more than makes up for it in bringing to light an emotional plea for understanding and remembrance. Someone once said that life is best understood when lived backwards. I think this sentiment sums up this book perfectly.
I was gifted this advance copy by Malka Adler, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
When you want to close your eyes and ears, this book compels you to continue. The pages grab you and beg you to read so that you remember - remember so that we don’t fall into the trap of repeating this horror.
The characters are brought to life because Danusha is Nechama Tiechtel, a real person and a true hero. Nechama fought the war on two fronts; one for Poland and one for her mother’s heart.
Told in dual timeline, 1939 and ten years later, this novel captures the anguish of Danusha as she vies for her mother’s attention as war is ravaging her homeland and then comes to terms with the struggle years later. Adler allows readers to view Danusha and her mother, Anna, and their relationship through the lens of a dysfunctional relationship and we can see how this has affected their journey to survival. Several times the author pulls back the curtain and we see Anna for who she really is; unfortunately, her daughter lacks the maturity and discernment to understand. Anna has been left alone and responsible for the safety of her two children as war erupts. The nature motifs of “a cold unknowable sea”, “storm-wracked sky” and “starlight” are used to describe Anna and reflect the background of the realities of war.
She doesn’t shy away from the horrors of war. My heart broke when I read about the shameful destruction; taking the headstones in the Karkow cemetery to build roads and sidewalks! My stomach churned at reading about “the stench of burning and rot in the air,” and tears fell as I imagined the Polish wandering the streets “filling bags and blankets with junk they pulled out of the ruins” to heat their homes. I dare you to read about Danusha and Yashu being referred to as Hansel and Gretel in the refugee camp and not allow it to affect you. I struggled throughout with Anna’s inability to comfort her daughter - after all, “Nechama” means “comfort” in Hebrew! Yes, I got mad and stopped reading….several times.
“Years later, my brother said to me: “I also felt that Mama loved me more than you.” My brother’s words seared my heart, although I already knew it was true.”
Where the narrative lacks fluidity due to the first-person memories and is, at times, stilted, it more than makes up for it in bringing to light an emotional plea for understanding and remembrance. Someone once said that life is best understood when lived backwards. I think this sentiment sums up this book perfectly.
I was gifted this advance copy by Malka Adler, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
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September 5, 2022No rating as did not finish after 84 pages. Just couldn't get into it and wasn't really enjoying it.
May 30, 2022
The girl in the mirror.
Harrowing story of a family torn apart by the war and the Nazi invasion of their small Polish town. A mother doing what she must to survive and care for her children even though she must leave one behind to save his life.
A young girl growing up afraid and alone talking to herself in the mirror for company. Hiding, always hiding and living with a constant fear of being found out by the Nazi's.
A woman living and housekeeping for a Nazi officer and hiding that she and her daughter are Jewish. Afraid that someone will find them out. Hoping her son is safe with the family caring for him as it is too dangerous for him to be in the house of the Nazi's.
Danusha feels her mother wanted a son instead of a daughter. She thinks her brother is loved more than her. Finally she realizes , when she listens to her mother tell others her story, that her mother loved them both and was just doing what she could to survive.
It is a story of a desperate mother in one of the worse times in history, a young girl coming of age in unbelievable circumstances and a war that tore everything apart.
It was a well written story and a good read. I would recommend this book.
Thanks to Malka Adler for writing a good story, to Harper Collins UK, Harper 360, One more Chapter for publishing the book and to NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.
Harrowing story of a family torn apart by the war and the Nazi invasion of their small Polish town. A mother doing what she must to survive and care for her children even though she must leave one behind to save his life.
A young girl growing up afraid and alone talking to herself in the mirror for company. Hiding, always hiding and living with a constant fear of being found out by the Nazi's.
A woman living and housekeeping for a Nazi officer and hiding that she and her daughter are Jewish. Afraid that someone will find them out. Hoping her son is safe with the family caring for him as it is too dangerous for him to be in the house of the Nazi's.
Danusha feels her mother wanted a son instead of a daughter. She thinks her brother is loved more than her. Finally she realizes , when she listens to her mother tell others her story, that her mother loved them both and was just doing what she could to survive.
It is a story of a desperate mother in one of the worse times in history, a young girl coming of age in unbelievable circumstances and a war that tore everything apart.
It was a well written story and a good read. I would recommend this book.
Thanks to Malka Adler for writing a good story, to Harper Collins UK, Harper 360, One more Chapter for publishing the book and to NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.
August 15, 2022
Hidden in plain sight, this book takes a bit of a different look at a Jewish family trying to get by during the Holocaust and WWII.
The main perspective in this book is from Danusha during their time in the house of a Nazi doctor and all of their moving around after the war.
I liked how different this book was, but it felt very choppy to me. I didn't feel the strong main character voices that is compelling enough to feel the emotions along with the characters. I think some of the dialog from others distracted away from Danusha's story. I wanted to feel more how she felt when her mother really only wanted a son and didn't treat her like her brother.
This book is based on a true story and seemed to be researched well from the details presented.
Thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
The main perspective in this book is from Danusha during their time in the house of a Nazi doctor and all of their moving around after the war.
I liked how different this book was, but it felt very choppy to me. I didn't feel the strong main character voices that is compelling enough to feel the emotions along with the characters. I think some of the dialog from others distracted away from Danusha's story. I wanted to feel more how she felt when her mother really only wanted a son and didn't treat her like her brother.
This book is based on a true story and seemed to be researched well from the details presented.
Thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
May 26, 2022
Once again as with this authors previous work The Brothers of Auschwitz, I found this book to be difficult, both for it's context and readability. The authors writing style tends to throw me off, I found myself getting lost in the story, but not in a good way. It was repetitive in the details, and the numerous changes in POV's often confused me throwing off the natural flow to the story. Like other reviewers, I have to mention, that I too struggled with connecting to these characters. Anna wasn't very likable at times, which hindered a more emotional relationship for me. Which was a shame due to the extremely emotional context of the book. This just wasn't an easy read for me and this genre is typically a favorite of mine. I'm disappointed that my reaction isn't more positive towards this author because it seems he takes his inspiration from real life men and woman which I find reputable and fascinating, but unfortunately he just doesn't resonate with me.
April 25, 2022
The Polish Girl by Malka Adler is a compelling historical novel that is rooted in fact.
The story is written in the first person as we follow the life of a young girl. The tale alternates between ‘now’ and looking backwards to World War II.
The reader witnesses the courage and strength needed to survive as a Polish Jewish family under Nazi rule. It was a time of fear, persecution and round-ups. It seemed as though the people were forgotten by the world and by God. “God’s in heaven, and He isn’t asleep.” Faith was clung to, and a hope and desire to survive.
We see how a character deals with loss as she remembers “I couldn’t ever… forget the laughter and the love I saw in his eyes when he looked at me.” The love of a father, and the father- daughter bond is strong.
There is the love of a mother. It is a love that protects. However, a daughter feels a second class person in comparison to a son. It seems to be a world that puts a greater value on a son but the reader sees the fierce love and protective nature of a mother for both her children.
The Polish Girl was a powerful read of a time of great horror.
I received a free copy via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
The story is written in the first person as we follow the life of a young girl. The tale alternates between ‘now’ and looking backwards to World War II.
The reader witnesses the courage and strength needed to survive as a Polish Jewish family under Nazi rule. It was a time of fear, persecution and round-ups. It seemed as though the people were forgotten by the world and by God. “God’s in heaven, and He isn’t asleep.” Faith was clung to, and a hope and desire to survive.
We see how a character deals with loss as she remembers “I couldn’t ever… forget the laughter and the love I saw in his eyes when he looked at me.” The love of a father, and the father- daughter bond is strong.
There is the love of a mother. It is a love that protects. However, a daughter feels a second class person in comparison to a son. It seems to be a world that puts a greater value on a son but the reader sees the fierce love and protective nature of a mother for both her children.
The Polish Girl was a powerful read of a time of great horror.
I received a free copy via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
May 25, 2025
An unforgettable and enthralling historical fiction story, inspired by true events.
June 2, 2022
The Polish Girl is a WW2 historical fiction novel set in Poland.
It follows Danusha and her family as they frequently move around Poland looking for somewhere safe to hide from the Nazis, eventually ending up hidden in plain sight in the home of a Nazi officer and his family.
The historical facts the novel is based on is a fascinating look at how some Jewish people survived the war. The constant tension, moving and fleeing in the night is dreadful.
Danusha has a difficult relationship with her mother, who wanted her first born to be a son and makes that very obvious. Anna, her mother, is a very unlikeable character throughout the book.
Unfortunately I found Danusha quite hard to connect to as well. I’m not sure if this is because the book is mainly told through her view point, and she is a young child for most of it.
I also found some of the storyline a bit disjointed, some storylines felt unresolved or weren’t followed through.
Due to the factual elements of the book I did finish and generally enjoy reading it.
It follows Danusha and her family as they frequently move around Poland looking for somewhere safe to hide from the Nazis, eventually ending up hidden in plain sight in the home of a Nazi officer and his family.
The historical facts the novel is based on is a fascinating look at how some Jewish people survived the war. The constant tension, moving and fleeing in the night is dreadful.
Danusha has a difficult relationship with her mother, who wanted her first born to be a son and makes that very obvious. Anna, her mother, is a very unlikeable character throughout the book.
Unfortunately I found Danusha quite hard to connect to as well. I’m not sure if this is because the book is mainly told through her view point, and she is a young child for most of it.
I also found some of the storyline a bit disjointed, some storylines felt unresolved or weren’t followed through.
Due to the factual elements of the book I did finish and generally enjoy reading it.
October 23, 2022
Ugh, such a disappointment! Hard to get into, hard to follow, hard to connect with the characters. The author’s other book, I gave 5 stars to and had way higher expectations for this. 😕
June 17, 2022
This was a interesting if somewhat slow read for me. I liked that it was told from a child's perspective for Danusha's part. I did not like the mother, Anna at all. I understand she did what she thought she had to do for them to survive and that is fine, but I cannot forgive her for making Danusha feel like she wasn't worth anything, for making her feel "less Than"her brother. That is the part I just couldn't get my head around in this story. I don't want to give away too many spoilers so I will just say this, if you can get past disliking Anna, then it is a really good story and well written and researched. It paints a stark picture of the times for the poor family and the turmoil that the children experienced is unconceivable to us today. How lost and afraid they had to have been. I felt for poor Danusha from the very beginning and it heart my heart that her mother never gave her the warm loving care and security a child looks for from their parents.
I would recommend this book to WWII historical fiction fans, just be prepared for your heart to ache for little Danusha. Thank you to the publishers at Harper ?Collins and to Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review in return.
I would recommend this book to WWII historical fiction fans, just be prepared for your heart to ache for little Danusha. Thank you to the publishers at Harper ?Collins and to Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review in return.
March 2, 2015
הספר "שבי יפה, תחייכי" הוא סיפורם של נחמה טלר ואחיה יחזקאל טלר (מי שהיה בעבר ראש המחלקה לעבודה סוציאלית באוניברסיטת חיפה ועד לאחרונה נשיא מכללת כרמל) בשנות המלחמה בגרמניה הנאצית ולאחר עלייתם לארץ ישראל.
את הסיפור על הסתתרותם בפולין בבית קצין נאצי, שבו עבדה אמם כמנהלת משק והתחזתה להיות פולניה נוצריה ועל מסעם המצמרר אתם יכולים לקרוא בהרחבה בכתבה הזו (קליק) שפורסמה בעיתון הארץ, כתבה מרתקת שמתארת היטב את העלילה עם נופך אישי שנובע מהמעמד הקרוב של מראיין מרואיין. אין לי מה להוסיף על הכתבה למעט נקודה אחת שלא שמו עליה דגש, אלה הפערים בין המציאות ובין הסיפורים של האם.
מאחר והספר מסופר למעשה בשני קולות: קולה של האם המספרת לחבריה את סיפורם וקולה של דנושה, אפשר מהפערים האלה ללמוד על צמיחת אתוס השואה ועל האופן שבה השתרשה המציאות של הניצולים. מאחר וקולה של דנושה לא נשמע במציאות (כי האם תמיד ציוותה עליהם שלא לחלוק עליה בציבור ולא לתקן אותה) למעשה הסיפור האמיתי הוא סיפור שלא נשמע.
בנוסף, אני רוצה להתמקד בחוויות של הילדה דנושה, שלא רק סבלה את מוראות המלחמה אלא בעיקר סבלה מהזנחה רגשית של אימה שאהבה יותר את אחיה (בזמנו נקרא יאשו) ולעיתים קרובות סבלה מהתעללות רגשית של קרובי המשפחה כמו הסבתא (אם האם) הדודה ועוד בחסותה של האם שהתעלמה. החלקים הלו היו נוראיים בעניי וסיפקו לי רגעים קשים של קריאה. נחמה טייכטל לא מנצלת את הספר בשביל לבוא בחשבון עם אימה ויותר מתארת את המציאות ואת המסע האישי שהיא עברה, מהיותה בת להורים נרדפים ועד להשתחררותה המושלמת מאימה.
אי אפשר לשפוט את ניצולי השואה, הפחד, האימה, החיים שהם לא חיים גם אם זה בחחמה כמו בבית של דוקטור סופ שבו הסתתרה המשפחה. אבל הספר חרה לי קשות ומעלליה של האם, שלאחר המלחמה חוזרת ונוטשת את ילדיה לכל מני עיסוקיים שאסור לדבר או להזכיר ליד הילדים, בכדי לנסוע לגרמניה כנראה להיפגש עם דוקטור סופ או "ידידים" גבריים אחרים העבירו אותי על דעתי מרוב טינה.
ספר מומלץ בחום. הוא מעניין לא רק כסיפור אישי של הצלחה ושרידה אלא גם מהזווית שמראה איך המציאות משתנה בזיכרון לאורך השנים ואיך ההיסטוריה משתנה עם השינוי של הזיכרון.
"שבי יפה, תחייכי", מלכה אדלר
הוצאת מודן, 2011, 312 עמודים
את הסיפור על הסתתרותם בפולין בבית קצין נאצי, שבו עבדה אמם כמנהלת משק והתחזתה להיות פולניה נוצריה ועל מסעם המצמרר אתם יכולים לקרוא בהרחבה בכתבה הזו (קליק) שפורסמה בעיתון הארץ, כתבה מרתקת שמתארת היטב את העלילה עם נופך אישי שנובע מהמעמד הקרוב של מראיין מרואיין. אין לי מה להוסיף על הכתבה למעט נקודה אחת שלא שמו עליה דגש, אלה הפערים בין המציאות ובין הסיפורים של האם.
מאחר והספר מסופר למעשה בשני קולות: קולה של האם המספרת לחבריה את סיפורם וקולה של דנושה, אפשר מהפערים האלה ללמוד על צמיחת אתוס השואה ועל האופן שבה השתרשה המציאות של הניצולים. מאחר וקולה של דנושה לא נשמע במציאות (כי האם תמיד ציוותה עליהם שלא לחלוק עליה בציבור ולא לתקן אותה) למעשה הסיפור האמיתי הוא סיפור שלא נשמע.
בנוסף, אני רוצה להתמקד בחוויות של הילדה דנושה, שלא רק סבלה את מוראות המלחמה אלא בעיקר סבלה מהזנחה רגשית של אימה שאהבה יותר את אחיה (בזמנו נקרא יאשו) ולעיתים קרובות סבלה מהתעללות רגשית של קרובי המשפחה כמו הסבתא (אם האם) הדודה ועוד בחסותה של האם שהתעלמה. החלקים הלו היו נוראיים בעניי וסיפקו לי רגעים קשים של קריאה. נחמה טייכטל לא מנצלת את הספר בשביל לבוא בחשבון עם אימה ויותר מתארת את המציאות ואת המסע האישי שהיא עברה, מהיותה בת להורים נרדפים ועד להשתחררותה המושלמת מאימה.
אי אפשר לשפוט את ניצולי השואה, הפחד, האימה, החיים שהם לא חיים גם אם זה בחחמה כמו בבית של דוקטור סופ שבו הסתתרה המשפחה. אבל הספר חרה לי קשות ומעלליה של האם, שלאחר המלחמה חוזרת ונוטשת את ילדיה לכל מני עיסוקיים שאסור לדבר או להזכיר ליד הילדים, בכדי לנסוע לגרמניה כנראה להיפגש עם דוקטור סופ או "ידידים" גבריים אחרים העבירו אותי על דעתי מרוב טינה.
ספר מומלץ בחום. הוא מעניין לא רק כסיפור אישי של הצלחה ושרידה אלא גם מהזווית שמראה איך המציאות משתנה בזיכרון לאורך השנים ואיך ההיסטוריה משתנה עם השינוי של הזיכרון.
"שבי יפה, תחייכי", מלכה אדלר
הוצאת מודן, 2011, 312 עמודים
July 14, 2022
The Polish Girl by by Malka Adler was a story that I could just not get through. While I read over sixty percent of the novel, the writing was choppy, the dialogue was sparse and repetitive and there was only one character for whom I felt empathy. While the premise of the story is a true and sad one, the story just did not resonate with me. Perhaps it wasn’t the story that didn’t resonate with me but how the story was told. I have read a ton of novels set during WWII and I invariably came away learning and feeling something. I had previously read Malka Adler’s Brothers of Auschwitz and came away feeling very different.
As an advanced reader I always complete the books I am asked to review. There are a few rare times when I just couldn’t finish no matter how hard I tried. I like to give the author the respect they deserve for writing the novel. Unfortunately, I gave up on this.
I would like to thank the author, One More Chapter Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As an advanced reader I always complete the books I am asked to review. There are a few rare times when I just couldn’t finish no matter how hard I tried. I like to give the author the respect they deserve for writing the novel. Unfortunately, I gave up on this.
I would like to thank the author, One More Chapter Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 22, 2022
Thank you to Jonathan Ball Publishers for the gifted review copy of this book.
I'm rounding up my rating to 3.5 stars. Books about WW2 are never easy to read. They're heartbreaking and so harrowing.
The Polish Girl is told from a young girl's, Danusha's perspective. In this book we see how hard it was for mothers to protect their children and the lengths they had to go to just to keep them alive. We also see how difficult it was to be a Jewish child trying to grow up under the most horrific circumstances.
The book is slow at times but is very detailed. I didn't really like the mom's character. Anna came across as cold many times even though she fought fiercely for herself and her children to survive. The way she made her daughter feel less worthy than her son broke my heart.
Fans of historical fiction will enjoy this book. For me it was average purely because I think I've read so many books about WW2 and there were others that I found far more engrossing than this one.
I'm rounding up my rating to 3.5 stars. Books about WW2 are never easy to read. They're heartbreaking and so harrowing.
The Polish Girl is told from a young girl's, Danusha's perspective. In this book we see how hard it was for mothers to protect their children and the lengths they had to go to just to keep them alive. We also see how difficult it was to be a Jewish child trying to grow up under the most horrific circumstances.
The book is slow at times but is very detailed. I didn't really like the mom's character. Anna came across as cold many times even though she fought fiercely for herself and her children to survive. The way she made her daughter feel less worthy than her son broke my heart.
Fans of historical fiction will enjoy this book. For me it was average purely because I think I've read so many books about WW2 and there were others that I found far more engrossing than this one.
May 30, 2022
A rather sad story, The Polish Girl is based on a true story. A young girl feels as if her mother doesn’t really care for her, favoring her brother. Set in WWII, it’s a great backdrop for yet a different nuance of the war. There are a lot of characters and I did get people mixed up at first. The writing was choppy and difficult to follow.
I liked the author’s historical note and the reason why she wrote the book.
Thanks to One More Chapter and NetGalley for the early read.
I liked the author’s historical note and the reason why she wrote the book.
Thanks to One More Chapter and NetGalley for the early read.
June 12, 2022
I really had a hard time reading this book. I’m sure others may like this historical fiction story.
Sorry to say, it was a struggle to read this to the end.
I will reread it at a later time and see how I feel about it then.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are solely my own.
Sorry to say, it was a struggle to read this to the end.
I will reread it at a later time and see how I feel about it then.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are solely my own.
February 2, 2023
The polish girl by Malka Adler is a historical fiction set during WW2. I find it was a very interesting story and was an important read but
I though that the writing very disjointed and repetitive, the narration was split between daughter Danisha and the. Stories that her mother Anna. It seemed to be confusing on what was happening because the narration seemed to repeat the same stores multiple times and it wasn’t always clear which point of view the story was being told in.
I did enjoy the parts of the story that described how they survived during the war and the lengths they had to go to keep safe but after this the rest of the story didn’t seem to go anywhere and felt very rushed at the end.
Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review
I though that the writing very disjointed and repetitive, the narration was split between daughter Danisha and the. Stories that her mother Anna. It seemed to be confusing on what was happening because the narration seemed to repeat the same stores multiple times and it wasn’t always clear which point of view the story was being told in.
I did enjoy the parts of the story that described how they survived during the war and the lengths they had to go to keep safe but after this the rest of the story didn’t seem to go anywhere and felt very rushed at the end.
Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review
December 11, 2023
I finally got around to reading this book, and let me tell you, following Danusha's story was no easy feat. Her family went through a whirlwind of changes in a short amount of time - losing their home, her father, and even their names for a period of time. Despite the war ending, Danusha's mother held onto her war experience until the very end of the novel. Danusha's relationship with her mother was anything but ordinary. From the very beginning, it was clear that Anna favored her son over her daughter. Later in life, she tried to shape Danusha into a miniature version of herself. In my opinion, their relationship was toxic, but their bond was unbreakable. It's impossible not to ponder how Danusha's life would have unfolded if she had a more affectionate mother. Would her personality during her teenage years have been different? Furthermore, would she have been afflicted by the illnesses that struck her during their early years in Israel?
"The Polish Girl" is a captivating war story that doesn't end like many others at the end of WWII. Instead, it continues to Israel, where the family faces a different war and lives an entirely different kind of life. This novel also serves as a reminder of the ongoing Gaza/Israel conflict that we are currently facing in 2023. The book sheds light on the backstory of the Arab/Jewish relationship and its aftermath.
The story is undeniably good and has a great set of characters. However, Anna's character as a mother to Danusha was simply intolerable, and I had an awful feeling about her throughout the story. On the other hand, I was extremely pleased with how Danusha's story ended. This novel is a must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction.
"The Polish Girl" is a captivating war story that doesn't end like many others at the end of WWII. Instead, it continues to Israel, where the family faces a different war and lives an entirely different kind of life. This novel also serves as a reminder of the ongoing Gaza/Israel conflict that we are currently facing in 2023. The book sheds light on the backstory of the Arab/Jewish relationship and its aftermath.
The story is undeniably good and has a great set of characters. However, Anna's character as a mother to Danusha was simply intolerable, and I had an awful feeling about her throughout the story. On the other hand, I was extremely pleased with how Danusha's story ended. This novel is a must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction.
May 26, 2022
Told in dual timeline format (1939 and 1949), The Polish Girl is a fiction book based on real people and true events of the Holocaust, specifically when the Nazis occupied Poland. Not only is it about sorrow, heartache and horrors of war and its effects but also about the desperate desire of a little girl to be loved by her mama, believing her little brother was cherished more than she was.
In 1939 when the Nazis invade Poland, Anna and her young daughter Denusha flee and live with German Herr Doktor in his home. Anna is a housekeeper (and superb cook) and yearns for her wee son. Denusha does everything she can to be a good girl to her mother but she feels she cannot measure up. Anna tells stories of war atrocities to neighbours in the living room who are both crushed at the brutality and amazed that this Jewish woman is living in a German house! Amongst the the many stories which stand out in my mind include the soap and badges and multisensory descriptions, starkly breathtaking, told simply yet achingly beautifully and heartbreaking. The courage and perseverance of survivors who had nothing is beyond imagining. Anna is an incredibly interesting and complex character, often chilly, sometimes warm, but always persistent and brave. The mother/daughter relationship is sad yet fascinating and is a key component in this book. It is repetitive in spots and can be a bit choppy but well worth reading. I particularly appreciate its uniqueness.
Author Malka Adler was born in Israel and has a family history in WWII. Her inspiration for this book happened in a miraculous way, drawn on stories of Nechama Tiechtel's family. Do be sure to read the author's notes in the back. I have read countless Holocaust books and believe The Polish Girl should be required reading by those interested in both true history and historical fiction.
My sincere thank you to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this highly emotive and inspiring book. It is well regarded in Israel; it needs to be everywhere. True stories such as this cannot be forgotten. Ever.
In 1939 when the Nazis invade Poland, Anna and her young daughter Denusha flee and live with German Herr Doktor in his home. Anna is a housekeeper (and superb cook) and yearns for her wee son. Denusha does everything she can to be a good girl to her mother but she feels she cannot measure up. Anna tells stories of war atrocities to neighbours in the living room who are both crushed at the brutality and amazed that this Jewish woman is living in a German house! Amongst the the many stories which stand out in my mind include the soap and badges and multisensory descriptions, starkly breathtaking, told simply yet achingly beautifully and heartbreaking. The courage and perseverance of survivors who had nothing is beyond imagining. Anna is an incredibly interesting and complex character, often chilly, sometimes warm, but always persistent and brave. The mother/daughter relationship is sad yet fascinating and is a key component in this book. It is repetitive in spots and can be a bit choppy but well worth reading. I particularly appreciate its uniqueness.
Author Malka Adler was born in Israel and has a family history in WWII. Her inspiration for this book happened in a miraculous way, drawn on stories of Nechama Tiechtel's family. Do be sure to read the author's notes in the back. I have read countless Holocaust books and believe The Polish Girl should be required reading by those interested in both true history and historical fiction.
My sincere thank you to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this highly emotive and inspiring book. It is well regarded in Israel; it needs to be everywhere. True stories such as this cannot be forgotten. Ever.
April 22, 2022
I went into reading The Polish Girl by Malka Adler with much curiosity as my ancestry comes from Poland and I was interested in learning more about the history of the country during World War II since this book is a historical fiction about one family’s struggle during and after the holocaust.
The author shared that this was inspired by a true story from a woman she knew, which is heartbreaking that actual living, human beings struggled with the atrocities described in the pages of the book.
There are so many loses, close calls, and twists & turns in this book that make it interesting and engaging; however, the writing style can make it a little difficult to get fully involved in the story. Let me explain:
1. The author tends to repeat certain details, stories, and events, which at first I thought I had re-read a page or two by accident. But upon closer inspection, I didn’t. It was indeed just repeating of the same things.
2. The point of view often changes from the mother to the girl. With what I stated above about the repeating of things, this makes it confusing for readers as to what is going on and the logical flow of the story gets lost.
With the above in mind, you take an interesting story and make it a bit clunky and cluttered to read. It ended up taking me a little longer because I had to re-read and put down the book from getting tired.
Overall, I did enjoy the story but it wasn’t fully engaging and the writing style could have been executed better.
Would I recommend?
Unfortunately I wouldn’t recommend this book because of the writing issues I described above.
3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Netgalley, publisher and author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The author shared that this was inspired by a true story from a woman she knew, which is heartbreaking that actual living, human beings struggled with the atrocities described in the pages of the book.
There are so many loses, close calls, and twists & turns in this book that make it interesting and engaging; however, the writing style can make it a little difficult to get fully involved in the story. Let me explain:
1. The author tends to repeat certain details, stories, and events, which at first I thought I had re-read a page or two by accident. But upon closer inspection, I didn’t. It was indeed just repeating of the same things.
2. The point of view often changes from the mother to the girl. With what I stated above about the repeating of things, this makes it confusing for readers as to what is going on and the logical flow of the story gets lost.
With the above in mind, you take an interesting story and make it a bit clunky and cluttered to read. It ended up taking me a little longer because I had to re-read and put down the book from getting tired.
Overall, I did enjoy the story but it wasn’t fully engaging and the writing style could have been executed better.
Would I recommend?
Unfortunately I wouldn’t recommend this book because of the writing issues I described above.
3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Netgalley, publisher and author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this eARC.
I did enjoy this read, although it didn’t wow me. I thought it was written well, and I liked that it is told through Danusha’s eyes and also from her mothers perspective. It follows a polish Jewish family and their experiences and fears during WW2 and afterwards. I found I had such empathy for Danusha and her family and their frequent moves to stay safe and not be found by the Gestapo to be sent to the Concentration Camps. It also explores the relationship between mother and daughter and that Danusha always felt ‘second best’ and thinking her mother always had a better relationship with her brother. I didn’t like Anna at different parts of the book, I thought she came across as cold and uncaring and quite selfish in her actions. Overall I found this an enjoyable read with a good storyline. It wasn’t the page turner I would have liked it to be though and I think this is mainly because I struggled to connect with Anna, Danusha’s mother. If you’re a fan of historical fiction, particularly books set during WW2 then I’d say give this book a go.
I did enjoy this read, although it didn’t wow me. I thought it was written well, and I liked that it is told through Danusha’s eyes and also from her mothers perspective. It follows a polish Jewish family and their experiences and fears during WW2 and afterwards. I found I had such empathy for Danusha and her family and their frequent moves to stay safe and not be found by the Gestapo to be sent to the Concentration Camps. It also explores the relationship between mother and daughter and that Danusha always felt ‘second best’ and thinking her mother always had a better relationship with her brother. I didn’t like Anna at different parts of the book, I thought she came across as cold and uncaring and quite selfish in her actions. Overall I found this an enjoyable read with a good storyline. It wasn’t the page turner I would have liked it to be though and I think this is mainly because I struggled to connect with Anna, Danusha’s mother. If you’re a fan of historical fiction, particularly books set during WW2 then I’d say give this book a go.
June 21, 2024
Buuf, no me ha gustado nada este libro. He leído varios libros sobre el Holocausto, pero este no me ha resultado ameno.
La forma de narrarlo es diferente. Es una mezcla de pasado, presente que al final te das cuenta que son dos tiempos pasados diferentes.
En este libro, el tema central es la vida de una madre y sus dos hijos judíos por salir adelante durante el Holocausto. La madre es una persona egocéntrica, perversa que maltrata a su hija por el simple hecho de ser mujer. Hubiese querido que su primer hijo hubiese sido un niño, pero no, fue una hija. Esta niña no recibe amor, ni cariño, sólo indiferencia por parte de su madre. Cuando nace su hermano, se ve claramente su preferencia hacia él.
Esta niña no sufrió por el Holocausto, sufrió por tener una madre como la que tenía y una abuela como la que tuvo. En fin, mucho desazón. Mucho sinsentido en estas vidas.
No lo recomiendo para nada.
La forma de narrarlo es diferente. Es una mezcla de pasado, presente que al final te das cuenta que son dos tiempos pasados diferentes.
En este libro, el tema central es la vida de una madre y sus dos hijos judíos por salir adelante durante el Holocausto. La madre es una persona egocéntrica, perversa que maltrata a su hija por el simple hecho de ser mujer. Hubiese querido que su primer hijo hubiese sido un niño, pero no, fue una hija. Esta niña no recibe amor, ni cariño, sólo indiferencia por parte de su madre. Cuando nace su hermano, se ve claramente su preferencia hacia él.
Esta niña no sufrió por el Holocausto, sufrió por tener una madre como la que tenía y una abuela como la que tuvo. En fin, mucho desazón. Mucho sinsentido en estas vidas.
No lo recomiendo para nada.
abandoned
March 30, 2023I try very hard to finish books when they are for book club, no matter how much I am disliking it. After reading 63%, I could no longer struggle to go on. From the very beginning I felt like I had to force myself to read each page, each paragraph, each word. I just could not do it any longer and gave myself permission to move onto a book I could enjoy. I did not find it interesting, and I thought so many times that the writing cringe-worthy. I felt sorry for Danushka, but other than that, I didn't really feel much of anything besides wanting to be done with this book.
August 20, 2023
I’ll be honest, this is not my favorite WWII books.. it was very boring to me. I didn’t even finish it all the way. It was written to be in the eyes of a child. I was expecting it to be more about what she went through but it’s about her listening to her mom tell stories to friends. That’s it. Her mom tells one story but she remembers it differently.
Read
April 4, 2023I really wanted to like this book. It sounded so interesting: a Jewish family hiding from the Nazis in plain sight. But sadly, I didn't like any of the characters nor the story. The writing was sloppy, and frankly it was boring. DNF at 45%.
October 26, 2022
Starts off well, but lost my attention 3/4 of the way through.
December 13, 2022
You know, at first I thought this story was going to lead me to put it down. It trip starts kinda with a half step. I honestly thought, what am I going to do with this book? I knew I'd read it, but would I finish it in a timely manner or would it be like some, slid to the bottom of the pool to be resuscitated at a much later time. But decided to plug along....
You won't realize this story is based on a true story. You'll find at times, it's maddening reading in the third person and sometimes as a stranger. But you get the timing, the meaning and of course the reason it was written as it was. And at the conclusion, even though the realization things have to be done for survival it downplays that mental,emotional and even verbal abuse is acceptable. Even if it were done back in the day, and was acceptable, and as defense for safety, survival and preservation of the family unit.
The story is set during the years '39-'45...And how one woman kept her small family intact, and how illness and hardships were overcome.
In the end, when I learned the inside reason of why it was written as it was, and those involved that my star scoring was changing ( I had prescored it in my mind while debating to finish it)!
I gave it a 4 because a 3-3.5 wouldn't give it credence. In the end, I came to the conclusion that I liked the book. It was informative in its own way to get the young girl's history across. But if I were to recommend this, I'd tell you to get it at the library, don't pay for it. ---P/
You won't realize this story is based on a true story. You'll find at times, it's maddening reading in the third person and sometimes as a stranger. But you get the timing, the meaning and of course the reason it was written as it was. And at the conclusion, even though the realization things have to be done for survival it downplays that mental,emotional and even verbal abuse is acceptable. Even if it were done back in the day, and was acceptable, and as defense for safety, survival and preservation of the family unit.
The story is set during the years '39-'45...And how one woman kept her small family intact, and how illness and hardships were overcome.
In the end, when I learned the inside reason of why it was written as it was, and those involved that my star scoring was changing ( I had prescored it in my mind while debating to finish it)!
I gave it a 4 because a 3-3.5 wouldn't give it credence. In the end, I came to the conclusion that I liked the book. It was informative in its own way to get the young girl's history across. But if I were to recommend this, I'd tell you to get it at the library, don't pay for it. ---P/
May 1, 2025
It’s not often that I don’t enjoy a work of historical fiction, especially when it’s based on a true story but I struggled to finish this one. I didn’t like the writing style of telling the story through what the main character’s mother was retelling to friends and family over various living room gatherings. It was very disjointed, why not just write the story in chronological order-why include the retelling aspect at all?
I finished it out of obligation to the author and the memory of the major character but it was not a book that flowed well or that has left me wanting to rate it any higher than a two.
I finished it out of obligation to the author and the memory of the major character but it was not a book that flowed well or that has left me wanting to rate it any higher than a two.
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