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ReBecca

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The Storyteller

by Jodi Picoult (Goodreads Author)

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read in June 2020

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ReBecca said: " Sage is a baker, living in New Hampshire. She grew up in a Jewish family but is no longer practicing. An accident has left permanent scarring on her face and because of it, Sage shies away from others. She attends a weekly grief support group, after Sage is a baker, living in New Hampshire. She grew up in a Jewish family but is no longer practicing. An accident has left permanent scarring on her face and because of it, Sage shies away from others. She attends a weekly grief support group, after losing her mother and father, and during these meetings, she meets Josef. Josef is an elderly man who lives alone with his dog, Eva. As the weeks go by, Sage and Josef become good friends, until one day Josef asks Sage for a favor. Josef's favor is unlike anything most of us would ever expect to be asked.

While Sage contemplates Josef's favor, Josef feels the need to "confess"/ tell Sage his story. Maybe it will help her understand why he is asking her to do this. Maybe it's so she will be angry and accept his request in hatred. Josef begins by telling Sage that he was an SS officer during WW2. He talks about before the war, how he became an officer, what he did during WW2, and how he ended up in Auschwitz. The more he tells Sage, the more she realizes that she needs to do something.

After hearing Josef's story, she realizes she needs to report Josef. That leads to Leo from The Department of Justice's, Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP). After listening to Sage repeat Josef's story, Leo begins to investigate. It becomes clear that Josef may be telling the truth, however, they need someone who can confirm it's him. Sage realizes there is someone who might be able to help and soon introduces Leo to her grandmother, Minka.

Minka does not want to tell her story. She has left the past, in the past and has moved on with her life. It's Leo, who ends up convincing her to share her story. Minka's story is quite different from Josef's. She shares about her family before and during the war. She talks about the loved ones she lost and her will to survive. As Minka relives the past, Sage becomes more conflicted about Josef's favor. After hearing both stories, how will she choose the right thing to do? Will she agree to Josef's favor or will she deny it? Will she be able to forgive the wrongdoings from the past?

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Just wow...I don't even know if I can put into words how I feel about this book. The story of Josef left me enraged. I hated him and what he did during WW2. After reading his story, I was so torn on if I wanted Sage to help him or not. Then we are told Minka's story and my heart broke. I could never imagine what these individuals went through. How anyone could allow this to happen to so many people is beyond me. Both stories tore at my heart for different reasons. Jodi did a phenomenal job telling Josef and Minka's story. You felt the rage and hatred while reading Josef's story. With Minka's story, you felt the heartbreak, the loss of hope, the struggle to survive, the defeat, you felt it all and so much more.

I too struggled with Sage's situation. I don't know what I would have done given the option/choice. And of course, when we finally find out what Sage decides to do we get the very last twist of the book... and my jaw just drops.

Is this a must-read to Jodi Picoult fans and "fictional" history buffs, YES. Is this a book that I think all should read, YES. While this book does have some chick-lit love story to it, I focused more on the history and the two individuals who shared their stories. With everything that is going on in our country today, I think we really need to take a real hard look at the past and make sure that it DOES NOT repeat itself. This book, like so many other great fictional history books, helps shed light on a very dark part of our history. ...more "

20 hours, 2 min ago · see review