Looking Towards Tomorrow
A Promise To My Sister by S E Rutledge is a powerful, heart breaking historical novel that was all consuming.
The novel begins in Poland in 1961 before going backwards to 1939. Along with the leading characters we ‘experience’ Nazi occupied Poland from the ghetto to Auschwitz. We ‘hear’ of the horrendous evil and wonder how anyone could survive hell on earth.
The leading characters are two sisters who mascaraed as mother and daughter. They need luck to survive, as well as finding little pockets of kindness amongst the depravity as we see that not all Germans were evil Nazis.
Hope is needed – a hope for a brighter tomorrow. “If we survive today, we will be free tomorrow” was uttered on a daily basis. Without hope, the people will perish.
Strength of character is seen. Remaining alive to tell the world of the great evil is a goal of some.
For others, clinging to God helped them to survive (and luck). “Why God saw fit to save our lives when so many hundreds of others were senselessly lost, I will never know.”
There were times when it felt like God had abandoned them. “Every whispered prayer to God has gone unanswered, and now, here, God has vanished.” God never leaves us alone, but in the terrible times of man’s inhumanity to man, we sometimes lose sight of Him but He never loses sight of us. “God if You are listening.” God heard and God wept.
There is a beautiful bond between the sisters. They have to survive for the sake of the other.
Even with the war ending, some minds never left the confines of Auschwitz. In order to move towards tomorrow, yesterday must be let go of.
This is such a powerful read that needs to be read in memory of the six million innocents who perished, and of those who survived.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
JULIA WILSON
Auschwitz, 1943. I cradle my little sister’s feverish body and weep silently in the darkness. “I love you,” I whisper, “Remember, tomorrow we’re free.” And I know in my heart that whatever it takes, I will find a way out of here—for me, and for my sister…
At the imposing iron gates of Auschwitz, twenty-one-year-oldHodaya clings to her mama and papa, her little sister Bayla’s arms around her waist. But when Hodaya is sent one way and her parents the other, a plea to keep her sister safe is the last thing in her mother’s eyes. Hodaya makes a silent promise in return.
But Auschwitz is no place for a little girl, and keeping Bayla safe takes every ounce of Hodaya’s strength. She hates watching the spark in her little sister’s eyes dull, and as she hands over her daily rations of watery soup and stale bread to keep Bayla fed, she feels herself weakening by the second. But she vows to find a way out, even if it means sacrificing the young woman she once was.
Admiring the bravery of other prisoners’ revolts and imagining a world in which she joins in, Hodaya battles between her determination to save Bayla and mounting despair. But in the end, it’s the most unlikely person who reminds her to dare to hope: Alaric, a German soldier. As desperate hunger closes in, Alaric draws a parcel of warm food from a satchel and offers it to Hodaya – his expression guarded, blue eyes troubled, but his hand steady.
But can Hodaya trust a stranger, particularly a German? And as sickness takes hold of Bayla, is it already too late to keep her promise to keep Bayla safe—or will the last ounce of hope in her heart lead to an escape from the darkest of places?
A breath-taking, gut-wrenching World War Two page-turner which will tear your heart apart at the same time it restores your faith in the power of love, family and sisterhood to triumph over evil. Perfect for fans of The Midwife of Auschwitz, The Choice and The Tattooist of Auschwitz.
Author Bio:
Savannah Rutledge was born and raised in Mariposa, California – a rural, historical town at the gateway of Yosemite, USA. Her passion lies in writing historical fiction featuring imperfect, complex characters, and exploring human nature and questions of morality. Even as a child, she was taken by the dream of telling stories and bringing her imagination to life through words and art.
When not immersed in a book or her writing, she enjoys the flute, beadwork, portrait drawing, and baking. She draws much of her inspiration from music and a longtime fascination with history.
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50 Victoria Embankment
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Storyfire Limited, a member of Hachette UK Group, registered in England and Wales under company no. 7893911
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