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The Orphan List by Ann Bennett

Oct1

Heart-Breaking

The Orphan List by Ann Bennett is a powerful and heart-wrenching dual timeline novel that totally consumed me. It is the first book in The World War II Orphanage series which promises to be fabulous.

The novel is set in Italy in 2005 and in Germany during World War II. An old lady of ninety in 2005 bridges the gap between the two time periods as she was a young nurse during the second world war. We witness the Nazis rise to power. We see the indoctrination of the German people. To speak out was to sign your own death certificate – but there were those brave souls who did what they could to help, and who felt guilty if they failed. This guilt would last a lifetime. “Praying for some way to heal the past.”

Lebensborn was the brainchild of Heinrich Himmler. It was designed to re-populate Germany via SS officers and young German women, but the baby, if perfect, would be whisked away from the mother and adopted by ‘good’ SS families. Those babies who were less than perfect met a dreadful fate. The girls were told, “It’s an honor to be chosen. To do your duty for the Fatherland and for the Fuhrer.” Many totally believed this lie. It was an evil practice with many doctors believing, “the ovaries of fertile Aryan women are so precious, they should be the property of the state.” How ridiculous!

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The Boy In The Attic by Imogen Matthews

Sep29

Unsung Heroes

The Boy In The Attic by Imogen Matthews is a powerful dual timeline novel that I read in just one sitting. It is a fictional tale but has its roots in fact.

The action is set in present day in both Britain and Holland, alternating with war-torn Holland in 1945. We hear voices in the past and present that are linked by genes.

Holland in 1945 was a precarious place to be. It was still occupied by the Nazis who were determined to continue their reign of terror even though they were clearly losing the war at this point.

We hear of the brave members of the resistance who hide and move those as needed.

Resistance members needed to blend in and also disrupt the Nazi war machine. A brave female resistance fighter finds herself socializing with the Nazis. It is a dangerous position to be in as she listens for secrets. She could also be accused of fraternizing with the enemy.

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The Resistance Bakery by Siobhan Curan

Sep26

Smoke & Mirrors

The Resistance Bakery by Siobhan Curan is a powerful dual timeline historical novel that totally consumed me.

The action is set in Paris during the Nazi occupation from 1940 and also in America in 1984. Chapters alternate between the two time periods which are linked by a granddaughter hearing of her grandmother’s wartime exploits.

We see that not all Germans are Nazis who agree with Hitler. “I was … taken aback by how normal they [Nazis] looked.” Evil does not look so different from anyone else.

As young French and German people mixed in a hotel kitchen, hatred did not come easily. They were all united in their love of cooking. “The whole point of war is to get us to hate each other, but for what?” War seemed even more futile when the enemy was just like us.

A young French pastry chef is conflicted in her mind between the dreadful treatment of her Jewish friend and also the kindness of a German cook. Her emotions are tossed by the wind.

The non-Jewish pastry chef shows her loyalty to her Jewish friend by wearing the star of David on her clothes too. “I’m choosing not to see it as a target … I’m choosing to see it as a sign of how much I love you.” Resistance comes in many forms as seen when the two women dress up in their posh frocks, wear a smile and sing.

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All My Fault by Emma Robinson

Sep12

The Hardest Goodbye

All My Fault by Emma Robinson is a heart-wrenching contemporary novel that I read in just two sittings.

This is an emotional read that will completely tug at your heartstrings. It is a book about a truly terrible situation and every parent’s nightmare. It is a book about the hardest goodbye.

Emma Robinson writes with sensitivity and feeling. The reader becomes caught up in the action as we ‘walk’ through the book, totally immersed in the situation and able to empathise with the lead character.

A terrible accident sees a young woman fighting for her life and for that of her unborn baby. As events unfold, we see that all is not as it seems and a guilty party walks among us. A mother has a bedside vigil as she refuses to acknowledge the worst. A partner is arrested. His character belies what a mother believes. Emotions run high. Accusations fly. Somewhere under it all lies the truth. Will the truth ever come to light? Or will it stay buried forever?

There are many emotions associated with loss. Feelings of guilt threaten to overwhelm a character who is told, “you need to be kind to yourself.”

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