Valerie S. (VolunteerVal) -
Helpful Score: 1
"Grief was a blade, slicing deep, cutting your heart to shreds. With time, the blade grew dull, your heart numb. But you still bled."
- The Warsaw Sisters by Amanda Barratt
Readers seeking a powerful story of love, loss, resistance, and resilience will appreciate The Warsaw Sisters by Amanda Barratt. It worked its way into my heart, broke it, gently held the pieces, and then healed it, although not completely so I'd be mindful of all it experienced.
This World War II story set in Poland features two sisters, Antonina and Helena, from 1939 to 1945. It's a bit slow to start as we become acquainted with them, but the pace accelerates as first one and then the other sister become involved in resistance efforts against the horrors of German occupation. The plot includes actual events (the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and the Polish Home Army Uprising) when Polish citizens with incredibly meager resources fought against staggering odds.
"Sometimes I wondered how it was possible to go on while hundreds of thousands of human beings languished on the other side of the wall and death proved without mercy. Still I did. I didn't know what else to do."
- The Warsaw Sisters by Amanda Barratt
At times, this was difficult to read due to its honest description of the circumstances Polish citizens endured. The eloquent writing so fully immersed me in time and place, I had to take a moment to leave the setting and re-enter reality after each reading session. The book was thoroughly researched but never felt like an information dump; the author's notes are very informative and share that Irena Sendler, a Polish social worker who saved thousands of children in Warsaw during the WWII occupation, inspired the actions of one of her characters. This was the first of Ms. Barratt's novels I've read, and I'll definitely check out her backlist.
My husband is first-generation Polish American and his Polish heritage is very important to him, and to me through marriage. I had hopes that I would connect strongly with this story, given its Poland setting. The bond began when I 'met' a character with the same name as my husband's sister (Basia, Barb in English) in an early chapter, and continued as I read more Polish words, food, and traditions I've become familiar with through my husband, his family, and his friends. This novel made me realize how much these Polish influences have enriched my life and the depth of my connection to them.
Thank you to Revell Publishing and NetGalley for the review copy of this powerful novel. It was especially emotional to read it at a time when Jewish people are sadly once again facing danger and persecution for simply living their lives.
- The Warsaw Sisters by Amanda Barratt
Readers seeking a powerful story of love, loss, resistance, and resilience will appreciate The Warsaw Sisters by Amanda Barratt. It worked its way into my heart, broke it, gently held the pieces, and then healed it, although not completely so I'd be mindful of all it experienced.
This World War II story set in Poland features two sisters, Antonina and Helena, from 1939 to 1945. It's a bit slow to start as we become acquainted with them, but the pace accelerates as first one and then the other sister become involved in resistance efforts against the horrors of German occupation. The plot includes actual events (the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and the Polish Home Army Uprising) when Polish citizens with incredibly meager resources fought against staggering odds.
"Sometimes I wondered how it was possible to go on while hundreds of thousands of human beings languished on the other side of the wall and death proved without mercy. Still I did. I didn't know what else to do."
- The Warsaw Sisters by Amanda Barratt
At times, this was difficult to read due to its honest description of the circumstances Polish citizens endured. The eloquent writing so fully immersed me in time and place, I had to take a moment to leave the setting and re-enter reality after each reading session. The book was thoroughly researched but never felt like an information dump; the author's notes are very informative and share that Irena Sendler, a Polish social worker who saved thousands of children in Warsaw during the WWII occupation, inspired the actions of one of her characters. This was the first of Ms. Barratt's novels I've read, and I'll definitely check out her backlist.
My husband is first-generation Polish American and his Polish heritage is very important to him, and to me through marriage. I had hopes that I would connect strongly with this story, given its Poland setting. The bond began when I 'met' a character with the same name as my husband's sister (Basia, Barb in English) in an early chapter, and continued as I read more Polish words, food, and traditions I've become familiar with through my husband, his family, and his friends. This novel made me realize how much these Polish influences have enriched my life and the depth of my connection to them.
Thank you to Revell Publishing and NetGalley for the review copy of this powerful novel. It was especially emotional to read it at a time when Jewish people are sadly once again facing danger and persecution for simply living their lives.
