I wasn't sure about reading this book after I found out it was set during the war at the time of the Holocaust as I have read several books in this genre over the past couple of years. The book centres around the plight of the Hungarian Jews and was set first in Paris and then Hungary. It is a long novel and at times I seemed to slog through it, but when I was three-quarters of the way through, I hesitated for a moment as a wave of emotion overwhelmed me. I felt so sad and hopeless...such destruction...such a horrific time. Well done, Julie Orringer. I felt tremendous angst for Andras and Klara (was endeared to their love story), Tibor...the families...the friends...their lives and their culture...loved the characters and the story.