Take a photo of a barcode or cover
hollyd19 's review for:
The Book of Lost Names
by Kristin Harmel
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Based loosely on the true stories of forgers during WWII, this historical fiction novel follows Eva Traube, a Parisian Jew who flees south to with her mother when her father is arrested & deported. Using some of her artistic talents, she manages to make them convincing forged documents to aid their journey which pulls her into a role with the Resistance she never expected.
I went into this with a bit of trepidation because I love WWII historical fiction, but the genre is a bit saturated. I was pleased that this book ended up feeling gripping and new and not trite. I particularly enjoyed it having recently read The Woman of No Importance which gave me a bunch of context for Free Zone France during the war. The characters are dynamic and believable and the plot moves at a steady clip.
My only two critiques: I found the “twist” pretty predictable and the tension with Eva’s mother really wore on me. I wanted even a brief moment of familial reprieve for them both! Otherwise, I found it enjoyable and would recommend.
I went into this with a bit of trepidation because I love WWII historical fiction, but the genre is a bit saturated. I was pleased that this book ended up feeling gripping and new and not trite. I particularly enjoyed it having recently read The Woman of No Importance which gave me a bunch of context for Free Zone France during the war. The characters are dynamic and believable and the plot moves at a steady clip.
My only two critiques: I found the “twist” pretty predictable and the tension with Eva’s mother really wore on me. I wanted even a brief moment of familial reprieve for them both! Otherwise, I found it enjoyable and would recommend.