Community Reviews
I'm always eager to read another historical fiction book about World War II--especially when it's based on truth--even though the genre sometimes seems saturated. Apparently this book was inspired by the author's own mother's story, and I read the book hoping there would be an afterword where the author filled the reader in on the factual parts of the novel. However, I was disappointed to find there wasn't any more information--at least not in the advance copy.
The Light After the War is about two life-long friends, Vera and Edith, who after having escaped a train heading for Auschwitz and hiding until the war is over, are now trying to put their lives back together without any of their family. The story is told from Vera's point of view, and while the novel is mostly about their search for love, it also deals with some heavy subjects, especially when Vera's memories of the war are revealed.
It's because of those serious subjects, that I expected the story to go deeper. The dialogue sometimes felt stunted or dry, and the transitions were blunt. Sometimes the story moved from one thing to another so quickly I would have to reread the previous sentence to find out if I missed something. However, I still enjoyed it, highlighting several beautiful lines. I read it quickly, too, eager to find out what would happen. Several plot points seemed unrealistic, but it's hard to make that call when I'm unaware of the parts of the story that were based on facts.
The best parts of the book were traveling to all the different locations with Vera and Edith on their search for contentment and peace. And while the ending was predictable, I didn't mind it. I would recommend this one to readers who enjoy lighter historical fiction with themes of romance, travel, and friendship.
Thank you to the publisher, Atria Books, and Netgalley for the advance reader copy!
#popsugarreadingchallenge2020 (prompt #40b)
The Light After the War is about two life-long friends, Vera and Edith, who after having escaped a train heading for Auschwitz and hiding until the war is over, are now trying to put their lives back together without any of their family. The story is told from Vera's point of view, and while the novel is mostly about their search for love, it also deals with some heavy subjects, especially when Vera's memories of the war are revealed.
It's because of those serious subjects, that I expected the story to go deeper. The dialogue sometimes felt stunted or dry, and the transitions were blunt. Sometimes the story moved from one thing to another so quickly I would have to reread the previous sentence to find out if I missed something. However, I still enjoyed it, highlighting several beautiful lines. I read it quickly, too, eager to find out what would happen. Several plot points seemed unrealistic, but it's hard to make that call when I'm unaware of the parts of the story that were based on facts.
The best parts of the book were traveling to all the different locations with Vera and Edith on their search for contentment and peace. And while the ending was predictable, I didn't mind it. I would recommend this one to readers who enjoy lighter historical fiction with themes of romance, travel, and friendship.
Thank you to the publisher, Atria Books, and Netgalley for the advance reader copy!
#popsugarreadingchallenge2020 (prompt #40b)
