Took a while to get into. Some discourse could have been omitted. Held enough interest to finish, but the ending didn't seem to fit. ( )

A family of rural Germans rush to escape their country as World War II comes to a violent close, befriending both Jewish and English soldiers on their trek. An insider's perspective about the ludicrisy of the war on Jews from the viewpoint of Germans not ensconced in townships, and also of the Russians' brutality. ( )

A poignant and masterful tale of the tragedy and the impact and deregation suffered by all of Europe during the Nazi regime. A reminder of the need for constant viligance against evil.

WWII story which demonstrates that lines often become blurred in wartime. For instance, there is the "chameleon" Uri, a Jew who poses as a Nazi officer as he helps a German family running from the invading Soviets. Remember the subject matter---not for the faint of heart. Bohjalian did his homework before he wrote this very sad yet hopeful read. ( )

The Emmerich family leaves their Prussian farm in the closing days of WWII in order to attempt to escape the invading Russians. Mutti, her young son Theo, her beautiful daughter Anna and Callum, a Scottish POW who has become Anna's secret lover, meet up with Uri Singer, a Jew who escape a train to Auschwitz and has assumed the identity of Manfred, a Wermacht corporal, in order to get by. As they journey the small group gets even smaller and their fates intertwine with that of Cecile Fournier, a concentration camp inmate forced to march as well. An oddly beautiful story of life, love and resilience, but also deprivation, loss and injustice. Unique and highly recommended. ( )

The William & Mary Alumni Boston Chapter selected this novel set in German-occupied Poland at the end of the Second World War. It tells the story of three different journeys that intertwine and complement one another. First there is the Emmerich family, prosperous German farmers in East Prussia with the elderly father and eldest sons off fighting, the women and children flee west to safety from the Russian army taking with them a Scottish POW. Then there is Uri, a Jew who escaped from the prison trains and has spent two years taking on the uniforms and identities of various German officers both for survival and sabotage. Finally there is Cecille, a French Jewish woman forced with her fellow prisoners on a death march (although this is the least well-realized of the three storylines).

Bohjalian does not shrink from the details of all that was horrible about the war and the Holocaust. Yet, in the end this is a book about hope. After tearing us down, Bohjalian builds us back up with the romance of 18-year old Anna Emmerich and the Scottish airman Callum, the persistence of Cecille, the bravery of Uri and many small, kind acts. The one thing I wish the author had not done was to distance the Emmerich's so much from Nazism. It seems a cop-out that many authors/filmmakers fall on is the "good German" instead of trying to find humanity or promise of redemption in those who adhered to this evil ideology.

All in all a gripping and well-written novel. ( )

This book was inspired in part by an actual diary a friend asked Bohjalian to read in 1998; it had been kept by his friend’s East Prussian grandmother from 1920 to 1945. Bohjalian artfully fleshed out a story describing the relentless horror and barbarism of WWII and a family torn apart by war. In an interview he indicated these were his favorite characters that he has ever spent time with and that is reflected in the quality of the writing and in how compelling the story is. He also indicated it is is favorite of the twelve books he as written and he feels he has finally done the characters justice. I agree. This is my favorite of his books that I have read. Well done. ( )

GHASTLY. ( )

I thought this was really an excellent book, every bit as good as Midwives and The Double Bind by the same author. The story takes place on the eastern European front in the first few months of 1945, as Germany is being slowly defeated by the invading Russians and the British and American allies coming in from the west. Every able-bodied man is being drafted to help repel the Russians and their families are fleeing to the east to await their fate...but they aren't sure if the victors will be the Nazis or the Americans, but they know they must flee the barbaric Russians. I really enjoyed this because it focuses on a part of the war that I didn't know that much about. And I also enjoyed the plot development as the Germans realize that their Reich is drawing to a close and they are faced with an uncertain future. ( )

This book seems to me to be a cross between a romance and a "Boy's Own Adventure", with a lot of graphic violence thrown in. I am not really a big reader of either romances or war novels, and I shut my eyes in the movies when the violent bits come on. Therefore, this book won't be on my "favourites" list. I thought afterwards, that it read more like the script of a tele-movie than a conventional novel - lots of action, suspense, romance (and sex), moving on all the time and never dwelling too long in one physical or conceptual place.

Nonetheless, it did offer some interesting insights, reflecting on the futility and stupidity of nationalism and war, and the transcendence of individual human relationships.

Also, seeing WWII from a German or Polish perspective is relatively rare in popular American literature. (Although it's interesting that "Stones from the River" by Hegi, which is also a story of the WWII treatment of the Jews, told from an "ordinary" German person's perspective, has been well received in America. I wonder if Mr Bohjalian read that book?)

This is my first Bohjalian book, and I think I need to read more of his work, in different genres, before I make a judgment about whether I'll regularly visit the "B" section in my local library. This one was easy to keep "reading" - I had uploaded it from the 10 library CDs onto my iPod and I listened while I had my daily exercise. Maybe if I was actually reading it I would have had a slightly different attitude?? ( )

An okay read, but I felt that Bohjalian could have done much, much more with plot, character, and mood development. The premise of the changes experienced by affluent Germans while fleeing from the Russians was poorly depicted. Relatively little was made of their dawning realization of the crimes committed by their country. The author could have plunged the reader into the experience of the journey, but he failed to do that to any great extent. I usually enjoy Bohjalian's books much more than this one. ( )

This gripping WWII novel starts off with a bang and keeps the action going strong almost all the way to the end. ( )

Germany, during WWII, sets the stage for a German family fleeing from the Russians, a Jewish man who escapes from a train headed to Auschwitz, a Scottish POW and a couple hundred imprisoned Jewish woman in a concentration camp.

The several different points of view expressed in this novel were some voices I have not heard before. I have read, in varying degrees, the general concept of German families, and Jewish men and women during this timeframe, but none quite like this. Bohjalian was able to describe and, in turn, make me feel the weight of some extremely difficult decision many people had to make. I don't believe he is any different from many other WWII storytellers in describing the atrocities of the holocaust, but he impressed me with how all these people fit together seamlessly. He, also, does not spare us of any grief making it very realistic, and therefore - painful. Reading Skeletons at the Feast was a suspenseful experience and I appreciated learning a little bit more about the war. All in all, it was a very good book. (4/5)

Originally posted on: "Thoughts of Joy..." ( )

This is a poignant and extraordinary story of a family in the midst of WWII.

Beginning in the autumn of 1944 at their farm home, Kaminheim, the Emmerich family brought in their harvest with the help of some prisoners of war that were made available to them for the task.The prisoners were German, British and there was one young man from Scotland, Callum Finella.

At this point things had not changed too much for the Emmerich family. One son Werner had gone to be a soldier and another was about to leave. Helmut who was twin to the daughter of the family, Anna. Their father had served before and was preparing to enter this war as well. The fact of war, and the horrors of what was happening around them had not really come home to Anna, Mutti or Theo the youngest brother.

This was about to change. By the approaching winter They, along with the one remaining prisoner of war that had been able to remain with the family were about to flee their home. The stories of the death camps, the reality of what was really happening to other Jews had intruded finally into their near idyllic existence on their farm. Their days of comfort were over for what soon looked to be forever.

While attempting to find safety and their way to a new life, they met up with many others making the same journey, all of whom affected their lives. Some of them passed through quicky, others lingered and changed them forever.

The characters captivate, the story enthralls, and be warned, this is a story that will stay with you for a very long time. It will touch your heart and mind in ways you never dreamed a book could.

This is a keeper, a gift book and a reread. ( )

War is typically always full of atrosities, and arguably none more so than World War II. In this breathtakingly poignant historical fiction novel, the reader experiences the end of the war through the eyes of a German family displaced by the encroaching Russian army. Among the refugees are a mother, her eighteen year old daughter, Anna, her ten year old son Theo, and Anna's lover who also happens to be a Scottish POW. Along the way they befirend a German soldier who is actually a runaway Jew in hiding.

This is a beautifully written and compelling view of life at the end of the war as seen through several different perspectives. Despite the fact this that this is not typically my favorite genre', I was immediately drawn in and felt each horrible blow as if I were part of the story. I plan to read more of Mr. Bohjalian's work in the hopes it is all this good. ( )

The trek forced on this Prussian family at the end of World War II provides a vivid look at Germany in 1945 as the public (and some soldiers) flees the Russians. The book is well researched historically and still manages to weave a love story into the misery of the end of the Reich. The plot moves rapidly and doesn't bog down despite in depth looks into the character's personalities.
The horrible crimes done by the Nazis are woven into the story in an unlikely and realistic way. Those who like life stories in World War II historical fiction will enjoy this novel ( )

Moving tale about a family fleeing their home during WWII. Riveting reading. ( )

I eagerly anticipate new works by Chris Bohjalian. The subject of this novel, WWII, was a departure from his prior works. It was fabulous. Written with amazing insight into the perspective of Jews, Russians, and Germans, it was an emotionally draining book to read. Skeletons is one of those novels I continue to think about weeks after finishing it, which is another indication to me of its greatness. Novels about war should not be light reading and this one isn't. But you will be greatly rewarded if you pick up this book. ( )

Well written novel about several characters whose lives intersect at the end of WWII. Some characters are German/Polish citizens and some are German/Polish Jews, thus simultaneously giving two sides to the racial issue of the war. The plot was a bit predictable, but otherwise very enjoyable and interesting. ( )

In a departure from his normal modern-day New England-based novels, Bohhalian gives us a novel that examines the lives of several people in Nazi Germany as the Third Reich falls apart. Anna, her well-to-do German family, and her lover (a Scottish prisoner of war) flee their farm to escape the threat of the Russion Army. A group of Jewish women are marched away from their camp to, first, work in a factory and then to just march. A Jewish man, mascarading as a German solidier, helps his people by killing German soldiers as the opportunity arises. Each of these characters cannot understand how they came to be where they are or why they are so hated.

Somewhat reminescent of Irène Némirovsky's "SUITE FRANÇAISE" as it examines the confusion and terror of the victims of war as they evacuate their beloved homes and the bewilderment of individuals who did not cause the war as they come to realize that they are hated for that which is beyond their control, and that an entire class of people should not be judged on the actions of the few. Bohjalian gets this point across without at all minimizing the tragedy of the Holocaust. ( )

This was a good WWII novel, well developed characters that pull you in and great setting descriptions. I was disappointed in the abrupt ending, it felt like the author was suddenly tired of the book. The epilogue seemed to only be a quick after thought. ( )

This book is something of a departure for Bohjalian, since it doesn't take place in the northeast United States of today. Instead, it takes place during the end of WWII in Europe. As in his other books, though, Bohjalian is not afraid to ask difficult questions in subtle but inescapable manner.

Through the eyes of the daughter of a Prussian aristocratic family fleeing the Russian advance, a Scottish POW, and a German Jew who is masquerading as a German soldier, Bohjalian explores the nature of revenge and collective guilt. Interspersed with the story of their trek west through Germany, is the story of a group of women being marched in the same direction from a Nazi labor camp, through which Bohjalian explores hope and survival.

This book is not a romance, no matter what the publisher may claim. But it is a compelling and well-told story about the relationships that can develop between people who initially think they're on opposite sides of a war. ( )

Library Journal Review
Bohjalian, Chris. Skeletons at the Feast. Shaye Areheart: Harmony. May 2008. c.384p. ISBN 978-0-307-39495-8. $25. F

Based on a real-life World War II diary, Bohjalian's (The Double Bind) 12th novel chronicles the last days of the Nazi regime through the eyes of an unlikely threesome. Anna Emmerich, an 18-year-old Prussian aristocrat, along with her mother and younger brother, is making a desperate attempt to journey west across the Reich out of the path of the advancing Red Army. Callum Finnella, Anna's lover and a Scottish POW who worked on the Emmerich family estate, is also traveling with the family. Uri Singer, a German Jew who escaped from a train bound for Auschwitz, is ironically the group's guardian as they travel through Germany. The novel is immensely readable, but the characters—the Jewish escapee, the heroic Allied soldier, and the beautiful Prussian aristocrat—seem more like archetypes than individuals. However, Bohjalian takes a fresh perspective and details the brutal realities of World War II in a novel that for once does not focus entirely on the Allies. Recommended for fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 1/08.]—Andrea Y. Griffith, Loma Linda Univ. Libs., CA ( )

Many books have explored the exodus of Europeans and Jews who fled the approaching German army during World War II. In Skeletons at the Feast, Chris Bohjalian examined another type of evacuation – this time of a Prussian family trying to stay steps ahead of the vengeful Soviet army.

Loosely based on a diary of young Prussian girl, the story followed Anna, her mother (Mutti), her young brother, Theo, and Callum, a Scottish POW who was assigned to Anna’s estate in Prussia. Together, they migrated on foot during the harsh winter to the safety of western Germany. Intermingled with Anna’s story were also the narratives of Uri, a young Jewish man who disguised himself as a German soldier to escape concentration camps, and Cecile, a French Jewish woman who was imprisoned at a German “work camp.” All of these stories showed the atrocities of war on civilians and how they endured the hardships of fatigue, hunger, severe weather and artillery fire.

In the depiction of Cecile and her fellow female prisoners, Bohjalian spared no details. It was downright graphic. So too were the scenes that depicted the bitterness of the Soviet army as they invaded Germany. These scenes were hard to read and not for the faint of heart. I often wonder how these things happened within recent history, and then I remember that genocide still goes on – just in a different place to different people. And that’s why I think it’s important to read books such as Skeletons at the Feast, even though it can be hard to do so.

Skeletons at the Feast had a pedestrian approach to a hard subject matter. There was no deep symbolism or foreshadowing in this book – just words and lines strung together to tell a story. However, I often found that Bohjalian employed the “tell, not show” type of narrative, and the different character viewpoints were, at first, unparalleled and hard to follow. Nonetheless, the book was a page turner – one I would recommended to readers who enjoy books set during World War II or the Holocaust. ( )