Shirley Russak Wachtel

This book is an intimate look at complex family dynamics, both blood bonds, and those we consider family. The story brings you back in time, and really shows you how the past can echo through to future generations. It’s a ripple effect, generational trauma that continues to be passed on, tearing families apart and making them distant instead of pushing them closer. War devastates, and even though Lena didn’t directly experience it, she still feels the ways in which it left her parents show more scarred. I got lost in the memories and emotions that flowed off the page, Wachtel truly brings both characters and setting to life around the reader. It’s like stepping back through time. If you’re looking for an emotional, and at times heartbreaking, read, then you’ll want to grab this. show less

This emotional story looks at a family at two different times in history. It's a story of love and loss, forgiveness and redemption but most importantly it's a vivid portrayal of how secrets and trauma from one generation can have catastrophic effects on the next generation.

This dual time novel takes place during WWII in Poland and the 1960s in New York. Most of the story is told in the current time line with flashbacks back to the war years to explain the story line.

1940s in Poland - Anya show more and Josef live in Lodz and Anya is the baker at her family bakery. When her father dies, Anya and Josef become the owners. Anya had always wanted a daughter and is thrilled when their first child is a girl. They named her Ruby and she was a great joy to her parents. She was curious about life and interested in becoming a baker like her mother. Her only problem was that she was born with a club foot but she was such a vivacious child that no one really paid attention to her deformity. Until the Nazi's invaded Poland. One of their main goals was to rid the world of people with deformities and after Ruby was killed, her parents were sent to and survived Auschwitz and thanks to an American relative, they were sponsored to emigrate to America. They settled into America and had a second daughter, Lena. Raising her was difficult for
Anya because she kept comparing her to her memories of her first and, in her memories, perfect first daughter Ruby.

1960s and forward in New York - Lena never felt accepted by her mother. Her biggest joy in life was her best friend Pearl who understood her more than anyone. But then when they were young, Pearl disappeared from her life and she didn't see her again for many years. Lena tried to be a good daughter, she wanted to bake like her mother did but she eventually put all of her energy into school and decided to go to law school. She met Luke when she was in college and dropped out to marry him. She felt like they had a perfect marriage but was unsure when he surprised her with the purchase of a bakery. Baking was a hobby for her - not a profession but she made the best of it and the bakery was a success - something that Luke took all the credit for. As her relationship with Luke deteriorated, Pearl showed up in her life again and was always there when Lena needed someone to talk to.

The poor relationship between Lena and Anya continues for many years. There doesn't seem to be any common ground between them and neither one of them wants to work to make their relationship better. When life falls apart for both of them, will they be able to reach out to each other and be able to help other heal?

This emotional and beautifully written book is a look at the pain from war and how it affects future generations. I liked both of the main characters and was strongly hoping for them to learn to forgive each other and most importantly, forgive themselves. show less

the writing in this book was not memorable, but i did care about the characters, so i rated it as highly as i did. the author did present some good metaphors, but was somewhat repetitious because she presented experiences from various characters' viewpoints. if the book hadn't been written that way and also in chronological order i'm not sure how interesting it would have been. i also appreciated learning the effects of both ptsd and epigenetics had on some of the characters.

Two young Jewish men were orphaned during the Holocaust, but by hiding together, survived. They eventually achieved passage to the United States. They learned English, and one fell in love with another Jew who left before the Holocaust. This new couple married and started to establish a life. The other, with a longstanding interest in architecture, built them a house in Brooklyn. From there, this story unfolds with tales of love and loss, of affection and serendipity, and of things that show more stand the test of time.

The main story focuses on the love of two brothers and one’s wife. This story was emotionally compelling and left me turning the pages. The human strengths and failings of the characters are all too real. The buoyancy of immigrants – and of Jews in particular – amidst adversity is thematically all over this story. In that sense, it is a story of human triumph within loss and survival.

This book is set in history, but is not really historical fiction. Other than the Holocaust, its moorings are essentially timeless and not specific to a certain location. Some of the later stories of other tenants did not catch my intrigue and seemed a bit unnecessary for the main plot.

Life commonly has many starts and restarts. This book underscores that and should draw an audience interested in human perseverance and determination. The characters are strong. This story also speaks of the power of place to house human drama. Lovers of literary fiction will be drawn in because of the appropriateness of these three’s love for each other. Yes, much like each protagonist, this book has a few shortcomings, but not enough to hold back the work from ultimate success. show less