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jillblumenthal's review against another edition
4.0
I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the efforts of Americans Varian Fry and Mary Jayne Gold (the inspiration for the novel's Nanee) to save Jewish and intellectual refugees from the Nazis in World War II France. Reading the novel made me realize I am not a fan of the Surrealist movement, but I'm glad so glad brave people like Varian and Mary Jayne worked to save them and others. The relationships between Nanee, Edouard, and Luki were incredibly moving, and I loved how the author showed us how little Luki's mind worked.
nikgrgrio's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
heather_renae's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
thebeerknitter's review against another edition
1.0
so boring. i struggled throughout just to get through it. the characters were one-dimensional and uninteresting. i also hate when dogs are main(ish) characters, so this was a definite miss for me.
eobehrens's review
3.0
A WWII story that floats above the grit of the actual war. While the author does include events that fit the time period, the grit and grime of these events. In a work camp, but then escaped. Home searched, but everyone quietly rounded up and taken away. Arrested and sequestered on a boat, but then released. Traveling throughout occupied France and the worst thing that happens is getting checked for papers. It just didn't feel like the characters were truly experiencing the horrors of WWII. It felt like the horrors gently touched the characters, but then they moved on.
beclarke's review against another edition
4.0
A solid historical fiction read about the beginning of WWII in France.
mardob95's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. So the actual stories of Fry and Gold and the people they saved from France weren't really explored here, and the plot was instead turned into mostly a romance. Almost all small conflicts were resolved in the same short chapter or in the next. However, it was a compelling read.
aeh84's review against another edition
3.0
3.5. Starts intensely but gets a bit soapy. It was a good vacation read.
bmasters621's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
blstocks's review against another edition
1.0
This is the slowest, most drawn out, annoying book ever. What could have been said in 100 pages is extended ad nauseum. The book doesn't even know what it wants to be--thriller? Love story? Historical commentary? Psychological exploration?
The characters are talked "about" constantly but never, ever, do we experience their essence. The child whines and speaks in at once a stereotypical child's voice and then with an adult's understanding. These two facets are so starkly contrasting that they make the child unbelievable and inaccessible.
The saccharine, precious, playing with words, names, and titles happens over and over and over and over. Once, twice would have worked. Not 35 times.
I wanted to like this, I really did. WWII fiction appeals to me, so I was excited to find this title. Yet, even though I'm more than 80% through I just had to throw it across the metaphorical room. I don't know why I gave it so much of my time.
The characters are talked "about" constantly but never, ever, do we experience their essence. The child whines and speaks in at once a stereotypical child's voice and then with an adult's understanding. These two facets are so starkly contrasting that they make the child unbelievable and inaccessible.
The saccharine, precious, playing with words, names, and titles happens over and over and over and over. Once, twice would have worked. Not 35 times.
I wanted to like this, I really did. WWII fiction appeals to me, so I was excited to find this title. Yet, even though I'm more than 80% through I just had to throw it across the metaphorical room. I don't know why I gave it so much of my time.