This is my 2nd book by Jenoff and I was thrilled it was selected by #bookfriendsbookclub and Brenda Novak’s bookclub this month. 

Pam Jenoff was a diplomat for the State Department in Poland handling Holocaust issues and has written quite a few books inspired by her time there and stories she heard. She has said she doesn’t tell any of those stories, but she looks for what she calls “the Gasp,” a piece of history that is so untold that it makes her gasp. For this story it was a former store in Paris called Lévitan, (p189/author’s note) where Jews were imprisoned and forced to sell plundered Jewish goods to German officers. Close to 800 prisoners were kept there, and provided unhealthy living conditions.

There are a couple of timelines and pov:
Louise 1953 and 1944
In the more “modern” timeline, Louise finds half of a Mizpah charm, “inscribed with the word “watch” on it, part of a biblical phrase from the book of Genesis. 'The Lord watch between me and thee.' (P50) The other half of the charm is missing. What is surprising to Louise, is that she thinks she saw this exact charm in 1944 when she worked for the Red Cross, and a cello player gave it to a friend of hers to try to return to his wife when he was imprisoned. 

Both of her timelines alternate with Helaine’s pov in 1943/1944. Helaine grew up trapped in her wealthy home, after being sick as a child by her overly protective parents. She falls in love with a cello player who suddenly leaves to play for troops during the war, leaving her vulnerable, as a Jew.

I thought both timelines were engaging and I liked how the story came together. It was a little predictable, but it was interesting and I enjoyed reading!

“Safe and hidden are not the same thing," p69

“I've learned not to hold on to things. What's important is the truth, and thanks to you, that's been revealed.” P315

“Sharing our pasts, our suffering and our truths, is the only way that we can grow together.” P318