The Daughter's Tale by Armando Lucas Correa is about a family of four in Germany. They do not leave fast enough and quick decisions need to be made.

This was a good novel. I felt for the characters throughout the entire book, however I did lose interest for the last quarter until the final ending came. There were a few too many characters and I kept wanting to know more about some of them. The ending brought everything together perfectly. I wanted to know just a little more about Elise as she grew older, to create more of a connection between the two timelines.

The MS St. Louis was eerily done. It was already covered in great detail in The German Girl, and I appreciated that there was no need to do so again. It helped continue the mystery because some things are better left unsaid.

3.5/5. Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for the advanced reading copy.

Correa returns with another novel that addresses the plight of the Jewish people who tried to flee Germany as Hitler and his minions tightened racial laws. And like with his debut, The German Girl, the ill-fated S.S. St. Louis makes an appearance.

The heart of this novel opens in 1939 Berlin. Bookseller Amanda Sternberg hopes to keep her family together, but all hopes are shattered when her husband, a Jewish doctor, is take away and dies in a concentration camp. Unbeknownst to her, her husband Julius enacted plans to save his family. The children, Viera and Lina, are to sail on the St. Louis to join their uncle who already lives in Cuba. Amanda is to flee to France and join the children later. But what will happen? Will things go as planned? Who will be the one to face untold hardships and devastations as the war progressed? Who will live and who will die?

The beginning and end of the novel take place in New York City in 2015. Elise Duval, an 80-year-old woman, is a French Catholic who arrived after the war ended. She is presented with letters written by her mother written in German from World War II, an event that leads to a heart attack. Who is she really? What was her past?

This haunting novel is beautifully and poetically written. It was hard to put it down despite the horrors of the atrocities committed during the war. While the heart of the story is the love of a mother for her children, readers will be shocked by the form this takes. It is also a story of survival, especially as two girls must find their way through the end of the war alone while witnessing some of the most horrific atrocities to take place in Western Europe during the war. And heartbreak is throughout due to the hard choices made by the adults around these girls. If you plan to read this novel, have tissue handy.

This is a tale of the atrocities of WWII through the lens of a daughter, separated from her mother and sister. It is a tale of the gut wrenching anxiety of awaiting removal from France by the Nazis. It is a tale of choices and sacrifices, and always wondering if the best path was chosen. It is a tale of competing consciences, including a precept that the law reigns above all, even when the "law" is not what is "right".
One of my go-to genres is historical fiction and I enjoyed this story, told so well by the author. Mr. Correa vividly paints the landscape of WWII France, through the eyes of the adults and children. This historical fiction novel shed light on another part of WWII that I had not previously learned about. If you love HF, this tale is for you!

Favorite Quotes:

Elise tried to stand up, but could feel her heart failing her. She was losing control over herself, over the life she had so carefully constructed. She could see her own face at a distance, staring at the scene from afar like another witness in the room.

Since his schooldays in Leipzig, Julius had been fascinated by the heart—its irregular rhythms, its electrical impulses, its alternating beats, and silences. “There’s nothing stronger,” he told her when they were newlywed and he was still at the university, always adding the caveat: “The heart can resist all kinds of physical trauma, but sadness can destroy it in a second. So no sadness in this house!”

Whenever you’re afraid and can feel your heart racing, start counting its beats. Count them and think of each one, because you’re the only person who can control them. As the silence between one beat and the next grows, your fear will start to disappear. We need those silences to exist, to think.

From this dark, cold place I can hear your heart. I know from memory all its movements. When you are asleep or awake, happy or sad, like today. My Amanda, I want you never to forget that we were happy once.

Claire looked down anxiously at the ebony box on Amanda’s lap. In the half-light, her friend’s face lost its soft outline and looked severe, imposing. “The only thing that unites me and my daughter is in here, Claire. Can you imagine that something so big could fit into such a small space?” There was no answer to a question like that.


My Review:

This was my first exposure to the phenomenal artistry of Armando Lucas Correa, and I will confess to being a smitten kitten. I quickly fell into his vortex as if under a spell, Mr. Correa appears to be a deftly skilled and superior Wizard of Words as I was definitely mesmerized. His premise was based on actual events and several of the horrific and diabolical atrocities dreamed up by the Germans – military and citizenry alike.

Mr. Correa’s writing was poignant, highly emotive, devastatingly evocative, and required occasional breaks in reading as my eyes were too wet to continue. His insightful and moving prose squeezed my chest, burned my eyes, and put hot rocks in my throat. His compelling characters were intricately drawn and I became so entrenched in their captivating storylines that their struggles became quite real to me.

Like most Caucasian Americans of European ancestry, I am unsure of much of my heritage as basically, we are all mutts and have absolutely nothing to feel superior about. I am uncertain if I have much if any German heritage in my DNA, but if I do, I want to know if it can be removed – pronto!

I was thrilled to be offered this title via Net Galley since I had read and reviewed The German Girl a while back in 2016 (see review here: https://drbethnolan.com/2016/11/03/the-german-girl-by-armando-lucas-correa/). It was yet another story that was based in fact and unforgettable. Again, the ability of Jewish families to get passage to other countries where they will be safe is featured, and it is so disturbing to see how not many countries were helpful. I felt for the main character in this novel, Amanda, as she had so much loss. And yet, her story is most probably not too different from many women of that time and place.

Recommended for those who enjoy reading of WWII and of normal people who are forced to face extraordinary things. This novel has been called “heartbreaking” – and it is.

Thank you for my review copy.

The Daughter's Tale is the story of a mother's love for her children and the lengths she is willing to go to in order to protect them. Set primarily in Germany and France during WWII, Jewish bookstore owners and parents Amanda and Julius navigate the ever worsening climate in Berlin in the 1940s. When the Gestapo takes Julius it sets into motion a plan to save their kids Lina and Viera, then 4 and 7, by shipping them overseas to family in Cuba.When the time comes Amanda can't bring herself to send four year old Lina alone on the ship with her sister so she entrusts Viera's safety to a stranger and escapes with Lina to France. A story of heartbreak and loss follows, in a nightmare made worse by the truth of it all, and the unfortunate fact that not all stories have a happy ending. Another great addition to the genre, fans of Historic or WWII fiction should add this to their reading lists.

A thought provoking and emotional story about the suffering of a young girl during WWII. I was drawn into the world of Lina Sternberg and her family as they go through trial after trial as a part of the Jewish community during the war. This writer's style is not my favorite, but the story held me captive.

First off, let me say historical fiction is definitely not my favourite genre to read. All things considered, The Daughter’s Tale by Armando Lucas Correa is a poignant depiction of the lengths a mother will go to sacrifice for her children under horrific circumstances.

Amanda Sternberg is devastated when Nazi’s take her husband into custody. Amanda is left to care for her two children, Viera and Lina. With strict instructions left by her husband, Amanda grapples with the idea of sending her two girls on a refugee ship to Havana, Cuba. Viera is old enough to care for herself yet Lina is not. Viera is sent to Cuba on her own by her mother.

Amanda and Lina are then taken by the Nazi’s, and forced into a labor camp. The two suffer tremendously. Amanda scarifies and endures for her daughter until one day Lina escapes to a French village. Lina, now known as Elise, has to face the true meaning to survive and persist.

This book was beautifully written. Armando Lucas Correa’s writing was almost lyrical, with the dialogue and descriptions captivating every chapter. His use of vivid imagery and emotions is what makes him a wonderful author. I can understand why many called this a heart-breaking novel, Correa brought out emotions I didn’t realise I could feel for a historical novel.

That being said, I did have an issue with the modern day story of Elise. It didn’t really fit for me. It could have been left out and it wouldn’t have made a lick of difference for me. But one character I really wanted more of was Viera’s! Her backstory was never told and I really wanted to know more about her. Had these two character developments been swapped, I would have rated this novel much higher!

The Daughter’s Tale by Armando Lucas Correa is a tragic story that captivates emotions I wasn’t ready to feel for a historical fiction novel. From the writing to the pace, Correa does a magnificent job bring out the horrific details that millions of people faced during WWII. It is a poignant novel to say the least, especially in the times we live in now. I highly recommend it!

A series of letters, a time of war and a mother's devasting choice

The Daughter's Tale takes readers from Berlin, Germany in the 1930's to New York City in 2015. Much like Suite Française, The Daughter's Tale shows the brutality, resistance, and cowardice of ordinary people during a time of war. The central event that Armando Lucas Correa brings to this tale is that of the Nazi massacre in a French village in 1944. A heartbreaking book, Correa's strength is the way in which he is able to show the many complicated faces of humankind.

A Daughter's Tale was one of my eagerly anticipated books of 2019, having adored the author's previous novel, The German Girl. It did not disappoint!

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date 07/05/19
Goodreads Review 09/05/19

This is a story that takes place both during WWII in Berlin, and in the present day. It is a heartbreaking story of the horrors of the war, but also much more than that. It’s about the difficult choices a mother must make and how she fights to save her family.. Like his previous work, The German Girl, this book is well-researched and based on true stories. I found this particularly interesting as I had just visited Berlin.

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed The German Girl by this same author and so I was looking forward to reading this book. I also enjoy reading novels about World War II. However this book did not meet my expectations. I had trouble following the story. While it was a very sad story it wasn't one that kept me captivated. At times I thought that I had lost my place in the story because I thought things had advanced further than they actually had. The story started out in current day and then jumped to Germany during the war, like many novels seem too. This made me think that it was going to be jumping back and forth, but it never did come back to current day until the very end. Half way through the book I already realized I was going to have a difficult time writing a review. The book was about two sisters who the mother had to separate. We never learn what happened to the other sister, which was a disappointment for me. The story was not one that I couldn't wait until I had more time to read.

Another great WW2 Historical fiction tale but something was different about this one. It was gripping right from the beginning and did not stop until the end. Even through there has been a lot of books recently around this topic ,i feel this might be one of my favorites so far this year. If you like The Alice Network by Kate Quinn or just curious about the events that took place during this horrible time in history for so many, this is the book for you.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Armando Lucas Correa. I loved The German Girl and this book also takes place during the atrocities of World War II.

Amanda and her husband, Julian, are raising their small daughters in Berlin, where Julian is a cardiologist and Amanda owns a bookstore. Then the Nazis came, burned down the bookstore, and took Julian to a concentration camp. Amanda is lucky to be able to flee to a family friend in France, who agrees to take in her and the two girls. Beforehand, she receives a letter from her husband with instructions on how to save the girls - by putting them on a ship to Cuba where her brother lives. At the dock, she makes a decision she will carry with her forever. In France, she is once again confronted by the Nazis and she is taken to a camp with her daughter, where she will once again have to make a decision about her children.

This book is sad but it shows the strength that people had to resist evil, to try and maintain their families, and how they put their children above all. The story is bookended by the story of an elderly woman who is presented with letters from a time she has all but forgotten.

I enjoy reading different historical fiction novels about WWII. The themes are often resilience, and courage of every day people caught up in a war which is not their making.. I looked forward to reading The Daughter’s Tale by Armando Lucas Correa. The premise was good. A family is separated and we see the pain of a mother struggling to keep her daughter’s safe. Correa used actual events of the massacre of the small village of Oradour-Sur-Glane and the transatlantic journey of the St. Louis sailing to Cuba As the background for his story.. (I think it would have been very helpful to have the description of these two events to be placed in the preface rather than the author’s notes at the end of the book.) I found the book to be confusing. There was too much jumping around between characters and time period. To me, I felt the book was in a first draft state. I never felt emotionally connected to the characters. Thank you NetGalley and Arria Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A read that will pull you in and not let go, the ultimate sacrifice of a mother when she gives life to her daughters twice, and knowing that she will most likely never see them again.
Knowing that a lot that is presented in this book is sadly true, and hoping while I was reading that history would change, but as you will see no.
What begins with an old woman receiving letters, and then we are given the background from whence they came, but then end with the recipient.
A book that does become a compelling page turner, and is filled with people that gave all they had for their fellow man, selfless acts of love, but also a read that we hope will never be repeated by mankind.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Atria Books, and was not required to give a positive review.

What can you even say about a book filled with so much heartache, yet so much hope? My heart raced at times, literally beating through my chest as if I were on the run from the Nazi's. My tears fell with every loss, every heartache and new life lost, just as it finally became comfortable and seemed as safe as could be at the time.

There are so many questions left unanswered, just as there were in real life. This story was so raw and real, that it's hard to believe it could possibly be fictitious. How many children escaped by simply pretending to be someone else, only to harbor the guilt of those who should have survived but didn't or those that should have been awarded an opportunity, but never got it?

Lina tries to forgot who she is but it's a past that can never escape her, despite how badly she wants to forget. Because of her, everyone else's lives were set in a motion that would never be able to be turned back and would forever be changed. The one who suffered the most for Lina, is Danielle, who never had to love her and sacrifice her life for her, but still did. In fact, every single person that came in contact with Lina, sacrificed their life for her, so that she could have hope and a future.

There were so many instances of true, absolute love throughout this story that it gives you hope for our future. Even when the world seems to be falling apart and everyone is against you, there will always be someone out there willing to risk their own lives and futures for you, if you just look hard enough.

These are the kinds of stories that need to be read; that can't ever be forgotten because if we forget our past and all that has happened, we are bound to relive it. This is especially true in today's America, where our country is turning on itself and viewing everyone with an 'us vs. them' attitude. We cannot live the life that the Sternbergs, Duvals, and every other family in Europe lived not that long ago.

This book was magnificently written and tells a tale that is all too realistic because it was for many, many people.

Loved this book - the way the author crafted the story - I couldn't put it down! I had no idea that this was based on a true story - highly recommend.

I was pleased to receive a review copy directly from the publisher as a major fan of the author's first book. The Daughter's Tale is based on a true story. This was a well done, but heartbreaking tale of a young Jewish mother's desperate attempt to save her two daughters. After Amanda Sternberg's husband is taken off to a concentration camp, she manages to escape 1939 Berlin for what she hopes is a safe haven in southern France with the widow her husband's old friend & colleague. Amanda's husband has left her instructions to put both their young daughters on a ship sailing to Cuba, where they could be safe with Amanda's brother. Amanda has second thoughts and makes a tough decision to send only the older daughter. Will she forever regret this decision? The author captured me from the opening chapter set in present day New York, when two woman show up at the home of Elise Duval, a French Catholic who arrived in the city who arrived just after WWII. The women come bearing letters purported to be written by Elise's mother in German, written to a daughter in Cuba and a daughter she left behind in France, before being taken by the German SS. #TheDaughtersTale #NetGalley

Reading this precious book hurt my heart. Beautifully written but devastatingly heartbreaking and based on actual events that happened during World War II so prepare yourself before reading.

World War II fiction is an immensely crowded field, and while this was an interesting story, particularly the part inspired by a real massacre at Oradour- Sur- Glane, it did little else to stand out from the pack.

The first half of the book was far more compelling. There was real emotion tied up in the “what would a mother do for her child?” trope. After the transition, I found myself not really caring. Barring The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, I find WWII books with children as the main character to be remarkably devoid of impact. This was not an exception. The writing was flat, the areas that should’ve been high impact were sanitized, and the ending was given away by the beginning and it was not a satisfying one at that.

3.5 stars.