Let start by saying I am a huge Alice Hoffman fan. Practical Magic, The Rules of Magic, The River King, The Ice Queen.... I could go on and on. I love her work and the interweaving of magic that Hoffman pulls off every time. Its one of the reasons that I love her work! Maybe I am just over the historical fiction push that seems to be going around revolving WW2; but this book just did not work for me. I struggled through the majority of it, wanting to just put it down most of the time. And this is not the relationship I usually have with Hoffman's work. I needed more magic..... It absolutely pains me to give this book a 3 star rating. I will definitely continue to read Hoffman's new works and reread her older work too.

The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman is exquisite. This is the first book I've read by her but it will not be my last. It is a historical fiction with magical realism. I was drawn in from the first page. This is about loss, tragedy, hope and love. It is about the lengths a mother will go to in order to save her daughter and how a child grows and learns. It is as beautiful as it is tragic. I couldn't put it down and think others will enjoy it.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

I have been a fan of Hoffman’s for years
This book is so good. I loved the setting and the backdrop to the worlds darkest days
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book

Alice Hoffman is America's foremost author of magical realism. I've been a fan since she published Practical Magic (arguably her most definitive work) in the mid-nineties, and I've since read every one of her adult novels. Some are better than others, and I suspect that The World That We Knew will be one of the most popular books in her oeuvre. World War II has been a hot subject in fiction for several years now, but Hoffman takes a unique approach to this horrific period of our history. Weaving fairy tale folklore and magical realism with historical fiction, she manages to convey a sense of wonder and beauty atop the terror and tragedy.

My favorite passages in the book focused on Ava, a golem created by a woman to protect her daughter Lea from the Nazi regime. I was fascinated by the relationship between Ava and Lea, as they went on the run to escape the horrors of home. Some of the descriptions were beautiful enough to make me pause and re-read the sentences. Hoffman is at her best when she writes descriptive passages of magical realism. But occasionally she can succumb to overly sentimental cliches that take away from the effectiveness of the innovative descriptions. Still, I expect this book will have a big impression on most readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Simon & Schuster, for providing me with an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a beautifully written novel in which Jewish children survive WWII in France through supernatural means. I found this book to be informative and engaging, and I did finish it, although I am not a fan of magic and mysticism. I am not fond of the idea of exploiting a segment of tragic history and turning it into something mythical but it was executed in a way that didn't tarnish it. I think those who are into this genre would thoroughly enjoy the book. I loved the writing and the characters. I highly recommend this one to those interested in magic and mysticism. My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

In the past I have read few books of Alice Hoffman that I liked and few that somehow did not strike the cord with me. I must say this, after reading this book I would have to say that this one is on top of my best read books by this author!

First, when I looked at the title and cover I was not impressed much. The description on another hand made me decide to pick that book and give it a try.

The book covers War War 2 period with focus on Jews. The storyline sucks you in from the first page. Alice Hoffman is a great writer who knows how to write a great story when the plot is right.
The magical thing in this book is to take such a tragic period of time and blend in aspects of magic in it. That is not an easy task to do with this story line but she accomplishes this brilliantly!!!

I am not a Jew. I did not experience WW2 but read stories and heard about it from my ancestors, but here I could feel the pain, the tragedy and the losses of this time with a dash of survival, hope and magic that makes all this book a gem in my eyes!
You feel what characters feel. You believe in that magic and survival here. Many times I wished all the humanity had that Golem created to help and protect and make them survive!
Whatever drove the author to write this story - must have been a very powerful source, because this book should be on each shelf in each house, school, and the library!
It is beautifully written! It is tragic, yet magical! It is sad, but gives so much light and hope! It is a book that will scar you for life and make you appreciate it you read it due to power of words and message sent on each page!

I dont know how to describe this book and how to summerize it. All I can say is that after reading many books about ww2 this work of fiction makes you wish that it was non-fiction, because of magic in it.

This book will make you wonder, will make you think, will make you experience the most tragical period of time with a twist of magic and miracles, and will make you really ask yourself - is Alice Hoffman a genius???
That how wonderfully written "The world that we knew" is!!!!

Shiny 5 full stars from me here no doubt!

Alive Hoffman is a masterful writer whose writing is a honor to read it. This book is well written and I had to read the book in one sitting. I was engrossed in the story from the first chapter.

This was a beautifully written book about death, destruction, love and indescribable loss. This is a mix of magic with realism. The magic, for me, helped my mind cope with the unspeakable evil that took place to men, women and children during WWII.

I had to force myself to slow down while reading so that I could enjoy and prolong the beautiful, mystical writing elements of this book.

I could continue to ramble on about this book, but, I encourage you all to pre-order this today.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for this advanced readers copy. Release date for this is scheduled for September 2019.

Loved how this read was based on a true story.
All I can say is this was a WONDERFUL read.
Highly highly recommend!!! Alice Hoffman never ever disappoints. She is one of my favorite author’s. Absolutely enjoyed.
Thank you Netgalley.

I finished this book in two days! I am a big fan of Alice Hoffman and this book did not disappoint. I liked that it was based on a true story, and how Alice Hoffman felt like she needed to share this story. I loved the supernatural components and appreciated the underlying theme of family and love.

A beautifully written story about a terrible time in history, honoring the brave people who risked everything to help those who had everything ripped away by tragedy. Perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale or Anthony Doerr's All The Light We Cannot See and a treat for lovers of Alice Hoffman's work.

I'm a long-time fan of Alice Hoffman, and I'm always up for some magical realism. I love the interesting take on the golem, as I've never seen it manifested from a feminist, motherhood perspective. I simply loved it, in spite of the fact that my heart was ripped to shreds at the same time.

Whenever I read a book written by Alice Hoffman I feel as though I've been given a beautiful gift. I love The World That We Knew; magical realism at it very finest.

The World We Knew
Alice Hoffman

What does it mean to lose your mother? How much can one person sacrifice for love? In a world where evil can be found at every turn, we meet remarkable characters that take us on a stunning journey of loss and resistance, the fantastical and the mortal, in a place where all roads lead past the Angel of Death and love is never ending.

When you open the book and start reading it, you become aware right off that you are reading an Alice Hoffman book. It’s a slow gravitational pull into her signature writing style, and well written storylines that we are all familiar with.
The World We Knew, Hoffman gives new life to a turbulent and horrific time in our world’s history.
A spellbinding emotional charged look into that period. The characters come to life and are well developed and engaging. The book is evenly paced and stimulating. She has masterly captivated the human spirit.
Hoffman weaves, Jewish Mysticism, to create, a thought provoking book, about, Love, Sacrifice, Tragedy, and the Human Spirit.

This is unforgettable and beautifully written book.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley for an honest review

All opinions are my own

I couldn’t stop reading this novel. Several times throughout I found myself holding my breath or breathing heavier because the events that happen are so distressing and horrifying. The writing is so powerful that the room around you disappears. You will be in 1940s France feeling the fear, anxiety and hopelessness but also love and kindness.
The story begins in Berlin 1941. Life for the Jewish people is becoming more unbearable everyday and deportation is beginning. Here you meet the main three women of the story. Ettie, the rabbis fearless daughter. Lea, a 12 year old child who is forced to become an adult far too early. And Ava, a creature created to be an emotionless robotic guard. She is to guide Lea to safety and protect her at all costs. Most of the novel takes place in France starting in Paris then moving to the countryside. A sad time in history but like all terrible things there is always good and hope that shines through.
I’ve read many books about the Holocaust but never one that had the element of magical realism and fairytales. For me that signature of Alice Hoffman’s is what made this novel so wonderful.

Devoured this in two days!! I love Alice Hoffman and this one did not disappoint. I absolutely LOVED that it was "based" on a true story and how she felt like she had to write this woman's story. I loved the supernatural components and the underlying theme of family and love. Definitely recommend.

I found the premise of this book really interesting from the note from the author which was an older woman finding her after an event and saying she must write her story. Her story being the children that escaped the Nazis during WWII.

This was another great read by Alice Hoffman. I enjoyed the components of magical realism present in her stories, and this one is no exception. This was about three women and their stories of life during WW II. I enjoyed the writing and didn’t want to just speed through it like I do with others.

I really enjoyed the new history I learned about. I’ve really come to appreciate historical fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC! I was really excited to get to read this so early.

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review

Beautiful and moving, a story of women surfing and thriving with a little bit of magic and Jewish mysticism. Exactly what you would expect of a Holocaust novel from Alice Hoffman, and then make it twice as lush and sensual (no small thing for a Holocaust novel). Perfection

This is a beautifully written novel in which Jewish children survive WWII in France via extraordinary and supernatural means. Ettie, a brilliant young woman, agrees to create a golem to watch over Lea, a child sent by her mother to relatives . Over the course of the novel, Ettie and Lea grow up, forge lifelong relationships with others, and, along with their various love interests and vengeful desires, work towards the end of the war. Ava, the golem, watches over Lea, falls in love with a crane, speaks languages no human knows, and eventually faces Azrael, the Angel of Death, in a lovely but predictable encounter. While the characters never felt very deep to me, the book is mostly a pleasure to read, and Hoffman writes descriptively and fluently.

I do wish, however, that her reference to homeopathic treatment was not a positive one. She suggests that eating homey can save a person from thousands of bee stings. Not only is this not really a homeopathic treatment, but in this time when people are shunning vaccines and dismissing medical science, it's dangerous to suggest that remedies like this are efficacious.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Alice Hoffman is a wonder. Every time I read one of her books I think that it is the best book I have ever read. <i>The World That We Knew</i> reveals the horrors of the Holocaust in Germany and France but does so within a lyrical style. Here there is not copious bloodshed, just overwhelming loss surrounded by all-encompassing love.

Recognizing the inevitable fate of her beautiful Jewish daughter in Berlin, a mother seeks a protector for her child, Lea. This protector, a golem named Ava, escorts the child out of Germany to France. (According to the Jewish Encyclopedia,"in Jewish tradition, the golem is most widely known as an artificial creature created by magic, often to serve its creator.") Ava's only purpose is to protect Lea like her mother would. Once in Paris, they meet with other Jewish families who have waited too long to make their escape from the Vichy French. Although most of these characters are Jewish, most are fairly nonreligious. They consider themselves French and the sudden viciousness of their neighbors is incomprehensible. Hoffman does portray the efforts of some communities and organizations to protect children. These communities, some religious and some not, represent the best of humanity when surrounded by the worst evil.

Ava's growth, from created golem to lover of nature and life, is remarkable. All the characters in this novel experience sacrifice and love, terror and joy. Read this book! Read this Book! READ THIS BOOK!