Member Reviews
This book was a brilliant read and one that is perfect to escape for a few hours and loose yourself.
Characters that fall out of the pages of the book and make you fell apart of the story, the setting is lovely and captured well with words.
A great read. that I would highly recommend.
It goes without saying that no book about the Holocaust is going to be an easy read, but from the very first page of The Child of Auschwitz, I knew this was going to be a deeply emotional book. I visited Auschwitz-Birkenau a few years ago, and Lily Graham’s vivid imagery took me right back there.
Although largely focusing on their time in Auschwitz, The Child of Auschwitz also includes flashbacks to Eva’s life in Prague and internment in Terezin, and Sofie’s history in Austria. This added great depth to the characters, and gave a very human feel to the story. It is so important to remember that those imprisoned were real people with lives and families, and not just statistics of war. Books like this are vital to achieving this.
I was moved to the point of tears reading about Eva sorting the confiscated belongings of the people arriving at the camp, and keeping some of the photos that she finds. This simple act meant so much to me because reminded me of clearing my grandparents house, where we found a collection of letters and photos that had been sent to my Nan during the Second World War. We will probably never know who the young men in the photos are, or what happened to them, but they were loved by someone and for that reason I can’t bring myself to throw them away.
As much as The Child of Auschwitz is a tale about the horrors of the Holocaust, it is also a tale of enduring love and friendship, and it is this that make it such a beautiful read.
How many books about Auschwitz have I read? I really cannot count. And I did think this would be the same as the other shocking books I had read in the past. While the cruel nature of the hardships endured were true to the holocaust, these characters took us down a different route.
Eva boarded a train to Auschwitz looking for her husband of only six months. She has heard he has been sent to Auschwitz, so she leaves one concentration camp to travel to another hell, in hope of being reunited.
Sofie befriends Eva as they share a bed, what food they can get and the knowledge that they are going through the same, shaved heads, empty stomachs, back breaking labour and ultimately fear of death by the hand of undrepictable camp officers.
As Eva dreams of her husband, Sofie dreams of being reunited with her son Tomas. Eva’s dreams comes true....poor Michael has beaten to near death. But ends up in a room where Eva can actually visit him. They are seperated again but Eva is pregnant. Babies born in camp dont live .....infact they are killed. Eva, with the help of Sofie now needs to survive herself and protect her child. She dreams of being a family.
A compelling read of historical fiction. Love, cruel hardship, friendship, injustice, promises made to others and hope keeping you going .....pushing through and coming out the other side of Nazi occupation. Against all odds courage and determination will make for a riveting ending.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for this fabulous read.
A haunting story of love, friendship and survival, I do wish this was a bit more "in depth" in parts – not that I enjoyed hearing about the atrocities of the concentration camps, but I felt some more detail could have helped draw me in as a reader a bit more. I also felt that the ending seemed somewhat abrupt. Overall, 3.5 stars.
I've read several books about the horrors of Auschwitz, this is one of the
better-written books I have read. Lily Graham certainly did her research!
This one is a must-read if you enjoy learning about that time in our history, with
a good story.
Thank you so much, Lily Graham, The Publisher, and NetGallery, for giving me
the opportunity to read and review this great book!
One heartbreaking story from Auschwitz. Makes you wonder how horrible the world has been and still could be.
If you are into reading stories containing Auschwitz, I definitely recommend to read this one!
I have read other Lily Graham books and I like her writing. That combined with an interesting story - could a baby be born in Auschwitz and survive? - was enough of an enticement to pick up this book. Given the sorrowful theme, it is brightening to see there is still an uplifting feel to think that when many did not survive, a small human being could defy the odds.
This is a wonderful story on many levels. Foremost is the female perspective of surviving the Holocaust - the strength these women exhibited to live and survive through dire situations and push through holding onto hope and each other. Add to that, banding together to try and preserve and nurture a new life is really quite something.
Although this story delves into flashbacks of the Nazi invasion of Prague, it really is a character driven tale. This is all about friendships and the courage needed to work together as one in the hope of living through such trauma. There are of course circumstances where spur of the moment reactions of timing or bad luck arise and for some there would sadly be no escape.
Sofie shrugged. ‘Because the smallest thing here can make a big difference. Which line you’re in, what train you end up on. The fly that sees that the window is open by a crack lives, Kritzelei. The one that doesn’t just beats itself to death against the glass.’
This book was inspired by a true story of one such woman who gave birth in a bunk of at Auschwitz-Birkenau in December 1944. Overall, I found this to be a compelling read of survival and the sense of hope shines through strongly in spite of the sadness and tragedy. A beautifully written tale of friendship, hope and love.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
I have read many, many books about the Holocaust. It is undoubtedly one of the darkest times in our history.. the stories are often heartbreakingly painful to get through but they always show unbelievable strength, hope, friendships, courage and of course love, all of which you wouldn’t believe could be possible. That’s exactly what is shown throughout The Child of Auschwitz.
Although this was fiction, the story was beautifully written and very well researched. I would highly recommend.
Lately there is a lot of fiction and non fiction books written about Auschwitz. Rightfully because we should preserve history and perhaps victims of this time are slowly leaving this world and they are only true witnesses of it.
This book was heartbreaking because it felt with youth childhood survival friendship and love.
The author too her time to research the topic well because it really shows details of those terrifying times.
This is a very heart-breaking story about survival, friendship, and love. I do appreciate the amount of time and research that the author has put into this book. I definitely recommend this! Full review on my blog to be posted this week.
It is difficult to imagine a Jewish baby being born in the darkness of Auschwitz and surviving. This story is about the protection and love of friends in this camp, and the strength of the human spirit. Moving and heartrending, this is ultimately a story of life and its tenacity. Recommended reading.
A heartbreaking story about being in Auschwitz. Two young mothers who loved their children. They survived so many horrors. One child was born to one of the Mothers while in the camp. She survived only by the help of her Mother's best friend. Husband's were ripped away from these two women. Story of love and hope for a better life. Beautifully written and a story that isn't easy to forget.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
What an uplifting story of surviving and friendship. This book is well written and cuts right to the heart.
Despite everything, this is a story of hope. This is one book I figuratively carried around with me for weeks.
Beautiful and unforgettable. If you enjoy a good story set in the Holocaust that will both break your heart and give you hope, this is the book for you!
This was a heart wrenching and gripping read that is loosely based on the real story about a child that was born at Auschwitz.
From the first to the last page I was riveted and the book was impossible to put down.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an eARC novel in exchange for my honest review.
I was given a copy of The Child of Auschwitz by Lily Graham in exchange for an honest review. I have read other books by this author which I have enjoyed. This book although fiction was based around true events. It tells the story of Eva and Sofie who are sent to Auschwitz and their time there. It was well written and a must read for fans of historical fiction.
Such a heartbreaking novel about a jewish child being born in Auschwitz and some how being able to survive. It is a novel of true friendship. love, and most of all survival. As hard as it is to write about Auschwitz, Graham did a wonderful job.
This was a novel based on a true story. I found it hard to put down. This a fictional portrayal of two women in Auschwitz based on actual events. I found it to be a book that kept me turning pages all the way to the end.
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.
A compelling story that i just had to keep reading. The book covers the harrowing aspects of life in Auschwitz, bu was not as disturbing to read as some others have been. It revolves around the stories of too young women who find themselves in a living hell and become firm friends who are determined to survive.. How true it is, i do not know, but as an emotion read it fits the bill and had me hooked. I would recommend it
Thank you to net galley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for review based upon my honest opinion.
This is the second book that I have read from this author and as much as I enjoyed the last one this one was so moving, so the haunting, it almost felt like you were reading an autobiography not a fictional story. After reading the authors notes, I realized how much time, effort and research were put into this book and it really came through. You really got the feeling of the time and could feel the terror that these women and their families endured in Auschwitz. The story of Eva and Sophie and their friendship, their loves, and the lives that they lead were so moving. Definitely have a Kleenex with you when you’re reading this book. Will definitely be reading more books from this author I really like her style and depth of story.