What this story is about: During the last moments of calm in prewar Prague, Lenka, a young art student, and Josef, who is studying medicine, fall in love. With the promise of a better future, they marry- only to have their dreams shattered by the imminent Nazi invasion. Like so many others, they are torn apart by the currents of war.
Why I wanted to read it: I was moved by some of my favorite blogger's (Kaye and Jill) reviews of this book last year and absolutely knew that I had to make sure that this book was read in 2012.
Source: Public Library
- I am only on page 41 and I'm absolutely captivated by this author's writing
- "He laughs. And in his laugh I hear bliss. I hear feet dancing, the rush of skirts twirling. The sound of children. Is that the first sign of love? You hear in the person you're destined to love the sound of those yet to be born." (p.33) After reading this I had tears in my eyes.
- I love how the author uses colors in her writing to convey thoughts and emotions. I could picture them in my mind as I was reading. This style of writing evoked very powerful emotions from me.
- I find the Jewish wedding ceremony to be very beautiful and full of meaning. "I am my beloved and my beloved is mine."
- I learned about the artists Shiele, Fritta and Kokoschka. By spending a little time on the internet looking up these artists and viewing their work I was able to understand Lenka's passion for art and how she painted.
- my heart is aching at the knowledge that so many Jewish people had to wonder what did they do wrong to cause this hatred from their neighbors. So many little children scared and parents not being able to quell their fears. The idea of not knowing what was going to happen to you and your family in the next week, day, hour, and minutes.
- Even in the darkest days of the death camps there were still babies being born. It was reaffirming that family and love are some of the most vital components of our lives.
- Never underestimate the power of music. It broke my heart how the prisoners reacted to music..they could forget their hunger, their suffering, the cruelty that they may have experienced earlier that day. All that mattered was the music and how it brought them together.
- I am amazed that every time I read a story about WWII, the Holocaust, internment camps, displaced people that I can always learn about unknown events that one will never hear about in high school.
- I am sickened at what we do to each other. How can one human treat another in such a horrific fashion. My mind can not accept these atrocities, yet I know they happened.
- I have so many sticky notes throughout this book that it would be overwhelming to read them all listed here. But I think I can sum up my reading experience with this sentence.......
Is it possible to die from a broken heart because of a story that touched me to the very center of my soul?
Bookish Thoughts #2
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