by: John Boyne
Goodreads description:
Ninety-one-year-old Gretel Fernsby has lived in the same well-to-do mansion block in London for decades. She lives a quiet, comfortable life, despite her deeply disturbing, dark past. She doesn’t talk about her escape from Nazi Germany at age 12. She doesn’t talk about the grim post-war years in France with her mother. Most of all, she doesn’t talk about her father, who was the commandant of one of the Reich’s most notorious extermination camps.
Then, a new family moves into the apartment below her. In spite of herself, Gretel can’t help but begin a friendship with the little boy, Henry, though his presence brings back memories she would rather forget. One night, she witnesses a disturbing, violent argument between Henry’s beautiful mother and his arrogant father, one that threatens Gretel’s hard-won, self-contained existence.
All The Broken Places moves back and forth in time between Gretel’s girlhood in Germany to present-day London as a woman whose life has been haunted by the past. Now, Gretel faces a similar crossroads to one she encountered long ago. Back then, she denied her own complicity, but now, faced with a chance to interrogate her guilt, grief and remorse, she can choose to save a young boy. If she does, she will be forced to reveal the secrets she has spent a lifetime protecting. This time, she can make a different choice than before — whatever the cost to herself….
Helen says: 🤓🤓🤓🤓
Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. This ended up being my favorite book of the month and it was the one I was least looking forward to reading. A follow up to The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, it was great historical fiction of post WW2 Europe- very juicy content, much more readable than some of our drier WW2 reads in the past. I googled a summary of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, and it helped put things in context but it isn’t absolutely necessary. You can still enjoy this book without reading the latter. There were lots of twists and turns and a rather shocking ending! I listened to this on audible and it was mesmerizing- like watching a movie…it really sucked me in.
Holly says:🤓🤓🤓🤓1/2
READ THIS BOOK! Immediate Spoiler Alert: If you have not read The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by the same author, I suggest that you read that first. Reviewers say not necessary, but I think it is extremely helpful – almost a must. It is a very short book, but very moving and somewhat emotionally exhausting. I read The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas after a visit to the Normandy beaches (I actually bought the book in the bookstore there), so my emotions were especially raw. You might need a little break, but read this book following that one. The initial story and its sequel are heartbreaking, but I would say they are almost must-reads. This is a very powerful novel.
Helen and Holly Hit the Books 