I was gifted a couple of Amazon credits. I so appreciated that!! I ended up getting this book with one of the credits, A View Across the Rooftops by Suzanne Kelman. I thought the book might be good as I like WWII books.
This was a good book. The format was such that the reader skips around from character to character and finally at the end, the story comes together connecting all of the characters. That format keeps books interesting and I really like that. I was able to connect with several of the characters and that always indicates to me that it’s a good book.
Here’s what Amazon has to say:
“An incredible story of love, hope, and friendship; and a testament to humanity and courage in history’s darkest days.
1941, Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. Professor Josef Held has never recovered from the loss of his beloved wife – and has no intention of ever letting anyone new into his quiet, safe world. It is a world where the clock ticks steadily in his mathematics classroom, where every equation has a solution. Every day he walks the same route home, past his neighbour Mrs Epstein’s, to a home inhabited only by him and a cat he refuses to even name.
But then the Nazis come for the Jews – and Mrs Epstein is killed. And Josef, in an impulsive act of courage, offers his student Michael Blum a place to hide.
Michael is everything Josef is not: spontaneous, poetic, and unafraid to love. Even though his passionate relationship with a Dutch girl called Elke strictly is forbidden by the Nazis – for he is Jewish, and she is not.
Desperate to give Michael and Elke’s love a chance to survive, Josef gives Michael refuge in his attic: an act of bravery and resistance that will change both of their lives. But as the dark days of war continue, with danger and betrayal at every turn, no-one can be trusted, and no one is safe.
If Michael is going to get back to the woman he loves, it is down to Josef – to find the hero inside himself, and do whatever it takes to keep Michael alive.”
Amazon readers gave the book 4.6 stars. I am going to give the book 4.4 stars. I liked it a lot and recommend it if you appreciate WWII books that back place in Europe.
You can find the book HERE.
You find such good books, I’m envious. I tried two yesterday and had to return both after listening to the first several chapters. The blurb about the plot for both made me think they would both be very interesting. The first had such foul language coming from a teenager, I returned it. The second, a setting in 1905, had a 15 year old thinking of nothing but sex and acting upon it in the first 6 chapters. I’m no prude, but it was a bit much in both books. So sad.
I am often able to find the books you review at my local library and they have always been enjoyable. My husband uses Audible and has recommended Plum Island. It is a murder mystery he says is excellent.
Have you read “The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah? If not I think you would love it. The story takes place in occupied France in WWII.
I did read that. I loved it.