Tag: #Historical FIction

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Books On Tour: A View Across the Rooftops

Historical fiction is not usually my top pick, but after reading A View Across the Rooftops by Suzanne Kelman, I may have to re-evaluate and read more of this genre. It was an extraordinary lyrical book that perfectly captured the hopelessness of occupation while also celebrating the human spirit and instinct for survival.

I thought Josef’s character was exceptionally well-done (which is good, since the whole plot centers around his actions). He had allowed his grief to envelope him to the point that he was barely living any meaningful existence. It takes a few actions by the Nazis to make him realize that his self-imposed emotional prison is nothing compared to the atrocities that his neighbors and friends were facing.

The author did an excellent job of conveying the mood and atmosphere of all aspects of occupation and did so by personifying them in her characters. For example, Ingrid’s eagerness to support the Third Reich showed how much she longed for stability and a comfortable life, mainly due to her unsettled childhood. She was blind to the true nature of the Nazis in her desire for steadiness. And her realizations about the truth come only after some truly horrific events.

Honestly, I wish I had the time and space to analyze each of the characters because I think each one of them was multifaceted and changed throughout the story. The journey of the characters through occupation is as long and complicated as the war itself.

An underlying theme of perseverance through adversity is also well-thought-out. Michael maintains his personality for most of the book, only falling into real despair once (no spoilers). Hannah realizes that she has more courage than she thought possible. Even little Eva finds something that keeps her motivated while destruction surrounds her.

I do not get emotional at books, but this one had me crying in quite a few places. Some of it was due to the author’s ability to convey the emotions of the moment, but it was also at the realization of the sheer evilness that humanity can exhibit. Hate, and the belief of inherent superiority, is a destructive force. Those who ignore the rise of suppressive forces are doomed to suffer under it. It takes internal fortitude, and a belief in the fundamental good in people, to overcome it.

A View Across the Rooftops is well-written, full of description and depth, and it should go straight to the top of your reading list.   

A View Across the RooftopsA View Across the Rooftops by Suzanne Kelman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Epic. There is no other way to describe this story. It is an incredible journey through occupied Amsterdam, from 1941 to after the war in 1947. The characters are realistic, and the author did an excellent job of creating a representative cross-section of people, from the Nazi sympathizer to the members of the Dutch Resistance. When it comes to books, I am not a crier, but I found myself tearing up several times at both the sheer beauty and the utter despair on the pages. This is one of my favorite books I have read this year, by far. For a detailed review, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a complimentary, pre-release, digital ARC of the book.

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Author bio
Suzanne Kelman is a 2015 Academy of Motion Pictures Nicholl Finalist, Multi-Award-Winning Screenwriter and a Film Producer. As well as working in film she is also an International Amazon Bestselling Fiction Author of the Southlea Bay Series – The Rejected Writers’ Book Club, Rejected Writers Take the Stage and The Rejected Writers’ Christmas Wedding. Born in the United Kingdom, she now resides in Washington State.  

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Books-On-Tour: My Name is Eva

Let’s get one thing straight.

This. Is. An. Amazing. Book.

The story grabbed me from the very beginning and did not let me go until the very last word. I cannot remember the last time a book had me so enthralled.

It is apparent right away that there is much more to Evelyn Taylor-Clarke (Mrs. T-C to the workers at the home she resides in) than meets the eye. From the moment that she fills in her first crossword puzzle, the reader knows that she has led a fascinating life.

The book has eleven “Parts,” with each section describing a segment of Mrs. T-C’s life. The chapters within the parts alternate between letters to her husband and the action taking place at the time. The time-shifting jumps around quite a bit; it is not entirely linear. But the author treats this with a deft hand, and I never felt lost. It made the reading that much more interesting because the events sometimes alluded to the letters and vice versa. It was a smart way to keep the narrative focused.

As Mrs. T-C’s secrets reveal themselves, the reader also learns that revenge is a motivator, both on a personal scale for her and a national level post-WWII. There are well-drawn parallels that bring emotion to the forefront of the story.

Ultimately, however, hers is a story of a life full of secrets, told in memories, and perfectly honed to the way she wants it told. Reading her perspective, and knowing her inner thoughts, gave me great respect for the life that she led. I love that the author made me feel that deeply about a character.

There were even a few twists that I did not see coming, which made me appreciate the craftsmanship of the plot even more. Additionally, the author does a fantastic job of relating some of the unspoken horrors of post-WWII life. I’m not going to elaborate, but I guarantee at least one of them is something you probably never considered. I’ve studied that era extensively, and it had never crossed my mind.

In case you couldn’t tell (and if the second line of this review wasn’t clear enough), this is an incredible book, and you do NOT want to miss it.

My Name is EvaMy Name is Eva by Suzanne Goldring
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Make no mistake; this is a stellar read! From the thoroughly realistic characters (including the mysterious main character and her real jerk of a niece) to the intricate plot, I loved everything about it. I especially liked how Evelyn (Evie/Eva) was a master of manipulation. She was one of the most intriguing characters I have ever “met.” Do yourself a huge favor and pick this one up. For a full review, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for a complimentary, pre-release digital ARC of the book.

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Following an eventful career as a public relations consultant, specialising in business and travel, Suzanne Goldring turned to writing the kind of novels she likes to read, about the extraordinary lives of ordinary people. Two of her novels have been placed in the Winchester Writers’ Conference First Three Pages of a Novel competition. Her novel, The Way We Lied, can be read as a serial on her blog site, suzannegoldring.wordpress.com. She is currently working on a novel about delusion, deception, and death, set in Corfu. 

Suzanne drew on her experiences of living in a timbered 14th-century house, where she raised two daughters and a variety of livestock, to write Powerless. All her other novels are pure fiction and any resemblance to any persons living or dead is purely coincidental.  

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BOOK REVIEW: The Painter of Time

I really loved this book! The author was extremely knowledgeable about art and the many facets discussed throughout the novel, to the practices of the Old Masters, to the processes of restoration used at the Cloisters. It was educational, but in a very “novel” way, a fascinating way to learn art history, actually. I would have liked a little more exploration of the ties between Mackenzie and Anthony, because that was an interesting twist that could have impacted her life more. And I thought that the case her dad was working on was a throwaway that was referenced in passing but didn’t contribute to the story overall. It was interesting, however, to try to piece together Anthony’s motivations before everything was revealed. If you have even a passing interest in art, or the Medici family for that matter, I would highly recommend this book. Intriguing, informative, and very entertaining. Thank you to the author and Hidden Gems for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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