Today I am sharing my thoughts on this World War II novel.
Blurb Auschwitz, 1942. Stumbling through the terrifying wrought iron gates of Auschwitz, Jewish author Etty Weil longs for her apartment overlooking the Seine, where she used to laugh with friends, her shelves full of records and her beloved typewriter by the wide window.
Trapped inside the maze of barbed wire, she takes fourteen-year-old Danielle under her wing. Every evening, Etty tells Danielle stories, building a beautiful world of imagination and hope for Danielle to escape into. Soon, Etty realises that the other women in their cramped hut are listening too.
But the more hope Etty gives Danielle, the more chances the young girl begins to take with her life, rebelling against the brutal SS guards and forcing Etty to protect her. And one day, Danielle goes too far . . .
Fans of TheTattooist of Auschwitz, The Nightingale and The Choice will lose their hearts to this devastatingly beautiful and hopeful novel. The Storyteller of Auschwitz is a heartbreaking read about finding something to live for when all seems lost.
My Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Triumph over adversity.
Wow! This book blew me away.
Images and the stories of the Holocaust, like so many, are not new to me. Yet every time you see them or hear them, the power of them is limitless. A time in history that should never be forgotten and shall never be allowed to happen again.
The author has written it so brilliantly, that although it is a work of fiction, it felt very, very real.
Claudette or Etty to her friends is the focal point of this novel. Etty is a true Herione in every sense of the word. Her compassion and selflessness know no bounds. With only her gift of story telling for comfort and drawing on past experiences she brings comfort, plants the seeds of hope and in stills resilience in those around her. Bringing a glimmer of light in dark times.
The Storyteller of Auschwitz is a truly remarkable and humbling read that will stay with me for a long time.
About the Author
Because her path to publication was so full of obstacles (both internal and external) Siobhan has made it her mission to help as many people as possible overcome their fears and achieve their dreams. Prior to the pandemic she had given talks and workshops on writing and daring to dream to thousands of people all over the world. Although she has currently put this work on hold to focus on her writing she will be relaunching her coaching service in September 2023.
Siobhan has written for many newspapers, magazines and websites, including The Guardian, Breathe magazine, Cosmopolitan, Writers’ Forum, DatingAdvice.com, Mother and Baby, Practical Parenting and Take a Break. She has also been a guest on various radio and TV shows, including Woman’s Hour, BBC News, GMTV and BBC Breakfast.
And she has spoken at businesses, schools, universities and literary festivals around the world, including the BBC, Hay Festival, Cheltenham Festival, Bath Festival, Ilkley Festival, YALC, YA Shot, London Book Fair and Sharjah Reading Festival. https://soibhancurham.com https://www.facebook.com/share/o6gx2GsfCTxsaPAK/ https://www.instagram.com/siobhancurhamauthor?igsh=MWh0eHI0MjUzbTk0aA==
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