Book Review: the Kommandant's Girl

the Kommandant's Girl

Written by Pam Jenoff

ISBN: 978-0-7783-2342-6

Recap

This is the story of Emma Bau, a 19-year old Polish Jew living in Poland during WWII and Nazi occupation. She marries a young resistances member, Jacob. Shortly, after the Jews are forced into the Ghetto, Jacob leaves Emma to go underground and Emma makes her way to the Ghetto in search of her parents. While in the Ghetto she is befriended by a group of other young Jews, who happen to be connected to the resistances.

Emma later gets out of the Ghetto and is living with Jacob's Catholic Aunt, also allied with the resistance. They are entrusted with the care of a young Jewish toddler.

At a dinner party, Emma nka as Anna meets the Kommandant. Emma from that point forward must make some very tough choices, risking her life for those she loves.

What I liked

Well the entire book actually. I thought this was a wonderfully rich tale of love, choices, desires, and about every other emotion under the sun. The story was faced paced at times, but always remained attentive to detail. The descriptions of historical events and locations in the story were well done.

I also think that Jenoff spent enough time developing each character, so that they felt real and she did not depend on stock characters as so many historical fiction works sometimes depend on.

My favorite passage in the book is :

Anna: I think I do not have a choice," I say, sinking to the sofa beside her.

"There's always a choice, Emma." Krysia replies. "We have to take responsibility for our actions. It is the only way we can avoid becoming victims and keep our dignity."

page 217

This is in my opinion a major theme in the book and one very applicable to our lives today.

What I did not like

Well nothing. I have questions, which Jenoff left unresolved, there were a number of characters, who played a minor role in the book. Also, I wonder what ultimately happens to Jacob and Emma. The ending is really a beginning in some ways. But then I always wonder what happens next.

Overall

Overall this is a great book and one well worth reading. It is not beach reading, but the prose is easy to read and Jenoff style is very appealing, very clear and the story is well developed. It was a pleasure to read.

To learn more about Pam Jenoff and this book, check out Pam's website.

Something to ponder!

I believe this to be true:

The road of life takes us many places - learning to love the journey is key!

At least from my experience. Any thoughts???

Getting to know Leslie Kelly

I read Alison Kent's blog regularly. I was lucky enough to win some books from this contest she held a few weeks ago. I have never read anything from Leslie Kelly - how that happened I am not sure, but it is in fact the case. Well, now I have and I have to say I enjoyed it very much. Leslie's style is very readable - the right blend of storytelling, humor and romance.


The first book I read was:




I think this was a great read the premise is very believable. It is a July release from HQN, you can order it from Amazon or from eHarlequin coming in July (I looked you cannot get it yet. Although other Leslie Kelly titles are on the back list there, which could tide you over....) or at Barnes and Noble.

I also read:



This novella is connected to She's No Angel. I really liked this story. It was very sweet, took on a few tough issues and was fun. The thing I think I liked the most was the hero. I know --don't we always love the hero - but here I liked him as a person. He was a good guy, who had seen some terrible stuff and just was not sure what to do with himself going forward. That vulnerability was very nice to see. The crazy carnival stuff was funny too. I have to say - Leslie packed alot into one short story. (This book is also available from the Amazon, eHarlequin, and Barnes and Noble.)

While both of these books are part of a series - they stood alone very well.

Want to get to know Leslie Kelly a little bit more - go visit her here. Want to know what Leslie is thinking? She blogs over here! Want to see which other books go with this series, check out the back list here!

Thanks again Leslie for the chance to get to know you and your books and thanks Alison, for selecting me to do this! It was great fun.

8 facts about me!

I got this off Angelle Trieste's blog. It looked fun, so I decided to play along.

So here are the rules:

A. Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves.

B. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed.

C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

So here are the eight facts about me.

1. The first time I ever flew anywhere, I flew to Germany.
   
2. I got my first job, at 15 years of age. I worked at an independent Pharmacy. I got the job then told my parents.
   
3. I sat on what was left of the Berlin Wall during the summer of 1990. I have chucks of the Wall, which I chipped myself. They are stored away in a safe place.
   
4. I have been hot air ballooning.
   
5. I really love NYC. I love it for all the reasons most people hate it. It has a special energy. That said - I doubt I could live there long term.
   
6. I would like to live on an island. The solitude appeals to me.
   
7. I was 14, the first time I drove a car. It was with my grandfather. I later had trouble passing my drivers test and mastering a stick - but now I do just fine thank you!
   
8. I believe that if we all tried to love just a little bit more - the world would be a better place:)
   

Wanna play too? Go ahead, just post a comment with your 8 or put it up on your blog!

Sweet Silence

I think I have shared that my little voice can be loud and demanding. Sometimes more so than others. As many of us, I to tend to have a pretty busy life. Running here, running there. I am often juggling a number of activities, schedules and the like. Sometimes it works and sometimes not.

I have for many years sought a means to quiet the noise - both in the world around me and in my head, so that I can focus on myself and have some time to just be. Just being is a skill. It requires dedication to finding a quiet and focused center inside. It demands that you be willing to give up some time and focus on you. For some people this can be very helpful and rejuvenating. For others is can be really hard.

H can tell you, I used to be a horrible figit! I could not sit still, I had to be constantly moving about or doing something. I was never one to just sit on the sofa or be able to snuggle together - without moving about. Alas, I am also a mental figit. In part due to my voice raising a ruckus and in part to always having ideas bouncing around. Ideas I am thinking about, things I am kicking around. I think sometimes the mental figiting caused some of the physical.

Until recently, I have tried many things to quiet down my mind - with varying degrees of success. Yoga tends to work really well - sometimes - but never have I felt that I have truly cleared my head of thoughts. Yes I can focus on the poses and the breathing - I can feel really grounded in my body, but all the while - in some little corner of my mind, that little voice is whispering away at me or worse yet some heavy thoughts pop into my mind to play.

However, all of that said, I am happy to say that last night during Yoga, I did it. I got my mind to be very still and quiet. I was breathing and focused on each inhalation and exhalation. I had a good rhythm going and I felt very present in my body and all of sudden I felt it, very clearly. My mind was at peace and my body was there active in the poses. It was as if something deep inside me found its center. I was balancing physically, but it was if my mind and body were also in perfect balance.

It was wonderful.