Author: Martha Hall Kelly
Publisher: Penguin Books Australia
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fiction, WW2
Year of release: 2019
Release Date: 2nd April 2019
Rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Synopsis
Inspired by the life of a real-World War II heroine, this runaway international bestseller reveals the power of unsung women to change history in their quest for love, freedom and second chances.
New York socialite Caroline Ferriday has her hands full with her post at the French consulate and a new love on the horizon. But Caroline’s world is forever changed when Hitler’s army invades Poland in September 1939 – and then sets its sights on France.
An ocean away from Caroline, Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager, senses her carefree youth disappearing as she is drawn deeper into her role as a courier for the underground resistance movement. In a tense atmosphere of watchful eyes and suspecting neighbours, one false move can have dire consequences.
For the ambitious young German doctor, Herta Oberheuser, an ad for a government medical position seems her ticket out of a desolate life. Once hired, though, she finds herself trapped in a male-dominated realm of Nazi secrets and power.
The lives of these three women are set on a collision course when the unthinkable happens and Kasia is sent to Ravensbruck, the notorious Nazi concentration camp for women. Their stories cross continents – from New York to Paris, Germany, and Poland – as Caroline and Kasia strive to bring justice to those whom history has forgotten.
Review
Lilac Girls details the story of three women Across America, and Europe, our story begins in New York City in September 1939, with former Broadway Actress Caroline Ferriday who nowadays works as a Liaison to the French consulate; and whose life is changed forever the day Hitler’s Army invades Poland. That same month and year eventually moving their attention onto France, can Caroline manage her ever-increasing workload and juggle a budding new romance whilst war rages on moving ever closer?
8,275 Kilometres from America Polish teenager Kasia Kuzmerick knows that everything is not as it should be, her youth is supposed to be spent having fun with her friends and focusing on her education but instead, it’s disappearing fast but at least the Germans were yet to arrive on foot, unfortunately, the skies above her aren’t free or clear of danger.
Kasia decides she cannot sit idly by and watch her country or those she cares for be taken over by the Germans she must act Kasia becomes a courier for the underground resistance movement, Kasia knows this will not be an easy task, eyes and ears for the enemy are everywhere even those Kasia thought she could once trust are to be kept at arm’s length and in the dark as one wrong move could be dire for Kasia and those she holds dear. Will she be able to overcome the challenges she faces, or will Hitler’s Army claim another life?
Herta Oberheuser an enthusiastic young Doctor comes across an advertisement for a Government medical position, Herta believes taking this position will mean an end to the isolation she feels has become a part of her life when she learns her application has been accepted and she begins work Herta learns what she thought was a ticket to freedom may just be another trap only this time males dominate, Nazi, power and secrets are what’s keeping her segregated, can she find a way out away from the Nazi Party or will Herta make her way down a path she cannot return from?
These women’s lives will collide when Kasia Kuzmerick gets sent to Ravensbruck the Nazi Concentration Camp for women, Caroline and Kasia come together in the attempts to bring justice to those whom history has forgotten.
Stories on the Holocaust have always drawn me in but what sold this book for me as a reader was the fact that Caroline Ferriday was a real person and Kasia Kuzmerick is based upon Nina Ivanska a Concentration Camp survivor and member of Rabbits of Ravensbruck who helped smuggle out news of the camps operations to the world, it was the real human aspect that had me turning these pages.
I believe Author Martha Hall Kelly has done well to paint a clear picture and bring to life three dimensional characters with hopes and desires before the tragedies of WW2 began, I was able to understand them as people not just targets for Hitler’s Army; this had this reader eagerly cheering these characters on from beginning to end.
When it comes to character development and interest I was instantly drawn to Caroline and Kasia I believe this is because even after everything the women went through during those dark times in history, they were still willing to aid and show compassion and affection to others.
“Father loved the fact that a lilac only blossoms after a harsh winter.”
― Martha Hall Kelly, Lilac Girls
I felt no sympathy for Herta upon reaching the conclusion of this book no matter how hard I tried; and believe me I really tried.
Fans of Dual perspectives will be pleased to discover this book has been sectioned into three points of view well and for Audiobook’s readers the book is told using three different voice overs which I wish more Audiobooks were able to do this, as it really helped the story and different perspectives flow with ease.
From the first few chapters it was evident that the Author has done a large amount of research before writing this novel, thanks to a detailed Authors note and a conversation held with Martha at the back of the paperback.
This reviewer believes the print size could’ve benefited by being bigger, but it didn’t dampen the overall experience; There was a few points when reading this book where I felt like this book could move forward a little faster.
Words that come to mind when describing The Lilac Girls
Bold
Heartbreaking
Friendship
The Lilac Girls has some darker moments as with any WW2 novel but there are a few lighter periods thanks to Caroline Ferriday relationship with Paul Rodierre even though I wasn’t Rodierre’s biggest fan I can see many others being swept up by him and his charms; making for a memorable sub-plot.
“If I’d known I was about to meet the man who’d shatter me like bone china on terra-cotta, I would have slept in. Instead,”
― Martha Hall Kelly, Lilac Girls
I appreciate that book had to end at some point I greedily wanted more I wanted justice for Nina Ivanska and all the survivors of the camps, seeing as justice wasn’t possible, I will do my best to never forget what happened; the end was well throughout.
I have had The Lilac Girls sitting on my shelf for quite some time because I simply heard how fabulous it was and wanted to save the magic and I can now understand the hype surrounding this Author and book and better still, for me the other books in the series are now available and I can’t wait to carry on the series.
I recommend this book to mature readers, who enjoy descriptive, character-based books, Historical Fiction fans that centre around WW2.