Kelly's Bookworm Review Blog: Flashback to a Great Historical Fiction series

The Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

April 2016

Ballentine Books

Historical fiction

Rating: 5/5

I rarely find a book worthy of 5 stars. I am always optimistic that I will read something more amazing.

Although, I have read many powerful stories regarding life during World War II, from various viewpoints and countries, none have moved me as deeply as "The Lilac Girls." The notes from the author at the end of the book provided insight into her journey and extensive research for this novel. The story is told with three primary narrators from different "worlds" literally and figuratively. Caroline is a debutante socialite living between New York and Paris who has taken up the cause of helping orphaned children in France before the war changed everyones' lives. Kasia Kuzmerick is another narrator living in Poland before the German occupation. She was enjoying a rather simple life with family and friends until plucked out and sentenced to Ravensbruck, Hitler's only major concentration camp exclusively for women. The third narrator whose story is weaved into the fabric of this novel is Herta Oberheuser, a proud German doctor who staunchly followed orders to maintain loyalty to the Reich and Furthur.

The author weaves the stories brilliantly as one would a fine basket with the end result breath taking at final presentation. Truly a pleasure to read and highly recommend it. It truly is an unknown story about the extraordinary efforts of Caroline Ferriday, a true heroine to the Polish "Rabbits" who survived their ordeal in the concentration camps. I am certainly compelled to learn more about the real characters depicted in the book.

https://www.bookbub.com/books/lilac-girls-by-martha-hall-kelly

https://bookwormreviewblog.blogspot.com/2016/05/lilac-girls-by-martha-hall-kelly.html?m=1

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1615402830

I had the honor to review this author’s second novel, “Lost Roses”, which serves as a prequel to this story. You can read my review here:

Lost Roses

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lost-roses-martha-hall-kelly/1129054086#reviews-header

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2632911078

https://bookwormreviewblog.blogspot.com/2021/04/lost-roses-by-martha-hall-kelly.html

The author is currently working on a third novel based on the historical research of yet another remarkable woman within the generations in this family.