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Insightful,
Dramatic,
Inspiring

8 reviews

Once We Were Brothers
by Ronald H Balson

Published: 2010-02-15
Paperback : 384 pages
22 members reading this now
13 clubs reading this now
11 members have read this book
Recommended to book clubs by 8 of 8 members
Elliot Rosenzweig, a wealthy Chicago philanthropist, is attending opening night at the opera.  Ben Solomon, a retired Polish immigrant, makes his way through the crowd and shoves a gun in Rosenzweig's face, denouncing him as former SS officer, Otto Piatek.   Solomon is blind-sided, ...
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Introduction

Elliot Rosenzweig, a wealthy Chicago philanthropist, is attending opening night at the opera.  Ben Solomon, a retired Polish immigrant, makes his way through the crowd and shoves a gun in Rosenzweig's face, denouncing him as former SS officer, Otto Piatek.   Solomon is blind-sided, knocked to the floor and taken away.  Rosenzweig uses his enormous influence to get Solomon released from jail, but Solomon commences a relentless pursuit to bring Rosenzweig before the courts to answer for war crimes.  Solomon finds a young attorney, Catherine Lockhart, to whom he recounts his family's struggles and heroisms during the war, revealing to her that he and Piatek grew up as brothers in the same household.  

Once We Were Brothers is a contemporary legal thriller and a poignant look back into the lives of small town Poland during World War II.  

The author, Ronald H. Balson, is a Chicago trial attorney, an educator and writer.  His practice has taken him to several international venues, including villages in Poland which have inspired this novel.

Editorial Review

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Excerpt

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Discussion Questions

Suggested by Members

How does this version of the Holocaust compare to other books you have read?
by teachgiftedkids (see profile) 01/21/13

Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

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Book Club Recommendations

Recommended to book clubs by 8 of 8 members.

Member Reviews
Overall rating:
 
 
  "Must read"by Miriam J. (see profile) 09/08/13

An excellent book. Well written. Informative. Couldn't put it down.

 
  "Once We Were Brothers"by Tricia D. (see profile) 01/21/13

This story was creative and persuasive. However, after reading several other books on WWII and the Holocaust (Invisible Bridge, Suite Francaise, City of Thieves), I felt this novel lacked the writing... (read more)

 
  "Beautiful written story"by Allison R. (see profile) 11/11/12

Loved it! Wonderfully written love story wrapped around the holocaust. Educational about what occurred in the part of Europe.

 
  "Once We Were Brothers"by Diane C. (see profile) 10/22/12

Fabulous read! Loved it and couldn't put it down. We actually invited the author to our book club since we are also in Chicago. Very moving and engaging story and characters! Bravo.

 
  "Once We Were Brothers"by Peggy H. (see profile) 08/25/12

From the first page to the very last this book was hard to put down. A legal thriller and a poignant look back into the lives of small town Poland during World War II. The descriptions of Europe and what... (read more)

 
  "Good book"by Judi P. (see profile) 06/26/12

Disturbing but inspiring!

 
  "Once We Were Brothers"by Laura G. (see profile) 06/01/12

A well written novel on another angle of the Holocaust. Our Book Club agreed that this was one of the best books we have written and we could not put it down.

 
  "once we were brothers"by roseann s. (see profile) 06/01/12

well told story, beautifully written

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