It is hard to criticize a book about Holocaust survivors, but the main reaction from our book club is that it just wasn't well written. A diffcult subject coupled with a difficult writing structure created a struggle for many readers. There is a difference between a book written by an "author" and a "journalist". This book is written by a journalist and reads more like a series of reports rather than a powerful narrative or story. That being said, there are parts of the book that do contribute to a better understanding of the life story--from birth to death--of individuals who were imprisoned in death camps in WWII. While life in the camps is well documented, this book contributes to understanding what lives were like prior to imprisonment and the impact post liberation.

Our book club all really liked/loved this book--we found some of the passages exquisite with their writing. Daniel was the least developed character--and we wondered why? Was he the least connected to his family overall? We wondered what the significance, or impact, of having first generation immigrant parents on the trajectory of your life--and wish we knew more about Gertie. How did she survive the loss of three children?