Description:
Review:
5.0 out of 5 stars A great story of a horrible part of history
This story was so engrossing, the way the characters told their story, and how things were described grabbed my attention right from the very beginning. How scenes were laid out had me sitting right there living every single one.The strength of the survivors of the holocaust has always fascinated me. Their stories need to be told and retold. This part of history has always called to me. This book told of a part of history I was not aware of, so I thank the author for bringing it to light.I highly recommend this book.
4.0 out of 5 stars Well Researched Story
This dual time line book takes place in 1940 in the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria and the nearby town. The modern time line takes place in Australia. The World War II timeline is based on a true story of a WWII European album of pictures from the camp that brought down war criminals and travelled through history and was found in an Australian country shed in 2019.In Mauthausen concentration camp, a young Spanish prisoner is ordered to process images of the camp and inmates for a handful of photo books being made for presentation to top Nazi figures. Just five books in total, or so the officials think ...In reality, he makes a sixth book so that when the war is over, the world can see the truth of what went on at the camp. With the help of a local woman, the pictures are hidden until the end of the war. Lena and her family live near the camp and see the prisoners walking to work every day. Her family is very worried because Lena's younger sister has seizures and the Nazi's are notorious for putting people who are not mentally healthy into the camps. Even though she is working to protect her sister, she agrees to help hide the pictures. At the end of the war, she is told who to give the pictures to and they were ultimately used at the Nuremberg war trials to help convict some of the camp leaders.In Australia, Hannah lives with her mother. When her grandfather visits from Yugoslavia, he brings the book to Hannah's mother for safekeeping. Hannah wants to see the book but her mother forbids her from seeing it and keeps it hidden. Over the years, Hannah repeatedly asks her mother for the book and her mother continues to refuse. Hannah ends up planning to do her PhD thesis on the concentration camps but then she meets someone and falls in love. But the book and her beloved Grandfather's life in the concentration are never too far from her mind.This is a beautifully written and well researched book. Once again, I enjoyed reading the world war two time line in the book more than I did the present day. Hannah was a difficult character to like. Even though she was extremely focused on her grandfather and his life, I thought that she treated her mother terribly. The World War II time line showed the bravery not just of Lena but also the photographer and his helpers who managed to smuggle the pictures out of the camp. With all of the books that I've read during this era, I never read about the pictures and their use at the war trials after the war. If you enjoy historical fiction from this era, you don't want to miss this book.
5.0 out of 5 stars Unique WWII historical fiction
4.5 stars rounded up.I flew through this book and finished in less than two days.I had recently read another WWII historical fiction novel which was set up similarly (past & present, various voices). I was wondering if this book would have similar problems as the last one I read, mainly, that it was quite difficult to keep track of who was who. Fortunately, this was not the case at all here. Every narrator had their own voice, and it was very clear who was speaking.Most WWII novels focus on Jewish people, so this was unique in that the main characters are other groups persecuted by the Nazis (political enemies, people with "undesirable" health issues, and war resistance - plus one other group that is revealed later in the book but which I did guess). I really enjoyed Lena's chapters in particular. The characterization is in-depth, and the reader can feel Lena's stress over her many secrets.I did not enjoy Hannah's chapters as much, and I the half star I took off is actually for this. Every time we saw Hannah, there were many years in between. Her story therefore felt rushed (particularly with her love interests!). I also think Hannah's mother's attitude toward the book was very far-fetched.I had previously seen the movie The Photographer of Mauthusen, which is about this same specific topic, and I recommend it to other readers who enjoyed this book.
3.0 out of 5 stars Middle of the Road Historical Fiction
This hit middle of the road for me. Definitely not the best historical fiction I’ve ever read but also definitely not the worst. This was a dual timeline, multiple viewpoints story told all in third person. I am typically not a fan of third person for these types of stories because I feel it strips away that level of intimacy that is needed to make that strong emotional character connection for an emotional story. I always love learning new things about WWII and unraveling secrets from one of the most horrific time periods in history. I was not aware of the photo books chronicling the inhumane treatment of war prisoners in the Mauthausen concentration camp and I was not aware of the role that it played in convicting many Nazi’s during the Nuremberg trials.Overall, I felt the book was well-written and it seemed to be well researched, though I am not familiar with this particular concentration camp so I can’t really say for sure. It does cover a vast number of years in relatively few pages so at times, I felt the story was rushed. Both the plot and the characters needed more depth. Although all the characters were perfectly “okay”, I wasn't particularly drawn or connected to any of them. I also struggled a bit with Hannah’s character and her story. I felt like her sexual exploration really didn’t contribute to the underlying story in a positive way. I struggled with including the sexual orientation and homosexual encounters of some of the characters into the narrative. It just didn’t fit with the overall storyline other than for the author to push a particular agenda. I just didn’t get the point of adding that to this story and was frankly, a turn off for me.
4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good
A poignant and intricately woven tale that bridges the horrors of WWII with the echoes of the impact on future generations. There are two timelines with moments of hope and resilience. A must read for fans of historical fiction.I received a gifted copy.
An excellent historical novel.
I didn't know anything about the Mauthausen Concentration camp in Austria. Based on the true story of the photos rescued from that period the novel weaves the fictional story with the historical facts beautifully and keeps you reading . Historically interesting and a good read
entertaining and enlightening
It is always disturbing to read about the atrocities of war, yet Kirsty has managed to find a perfect balance between life inside and outside of a prisoner of war camp.With a dual timeline that spans generations of the same family, Hannah’s story develops through various relationships. There’s her difficult relationship with her mother, Roza and The Hidden Book that leads Hannah on a journey of self discovery. A story that was really entertaining and enlightening.
Historical fiction
WWII information on prison camps and inhumane treatment of prisioners
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The Hidden Book: A Novel
BHD762
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Imported From: United States
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Visit the William Morrow Paperbacks Store
The Hidden Book: A Novel
BHD762
Quantity:
Order today to get by
Free delivery on orders over BHD 20
Imported From: United States
At bolo.bh, we stand behind the authenticity and quality of every product we sell. We guarantee that all items offered on our website are 100% genuine, sourced directly from authorized distributors, trusted partners, or the original brands themselves.
We do not sell counterfeit, replica, or unauthorized goods. Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.
If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support . We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.
Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.
All product information, including images, descriptions, and reviews, is provided by third-party vendors. bolo.bh is not responsible for any claims, promotions, or representations made within product content or images. For more accurate or detailed product information, please contact the manufacturer directly or reach out to Bolo Support.
Unless otherwise stated during checkout, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.
bolo.bh operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of Bahrain. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in Bahrain are listed on our website.
All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.
All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.
Description:
Review:
5.0 out of 5 stars A great story of a horrible part of history
This story was so engrossing, the way the characters told their story, and how things were described grabbed my attention right from the very beginning. How scenes were laid out had me sitting right there living every single one.The strength of the survivors of the holocaust has always fascinated me. Their stories need to be told and retold. This part of history has always called to me. This book told of a part of history I was not aware of, so I thank the author for bringing it to light.I highly recommend this book.
4.0 out of 5 stars Well Researched Story
This dual time line book takes place in 1940 in the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria and the nearby town. The modern time line takes place in Australia. The World War II timeline is based on a true story of a WWII European album of pictures from the camp that brought down war criminals and travelled through history and was found in an Australian country shed in 2019.In Mauthausen concentration camp, a young Spanish prisoner is ordered to process images of the camp and inmates for a handful of photo books being made for presentation to top Nazi figures. Just five books in total, or so the officials think ...In reality, he makes a sixth book so that when the war is over, the world can see the truth of what went on at the camp. With the help of a local woman, the pictures are hidden until the end of the war. Lena and her family live near the camp and see the prisoners walking to work every day. Her family is very worried because Lena's younger sister has seizures and the Nazi's are notorious for putting people who are not mentally healthy into the camps. Even though she is working to protect her sister, she agrees to help hide the pictures. At the end of the war, she is told who to give the pictures to and they were ultimately used at the Nuremberg war trials to help convict some of the camp leaders.In Australia, Hannah lives with her mother. When her grandfather visits from Yugoslavia, he brings the book to Hannah's mother for safekeeping. Hannah wants to see the book but her mother forbids her from seeing it and keeps it hidden. Over the years, Hannah repeatedly asks her mother for the book and her mother continues to refuse. Hannah ends up planning to do her PhD thesis on the concentration camps but then she meets someone and falls in love. But the book and her beloved Grandfather's life in the concentration are never too far from her mind.This is a beautifully written and well researched book. Once again, I enjoyed reading the world war two time line in the book more than I did the present day. Hannah was a difficult character to like. Even though she was extremely focused on her grandfather and his life, I thought that she treated her mother terribly. The World War II time line showed the bravery not just of Lena but also the photographer and his helpers who managed to smuggle the pictures out of the camp. With all of the books that I've read during this era, I never read about the pictures and their use at the war trials after the war. If you enjoy historical fiction from this era, you don't want to miss this book.
5.0 out of 5 stars Unique WWII historical fiction
4.5 stars rounded up.I flew through this book and finished in less than two days.I had recently read another WWII historical fiction novel which was set up similarly (past & present, various voices). I was wondering if this book would have similar problems as the last one I read, mainly, that it was quite difficult to keep track of who was who. Fortunately, this was not the case at all here. Every narrator had their own voice, and it was very clear who was speaking.Most WWII novels focus on Jewish people, so this was unique in that the main characters are other groups persecuted by the Nazis (political enemies, people with "undesirable" health issues, and war resistance - plus one other group that is revealed later in the book but which I did guess). I really enjoyed Lena's chapters in particular. The characterization is in-depth, and the reader can feel Lena's stress over her many secrets.I did not enjoy Hannah's chapters as much, and I the half star I took off is actually for this. Every time we saw Hannah, there were many years in between. Her story therefore felt rushed (particularly with her love interests!). I also think Hannah's mother's attitude toward the book was very far-fetched.I had previously seen the movie The Photographer of Mauthusen, which is about this same specific topic, and I recommend it to other readers who enjoyed this book.
3.0 out of 5 stars Middle of the Road Historical Fiction
This hit middle of the road for me. Definitely not the best historical fiction I’ve ever read but also definitely not the worst. This was a dual timeline, multiple viewpoints story told all in third person. I am typically not a fan of third person for these types of stories because I feel it strips away that level of intimacy that is needed to make that strong emotional character connection for an emotional story. I always love learning new things about WWII and unraveling secrets from one of the most horrific time periods in history. I was not aware of the photo books chronicling the inhumane treatment of war prisoners in the Mauthausen concentration camp and I was not aware of the role that it played in convicting many Nazi’s during the Nuremberg trials.Overall, I felt the book was well-written and it seemed to be well researched, though I am not familiar with this particular concentration camp so I can’t really say for sure. It does cover a vast number of years in relatively few pages so at times, I felt the story was rushed. Both the plot and the characters needed more depth. Although all the characters were perfectly “okay”, I wasn't particularly drawn or connected to any of them. I also struggled a bit with Hannah’s character and her story. I felt like her sexual exploration really didn’t contribute to the underlying story in a positive way. I struggled with including the sexual orientation and homosexual encounters of some of the characters into the narrative. It just didn’t fit with the overall storyline other than for the author to push a particular agenda. I just didn’t get the point of adding that to this story and was frankly, a turn off for me.
4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good
A poignant and intricately woven tale that bridges the horrors of WWII with the echoes of the impact on future generations. There are two timelines with moments of hope and resilience. A must read for fans of historical fiction.I received a gifted copy.
An excellent historical novel.
I didn't know anything about the Mauthausen Concentration camp in Austria. Based on the true story of the photos rescued from that period the novel weaves the fictional story with the historical facts beautifully and keeps you reading . Historically interesting and a good read
entertaining and enlightening
It is always disturbing to read about the atrocities of war, yet Kirsty has managed to find a perfect balance between life inside and outside of a prisoner of war camp.With a dual timeline that spans generations of the same family, Hannah’s story develops through various relationships. There’s her difficult relationship with her mother, Roza and The Hidden Book that leads Hannah on a journey of self discovery. A story that was really entertaining and enlightening.
Historical fiction
WWII information on prison camps and inhumane treatment of prisioners
Similar suggestions by Bolo
More from this brand
Similar items from “World War II & Holocaust”
Share with
Or share with link
https://www.bolo.bh/products/U0063142791