The Open Book Club discussion

When you are done with this book, please let us know what you thought of it!

5/5 stars!

I loved this book.

Historical fiction is probably my favorite genre of reading. I love the way this story was told. I thought the idea of incorporating art in a story with so much horror was beautiful. I really enjoyed the little flashbacks of Lina's life and the ending just made me smile...

...but her FATHER??? AH!!!

I gave it 5/5 stars too, I loved it. I thought it was absolutely beautifully written and the plot was brilliantly paced and all of the characters were endearing without being too perfect. I loved the meshing of the cultures (Russian/Lithuanian, Christian/Jewish, etc). Reminded me a lot of The Book Thief, which is of course another excellent historical fiction.

I agree, Sabina. The characters were very believable! It too reminded me of the wonderful book, "The Book Thief".

I gave it four out of five, I feel as though the synopsis was a bit cliché, "Lina is a normal girl..." blah blah, which I think gives people too gentle an introduction to the principal message of the book.

It really saddens me how many people have shelved it under "holocaust" - it shows how profoundly there has been a lack of understanding of the Baltic States and what they went through under occupation of both the Nazis and the Soviets. To confuse the two is entirely missing the point! Personally, I think the author's note is the most important part of the book.

I loved it, but it didn't blow me away how The Book Thief did.

Zoe, I see your point for sure!

5/5 stars.. loved it!
The book is personal to me, because it's part of my history.
I was born and raised in Estonia (I was 22 when I came to the states, all my family and friends are back in Estonia). I was born in Soviet Union, don't remember anything about it, because I was 4 years-old when we regained our independence. My grandmother was prisoned in Siberia for seven and a half years for helping people she wasn't supposed to help - all through the book I was thinking about her.

To me Lina was extremely strong girl who fought through the time, not giving up or showing her weakness. Not going easy way and helping Soviets, staying loyal to her country.
I'm happy that she ended up marring Andrius - loved their love story! (My grandmother lost contact with her first husband, we have tried to get any information about him, but have been able to find nothing - we think that he was just one of these bodies).

Liis: How neat that this book is so personal to you! Glad you loved it as well!

5/5 Stars!

I really flew through this one, it was very captivating. I got ticked off a lot by them Russian soldiers! I didn't really know much about the Baltic war stuff. I thought it was another WW2 book, and it wasn't. I was able to picture everything in my mind as well of what was going on. Some of the scenes were awful of course! I too enjoyed the love story of Andrius and Lina. I was glad they both survived and found each other. My fave part would be when Andrius seen her drawing of him and the angle of it. She was looking up his nose basically. lol! I laughed at that. Anyway, I liked this book, very realistic and it made me learn about something new in the history department!

5/5 stars All I could not put it done! This is one that will go on my favorite shelf. There are many parts that I liked, but the fact that She had to bury the letters and pictures for some to find and tell her story the fear of telling her own story.

Liis wrote: "5/5 stars.. loved it!
The book is personal to me, because it's part of my history.
I was born and raised in Estonia (I was 22 when I came to the states, all my family and friends are back in Estoni..."

Wow. Thank you for sharing this bit of personal history. It sounds like, maybe, you have your own story to tell.