<![CDATA[Skeletons at the Feast]]>

false <![CDATA[Skeletons at the Feast]]>

2017056

In January 1945, in the waning months of World War II, a small group of people begin the longest journey of their lives: an attempt to cross the remnants of the Third Reich, from Warsaw to the Rhine if necessary, to reach the British and American lines. Among the group is eighteen-year-old Anna Emmerich, the daughter of Prussian aristocrats. There is her lover, Callum Finella, a twenty-year-old Scottish prisoner of war who was brought from the stalag to her family’s farm as forced labor. And there is a twenty-six-year-old Wehrmacht corporal, who the pair know as Manfred–who is, in reality, Uri Singer, a Jew from Germany who managed to escape a train bound for Auschwitz. As they work their way west, they encounter a countryside ravaged by war. Their flight will test both Anna’s and Callum’s love, as well as their friendship with Manfred–assuming any of them even survive. Perhaps not since The English Patient has a novel so deftly captured both the power and poignancy of romance and the terror and tragedy of war. Skillfully portraying the flesh and blood of history, Chris Bohjalian has crafted a rich tapestry that puts a face on one of the twentieth century’s greatest tragedies–while creating, perhaps, a masterpiece that will haunt readers for generations. REVIEWS "Harrowing. . .Bohjalian spins a suspenseful tale in which the plot triumphs over any single sorrow. . .[His] sense of character and place, his skillful plotting and his clear grasp of this confusing period of history make for a deeply satisfying novel, one that asks readers to consider, and reconsider, how they would rise to the challenge of terrible deprivation and agonizing moral choices." (To read the full review, click here.) — Margot Livesey, The Washington Post Book World "A poignant account of the conflict's last year. . .Harrowing. . .In creating the Emmerichs and their relationship to Uri, Bohjalian has given us something new and disturbing. He has also created a wonderful character in the protected child, Theo, whose gradual understanding of what is happening to them is moving and real. . .Bohjalian has given us an important addition to the story of World War II, and, not at all incidentally, may expand the vision of those who may have avoided 'Holocaust literature' in the past." (To read the full review, click here). — Roberta Silman, The Boston Globe "Harrowing. . .ingenious. . .compelling. . .Judging who's right or wrong is difficult in 'Skeletons at the Feast,' and one senses that's just the way Bohjalian wants it. . .A tightly woven, moving story for anyone who thinks there's nothing left to learn, or feel, about the Second World War. That Bohjalian can extract greater truths about faith, hope and compassion from something as mundane as a diary is testament not only to his skill as a writer but also to the enduring ability of well-written war fiction to stir our deepest emotions." — Paula L. Woods, Los Angeles Times "Reading Bohjalian's descriptions of terror and tragedy on the road has just as much impact as seeing newsreels from the end of World War II. . .While creating suspense, Bohjalian agilely balances the moral ambiguities of war." (To read the full review, click here.) — Dennis Moore, USA Today "This story mixes the nail-biting brutality of T'he Kite Runner with the emotional intimacy of Anne Frank's diary." — Denise Gamino, Austin American-Statesman "Intense and fascinating. . .Bohjalian masterfully presents the desperation of troops who realize their cause is doomed.. . .He successfully captures the humanity of one of the 20th century's most horrendous tragedies." — Jennie Camp, Rocky Mountain Times "An extraordinary historical novel based on the exodus of Germans in eastern Germany escaping the Soviet Army's advance in the waning days of World War II. . . A sense of justice pervades all of [Bohjalian's'] books. He demands that we act humanely toward one another and understand and respect others' beliefs and values. . .Skeletons at the Feast is not a screed on good vs. evil, but it does inspire thought on man's inhumanity to man, and, conversely, how individuals overcome adversity with acts of kindness, civility and integrity." — Myrna Lippman, Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel "Rich in character and gorgeous writing." —Jodi Picoult, Real Simple

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2008

Skeletons at the Feast

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3 4 false false Sat Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Tue Dec 02 13:58:17 -0800 2008 Wed Dec 24 10:54:02 -0800 2008 more...]]> 2 4 false false Sat Mar 29 05:27:22 -0700 2008 Tue Jun 10 21:26:26 -0700 2008 5 2 false false Mon Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Tue Jan 06 09:16:07 -0800 2009 Mon Jan 12 22:32:50 -0800 2009
Clearly, when you look at his entire body of work, Bohjalian enjoys creating suspense by presenting a single (in ma...more...]]> 5 1 true false Tue Jan 13 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Tue Sep 30 08:29:25 -0700 2008 Wed Jan 14 19:42:45 -0800 2009 1
I have to say that I was a little nervous. I love Chris Bohjalian because he writes about Vermont. He understands Vermonters. If you are not from Vermont and you think that it is a tiny little state and do n...more...]]> 5 3 false false Sat Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Sun Aug 31 14:08:17 -0700 2008 Sat Sep 06 16:28:04 -0700 2008
There are basically three stories that come together. A family of we...more...]]> 1 2 false false Mon Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Mon Jun 23 19:20:19 -0700 2008 Mon Sep 22 16:26:57 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 2 false false Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Fri Jun 06 06:45:23 -0700 2008 Fri Jun 06 06:49:16 -0700 2008 Outlining the brutal landscape of Nazi Germany as German refugees struggle westward ahead of the advancing Russian army.the novel exhumes the ruin of spirit, flesh and faith that accompanied thousands of su...more...]]> 3 1 false false Mon Jul 28 18:16:00 -0700 2008 Thu May 15 16:49:12 -0700 2008 Mon Jul 28 18:16:00 -0700 2008 more...]]> 5 2 false false Sat Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Tue Jul 08 12:33:11 -0700 2008 Sun Feb 22 07:45:18 -0800 2009 Once again - Chris Bohjalian doesn't disappoint. I wasn't sure that I was going to love this book as it took me out of New England & off to wartime Europe. However, Mr Bohjalian did (once again) give ...more...]]> 5 2 false false Sun Aug 03 20:14:54 -0700 2008 Sun Aug 03 20:24:08 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 2 false false Sun Mar 15 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun Mar 15 14:18:37 -0700 2009 Sun Mar 15 14:23:04 -0700 2009 4 2 false false Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Thu Apr 02 14:55:14 -0700 2009 Thu Apr 02 15:11:05 -0700 2009
The story is set in the waning days of WWII in Germany. The Russians are pouring in from the east; raping, pillagin...more...]]> 4 2 false true Tue Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Thu Mar 12 21:00:01 -0700 2009 Thu Mar 12 21:08:36 -0700 2009 more...]]> 2 0 false false Tue Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Tue Feb 17 19:45:40 -0800 2009 Tue Feb 17 19:46:06 -0800 2009 1 more...]]> 4 1 false false Wed Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Wed Feb 11 14:37:00 -0800 2009 Wed Feb 11 14:58:27 -0800 2009
Skeletons at the Feast is a WWII story of a German farming family (and Scottish POW assigned to ...more...]]> 4 1 false false Sat Sep 19 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Sep 23 17:02:51 -0700 2009 Wed Sep 23 17:13:41 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 1 false false Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sat Aug 15 05:42:08 -0700 2009 Sat Aug 15 05:43:29 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Aug 05 18:56:33 -0700 2009 Wed Aug 05 19:27:11 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Thu Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Sat Jun 27 03:34:50 -0700 2009 Sat Jun 27 05:56:49 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 1 false false Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun Jun 14 20:59:13 -0700 2009 Sun Jun 14 21:06:11 -0700 2009 1 more...]]>