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The Things We Cherished

by Pam Jenoff (Goodreads Author)

3.63 of 5 stars 3.63 · rating details · 1,186 ratings · 211 reviews

Pam Jenoff, whose first novel, The Kommandant’s Girl, was a Quill Award finalist, a Book Sense pick, and a finalist for the ALA Sophie Brody Award, joins the Doubleday list with a suspenseful story of love and betrayal set during the Holocaust.

An ambitious novel that spans decades and continents, The Things We Cherished tells the story of Charlotte Gold and Jack Harringto...more

Hardcover, 288 pages

Published July 12th 2011 by Doubleday

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Feb 19, 2012 Emma marked it as abandoned

Shelves: in-which-i-rant

I got less than 30 pages into this book before giving up, because it has the most pathetic protagonist ever. She's still mooning over the ex who dumped her years ago, and in the meanwhile, she has no friends, no hobbies, no interests outside of work. She never takes her vacation days because she has nothing else to do. It's implied that her lack of a man is the reason for her pathetic life--which is pretty pathetic in itself--but if she needs a man so badly, then really, there's no excuse for he...more I got less than 30 pages into this book before giving up, because it has the most pathetic protagonist ever. She's still mooning over the ex who dumped her years ago, and in the meanwhile, she has no friends, no hobbies, no interests outside of work. She never takes her vacation days because she has nothing else to do. It's implied that her lack of a man is the reason for her pathetic life--which is pretty pathetic in itself--but if she needs a man so badly, then really, there's no excuse for her not dating. And it appears that she doesn't do that either.

Sometimes I think it's bizarre that I so want to read about professional women, and yet I tend to avoid books set in the modern-day U.S. (actually, anywhere in the modern-day first world, really). Then I pick up a book like this and decide that I'm not missing much. At least, in settings where it's really hard for a woman to be independent, a character's building up her own career is considered awesome and worthwhile. In settings where it's totally normal for a woman to have a career, her work is Not Enough and tends to become a sidenote in a book that's really about her finding a man.

When her ex showed up at her office, invited her out to dinner (making clear that this was to talk about work, not a date, because he's married) and she stopped to buy and change into a new blouse en route from work to the restaurant, I knew this was not a book for me.

On second thought, that was when I quit, but I knew beforehand--when he invited her to dinner and she decided she might as well go because (she thought self-pityingly) otherwise she'd only be at home with her cat eating takeout. No, Charlotte, your life is not pathetic because you live alone with a cat. Your life is pathetic because you don't put in the effort to build friendships with people whose company you enjoy, you don't engage in activities that matter to you, you don't take responsibility for making your life something you can enjoy and be proud of. I'd like to think she learns that lesson in this book, but from the sound of it she just "solves" her problems by finding a new man. She's probably a clingy, possessive girlfriend too. Wonder how long it takes before he gets tired of her....(less)

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Oct 04, 2012 Pam rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a riveting book about the Holocaust. Charolette has a satisfying job as a defense lawyer for those who need help. She has made her home in Philadelphia and has rebuild her life after the death of her mother and the betrayal of her boyfriend, Brian. Now Brian returns to her life to get her to do some forensic research for a pro bono case of his. He needs her knowledge of the Holocaust and her research skills as well as her ability to get through to witnesses to clear this client. Charole...more

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Oct 13, 2011 Michael rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: family-relationships, mystery, own-it, read-in-2011, reviewed, won-in-book-giveaway, wwii

"The Things We Cherished" is an energizing experience that speaks of two love stories and a time prior to WWII when the world was in turmoil.

Charlotte Gold and Jack Warrington team up to defend Roger Dykmans who is accused of betraying his hero brother, Hans, who was attempting to rescue Jewish people from Germany.

Roger isn't helpful in his defense so Charlotte and Jack travle to Wadowice, Poland to try to get help with the case. They learn about Magda who Roger loved but was married to his brot...more

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Aug 25, 2011 Jessica at Book Sake rated it 5 of 5 stars

It is sometimes hard for me to pick up a novel like this one, mostly because I have read so many Holocaust period books, and I fear that I will be disappointed if a writer doesn’t live up to my impossibly high standards. The Things We Cherished went above and beyond those expectations, and I read it cover to cover in one day. Centering the historical aspects on the anniversary clock allowed the reader to see the full sentimental value that it held for all the lives it touched after its creation....more

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Jul 27, 2011 Gaby rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, detective-and-mystery, historical-romance, literary-fiction, love-story

I confess that I began The Things We Cherished fully predisposed to fall for the story and the characters. Historical fiction set during World War II, a Holocaust hero who loses his life while saving Jews in Germany, "fiercely independent attorneys who find themselves slowly falling for one another", and a heart-wrenching, life altering love story -- a recipe for a fascinating and engrossing read.

In fact, I started the book yesterday as I traveled from NYC to Boston. It was the perfect escape fo...more I confess that I began The Things We Cherished fully predisposed to fall for the story and the characters. Historical fiction set during World War II, a Holocaust hero who loses his life while saving Jews in Germany, "fiercely independent attorneys who find themselves slowly falling for one another", and a heart-wrenching, life altering love story -- a recipe for a fascinating and engrossing read.

In fact, I started the book yesterday as I traveled from NYC to Boston. It was the perfect escape for the four and a half hour trip. I've convinced my mom to read the book on her 19 hour trip back to Asia next week.

Here's what I enjoyed about The Things We Cherished and why I recommend that you read it too:

Pam Jenoff has created complex, sympathetic, and engaging characters -- both those that lived during World War II and those lawyers living in the present -- and Jenoff forces each of the characters to face nuanced, big picture dilemmas while keeping the characters real. Jenoff has taken great care to make each of the people that you meet memorable. One of my favorites is a less central character, a clockmaker named Johann who lived in a small town in Bavaria in 1902. Johann advances the materials to create a one of a kind anniversary clock in the hope that the wealthiest man in their small town will make good on his order and that this will enable him to take his pregnant wife Rebecca to America. The clock is his chance to make a new start, just as the town's economy seems to be collapsing. When he's completed the clock, he dresses in his best clothes and brings his work to the merchant. When the wealthy Herr Hoffel refuses to pay the agreed 100 because business is slow, it takes courage and a sense of his own worth for Johann to refuse the offer. The scene comes early in the book and as I read it, Johann reminded me of the father in Marcus Zusak's The Book Thief, one of my favorite literary characters.

Jenoff takes seemingly unconnected story lines that are each interesting on their own and weaves them together to make this deeply engrossing and satisfying read.

ISBN-10: 0385534205 - Hardcover $27.95
Publisher: Doubleday (July 12, 2011), 304 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.(less)

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Jul 22, 2011 Cleverly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Being accused of a war crime is no walk in the park, it's also tough when you won't speak on your own behalf. If he won't speak that must mean he has something to hide. What they find out even shocked me.

Charlotte, well she was intelligent and seemed to be a right fit for her job. She did tend to over think situations. I didn't like that even after a her heart was saying Jack that she would entertain the idea of her old flame, Jack's brother Brian. Jack's character was honorable and stern, a li...more

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May 25, 2011 bookczuk rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: bookcrossing, places-i-have-been, read-on-recommendation

What if you are forced with the choice of making the worst possible choice for the best possible reason? The Things We Cherished is a novel which explores this dilemma through interweaving tales. The central story revolves around the defense of Roger Dykmans, a wealthy Polish financier, and brother of a resistance hero, who has been charged with war crimes. Though Roger refuses to help in his own defense, Charley and Jack Warrington begin to delve into his past to unravel the mystery. In doing s...more

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Sep 09, 2011 Shuffy2 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, fiction

Charlotte's ex shows up out of the blue after almost a decade and asks her to drop everything, fly to Poland and help him with an important court case. Should she help the man, who broke her heart, defend an alleged WWII war criminal? [return][return]Charlotte is surprised when Brian shows up in her Philadelphia office asking for her help in defending Roger Dykmans, the brother of a Holocaust hero. Did Roger turn his brother into the Nazis during the war? Why is an antique clock so important? An...more

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Sep 16, 2011 Amy Lignor rated it 5 of 5 stars

A book titled, The Kommandant’s Girl crossed my path back in 2007, and unveiled one of the most incredible writers that this world had seen in a very long time. We’re not only speaking about a ‘great’ plot or a fascinating story; we are speaking about the ebb and flow of a novel that is so scintillating and beautiful that a reader can not, will not, and does not have the power to put the book down until the very last word has been read.

Pam Jenoff, now an internationally bestselling author, is a...more A book titled, The Kommandant’s Girl crossed my path back in 2007, and unveiled one of the most incredible writers that this world had seen in a very long time. We’re not only speaking about a ‘great’ plot or a fascinating story; we are speaking about the ebb and flow of a novel that is so scintillating and beautiful that a reader can not, will not, and does not have the power to put the book down until the very last word has been read.

Pam Jenoff, now an internationally bestselling author, is a writer who has yet to be given the tremendous accolades she so richly deserves. And with this new title she has proven, once again, that her world of romance, history, and in-depth storytelling is still a rare, matchless, and unheard of gift that other authors simply do not have.

In 2009, Charlotte Gold is a public defender who stands beneath the slightly-pompous eyes of William Penn in Philadelphia, where she works day in and day out helping the children of the streets who deserve a fair trial and a better break. Now Charlotte wasn’t on the road to this career at the beginning of her legal life. In fact, this brilliant woman was headed to the other side of the lawyerly ‘fence’ spending her time investigating war crimes, and was offered a place at The Hague to continue her efforts. But, fate intervened, and Charlotte fell in love with Brian Warrington along the way. Let‘s just say that morals and truth-telling were not exactly Brian’s forte (not a big shock, considering he was a lawyer).

One morning, after Charlotte has been killing herself to help one of her young clients who has gotten himself into another mess, Charlotte goes back to her small office, opens the door, and sitting there, after ten years, is the ex-fiancé who broke her heart. Brian has gotten a little pudgy around the middle, and the bags under his eyes, as well as the wrinkles on his brow spell desperation, not the ‘enjoyment of life.’ He married the woman he dumped Charlotte for and is looking a bit terrified at the next chapter about to unfold; but, what he still wants is that partnership, and the only way he can achieve it is by defending a man by the name of Roger Dykmans. This is a client who is going to pay for back-stabbing his brother and causing Hans Dykmans, who was a man like Schindler that helped many Jewish people during WWII to escape, to be hung. Brian needs Charlotte’s help because of her background and knowledge of the Holocaust, as well as her gift of getting clients to trust her. Although Charlotte doesn’t quite know why she doesn’t slam the door in his face, she ends up going to Munich for one week to, perhaps, revisit her past and see what she can do.

Brian stands her up once again, and Charlotte finds herself working with Brian’s brother, Jack Warrington. Jack is a bit leaner and prettier than his estranged sibling, but seems to have a certain odd chip on his shoulder where Charlotte is concerned; he can go from sweet to snooty in about ten seconds. Jack is not happy about this present case. After all, he has spent most of his life prosecuting the WWII persecutors, not trying to save them from the death they so richly deserve. But there is a way to find some answers where the quiet, Roger Dykmans is concerned, and it is an incredible journey through the memorable time of WWII.

There, the reader clings to every word as they keep their eyes on a very special clock that was built by a young man in Bavaria in 1903, to sell and get his wife (with child) out of the country and to America‘s shores, because of the frightening upheaval in his own country that seems to be getting worse every day.

The journey of this particular clock is unbelievably stunning. From Bavaria to Berlin in 1922, to Breslau in the 1940’s - this clock holds special meaning and unknown secrets as it passes through the hands of many who have their own unique story to tell. As Pam Jenoff does consistently well, the past and the present weave together to offer a look at everything from bigotry, denial, forgiveness, love, pain, war, and…sacrifice. The romance is stunning. The characters are perfectly drawn, as if the reader is sitting in these locations listening to the sound of the sirens, and watching people give everything up in order to save the ones they love.

The beauty of Pam Jenoff’s pages is indescribable on this one. This is an immaculately told passage through time, where a relic teaches us all that nothing should ever be left unsaid, and that everyone needs to find the courage to stand up for what they believe in and declare what they feel before it’s too late.

Breathtaking! There should never be a time when Jenoff’s name is not in the #1 spot on the New York Times Bestseller list…unless, of course, she takes a month or two off
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May 19, 2011 Sharon Putman rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a well-written book and a fast read with a captivating story. In one present-day storyline, two brothers and a woman are caught up in a love triangle while defending an elderly man of World War II-era war crimes. In another storyline set in Nazi Germany, two brothers and a woman are also caught up in a love triangle. And in several other storylines, the reader peeks into various lives that were connected to an anniversary clock, which is also connected to the two love triangles. It soun...more

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Mar 19, 2013 thewanderingjew rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Things We Cherished, Pam Jenoff
The story really begins in Bavaria, with the seemingly innocent introduction of a handmade clock, in 1903. It is an Anniversary Clock, a unique clock that is wound only once a year, that has been built by a farmer who hopes to sell it for enough money to pay for passage to America for himself and his pregnant wife.
The book then fast forwards to 2009 where we meet Charlotte, a lawyer from a modest background, daughter of a Holocaust survivor. Once very much in...more
The Things We Cherished, Pam Jenoff
The story really begins in Bavaria, with the seemingly innocent introduction of a handmade clock, in 1903. It is an Anniversary Clock, a unique clock that is wound only once a year, that has been built by a farmer who hopes to sell it for enough money to pay for passage to America for himself and his pregnant wife.
The book then fast forwards to 2009 where we meet Charlotte, a lawyer from a modest background, daughter of a Holocaust survivor. Once very much in love, she was jilted by her boyfriend. Brian decided to get engaged to a woman who was from the same social class and more compatible to him. Instead of working as planned, with him at The Hague, she changes course and becomes a Public Defender in Philadelphia.
After several years pass, Brian reappears suddenly and asks for her help. He is representing Roger Dykmans against the charge of being a Nazi collaborator responsible for sending many innocents to their deaths, including his own brother. If Brian is successful in getting him an acquittal, he is virtually guaranteed to make partner in his firm.
Charlotte spent three years studying the Holocaust in Eastern Europe and is a great forensic investigator. Her mother is now dead, and all of her other close relatives died in Europe at the hands of the Nazis, so she is very much interested in the case. Although she is still smarting from the pain of her broken engagement, she consents to give Brian a week’s time, if he will help one of her clients in return. Brian believes that Charlotte will be able to discover evidence with her forensic skills and will provide a plausible defense for his client. He believes he has missed something in his own investigation, and so he agrees to her terms.
Charlotte sets off for Germany, only to be stood up at the airport by Brian, who said he was unavoidably delayed, and so she is forced to travel alone. Once in Germany, she is shocked to find that it is Brian’s brother with whom she will be working in this investigation, even though the brothers are still very much estranged. Together, they travel to Poland and investigate the war years in order to try and prove Dykmans’ innocence. Dykmans, himself, is unwilling to help in the investigation to clear his name.
Charlotte is often put off by Mike’s coldness and distance and an uneasy, seesaw working relationship develops. She wonders if he dislikes her and why. As their friendship grows, the development of a romance in the story feels a little bit contrived, at first, but for the most part, it comes together, in the end.
As they investigate Dykmans’ past, they learn of a great secret love in his life. Between the two of them they discover many subtle subplots that intertwine, sometimes not very clearly, but they all do eventually connect and work their way into the plot and the mystery’s solution. The novel serves to explain how hard it was to survive during the war and how hard it was to help each other, even with the best of intentions, and yet, love somehow survived and thrived, lasting decades, even in the absence of hope and the loss of the loved one. It was a time when no one could be trusted and evidence was easily lost or destroyed. Happy or unhappy coincidences often meant the difference between life and death. What is it that holds the key to the puzzle of Roger’s guilt or innocence and will it be discovered in time? To find out, you must travel with Charlotte and Roger on their journey to discover the truth.
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Apr 10, 2013 Sue rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, romance

I won a copy of "The Ambassador's Daughter" by Pam Jenoff through the Goodreads Giveaway Contest. The author so kindly sent me a copy of The "Ambassador's Daughter" and "The Things We Cherished". I have already posted my review of the first novel, and this is the review of "The Things We Cherished", a historical fiction novel with romance.

Charlotte is a public defender in Philadelphia, representing juveniles. When Charlotte returned to her office from court one day, she found her ex-boyfriend, B...more

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Nov 06, 2011 Chanpreet rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love Pam Jenoff's books. They evoke strong emotions in me. This is the first book of hers that hasn't caused me to breakdown and sob my heart out. She picks topics that cause not only sadness due to exposure of the darker side of human nature, which people try to hide, but also awe. Her books have all had the evils of the Holocaust as a backdrop and each one has been enthralling.

I was pleasantly surprised when I read to the book to find that the story was much more then a romance set between...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Krystal rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The story describes two love triangles – a century apart. Today’s lawyers, the Warrington brothers and Charlotte Gold, are tasked with the defense of Roger Dykmans who loved his brother’s wife Magda during the Holocaust. The narrative is woven around the tale of a handcrafted timepiece which has a heartbreaking past of its own.

Young adult and adult readers may enjoy the mystery of the clock’s evidence as a defense against the horrible crime of betraying a brother and innocent children to the Na...more

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Nov 13, 2011 Dizzyc rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Roger's story is pieced together in present day by Charlotte and Jack who are working together to represent Roger at his trial. Roger is not being co-operative, but why?
The historical story is sometimes romantic, sometimes harrowing. The author has not favoured either of these emotions making for a very emotional read. The romance flowed at times but then the scenes of most bleak times brought me back to reality that these people were trying to survive.

Pam Jenoff is very knowledgeable in Law, Hi...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Patricia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

I am so glad i discovered this author! I can't wait to read her other books. I had a hard time putting this one down! Charlotte Gold is a lawyer who also studied history. She is the only daughter of a Holacaust survivor so she became interested in prosecuting war crimes at the Hague.
The book is about freeing onself from past mistakes and unhappiness and making new beginnings.
At the time the story begins, Charley is a public defender in Philadelphia and works with troubled juvenile offenders.
An o...more

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Oct 10, 2011 Virginia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: legal-mystery

This story centers on an anniversary clock and the secret it contains that will solve a World War II War Crimes mystery. The story takes place on two timelines - the one of the clock and the present in which a German industrialist is about to be tried for a war crime involving his brother and his efforts to save Jews in Poland. There are two love stories here, of course. One concerns the defendant and his brother's wife and the other involves two lawyers, brothers, and the woman they both once l...more

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Dec 27, 2012 Michael Johnston rated it 3 of 5 stars

Interesting book that had several interwoven story lines across time. The plot device that holds the story lines together (and ultimately drives them to a single modern day resolution) is a beautifully hand crafted anniversary clock. The clock has something of a tragic history associated with its owners and as a plot device it is an interesting way to hold the story together.

However, at its heart this is a modern day love story written through the eyes of a present day female public defender. I...more

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Jul 19, 2011 April Hochstrasser rated it 3 of 5 stars

What if you are forced- through the circumstances of the world (Jews, War, relationships), to make an impossible choice? What if one piece of paper, a telegram that was never sent, and has now been lost, could exonerate you of alleged war crimes against hundreds of children? The Things We Cherished is a novel which explores this dilemma through interweaving tales. I liked her book the Kommandant's Girl a little better. I kept skipping paragraphs in this one, wanting her to get on with the story-...more

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May 16, 2011 Rachel rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, history, world-war-ii, holocaust, legal

A nice combination of romance, legal thriller, and historical mystery all rolled into one. Public defender, Charlotte Gold is surprised to see an old boyfriend in her Philadelphia office with an interesting proposition for her: fly to Germany to prove the innocence of an elderly man accused of war crimes under the Nazis. Despite her misgivings about leaving her job--and her still unsettled feelings for her old flame--Charlotte accepts the job and dives head first into a mystery that follows the...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Leslie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, romance

Charlotte Gold is happy as an attorney in the public defender’s office working with challenging juvenile cases. A very different job than the one she had as an associate at a large New York firm. She thought those days were behind her now but out of nowhere Brian, a man from the past who had broken her heart, shows up in her office to ask a favor. A wealthy client of Brian’s firm, Roger Dykmans, has been accused of WWII era crimes and he needs her to assist with the defense. Charlotte has a back...more Charlotte Gold is happy as an attorney in the public defender’s office working with challenging juvenile cases. A very different job than the one she had as an associate at a large New York firm. She thought those days were behind her now but out of nowhere Brian, a man from the past who had broken her heart, shows up in her office to ask a favor. A wealthy client of Brian’s firm, Roger Dykmans, has been accused of WWII era crimes and he needs her to assist with the defense. Charlotte has a background in these types of cases and her expertise would be invaluable.

Charlotte agrees to help with the case for one week. She arrives in Germany only to find that the client will not cooperate in his own defense other than to say the proof of his innocence lies in an antique clock. To further complicate matters the attorney that Charlotte is assisting in Germany is Brian’s brother, whom with she finds herself becoming romantically involved.

In alternating chapters we go back to the turn of the century Bavaria to learn the history of the clock and it’s significance in Roger’s defense. I like the use of this technique to interweave a story from the past to the present. I found the story of the clock and it’s various owners to be more interesting than Charlotte’s story in the present.

It’s not believable that Charlotte would drop everything and run off to help someone that she had not spoken to in years and when she last encountered him he was telling her to get lost and that he had replaced her with a new girlfriend. Within a short period of time he married that new girlfriend. No, that is not someone I would dash off to another continent to help. I also had trouble believing that Charlotte would fall for the brother so quickly, after all she was there to work not on a holiday.

If you’re looking for a fast, light read and a fantasy romance this book would be a good choice. The tale of the clock added a mystery and there was an interesting twist with the story lines neatly tied up in the end. I don’t read a lot of romances; I picked this one up because of the historical and mystery angle. As far as the romance, if you like Danielle Steele novels you will probably love this book.(less)

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May 28, 2011 Cassie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

After a few tragic events, Charolette returns to her home town and begins working as a public defender. Imagine her surprise when her ex, who left her for another woman, shows up in her office and asks her for a favor, giving her the oppurtunity to work the case of a lifetime. She agrees to travel to Munich to meet a man who is standing trial for the betrayal of his brother that caused the death of hundreds of Jewish children in World War Two. But Roger, although claiming to be innocent of any c...more After a few tragic events, Charolette returns to her home town and begins working as a public defender. Imagine her surprise when her ex, who left her for another woman, shows up in her office and asks her for a favor, giving her the oppurtunity to work the case of a lifetime. She agrees to travel to Munich to meet a man who is standing trial for the betrayal of his brother that caused the death of hundreds of Jewish children in World War Two. But Roger, although claiming to be innocent of any crime, refuses to help his lawyers. Charolette works with her ex's brother, Jack, to uncover the truth, a jouney that takes them across eastern Europe. All the while the book follows the story of an anniversary clock that reappears constantly throughout the lives of Roger's family. A clock that Roger has obsessively searched for. The question is: why?

I was very fortunate to recieve an ARC of this novel. This is a story of love and tragic loss. Of life and death. Of hope and despair. It is a story of war, whether internationally or on a personal level. And it is a story of peace. I thought it was fasicnating how the author managed to weave three stories taking place in multiple time periods into one book. The story of the clock starts in 1911 while the present time in the novel is 2009. The book switches back and forth by chapter, sometimes following Charolette and others following the clock or Roger. Surprisingly, this wasn't confusing in the least. The book was full of twists and turns that I didn't expect. Even if you think you know what is going to happen, it might but that isn't the end of it. The author went the extra mile in writing this book so that the reader is always guessing but never quite reaches the truth until the end when the entire story comes together. I loved how neatly the end and all the loose ends were tied up at the end. The plots that were being built through the story merge into one and the bigger picture is finally revealed. I would definately recommend it to anyone who has a passion for history and enjoys a little detective story.(less)

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Aug 07, 2011 April rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads

Roger Dykmans, brother of a Holocaust hero, has been accused of a World War II era war crime. His case brings together two brothers and a girl that are connected far deeper than any of them knew. Together, they seek answers to prove their client innocent. In doing so, they uncover a beautiful, tragic story that brings to question: can doing the ultimate wrong under the best intentions make it a right?

Alternating from modern day to various points in the history that makes up Roger's life, this no...more

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Feb 17, 2013 Jennifer rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this because the author is coming to town soon and I was contemplating going to see her. However, finding the book as unimaginative as I did, I don't think I'll be going. I have read other books with very similar plots. From the beginning this book lacked originality. The love triangle is about as prosaic as you get; I could tell in the first ten pages what would happen at the end. There are certain phrases the author used repeatedly, such as hearing a "scratching" noise whenever someone...more

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Jun 02, 2011 Lindsay rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

My review is based on the bound galley version.

I really enjoyed The Things We Cherished. I’m a sucker for Holocaust error novels and this one did not disappoint. I really liked how the author flipped back and forth from present day to the past to tell her story. In some ways I felt like I was reading a novel that was interspersed with short stories every other chapter, but they all come together in the end. Jenoff did a great job of keeping my interest in the way she ended certain chapters. I f...more

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Mar 03, 2012 JoyfulK rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to JoyfulK by: Sally

Shelves: alt-history-recommended

Alternating between the present (2009) and the past (leading up to and during World War II), this novel follows three attorneys who are trying to find evidence to prove their client was not a Nazi collaborator. This novel is tender and real; the focus is more on the lives people were trying to live despite the war than on the actual atrocities. This makes it a little easier to read than some novels I've encountered about the Holocaust. Yet the dilemmas people face are no less real, both for the...more

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Jul 29, 2011 Elizabeth Gillies rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wonderful story by the author of the Kommandant's Girl, The Diplomat's Wife (also holocaust genres), as well as Almost Home and Hidden Affair. Charlotte Gold and Jack Warrington (modern US attorneys) find themselves defending a wealthy financier accused of betraying his brother and the Jews his brother tried to save. This historical and modern day fiction blends the past and the present together in a seamless manner while the attorneys face their past in an attempt to understand and resolve thei...more

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Jul 19, 2011 Barbara rated it 2 of 5 stars

Two ambitious lawyers, Charlotte from Pennsyvlania are asked to go to Europe to help bring Nazi war criminals to justice. It becomes a lovew triangle between two feuding brothers and Charlotte and tells the story of another two brothers, one who tries to save Jews during the Holocaust. Readers learn the proof lies inside an intricate timepiece. Complicated love story of Charlotte, Jack, and Brian who are so reluctant to express their true emotions. I feel a reader can learn much more about this...more

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Apr 29, 2011 Carolyn (in SC) C234D rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: set-in-world-war-ii, european-setting

This story drew me in right away. The chapters alternate between 2009 and the past. I seem to have read quite a few books written in this format recently, but it works here. Three lawyers, two men and a woman, with a history, have joined together in the defense of an international financier from Poland who has been accused of a war crime leading to the death of many Jews as well as his own brother. The circumstances seem plausible as they search for the proof they need, and old passions are reki...more

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Jul 29, 2011 Suzanne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, world-war-ii

In Pam Jenoff’s latest novel, we travel to Germany, Austria & Poland along with a couple of lawyers in search of the truth to a WWII mystery. The main character and defendant in the case is Roger Dykmans, brother of a war hero. In this case, Dykmans is accused of Nazi war crimes, but things aren’t always what they seem.

I have to say I really enjoyed this book. I’m not usually a mystery lover, but the subject matter and Jenoff’s excellent plot had me riveted from the first few pages. It’s no...more

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Other Editions (7)

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Historical Fiction

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History > World War II

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World War II > Holocaust

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Romance

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Mystery

8 users

Romance > Historical Romance

5 users

Womens Fiction > Chick Lit

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Cultural > Germany

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Adult Fiction

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War

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About Pam Jenoff

Pam Jenoff was born in Maryland and raised outside Philadelphia. She attended George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and Cambridge University in England. Upon receiving her master’s in history from Cambridge, she accepted an appointment as Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Army. The position provided a unique opportunity to witness and participate in operations at the most senio...more

More about Pam Jenoff...

Books by Pam Jenoff

The Kommandant's Girl (The Kommandant's Girl, #1)

The Diplomat's Wife (The Kommandant's Girl, #2)

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9746256-the-things-we-cherished?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320561508l/9746256.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9746256-the-things-we-cherished?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Things We Cherished by Pam Jenoff[/url]

The Things We Cherished

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