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Memories of Glass
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This novel draws from true accounts to shine a light on a period of Holland’s darkest history and bravest heroes.
1942. As war rips through the heart of Holland, childhood friends Josie van Rees and Eliese Linden partner with a few daring citizens to rescue Eliese’s son and hundreds of other Jewish children who await deportation in a converted theater in Amsterdam. But amid ...more
1942. As war rips through the heart of Holland, childhood friends Josie van Rees and Eliese Linden partner with a few daring citizens to rescue Eliese’s son and hundreds of other Jewish children who await deportation in a converted theater in Amsterdam. But amid ...more
Paperback, 432 pages
Published
September 3rd 2019
by Tyndale House Publishers
(first published September 2019)
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Breathtaking, heartbreaking, and ultimately uplifting. Memories of Glass shows the beauty when people do anything to help others, the ugliness when people do anything to help only themselves, and the destructive power of secrets through the generations. Melanie Dobson’s memorable characters and fine eye for detail bring the danger of the Netherlands under Nazi occupation to life. This novel will stay with you.
Nazi occupied Holland in 1942, childhood friends Josie van Rees and Eliese Linden along with a few brave Dutch citizens manage to hide Eliese’s son Hein and 600 other Jewish children. The children along with their parents could be deported at anytime to Auschwitz and no one is safe!
Josie works as a child minder in the creche where Jewish children are living, some are orphans and others are being kept separate from their parents. Eliese works as a clerk, she's in charge of typing up the identity ...more
Josie works as a child minder in the creche where Jewish children are living, some are orphans and others are being kept separate from their parents. Eliese works as a clerk, she's in charge of typing up the identity ...more
This time-slip novel draws from Holland's darkest period of history to create a stunning true story novel that captured my attention from start to finish. It's 1942, and Josie Van Reese and her best friend Eliese Linden partner to rescue hundreds of Jewish children who were set for deportation to Nazi death camps. In current time, Ava Drake begins to suspect that her great-grandfather, William Kingston, was not the wonderful philanthropist he seemed to be but instead had hidden secrets that woul
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This World War 2/present day timeslip novel held me captive the whole way through. The characters are distinctly drawn, the settings immersive from Holland to Uganda, and the theme of sacrifice vs. self-preservation is one that will always be timely. The storytelling is elegant and beautiful. This is the first book I've read by Melanie Dobson (I know! Where have I been?) so I'm excited to read her backlist!
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A compelling, complex story based on real people and events of WW2. Amid the onslaught of Nazi occupation, the brave Dutch people shine as stars as they use their resources to quietly fight the Jewish Holocaust. Digging into the past reveals a mystery that might just unravel more than one prominent family's reputation.
"The truth will set us free."
This book had me holding my breath sometimes, and brought me to tears more than once. It was very well done, bringing all the characters' stories toget ...more
"The truth will set us free."
This book had me holding my breath sometimes, and brought me to tears more than once. It was very well done, bringing all the characters' stories toget ...more
My brain is muddled and my heart is fractured. What an emotional read! I was gulping down great heaving sobs by the end. Pretty much teary for the last quarter of the book. Luckily I listened to the audible version so an innocent paperback wasn't water damaged. :-)
This is one of those reviews that should be wordless because there simply aren't any that can adequately describe the power of this story. The magic is in the details -- so many details! -- and the way the author blends the two timelin ...more
This is one of those reviews that should be wordless because there simply aren't any that can adequately describe the power of this story. The magic is in the details -- so many details! -- and the way the author blends the two timelin ...more
Full review (plus author q&a) on FaithfullyBookish.com
Melanie Dobson is a masterful storyteller. She weaves past and present, ordinary and extraordinary, love and loss, fears and faith in an intricate tapestry of experience and emotion. My words can't even begin to scratch the surface of Dobson’s exquisite art.
The richness and depth of not only faith and emotion but also fascinating historical detail captivated my heart, mind, and spirit. The characters (and real people who inspired them) speak ...more
Melanie Dobson is a masterful storyteller. She weaves past and present, ordinary and extraordinary, love and loss, fears and faith in an intricate tapestry of experience and emotion. My words can't even begin to scratch the surface of Dobson’s exquisite art.
The richness and depth of not only faith and emotion but also fascinating historical detail captivated my heart, mind, and spirit. The characters (and real people who inspired them) speak ...more
I did ultimately find this book extremely interesting, and though I certainly learned much about Dutch resistance and the Nazi occupation, I found the book difficult to read. The characters were interwoven through the generations, the setting moved from Holland to South Carolina to Africa to Portland Oregon and back to New York, and the setting and year did not appear at the beginning of every chapter. When I was at about the halfway point in the book, I had to start over, making copious notes o
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This was an excellent story. I have absolutely no complaints about it, everything flowed, the characters, the plot, the setting, like I said I cannot complain. It almost seems like a bit of a mystery about how everything was eventually revealed. Definitely, one of my favorites this year.
Memories of Glass by Melanie Dobson pulled me in right from the start. I loved the format of this book switching back and forth from Holland during the Nazi occupation to seventy-five years later in the present day. In the present time Memories of Glass transported us to New York, Amsterdam, Uganda, Africa and Oregon. The characters were complex, intriguing and believable. I listened to this book on audio CD read by Nancy Peterson. I never wanted to turn it off. The story captured my heart right
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Lovely time slip novel set in Amsterdam, U.S. and Africa with intertwining story lines in present day and WWII. It was a moving novel primarily about saving children from harm. I am rarely moved to tears while reading and this is one of those rare novels. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction.
Originally posted on Inkwell Inspirations
“The past often has a way of creeping into our present.”
With a powerful and compelling style, award-winning author Melanie Dobson creates an extraordinary time-slip novel that demonstrates the strength and determination of the human spirit. In Memories of Glass, Melanie Dobson shares the courageous story of the heroic men and women who risked their lives during World War II to rescue countless Jewish children from the Nazis. During this time of extreme ev ...more
“The past often has a way of creeping into our present.”
With a powerful and compelling style, award-winning author Melanie Dobson creates an extraordinary time-slip novel that demonstrates the strength and determination of the human spirit. In Memories of Glass, Melanie Dobson shares the courageous story of the heroic men and women who risked their lives during World War II to rescue countless Jewish children from the Nazis. During this time of extreme ev ...more
Just finished...wow is all i have for now. Amazing read.
Reading this novel will take you on a journey to Holland during WWII. You will meet ordinary citizens, brave resistance workers and the oppressive enemies who were part of the German occupation. During this dark time in history, so many lives were lost due to unbridled, rampant evil spreading throughout Europe. Amidst all of this brutality, brave souls took steps to thwart the enemy and save the lives of innocent children...642 precious children.
A present day storyline is also taking place. The ...more
A present day storyline is also taking place. The ...more
Once again author Melanie Dobson writes an elegantly complex and gripping dual-time tale that kept me enthralled until the very last page! Her beautiful writing immediately dropped me into the story, and as the past slowly revealed the many hidden terrors of the Netherlands during WWII, I became completely absorbed with the characters and one woman's struggle to discover her family's darkest secrets. Memories of Glass is a slice of remarkable history and one not to be missed!
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Oh my. I'm still reeling from this book, which I finished a couple days ago. Equally compelling present and historical chapters drew me in, Melanie Dobson's enticing characters and brilliant plot kept me turning the pages. This was a tear-jerker that broke my heart but did not leave me without satisfying hope. I love how she takes real history and blends it into fiction in such a seamless manner. Beautiful and masterful.
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4.5 stars
"If only I could ask questions about my family and get straight answers. If only people would share their stories instead of locking them away. "
If only. It's the story of Ava Drake's life. So much of her family history is shrouded in secrecy, facts hidden in the shadows and the truth anything but clear. Along the fault lines are stories dating back to World War II, when there fortunes to be made upon the sacrifice of the innocent. As Ava digs deeper into her grandfather's past, her pre ...more
"If only I could ask questions about my family and get straight answers. If only people would share their stories instead of locking them away. "
If only. It's the story of Ava Drake's life. So much of her family history is shrouded in secrecy, facts hidden in the shadows and the truth anything but clear. Along the fault lines are stories dating back to World War II, when there fortunes to be made upon the sacrifice of the innocent. As Ava digs deeper into her grandfather's past, her pre ...more
I listened to this on Audible, like I do many other fiction books. While I appreciated the story and learning about Holland's history during WWII, I found myself confused about which character was who and doing what, when, and where. Also, I did not realize this was a Christian book when I selected it. The Christian adgenda adds no value to the story and I found it incredibly frustrating and unnecessary. Though, if you like books with Christian agenda's then this book could be a good selection.
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I'm totally impressed by this beautiful story that captivated me from page one and stole my sleep, because I couldn't stop reading.
Wow, just wow! ...more
Wow, just wow! ...more
What a spellbinding read! My favorite split time novel of Melanie Dobson's so far!
The author drew me in immediately with the past and present storylines. I even had a slight preference for the modern day heroine, Ava - though I usually lean to loving the historical heroine/s a tad bit more. Ava had such an intriguing storyline. And, swoon, I loved Landon!
The writing was fantastic. The storyline was unique. The pacing was perfect. I love learning about history that I had no idea about. LOVE!!
This ...more
The author drew me in immediately with the past and present storylines. I even had a slight preference for the modern day heroine, Ava - though I usually lean to loving the historical heroine/s a tad bit more. Ava had such an intriguing storyline. And, swoon, I loved Landon!
The writing was fantastic. The storyline was unique. The pacing was perfect. I love learning about history that I had no idea about. LOVE!!
This ...more
I enjoy books about WWII, and I enjoy Melanie Dobson’s books, so I’m not surprised that I loved this book. It's a story that will stick with me for some time, and it should, as this is about a part of history that shouldn't be forgotten.
Dobson has crafted a powerful time-slip novel with well-developed characters who show strength and determination when faced with unbelievable circumstances. This book is a testament to the numerous men and women who risked their lives during WWII to help save oth ...more
Dobson has crafted a powerful time-slip novel with well-developed characters who show strength and determination when faced with unbelievable circumstances. This book is a testament to the numerous men and women who risked their lives during WWII to help save oth ...more
With decades comes perspective but what if you were on the other side of WWII and the Nazi regime? What if you didn’t realize what would happen to the families you helped register before they were loaded on trains to a German concentration camp? Melanie Dobson puts you in those shoes and others in the Dutch resistance group in Memories of Glass.
I was immediately drawn into this tale of three women. Josie and Eliese met and became friends as young girls in Holland. The war brings them together ye ...more
I was immediately drawn into this tale of three women. Josie and Eliese met and became friends as young girls in Holland. The war brings them together ye ...more
This book took me a bit to get into - in part because I'd just finished a contemporary romantic suspense and in part because the last historical I'd read wasn't very good, so I wans't really in the mood for a historical (or even a partial historical since this was a dual timeline). But when the library says the book is ready for you (and you have no idea when that will happen again), you take it. And once I was able to get into it, I couldn't stop reading. My only complaint was the POV changes.
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'Hatred stops at nothing to destroy, but love can break through the root of evil.'
Melanie Dobson is a master at this type of story: dual time line, one period set in a very dark period of history during the Nazi invasion of Holland, and another in the present day when a young woman stumbles upon her family history and has a great deal to learn about those dark days.
This one reminds me some of The Zookeeper's Wife, with characters determined to do their part in the middle of all the atrocities a ...more
Melanie Dobson is a master at this type of story: dual time line, one period set in a very dark period of history during the Nazi invasion of Holland, and another in the present day when a young woman stumbles upon her family history and has a great deal to learn about those dark days.
This one reminds me some of The Zookeeper's Wife, with characters determined to do their part in the middle of all the atrocities a ...more
I'm not sure what to say here that doesn't end up in a criticism of Holocaust plotlines and offend fellow readers, so I'll stick to the writing. This is the third book in a row I've picked up that switches voice and perspective every chapter. It must be chance because they were written in different decades, but it's somewhat tiring. Need to be more careful on the next selection. The style was not well executed and wandered...endlessly.
I did not complete due diligence on the author. Around page 1 ...more
I did not complete due diligence on the author. Around page 1 ...more
Enjoyed the story, but as it went on, it started referencing Christianity more and more. Which isn't bad - except it just felt very forced.
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Memories of Glass is a complex story that has stuck with me. It’s based on true accounts of Dutch children who were secreted away to safety during WWII. Although this novel is Christian fiction, stories like this need to be told so the heroic deeds of those who risked their lives to save these children live on. I keep thinking about the families torn apart by the ravages of war, how agonizing it must have been to leave a child with a stranger, and how frightening it must have been for the childr
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A few years ago, I read Chateau of Secrets, by Melanie Dobson, the story captivated me from the beginning and I became a fan of Melanie Dobson fiction.
My father was born in the Netherlands just after the end of the second World War, so I was immediately intrigued to read of the culture and perilous climate that my grandparents and uncles would have lived through during the occupation of Holland as well as the work of the Dutch resistance. Memories of Glass is a split-time novel and Melanie Dobs ...more
My father was born in the Netherlands just after the end of the second World War, so I was immediately intrigued to read of the culture and perilous climate that my grandparents and uncles would have lived through during the occupation of Holland as well as the work of the Dutch resistance. Memories of Glass is a split-time novel and Melanie Dobs ...more
I really enjoyed both of the story lines in this book, especially the historical side. However, I feel like it jumped around a little too much which made it difficult to really see and enjoy how all the little details fit together. Also, I feel like there were way too many coincidences and overlaps to be even a little bit believable and I really like it when a book seems so real you have to remind yourself it's just a book! 😁 Overall, it was an enjoyable read.
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What a beautifully woven story! It packs an emotional punch but it's definitely worth the read. It brought me to tears multiple times and knowing it's based on true events made the story come alive in a major way. It's a heartbreaking tale but it's masterfully told by Melanie. If you like fantastic historical fiction based on true life events, do not pass this one up! Melanie's time-slip tales are not to be missed!
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Melanie is the award-winning author of almost twenty time-slip, historical romance, suspense, and contemporary novels including Catching the Wind, The ...more
Melanie is the award-winning author of almost twenty time-slip, historical romance, suspense, and contemporary novels including Catching the Wind, The ...more
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“Hatred stops at nothing to destroy, but love can break through the root of evil.”
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“glass. Eliese collapsed onto the scuffed hardwood, shards cutting the bare skin on her legs. The weight of this day, this year, pressed down on her, more than she could bear. She’d wanted to help”
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