All That Lingers

by Irene Wittig

In this novel of loss, of difficult decisions and survival against the odds and rebuilding lives, readers experience Vienna's tumultuous years from Austria's brief but significant 1934 civil war, through World War II and postwar occupation, to independence.
Three lives intertwine, bringing these events to life. Emma, who has lost those most important to her, fights to come to terms with grief and her country's betrayal. Sophie, her friend's daughter, returns to Vienna seeking to reclaim her lost history. Friedrich struggles with secrets that will throw all their lives into turmoil again.

Genres: Historical Fiction

409 pages, ebook

First published March 1, 2020

About the author

Memories of my Viennese family and the fellow refugees and people displaced by war that I grew up with lie at the core of my novel. ALL THAT LINGERS I absorbed their stories of loss, of difficult decisions and survival against the odds, of rebuilding lives, even of triumph. I came to understand how much of the past lingers -- sorrow, anger, the loss of trust and even faith. Yet their resilience was proof that hope lingers as well for otherwise the struggle would not have been worthwhile.
The CLAY CANVAS and the revised CLAY CANVAS were inspired by my 20 years of work as a ceramic painter. Alphabet tiles I painted led to the children's illustrated alliterative alphabet book AN AMUSING ALPHABET.
SHORT TALES AND RUMINATIONS were inspired by real events, dreams, and my imagination.
THE BEST THING ABOUT BENNETT includes scenes inspired by experiences my husband and I had in Uganda.
I am always grateful for reader reviews of my books on Goodreads.
For more information on the Vienna of my novel ALL THAT LINGERS please go to my website.

Reviews

[Eryn McConnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

All that Lingers is a superb epic family drama reaching from post WW1 Austria, over to post WW2 New York and back again.
It's hard hitting, accurately depicted in terms of language, culture and history, and provides an unflinching look at the role of Austria in the war.
The characters are real, believable and honest. There are many to work with and at times there could be even too many, and we don't see the development of them until later. Of course the influence of those who died, remains.
This is a well written story, poignant and emotionally driven. I recommend.

[Susannah Colt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hold on to your hat as you take off on a wonderful roller-coaster ride of emotions on the Irene Wittig express. You will fall in love with the characters right off the bat and will have trouble putting the book down. The story covers a long stretch of time masterfully weaving in the history of the times that is a character in and of itself. I learned a lot about Austria's role in World War II. I highly recommend it!!

[Sydney Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in WWII Vienna, All That Lingers brings to light yet another perspective of the perils of a world at war. Before WWII finds it way to beautiful Vienna, Emma and her friends celebrated life and were planning their futures. But as war and reality invades, things begin to fall apart, lives are lost and fear of what’s right and what’s wrong set in. As time passes, Emma questions her role in the war, did she do enough, what could she have done to protect her friends, to stop the evil. Survivors guilt and the pain of wonderful memories paralyze her until new people come into her life causing her reevaluate her post war choices.

I loved every page of this book. Some WWII paint very vivid, detailed portraits of a world at war...instantly creating emotion. Irene Wittig does that without those extremely detailed accounts. Her words are eloquent yet drip of emotion. You feel the sadness and the guilt. I was so invested in the character of Emma and loved watching her grow over the years. I’ve read stories that mention Austria and Vienna but never one that was set there so this was also a great history lesson for me as well. There are so many secrets and lies attached to war and this story shares just a few. I highly recommend reading the authors notes at the end just to give a better timeline of Austria’s involvement in the war.

Thank you to NetGalley and Irene for the chance to read this story. It’s one that will definitely stay with me for a while.

[Regan Olafson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book left much to be desired. Character development was lacking, introducing too many characters at once with little detail. We jumped right in with little backstory. There was little explanation of Austria's involvement in WWII and the people within. I felt as though I needed to feel the WHY or WHAT would make others do such things, and we only scratched the surface. There was no emotion, and I need to feel something; pride, shame, fear. This is a subject that brings with it such feeling, as it should; unfortunately, this book just lacked the poignancy that the time period deserves.

Having read so many historical fiction novels of this chapter in history, I immerse myself in the history and grief of those affected in this time in history. This book does describe well the generational effects of such a time, but just missed the mark in storytelling for me.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Milatra · Rating 4 out of 5]

She wanted to protect them, but was their protection dependent on her wish?

Emma is a beautiful girl who had a wonderful life and the faith in the bright future with her fiance and theit expected child. She had had the quite life full of happy moments before the rise of Nazism in Austria, when everything turned upside down. She had to hide her Jewish friends in her apartment. She had to do everything to protect them.

I enjoyed reading this book. As for me the main value of it is the historical facts of the presence of Nazi Germany in Austria during the World War 2 and how the Austrian people survived in the wartime.

This is a good book and it is worth reading. I would recommend it to everyone who is interested in historical fiction.

Thanks #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

[Bernie Langlois · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great historical novel with sympathetic characters and interesting twists and turns. Very readable...I highly recommend.

[Charlotte Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

All That Lingers is a thought-provoking family drama set in WWII Vienna. Although Emma is the main character, the narrative also focuses on Sophie and Friedrich. I enjoyed getting to know Emma and felt her happiness and heartbreak as I read her story.

I liked that this book offered different perspectives on life in wartime Austria: the threat, worry and uncertainty experienced by Emma and Leonie in comparison to the comfort of Friedrich and his wife. I was immersed in the narrative and found this contrast between Friedrich’s privilege and Emma and Leonie’s struggles stark but engrossing.

This book offers a touching and powerful story to enjoy, while posing moral questions that can be reflected on long after the final page. I find that fiction centered around WWII is particularly affecting given the global political stance at the moment. It feels as though nationalist messaging is creeping back into the foreground (Trump, Brexit to name the most obvious two) and I think that narratives like All That Lingers are more vital now than they’ve ever been, by posing moral questions that may no longer be far fetched. I feel that the contrast in the characters’ lives I mentioned earlier could also double as a social commentary. The concept that the politically powerful, even when they find themselves on the wrong side of history, can still remain in relative privilege and comfort, while a layperson (Emma in this instance) feels the full force of the turmoil of political upheaval is poignant.

I didn’t know much about WWII Vienna before I read this book and I found it fascinating to learn about as I followed the characters. This book has inspired me to find out more about Austrian history, as well as doing more reading into worldwide WWII narratives.I also really appreciated the note from the author at the end of the book.

All That Lingers is a moving story and I think that this would be a good recommendation for fans of Historical Fiction and WWII narratives.

[Gabriela Sarmiento]

The book takes you through the life of a main character that at a young age has already found love, long-lasting friendship, and a nice job in the great city of Vienna a few years before WWII. Her days were filled with happiness and joy, although her mother had shown reserves about the future. Political events will unexpectedly change the course of things. For those who know a bit the city of Vienna and enjoy reading historic novels from the perspective of characters describing how uncontrollable events impacted their lives at a certain period, then this is the book you should be reading right now. The author couples her connaissance of the culture and idiosyncrasies of the Viennese society between 1930’s and the years following the WWII with her sharp knowledge of European history. There is a main trigger making the reader questioning the position of the Austrian elites in power during the Anschluss. The author asserts that the Moscow Declaration stating the Anschluss null and void is not taught at the Austrian public schools, which I confirmed with a group of Austrian citizens born in the sixties. The story moves you. It makes you cry; it makes your imagination fly; it makes you dream of places, coffee, and food; and will certainly brighter your vision of the past history of Austria by adding an important element of International Public Law.

[Rachael Westbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book about WWII. I’ve read a ton set during this time but little about what went on in Austria. This was eye opening and I felt what the characters were feeling.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

All That Lingers is a well written, thought out book that sheds light on life in Austria, before,during and after, all from the perspective of Emma, an ordinary woman, and her friends. Dealing with loss and uncertainty, Emma is a very real character, you feel her grief and her despair, your feel the loss that so many at the time went through. The addition of some twists and turns keeps the pages turning and I like that certain things were not shied away from.
War is not and should not be an easy read subject, and the author gets the balance just right.

[Laureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of book you stay up late to finish. It is a WWII book, but set in Austria verses most others set in France or Briton. It was interesting to hear from the perspective of someone in Austria as we don’t always think of the loss those citizens lived through.

[Beverly Steer · Rating 5 out of 5]

All that lingers

This was another book that was so very hard to put down .I realized through Emma’s life what it was like at that time in history and the parallel to this time in America’s history. I only hope we can escape the utter damage to life and country

[Michele Hartshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I throughly enjoyed everything about this book. I honestly think it is in the top 10 of novels in this time Era! A must read, as it is a book that I couldn't put down and read it in 2 days.

[Christine Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Read

I really enjoyed this book The story was good just didn't wrap up story in 1945 it continued the characters after the war and next generation Really good read

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved this achingly beautiful book! My emotions are in a puddle. Mainly set in Austria, specifically Vienna, this WWII to the 1960s takes us through all sorts of twists and bends, joys and heartaches, pain and anguish. I love Vienna, her history and culture, food, beauty and art. But as the author says, in the fifty years following WWII, Austria remained silent. I love that the author captured this perspective so wonderfully. The descriptions are gorgeous...and I don't mean just scenically but the psychological insights are outstanding (the before, then and after; evil begets evil...). The tragedies are many but there is always hope.

Not only do we learn about the various characters' lives but historical information which doesn't feel like addons but is seamlessly blended into the story (such as Nazis banning art and entertainment, Kristallnacht, confiscations). The poignant rolled carpet story is seared into my memory.

The various characters are fascinating, all with secrets and history. Some are engaging, others less so, and I really cared about the outcomes. The three main characters are Emma, Sophie and Friedrich and some secondary characters include Leonie, Greta, Marion and Hannah. We learn about their relationships, connections and lives as they navigate WWII and the effects on future generations. I appreciate that war details are not glossed over as they are important to know. Emma had been accustomed to ease but during and after the war she experiences tragedy which changes her. Sophie travels to Vienna from America to look for answers to her compelling family's history. And what she finds is much more than she had expected. Like Austria, Friedrich stands back in the sidelines. Love the way the pieces fit together. That ending!

All Historical Fiction fans ought to bury themselves in this unputdownable book. It is THAT good.

My sincere thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this remarkable book. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical fiction is my favorite genre, and I am especially drawn to stories from WWII. This one was a bit difficult for me to get in to at the beginning as there were so many characters introduced with little chance for character development (I was concerned when the book started with a list of characters several pages long) and I had trouble connecting with any of them initially, especially our protagonist Emma. The emotions the characters experienced were well described in the authors writing but didn’t evoke the kind of emotion I’d expected... it’s one thing to read about a character’s anger, grief, or frustration and another to feel their emotion, and it wasn’t until I was fifty percent in that I truly began to feel Emma’s despair, anger and sadness.

That said, I really really liked the perspective from which this story was told, not only pre and post WWII Vienna, but also the stark differences in how the different characters were affected (or not) by the perils of wartime and the betrayal they felt from their country. I found the second half of the story more engaging and thought provoking, allowing me to ponder on the moral fiber of the characters and how this played into motive. So many came into play (compassion, greed, betrayal, complicity, complacency, loyalty, selfishness, truth...) but for me I think it was the overall journey through wartime and the decades beyond, watching Emma, Sophie and even Friedrich to an extent, maneuver their way through loss, heartache, destruction, betrayal and devastation toward survival and hope that was most captivating. Such resilience and strength they possessed. I felt the character development was able to soar in the second half and I was finally able to connect with several of the characters and become invested. I loved watching Emma grow as a character and found myself routing for her in her search for some happiness and peace. I am very glad I pushed through with this beautiful story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a chance to read this story. It’s one that will stay with me for a while.

[Katrina G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special thanks to Netgalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review

I'm not gonna lie, I wanted to DNF this at 30%. It just so happened that I didn't have another book to read while having a long wait at a boring family dinner, so the only thing I had to entertain myself was this book. I've never been so thankful for a boring family dinner, because this turned out to be pretty great.

I thought this was going to focus on the war and Emma hiding her Jewish friends. That's what the summary led me to believe. So I was confused when at the 30% mark, the war was over. I wasn't really invested in anything that happened after.

But then I read a couple chapters further, and I realized that while I wasn't invested in the story yet, I was invested in Emma. So I kept reading. Before I knew it, I was invested in the story and I wanted to know how it all ended for everyone. A lot of characters died, which makes sense considering what this book is about. But the way some of these people died, the betrayals that occurred, were absolutely heartbreaking. I'm not gonna sit here and say it's one of my favorite WWII books, because it's not, and that's not the only thing this book is about anyway. But this was a pleasant historical fiction novel that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys the genre

[Mystica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every other read I pick up seems to be of the WWII vintage. Each story is different though a common theme of anti Nazism seems to run through it all. No one likes being submissive to a foreign invader, and this is something that has happened through the centuries (still happening sadly).

Emma is our chief character but the story of Sophie and Uncle Freidrich are paramount to the story too. Set in Vienna, the idyllic period of Austrian history was about to be demolished and in its place a more darker part of history began.
It is also surprising that Austria did not acknowledge this dark period in its history till very much later.

Emma is leading a very comfortable life, well established when her eyes are opened to an alternate life for those around her - the Jews and those who are not sympathetic to the Nazi cause.
The story was unusual. It did not end in 1945 but it continued into the next generation.

This was an unusual take on WWII and the rise of Nazism in Europe, and then the eventual downfall.

[Selena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked in this book by the first chapter. It is a harsh, realistic look into the lives of the characters through and after WWII. There is friendship, heartbreak, loyalty, loss, love, redemption.

I really can't go into much without giving too much away. The main focus of the book is about the life of Emma before, during, and after the war. She is scared, feels love, tries to forget, tries to remember, is heartbroken, suffers survivor's guilt, helps others, finds love and forgiveness.

I have read many stories about WWII, but this one really helped me understand some of the aspects I had never thought of, the loyalty and guilt some faced., the deniability and duplicity of others.

I recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about those in Europe during the war and after.

I was given the opportunity to read this by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[_sassy_39 · Rating 5 out of 5]

All That Lingers penned by the author Irene Wittig is a powerful story that moves from 1934 to 1961. Story started with three characters: Emma Huber, Greta Bruckner, and Léonie Salzmann who have been good friends since long time. As the story progresses, we get to meet many other important characters. In this story, we see Emma going through different situations involving love, loss, sadness, heartache, etc.

Emma who has lost many of her people stayed sad for a longer time. But she was kind enough to help Hannah and Sophie. Emma's character caught all my attention in this story.

List of characters given at the beginning of the book helped me to get a better idea about the characters. Cover photo of the book looks nice. Plot of the story is amazing. Length of the novel is longer so this book is suitable for weekend binge reading. If you enjoy reading novels with vast characters, historical fiction then this one may fit your taste. Set in Vienna this story hooked me to it.

[Dianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, great book! Ms. Wittig has created a wonderful story based on events in pre and post WWII Vienna.

Even more interesting and alive than the time and place are the characters; some heroic, some villainous but none you can easily dismiss from your mind. Tragedy and traumatic events shaped their lives like nothing else and I’m talking about more than the Jewish genocide, I’m referring to the evil that people do to others personally. Fear, greed and self-centeredness caused some of the most deplorable acts.

Although there is always a silver lining as was the case here with Emma. She lived a terrible early life, but brought so much value and love to those she took under her wing she triumphed.

Thank you Net Galley and Irene Wittig.

[DianeLikesToRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing novel set in Austria during and after WW II. This is a part of history that I knew little very about. Emma, Greta and Leonie are best friends. We see how their friendships are affected by the war. You will be drawn in right away. The true horrors of war are not sugar coated. But we also see the goodness of people and how people will do what they have to in order to survive.
I like how Irene Wittig put a character list in the beginning of the book. I definitely had to refer to it while reading! The author’s notes at the end also gave me more insight to this topic.
This is a different take on the usual WW II book. If you like historical fiction, this book is for you. The message of guilt and wondering if you did enough will stay with me.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.

[Donna McEachran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.

Another interesting take on the WW2 books, this one set in Vienna from 1934 to 1961. Found some parts disturbing and some characters really unlikable. The main character, Emma, was annoying in some parts but improved as the story went on.

[Brian D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alyce posted All That Lingers by Irene Wittig in our club, and it became a mirror for us. The story helped us think about resilience in our own lives. Sophie’s search for truth made us value honesty even more. Emma’s pain reminded us of our own battles with loss. It was a book that healed while it told.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging historical fiction

Well written, thoughtful fictional account of war torn Vienna leading up to and beyond World War II. The characters were believable and I found myself rooting for them as they fought to overcome the effects of the war on their lives. Really good story.

[Vivien L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really moving so far. Great attention to detail. A great escape and just the antidote to our crazy real life.

[Margaret Wray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story takes you on a journey into Vienna, Austria with the Nazi’s beginning their reign of terror. Very emotional and heartbreaking at the same time. What greed does to people and the feeling of no regret but Marion was unbelievable. Historical facts were interesting and will follow up on these . This will give me some insight into how Austria survived those dreadful years .

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is hauntingly beautiful. How can one call a novel about WWII beautiful in any way? It is beautiful due to the writing that draws the reader in and captures the friendship of three (3) young women who met in school at the age of 6 when a teacher had them line up in alphabetical order, Grünbaum, Hellmann, Huber and it seemed so simple to say, "Friends forever."

The novel begins in Vienna in 1934, and continues to 1961 in New York. In 1934, Greta Grünbaum is now married and we meet her as Greta Bruckner, wife of newspaper journalist Otto. Léonie is now married and we meet her as Léonie Salzmann, wife of physician Josef. Emma Huber is engaged to the love of her life, Theo Berger, Socialist and activist. What could possibly interrupt their lives or even their friendship? It is a saga written of the prelude of WWII, through the darkest days of WWII in Vienna, to the aftermath. There are times of pure joy, times of celebration, times of the deepest despair, times almost unspeakable to live through let alone to remember. It is a novel of friendship and love, betrayal and deceit, secrets and lies, and most of all human resilience with the portrayal of emotions ranging the full spectrum as in life from gut-wrenching to heart-warming.

I have read many novels in the historical setting of WWII but I have never read the perspective of the war from Vienna nor did I have any educational background which made this a more enlightening read. But reading this saga of historical fiction provides more than any history class would reveal as it shares the different aspects of humanity from those who are motivated by power and greed to those that are motivated by caring and service to others. Through the friendship of three (3) women we become personally invested in their survival.

It was a mesmerizing reading experience due to the detail of the author's compelling writing. As politics are revealed, sides chosen, it becomes provocative and thought-provoking to wonder the choices one's family might have made, to wonder what your personal choices might have been. Regardless, it illuminates a difficult time in World history that one can only hope will never be repeated. It is a story I will remember. It is a story I will encourage others to read.

My sincere thanks to Irene Wittig, and BooksGoSocial for my complimentary digital copy of this title, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

#AllThatLingers #NetGalley

[Christine Nassir · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book and I believe that this author should continue to write novels. Really makes her characters come to lif

This was a wonderful book. All of the characters are very believable and you can feel how the feel about situations. Such a historical fiction novel !!!!!

[Oleta S. Kadleck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read

Nice storyline with good character development. A little far fetched in believably. Nicer side of the war and living conditions