Lilac Girls (Woolsey-Ferriday, #1) in Around the World in 80 Books

Nov 09, 2018 Ellen Librarian rated it really liked it

I listened to this book mostly during a two day car trip. On the one hand, it was engaging (Job #1 for a road-trip book) and it told an important, memorable story. On the other hand, it was often brutal and nearly unbearable. Also, it was one of those books in which the author seemed to have slotted the characters into a story, rather than have a story evolve from the characters, which I much prefer. The result was that not one of the characters seemed fully conceived. Nevertheless, I guarantee ...more

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May 14, 2017 Kay Green rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ww2

I loved this book even though I keep thinking I am done with books that involve WW2 atrocities. This book has three female main characters and one of them is a strong, courageous Polish woman named Kasia!! (My Polish name). It is based on a true story of the Polish prisoners in Ravensbruck, but then extends to the 1950s and the stories of the survivors. I really enjoyed all the references to Polish traditions and holidays. The woman who helps the survivors, Caroline Farraday , was a real person ...more

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May 10, 2020 Jean-Marie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: family, historical-fiction, adult, young-adult, wwii

This WWII novel is based on the real-life story and events of New York socialite Caroline Ferriday and a group of women concentration camp survivors known as the Ravensbruck Rabbits--the Nazi's experimental rabbits left to hop around the Ravensbruck camp following the horrible surgical experiments performed on them. I think the author did a beautiful job retelling this story based on her extensive research, would definitely recommend it to other readers, and am adding Lost Roses, Lilac Girl's pr ...more

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