From the Bookshelf of The Perks Of Being A Book Addict…

Lilac Girls (Woolsey-Ferriday, #1)

Martha Hall Kelly

Start date: April 1, 2018

Finish date: April 30, 2018

Discussion: Group Books of the Month (BotM)

Why we're reading this: April 2018 "flower in the title" themed BotM…more
[close] April 2018 "flower in the title" themed BotM

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 23 topics — 702 comments total

Group Books of the Month (BotM)

* We All Live Here
By Perks Moderat… , Know-it-all · 2 posts · 45 views

last updated Nov 01, 2025 10:35AM

* James
By Perks Moderat… , Know-it-all · 9 posts · 67 views

last updated Nov 01, 2025 10:34AM

showing 10 of 16 topics view all »

Other topics mentioning this book

This topic has been closed to new comments.

September 2016 BOTM nominations
By Kristie , Moderator (Retired) · 7 posts · 177 views

last updated Aug 07, 2016 01:14PM

February 2017 themed BOTM nominations
By Kristie , Moderator (Retired) · 10 posts · 256 views

last updated Jan 07, 2017 10:01AM

2017 Popsugar Reading Challenge
By Kristie , Moderator (Retired) · 122 posts · 962 views

last updated Sep 21, 2017 10:37PM

2018 Popsugar Reading Challenge
By Kristie , Moderator (Retired) · 159 posts · 1025 views

last updated Dec 13, 2018 03:58PM

Book Recommendations
By UNO Pixie , Our UNO Helper · 218 posts · 429 views

last updated Feb 13, 2018 03:20PM

Fill Your TBR Closet - February Mini Challenge
By UNO Pixie , Our UNO Helper · 23 posts · 378 views

last updated Feb 13, 2018 02:35AM

April 2018 Themed BotM nominations
By Kristie , Moderator (Retired) · 13 posts · 243 views

last updated Mar 08, 2018 08:01AM

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly - April 2018
By Kristie , Moderator (Retired) · 18 posts · 156 views

last updated Jun 06, 2018 06:06AM

Team Betelgeuse
By UNO Pixie , Our UNO Helper · 924 posts · 355 views

last updated May 03, 2018 06:35PM

* 2019 Popsugar Reading Challenge
By Kristie , Moderator (Retired) · 138 posts · 722 views

last updated Dec 11, 2019 11:31AM

What Members Thought

Aug 09, 2018 Trisha rated it really liked it

“But it’s fitting in a way—Father loved the fact that a lilac only blossoms after a harsh winter.”

This is a wonderful but difficult story. The fact that it's based in fact- that many characters like Herta and Caroline are, in fact, based on real people (and are real names). That the two sisters, Zuzanna and Katia are based on two girls who were Rabbits, and their bond after finding each other in the camp. Both things blew me away.

I've read quite a few books on concentration camps, but very few ...more

12 likes · Like · see review

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

2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 09, 2018 Radhika rated it really liked it

The audio version of the book was amazing and the narrators brought to life the three perspectives during World War II. How does one commit inhuman acts? How can a person survive these acts and there is another aspect where a person not in the picture tries to right the wrongs and bring peace

Kasha, Herta and Caroline are the women in the story. Kasha along with her sister and mother is in a concentration camp in Ravanel. They are from Lublin Poland. Herta is a German and a doctor who performs su ...more

1 like · Like · see review

May 21, 2016 Amy rated it really liked it

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly is the story of three women at the crossroads of their lives. World War 2 is looming and a New York socialite, German doctor and Polish underground informant share their stories. Each chapter depicts a new layer of their struggles and while one wilts under the pressure, the others blossom and become stronger in order to survive. Readers find themselves rooting for the characters and cheering for their accomplishments.

1 like · Like · see review

Dec 07, 2016 Donna rated it really liked it

4.5 stars

1 like · Like · see review

Feb 15, 2020 Shay rated it it was ok

Shelves: war, historical-fiction

Sadly I just couldn’t get into this one. I normally love books about WW2 and the lives of the people who experienced that horrible tragedy. This book though just didn’t feel like it had any heart to it. The characters were bland and dull. I really wanted to enjoy this. I’m disappointed.

1 like · Like · see review