(TBR) Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian - 4 stars

[Ellen]

In January of 1945, the aristocratic Emmerich family decides to flee their home in Poland and begin the long trek to the west in order to avoid the Russian army which is relentlessly moving through the area as World War II is coming to an end. The two older Emmerich sons and their father have been conscripted into the German armed forces. Now only Mutti (mother), 18 year old Anna and 10 year old Theo are left to make the journey. They are accompanied by Callum, a Scottish POW who was captured immediately after he parachuted into Poland. The Nazi party allowed Callum to remain with the Emmerich family to help with the heavy farm chores. Now he and Anna have fallen in love and he will do anything to protect her and her remaining family members. As they travel they are joined by a young German soldier named Manfred who, in reality, is a Jewish man named Uri who escaped from a train while being transported to a concentration camp. Uri is a chameleon who is able to assume the identities of many different men in order to survive. He will become a good friend to the Emmerichs as well as their savior on several occasions.

As the Emmerich family joins thousands of fleeing Germans who are hoping to intercept American or British troops, a group of emaciated Jewish women are force marched through freezing temperatures, snow and cruel deprivation by a group of Nazi guards who are determined to keep their captives away from the approaching Russians. The women are treated worse than animals and hundreds of them die or are killed along the way. Very few believe that they will ever see freedom.

I am a great fan of Bohjalian and this was a very good book. The characters of Anna, Callum and Uri are so well-drawn and likable. The story is suspenseful in that you never know who, or if any of them will survive. It is so heartbreaking and unrelentingly sad so be prepared for a difficult read.

[Joanne]

This got added immediately! To h--- with cutting down the TBR-too many good books out there. How will I remember them all if not in list form! Thanks for sharing, this is right in my lane(I am one who never gets enough of the stories of WWII), Suspense, War, Love....oh yes a must read for me!

[Amy]

I loved this one when I read it years ago. Recently on the thread of grace thread, folks are talking about wanting to space out or not read too many World War II books. I adore them and I read them all, but I agree about spacing them out. It’s a hard book to read even though it was incredibly well done. Glad you had a chance to read it Ellen.

[Joi]

Wait, isn't this the same author as The Guest Room?! Does not sound at all like the same genre or writing as some of his other works!!

[Ellen]

Joi wrote: "Wait, isn't this the same author as The Guest Room?! Does not sound at all like the same genre or writing as some of his other works!!"

Yes, he is the same author. This is the 8th book of Bohjalian's I have read and I have to say they are all completely different. He is a versatile writer who is hard to pin down to a particular genre. Can't say I've loved all of them, but most of them have been a very positive reading experience.

[[deleted user]]

Good review. How has this book never hit my radar? I'm glad this was a TBR book you enjoyed.

[Amy]

Rachel, Chris Bojahlin in my opinion is serious hit or miss. A few of his books are brilliant and I count them amongst my life favorites. But there are also an equal number of books of his that I thought were treacherously poor. Skeletons of the feast was absolutely in my rave category. But there are some books of his that I would in touch with an extremely long pole. Don’t really know what to do about the flight attendant.

[Ellen]

Amy, "The Flight Attendant" was not one of my favorites. It was ok until the end and then it sort of went south.

[Joi]

Very interesting! The Guest Room is the only of his I have read, but definitely planning on branching out and reading more. It takes a good author to write multiple genres well!

[Amy]

The double bi d was one of my favorites of his. Of course, Midwives....

[Sue]

This is my Trim the TBR book for this month also. Almost finished reading. I had to put it down for awhile so I could cry my eyes out.

I'll have my review up tomorrow or the next day.