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A Sparrow in Terezin
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Buddy Read - A Sparrow in Terezin by Kristy Cambron
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Jennifer
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Dec 03, 2020 03:59PM
Hello all! Charmaine and I are reading A Sparrow in Terezin by Kristy Cambron. It is the second in the Hidden Masterpieces collection. Anyone is welcome to join us! We have already started, but aren't very far. Charmaine is in Chapter 6 and I am in Chapter 3. We plan to discuss the book as we read. 😊
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Hello Jennifer and Charmaine,That is great👍🏻
I might join you both.
I shall check it out and see if I can get started on it tomorrow😊
I absolutely loved this book - plus
! Enjoy!!
Diana C. Kobylak wrote: "Hello Jennifer and Charmaine,That is great👍🏻
I might join you both.
I shall check it out and see if I can get started on it tomorrow😊"
Oh Diana, I am sooo excited!!! I was going to message you here in just a minute to see if you were able join us. Yay! 😁
Jennifer you pick such great books I am going to join you. I probably won't get to it until next week. One question do I need to read the first to read this one? Anyone out there can let me know I would really appreciate it!!! Thanks!!
Christine wrote: "Jennifer you pick such great books I am going to join you. I probably won't get to it until next week. One question do I need to read the first to read this one? Anyone out there can let me know I ..."You are so sweet, Christine! 🤗 I feel like it would be helpful to read The Butterfly and the Violin first, but I just LOVE having all of the background to a story before moving on. Maybe others can give their opinions as well?
I would love to read your pick this month but I have so much to read so Jennifer promise me you'll let me know your pick next time so I can read it! I will have to put these 2 books on my TBR. Be thinking what you want next month because I will be ready!
I will definitely let you know!! I am trying to narrow it down... I have some books/series I am wanting to finish this year, and then I have sooo many that I want to read next month!!!
Jennifer, please let me know where we should post comments about the chapters. 😊
Diana, I was just commenting here on this thread (comment #2). I promise I'm much farther than chapter 2, I just haven't had time to post about it. Tomorrow is looking a little slower so I am planning on doing it then!If you aren't able to see my comments, it's because I marked them as spoilers, so you may need to view it on your browser (instead of in the app).
Same here, I can’t view the spoilers on the app. I’ll have to switch to a browser or use my computer 😂 The book is great so far! I like Kaja and the potential love interest. Does anyone know how to pronounce her name?So far I’m on chapter 7! Where is everyone else at? 😊
Hi Charmain,The audible version pronounces it Kaya, with the ah sound.
The Jewish j is pronounced y
Sooo, things got busier than anticipated yesterday... But, today is a nice snowy day with nowhere to go so I will try to get my thought posted after lunch! I just finished chapter 16. IT'S SO GOOD!!!
Hi Jennifer,So you might have a white Christmas if snow sticks around😊
We don’t see much snow here, except ice😋
Okay y'all, here are my thoughts on some chapters I've read. Feel free to jump in and share your thoughts as well so we can get a good discussion going! 😉 I'm on Chapter 18 now, so it may take a few days to catch up!Chapter 3
(view spoiler)
Chapter 4
(view spoiler)
Chapter 5
(view spoiler)
Chapter 6
(view spoiler)
Christine wrote: "I absolutely loved this book - plus ! Enjoy!!"Christine, feel free to join in on our discussion!!! 😁
Hello again. I am not sure how my comments will look, but here goes:Ch. 1: I am not sure why William is being arrested. Sarah's words, "I trust you" do not make sense to me. Trust you with being arrested?
Ch. 2: This chapter is intriguing. Kaya and Hannah (pardon me if I spelled the names wrong. I am reading audibly) have to leave home to escape with their lives. I understand why because I know the jest of the story.
Ch. 3: I am wondering why William's signature is on the loan and on the bill of sale. Did his father sign his son's name? At this point, I am still lost.
Ch. 4: I am wondering why Kaya is starting as a secretary. Is it because she is a woman? The mention of the gas masks inside desk drawers is frightening. The mystery in this chapter for me is that the secretary is editing work and allowed to. And she also seems to be investigating the crossword puzzles. Intriguing. I wonder what she suspects?
Hi Jennifer and Charmain. Did the discussion on this book end?
Diana C. Kobylak wrote: "Hi Jennifer and Charmain. Did the discussion on this book end?"Hi, Diana! I'm still here! As far as I know the discussion is still going on. I'm just reading it slowly but I aim to finish it by this weekend. Over the holidays I was reading Christmas books which slowed me down with reading this one.
I agree with you - I was a little confused about what happened to William at the beginning. I'm sure the story will unravel that mystery as it goes on. I noticed that you finished the book already, so I hope things got resolved by the end of the book :-)
Did you like the audiobook version? I'm reading an e-book version from Amazon.
I'm currently in chapter 7.
(view spoiler)
Jennifer wrote: "Okay y'all, here are my thoughts on some chapters I've read. Feel free to jump in and share your thoughts as well so we can get a good discussion going! 😉 I'm on Chapter 18 now, so it may take a fe..."Hi, Jennifer! About chapter 3 - the wedding scene was my favorite in the book! Crazy! It would make a great movie or something!
Hi Charmaine and Jennifer.Phew: it is good to know you both are still reading. Charmaine, I enjoyed the audio version because I was able to listen while I performed house chores. I have the Libby app from our local library and although I also check out ebooks, I prefer an audio version whenever possible. I tend to read those faster. I’ve also been simultaneously reading two other books, but made sure to speed up the Sparrow book afraid I was left behind😋. I shall engage in the discussion separately. Thanks for the update!!😊
Diana, I am the only one reading, because Jennifer finished the book as well, so I’m working on catching up 😂 feel free to share your thoughts now! Just hide any spoilers until I get to the end 😉 I’m at the part where Kaya confronts Liam about the crossword puzzles.
It’s getting even better! I’m now in chapter 14. That bombing scene in the underground shelter was scary!
Wow, so sorry ladies! This has been a really busy week, so I actually just keep swiping my notifications away instead of actually checking them! Thus, I was clueless to all the comments y'all have posted this week! :OI actually finished the book at the end of December (30th or 31st, I forget), but am still up for discussions! I actually took some notes along the way so as not to forget. ;) Plus, I actually own the book so I am able to flip through at any time should I need a little reminder.
Yes, Diana, even by the time I finished I was still a little confused about the whole thing with William's arrest. It made a little more sense by the end, though.
Charmaine, bombing scene was definitely intense! :O
Ha ha! That’s okay, Jennifer. We definitely understand 😊 And oh no, I was hoping by the end of the book the financial scandal with William would be made more clear! I’m aiming to finish the book over the weekend. Will do my best!
The story became more intriguing the longer I read, especially for Kaya. Will follow up and post today😊
Diana C. Kobylak wrote: "The story became more intriguing the longer I read, especially for Kaya. Will follow up and post today😊"Awesome, Diana! I plan to read more today.
I spent a lot of time reading today so I could finish it! It was so good! I liked the Butterfly and the Violin a little more, but this one was still very good. I did get confused with the ending, though! Is it okay if I say it plainly here, or better to label it with the spoiler tag? I’m typing this on a phone, and I know goodreads doesn’t let us view stuff tagged as spoilers when we’re using a phone to read comments.
Hi Charmaine.Glad you finished reading the book😊
Please feel free to add the info you are wanting to discuss here since we are all done reading. I use my cell phone a lot as well. The ending was my favorite part because there was resolution, though I did have to play a portion over because I was a little lost at first😋
Diana C. Kobylak wrote: "Hi Charmaine.Glad you finished reading the book😊
Please feel free to add the info you are wanting to discuss here since we are all done reading. I use my cell phone a lot as well. The ending was m..."
Thanks, Diana! Yes, it was a lot to take in, especially William's legal troubles. That part got a little confusing but I understood it for the most part.
My confusion is related to the very end, when Kaja and Liam are testifying on behalf of Dane, the Nazi officer who helped Kaja and the children escape the train. I'm wondering why they have to testify and clear his name if he died earlier in the story? It's as if he was alive in the court room. Unless they are trying to clear his name to bring honor to his memory (this was in 1949 after the war ended).
Let me know your thoughts!
Hi Charmaine,Yes, I believe your second answer is correct. After that ordeal was over, there were many who were tried and names documented of those accused of the crimes against the Jewish people. Since Dane was one of the soldiers associated with the evil cause, his name would have been among the others though dead, just as Hitler was. Of course, this story is a fictional account of true events😋
I was mesmerized with Kaja and Liam’s story and was glad the ending was a good one. I did not expect Liam to rescue his love, but he was true to his word!!
Hello Diana, thank you for your input! Makes a lot of sense, and just shows how much I need to learn more about world war 2 history! I agree about Liam - the part when he came to rescue her was so cool. I really liked Dane, too. I wonder how many good nazis like him were out there in history?Overall I really enjoyed this book. I liked The Butterfly and the Violin more, but this was a close second. I loved how the author incorporated little known historical facts into the novel, like the artwork that the children in Terezin created. I actually looked up that Jewish grotto/concentration camp on Google maps, and even the clock tower that Kaja talks about! The book made me want to go back to Europe. I’ve never been to the Czech Republic, but my bus drove through some of it and I was in the airport in Prague to go back home (coming from Poland).
Hi ladies! So I don't have time at the moment to give my thoughts on specific chapters, but here are some overall thoughts:Yes, I was glad to have some (mostly satisfying) resolution at the end, but it was confusing in parts so I had to reread a little as well.
Overall, I don't feel like this was Kristy Cambron's best book but I still really liked it! I just prefer her Painted Castle series more.
I do love all of the little known facts she pulls in as well!I always feel like I'm reading a super cool history textbook when I read Kristy Cambron & Elizabeth Camden!
I agree with Diana, I think they were restoring honor to Dane's name when they testified on his behalf. Though that part seemed a little *too* fast forwarded (is that a word?), and so it seemed a little awkward if an ending. But I was glad for some resolution!
To be honest, I still never realized the whole deal about Will shunning both his dad and his half sister making Sera want to leave him? I mean, the past is in the past, right? I realize he wasn't upfront & honest with her, but it still seems a little harsh to leave your husband over a past offense...
As far as the money & art, I feel like Will honestly thought they were his to sell. I understand that there are still legal issues, because someone has to pay, but - again - why is Sera leaving him over this???
For a time, I wasn't sure who was even going to make it to the end of the book alive! I always comfort myself with if someone is a main character, they will be okay, but Kristy Cambron is so bad about breaking that rule!! She really keeps you on your toes! 😉
Hi Jennifer. I agree with you and was confused as to why Sera would leave Will for something not his fault. Families are entitled to their disputes before the wife comes along.Charmaine, I also looked up Terezin at the beginning, curious because I had not heard of this place where many Jews were also kept. Even the Red Cross trip was mentioned as well as the children’s art work. I love how the author incorporated true details along with fictional account. It’s like Stephen King says, “what if?”
Thank you both for recommending this book and joining in discussion. It was the highlight of my day😊
Jennifer wrote: "Hi ladies! So I don't have time at the moment to give my thoughts on specific chapters, but here are some overall thoughts:Yes, I was glad to have some (mostly satisfying) resolution at the end, b..."
Nice to hear from you, Jennifer. :-) It was great hearing your opinion about the book! I agree, this one was really good but wasn't her best one. I technically rated it 4.5 stars but rounded it up to 5 when I did the starred rating. I liked the Butterfly & the Violin more and preferred the resolution in that one much better.
Jennifer and Diana, I have a feeling that Sera was so upset with Will because she had trust issues. Diana, I don't think you got to read the first book, but in that one, Sera talks about her past that she was formerly engaged but her fiance left her. Since then, she became very guarded. In the first book she was even reluctant to allow herself to fall in love with Will. So in the second book, because she hasn't 100% healed from the trust issues from her past fiance abandoning her, it was hard to trust Will when he kept secrets from her about his past. I could tell that it really frustrated her. So in the end when she finds out all these surprises, it kind of confirms to her that she was right not to trust after all. I agree with you, ladies, that what's in the past is in the past, especially if the person repents of it and moves on. I feel like Sera overreacted to Will confessing about his past. But knowing that she has those deep rooted trust issues, it made more sense. As for the legal battle, I don't think she wanted to leave him because of that, but because she felt it could be resolved if Will just confessed the truth and reached out to his dad for help, which he refused to do at first. I could tell that fact was making her upset and powerless to do anything. She liked having control and taking matters into her own hands.
Diana C. Kobylak wrote: "Hi Jennifer. I agree with you and was confused as to why Sera would leave Will for something not his fault. Families are entitled to their disputes before the wife comes along.Charmaine, I also lo..."
Agreed - I had never heard of Terezin until I read this book! I agree with you ladies that it's nice to learn new things that are true in history within a fictional account. I'm looking forward to reading her Painted Castle series! I also bought her book, the Ringmaster's Wife.
Christian Historical Fiction
Books mentioned in this topic
The Butterfly and the Violin (other topics)The Butterfly and the Violin (other topics)
The Butterfly and the Violin (other topics)
A Sparrow in Terezin (other topics)
