The Hidden Book is a story about the WW2 concentration camps. I’ve read quite a few about this subject but this one comes from a perspective that is nThe Hidden Book is a story about the WW2 concentration camps. I’ve read quite a few about this subject but this one comes from a perspective that is new to me.
It begins in the 1940’s Mauthausen concentration camp. A young boy sneaks passed SS guards to hide a book containing photos of prisoners in the camp. A Spanish POW, Mateo Baca, a photographer, has been forced to take the photos and make 5 books for Nazi leaders. He secretly makes a 6th copy hoping to give it to the Allied soldiers who are rumored to be arriving any day.
It alternates with the story of Hannah Campbell, who in 1980, at 12 years old, comes across the secret album. Her grandfather, Nico, who survived Mauthausen, brought it to Australia when he comes to visit his daughter, Roza, and her family. Roza is angry that Nico brought the book and forbids Hannah from looking at it. This begins Hannah’s lifelong journey to find out why she can’t see the photos and why her grandfather is in one of them.
I didn’t realize that the 3rd generation holocaust children were as affected by what happened to their family. To Hannah it is a double tragedy because she is not allowed to learn about her heritage or the holocaust. It causes a lot of contention between her and her mother.
When she is older and finally visits the sights she is dismayed to see tourists rushing to have their photos taken in the gas chambers, and the infirmary where the doctors did horrible experiments on prisoners. She was hoping to see more respect shown in memory of the people who suffered and lost their lives there. Most of all she wanted to find out how and why her grandfather had the book.
I don’t want to give any spoilers so I will just say the book has an interesting ending that I didn’t expect. The book helped me to learn about the people who helped, some who gave their lives, to bring charges against the Nazi criminals.
Thank you, William Morrow, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley! ...more
DNF The writing was very repetitive and the situations unbelievably contrived. I also read The Paris Daughter and found it okay. I don’t think I’ll trDNF The writing was very repetitive and the situations unbelievably contrived. I also read The Paris Daughter and found it okay. I don’t think I’ll try anymore Kristin Harmel books. I can’t connect with them. ...more
**spoiler alert** The Paris Daughter was an interesting book.
I was surprised to learn about civilian casualties caused by Allied bombs. Apparently th**spoiler alert** The Paris Daughter was an interesting book.
I was surprised to learn about civilian casualties caused by Allied bombs. Apparently the Germans used Paris buildings for headquarters and also for making weapons. The allied army would send notices from the sky, letting the people of Paris know it was going to be bombed and to leave. But sometimes the people couldn’t leave and they would end up getting killed by bombs near the target or bombs that accidentally missed their target. So, basically Paris was getting bombed by Germans and the allied army. Crazy.
I was kind of disappointed when I figured out the plot from the start. I kept wondering how long it was going to take until the author revealed the daughter switch. Then, when the paintings were missing it was obvious that it was the gallery owner who moved to New York. The author just gave too many clues. Basically I listened to the book to find out how Elise was going to find her daughter and if she would get her artwork back. That made the story drag because it all happens at the end! Or course!
It was a good book but I would have liked it more if I hadn’t guessed the plot....more