Beneath a Glass Bridge: A WW2 Historical Novel Kindle Edition

A wonderfully detailed story that weaves past, present, and a glimpse of the future. LOADS of history here; great chronicle of the Jewish people through the eyes of one family. It repeats over and over; a fact given in one chapter is often repeated two or three chapters as well. But it's a diary/bio book of a woman admitting her deepest secrets, so probably WOULD repeat a fact that means something to her. The violence is hard to take; and the path of mental health, what causes, what worsens, what makes someone feel too overwhelmed to continue or fight is detailed here in a time when mental illness wasn't understood. What happens particularly to the character of Naomi is heart breaking because as readers of THIS age, we see all the signs and how to help and yet we can't. Helene is a very flawed heroine; there were times I wanted to slap her silly for her actions and careless words. But she, too, is a product of her times, and a Mom who is termed 'a failure at motherhood' really just doesn't know how to cope with a changing world, a war, the shocking unspeakable violence against her and her family and how to show her love. It's this failure which seems genetic. It's a ard Read, which is why I didn't give 5 stars. As a Mom, I can't fathom leaving my kids for months to 'go away and write' (and I'm a writer, too). I also couldn't really like or approve of the scene between Helene and her cousin; all the world frowns on such a close connection. Her treatment of Mike also made me want to shake sense into her. But this book drew me in and kept me reading, a rich multigenerational telling of a time in history we THINK we know well and really don't know at all.SPOILERS:There are scenes of sexual violence, while not 'dirty' described in minute detail, are hard to read.There are scenes of incest. There is Violence. And there are many untied threads.

I like to read historical books about WWII. I began reading this book and was confused all the way through it. It went from one past year to another year the 1990's. People appeared and then the scene changed to a another person or year. I had trouble following the characters and plot since it continually switched to a different time and person. The writing was good and when I was able to follow the plot it was good as well.I appreciate the time and effort it takes to write a novel or try to make the characters stand out during the writing of the "life" of the characters in a book. It takes a lot of effort to keep everything in place and be faithful to the plot. It might have been better served if this author had asked someone to read the book and give ideas for how to transition from one year to another or introduce characters with clear-cut personalities.This book badly needs editing to bring coherence to the people and places. It could be a great book due to the subject matter and was clearly heartfelt on the part of the author. I plan on going back to read this one in a few months to see if it was me or the writing that is the problem. Bottom-line: I appreciate the wonderful idea and plot and will try to read something else from this author. Thank you for all your hard work to make the historical events remind us of what happens when sadistic people can dictate the events that make normal people suffer.

Whether this book was autobiographical of the actual author or the heroine author is irrelevant. However, it was unlike anything I have read before as it was poignant, heart-breaking at times and seemingly cathartic for whichever author was involved. The characters and the situations kept me riveted. Unable to read it in a single sitting, as it is a long book, and with names that are unfamiliar to me, I longed for a listing somewhere of the characters to which I could refer. I spent quite a bit of time going back and forth trying to remember which was which. Overall, I thought it was very good and I'm happy to give it five stars. Emotionally, however, I must agree with another reader in that I found the ending abrupt. I wanted more! Karla B.I received this as an ARC and this is my honest opinion.

The first thing I saw upon starting this book was that it was a work of fiction. I find it so hard to believe, even now having finished it. I want to look up the protagonists other books, mentioned in the story. I have read a lot of wwII stories of the holocaust that took place during the war, but this is the first post war novel I have read. I learned a lot about Israel around that time,. Although I was alive, I was a little child and none of what was happening meant anything to me. This novel was about as good as they come. I enjoyed the characters, the descriptions and the movement between different times.

When I first started reading this story, I got frustrated with the back-and-forth narrative and trying to figure out who each character was, but I was instantly caught up in the story, which really is almost like listening to someone tell it orally. Once I got over my frustration, I grew to love how it is written, and got totally immersed. This is truly one of the most heart wrenching, yet heart warming, novels I have ever read. Hang in there - it is worth every minute.

This book is a difficult read. The heartbreak, horror, sadness throughout the book has been emotionally draining. The psychological path the writer takes us on is a constant emotional rollercoaster. One can feel themselves placed in this book and taken on a one of a kind d journey. I don't think I have ever rated a book 5 stars but I had no choice here. I would put the book down to stop the consistent turmoil I felt only to pick it back up a few minutes later. I did not read it in one sitting but took a few days so I could absorb the emotions that were warring within me.

At first I felt like the writing didn't always flow and it's was hard to follow sometimes as it switches between different dates/timelines, but it gradually comes together to reveal the secrets at its heart. It's hard to put down. I wanted more closure at the end though.

Good read

I found this book riveting. The way the history unfolded. It left you guessing, throughout the book, how the lives of the various characters would turn out out; which just enticed me to pick up the book again and again.