Cat's bookclub: July 2009 - Book no 23

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

July 2009 - Book no 23

In stead of trying to catch up on books from January, I would rather review them as I go along and catch up on the rest as I go on. As you can see, I am right on track with my target - actually 2 books ahead of schedule, but believe me with what I am busy at present, I am going to need that bit of play.

Book 23: The Secrets of the Notebook by Eve Haas.
I can not find this book at Amazon, but it is published by Harpertrue in the United Kingdom.

Imagine fleeing before the Nazi's and leaving your aged Grandmother behind, hoping she would go unnoticed. Imagine not hearing from her after 1943. Imagine being shown a notebook by your great grandmother on your 16th birthday, just to be denied reading it until you mothers death. And imagine finding out that you are the decedent of one of the biggest war heroes and wealthiest princes to have ever lived. And that you are not even Jewish. And that your Gran was murdered by the Nazis who was one of this prince's biggest admirers.

Yes, this is what Eve Haas finds out in a long search for her origins. It is a well written and fascinating story exploring the Prussian, Nazi era and cold war eras at the same time. What is even more amazing is that this is a 100% true story. I have not told you half of what happens, so do read this little book, it is a great read.
A fascinating 8,5/10

1 comment:

AnonymousAugust 18, 2009 at 12:07 PM
What a great read!
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As a child, my favorite place in the whole world to visit was a book store or the library. I could get lost in them - spend hours and hours. My dream was to have a huge bookstore filled with books. I just love to smell a new book, to hear the pages turn and the back band bend. I love books!I taught myself to read at around age 5 and has never stopped. I can always find the time to read - even while tandem breastfeeding twins, I always have a book with me - in case I have to queue somewhere, in case I have to wait for someone - I'll read. I'll read in the car, while eating lunch, while dressing, everywhere. Not in the bath though - I have way too much respect for a book to subject it to a watery plunge. That's what magazines are for. I buy a lot of books but I also belong to a Book club where we create a pool of books to borrow.

In my PK (Pre-kid) days I used to read a lot - really a lot. About 50 plus books a year! I found that after my children's birth and as they grew up, I read less and less. Not that I'll ever stop! It is just way less than I used to. I never make New Years resolutions, but did decide that for 2009 I will put a goal to myself - to read 36 books this year - that brings me to 3 a month. This blog is an attempt to review and report on my progress - I have a hand written book journal that I have been keeping for years. Off course, I have 6 months of books to catch up on reporting in this blog!

This also creates an opportunity for my friends in the blogging community to see what I am reading, to hopefully participate and give their own comments and to aid them in choosing books to read themselves. I do sometimes read books in my Mother tongue, which might not be available in English, in which case I will try to recommend another book by the same author that has been translated or I will take an older review out of my journal and publish it. Enjoy!