The Bookseller of Dachau

De: Shari J. Ryan

Narrado por: Kelly Burke

Germany, 1939: The roof is the only place no one can hear us. All the lights in the village blur into the darkness, and the flame on my candle flickers, leaving us with just the glow of the stars. “We can’t let them take everything from you,” I say. “Hiding is the only option.”

When Matilda’s childhood sweetheart, Hans, is in danger, she doesn’t hesitate to hide him in her attic. Protecting him from her parents and the soldiers downstairs, she smuggles him food and communicates in whispers. For months, they exist by candlelight. But how long can they survive?

America, 2018: Grace opens a mustard-yellow envelope, and her world unravels. She has inherited a bookstore in the small town of Dachau from the grandmother she had no idea existed.

Grace visits her legacy - a bookshop on a cobbled lane filled with lost memories. She combs through faded photographs and handwritten letters, unearthing the story of a young woman who devoted her life to returning the keepsakes of Dachau prisoners to their families. A woman who was torn from her one true love - who never gave up hope....

As Grace pieces together her family’s heartbreaking past, she discovers the long-buried secret of her own identity. But when she learns the truth, will she ever be the same again?

This heart-wrenching yet hopeful tale will restore your faith in humanity and in the power of love to triumph over evil. Fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Orphan Train, and Kristin Hannah will be blown away.

©2021 Shari J. Ryan (P)2021 Bookouture, an imprint of Storyfire Ltd.

Loved the story despite the fake Boston accent

Fantastic book, narration was great except the attempted Boston accent. Overall a compelling WWII story!

Roller coaster ride of emotions!

This book was so good! I couldn’t turn it off. My emotions were all over the place.

Sweet look into history

I am not sure how I stumbled upon this book but I am glad I did. The story keeps makes you feel as if you are a part of it. The characters are captivating and endearing. ( My only critique would be at the narrator's attempts at accents. I found they distracted me from my listening.) Thank you.

Outstanding WWII Story

I am a lifelong fan of historical fiction, especially WWII holocaust stories. At the age of 64, I have read/listened to many outstanding award winning holocaust fiction books. I have never read nor listened to this perspective told before. And so very well! Unfortunately, I must agree with some of the reviews regarding the poor Boston accent of the narrator! Fortunately, it does not prejudice this wonderful book.

Tearjerker

Well written, couldn’t stop listening. Even had my 16 year intrigued with the book, where now she wants to listen to.

Riveting

A historical fiction laced with love and hope amid desperate times. I couldn't stop listening.

Loved this book!!!

It’s So engrossing I couldn’t stop listening. The narrator is very good and the story just keeps going and is hopeful yet very sad as well. I am buying it for my granddaughters to read.

Suspenseful, heartbreaking

One of the best stories about the holocaust era I’ve read. You fall in love with the characters. Highly recommend!

WONDERFUL LOVE STORY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HOLOCAUST…

I loved this book — it was a fantastic read! I carried my phone everywhere all day and finished the book in one day.

The story features Mathilda and (and her parents) and Hans (and his parents and baby sister), Hans and his family are Jewish; Mathilda and her family are not.

Mathilda and Hans fall in love, but soon after, Hitler proclaims that all Jews will be rounded up, and unbeknown to them, will be placed along with thousands of others in the Jewish ghetto. Hans’ family is allowed to carry only what each of them can carry in a small suitcase.

Conditions in the slums are awful. Mathilda offers to hide Hans in a crawl space behind a wall in her bedroom (and Han’s mother agrees it is a safer place for him). Reluctantly Hans goes and lives basically like a mouse for the next nine months. Mathilda and Hans grow even closer during this time. So close that Mathilda becomes pregnant.

Eventually, the Nazi’s discover Hans’ hiding place (Mathilda’s father turned him in — which caused a “little” familial stress) and hauls Hans off to Dauchau. Soon Mathilda’s father finds out she is pregnant and he is furious because he is sure that this baby, who will be half Jewish, will put all of their lives in danger.

Two weeks after Mathilda gives birth to a beautiful baby girl, Mathilda’s father steals her in the middle of the night and turns her over to an adoption agency who spirits her off to America, without knowing even her name, date of birth or her mother’s name.

The rest of Matilda’s part in the story is devoted to her search for her daughter and about her determination to find Hans. She vows to never give up hope that Hans will survive the concentration camp and someday they will start the rest of their life together.

Meanwhile, in an alternate story line, Grace has inherited a bookshop and apartment above it that was owned by her grandmother, Mathilda, whom she has never met. Just a year or two prior, Mathilda’s daughter (Grace’s mother) had been located.

Once Grace gets the phone call that she’s inherited her grandmother’s bookshop, she makes the impulse decision to hop on a plane and find out about her family history; what happened to Mathilda and Hans? Did he survive the concentration camp? What happened to Mathilda after her father stole her baby and she left home immediately and permanently? How did Mathilda survive on her own?

The author, Ms. Ryan did a wonderful job of weaving together the past and the present and telling the history of Mathilda and Hans and then through Grace as she learns more and more about her grandparents.

The narrator…her “Boston” accent? AWFUL!!! It was so far off the mark it was laughable. However, she did a good job as Mathilda and the other characters.

This was an excellent read. If you enjoyed “The Glovemaker’s Daughter,” and “The Doctor’s Daughter,” you’ll enjoy this book as well.

Great Story

What a great story! I have read many many historical fiction books and this is right up there with some of the better ones.