This novel grabs a hold of you and doesn’t let go. Armando Lucas Correa’s prose has been described as devastatingly evocative, poignant, and highly emotive, which is all true, but I would add: authentic.
I have read the first two books of this war time trilogy, and each time I felt as if I was right there with his characters, marveling over the sudden baffling changes that occurred in prewar Germany, and the terror that followed, toppling everyone’s existence without a promise of survival.
For the German girl, Hannah Rosenthal, and her parents, their only option in 1939 seems to be leaving everything behind and boarding the St. Lewis, a grand ocean liner, which would bring them to safety in Cuba after obtaining the much coveted visas needed to disembark.
In 2014 Hannah sends a package to the twelve year old Anna Rosen in New York, who is the great niece she has never met, spurring Anna and her mother to travel to Cuba where they discover their family’s turbulent past.
The dual time frames are woven successfully through alternating chapters and generations, giving hindsight a particularly bittersweet edge.
Based on a true story this is a beautiful, yet heartbreaking story about victims trapped by the incomprehensible actions of an unscrupulous regime, and the challenging aftermath of those who survived.
The story of the St. Louisis quite accurate and may inspire further reading.
In the paperback edition of “The German Girl†that I have, there are multiple photos from the actual voyage and the signature of every passenger on board. Each of them have a story.
The author is represented by Alexandra Machinist of ICM, and the book was published by Simon and Schuster Publishing.
“The Daughter’s Tale,†Armando Lucas Correa’s second novel in this trilogy will be reviewed soon!
Thank you! I love this review and your blog
Thank you so much! I love writing this blog and I’m so glad that there is someone out there that enjoys it! Stay tuned for “The Daughter’s Tale,” by the same author, any day now!
Wait…!
Are you Armando Lucas Correa? I’m honored! Your writing is pure brilliance and I think it is important that you’ve brought to life stories that aren’t often told, such as what happened at Oradour-Sur-Glane, or what the passengers of the MS St. Louis had to endure.
As I said before, stay posted, and thank you for reading my blog!