Martha Hall KellyBesprekingen

Historical fiction during the Russian Revolution and WWI taking place in Long Island NY, Paris, and Western Russia. Depicting the life of Eliza Ferriday, a NY socialite, and fictional Russian women and families who were caught up in the Bolshevik Revolution. The story provides good insights into the times and lives of both wealthy and poor Russian people. Especially in the early parts of the book the writing is very compelling and keeps the reader excited and wanting to see what happens next.

It was a good book. It took place during the civil war. Two sisters become nurses.

I love this authors previous books as she puts so much research and personal touch to her historical fiction inspired by true events. This one I found challenging to piece together the stories with the alternative times from different POV in different time lines. It starts in 1952 Fort Bliss, TX and Paris, France back to past events in 1943.

Josie Anderson from Fort Bliss, Texas and Arlette LaRue from Paris, France work undercover during the war for the French Resistance stealing Nazi secrets and would eventually be discovered by the Gestapo. The Nazis arrested them and were imprisoned in the Ravensbruck concentration camp with their families where they endured unspeakable crimes.

A decade after WWII, the two former female spies are contacted to risk their lives once more to help track down an infamous Nazi doctor who performed dangerous experiments on people. Both woman also want to avenge the pain the Nazis had inflicted on their families during the war.
Lieutenant Josie Anderson working for the US Army intelligence learns about how certain Nazi scientists were given refuge if they agreed to work with the US government. In doing so they could avoid imprisonment in Germany for war crimes. There was one doctor in particular who remained a risk as he was being sought by the Russians who wanted to lure the talented scientist. Dr Snow was an elusive, virologist and gynecologist who performed inhumane experiments during the war on humans. This is where Josie and Arlette come in as they have their own personal reasons for wanting to see Dr Snow behind bars.

This is a story about trust, survival and resilience.

I feel the author may wanted to include too much information into the novel that some parts didn't feel authentic. I am rounding up my review as I know the author does extensive research from her other spectacular historic novels.

This novel has so much - spies, powerful women, a fight for justice, and more - but I struggled to get through the book and I had trouble connecting with the characters. I'm certain other readers will love this book, but I felt like there was almost too much happening for a good story.

Beautiful weaving together of stories from vastly different viewpoints: the good, the bad, the ugly. Set in World War II and over the decade and change after it, the stories of three women unfold and gradually intertwine. Excellent storytelling, well-defined characters with assets and flaws, an enjoyable reading experience.

"Sunflower Sisters" by Martha Hall Kelly is the first book that I have read in the Lilac Girls series. As other reviewers have posted, it's not necessary to read the series in order. I did not feel that I missed out on any vital information by not reading the previous novels in the series. The plot follows the lives of two of the Woolsey sisters, Georgy and Eliza, as they find themselves in the middle of the civil war. Even though they are from a wealthy family, they long to make a difference and assist in the war effort in any way they can. Georgy (Georgeanna) follows her passion for nursing. The sisters find themselves traveling from New York to Washington D.C. to Gettysburg. What made this novel enjoyable, was the fact that it also intermingles the lives of Jemma (a runaway slave), her family, other slaves, and her "owner". The story is well-written and an enjoyable read. There were a few times throughout the novel that it lagged a bit. Hence, the four-star versus five-star rating. If you enjoy historical fiction, this is a novel that I would recommend.

This book left me with many emotions. The evils and injustice that were the narrative of the lives of the prisoners during Hitlers reign are enough to snap breath from you. I confess that it took me a minute to get into this book. Felt it challenging to follow the characters at first although that may have been more my issue than the authors. But as I got going, I spent every free moment reading. My favorite part of this book is the hunger it gave me to know more. To look up the real-life bios of the characters that the author spoke of. I agree with one reviewer that Caroline could have had a little more depth in the novel as she was an amazing woman. The high society topics were my least favorite yet I came away from the book wanting to know more about the woman in the midst of it. To think that this was a first-time novel is mind blowing at best. So well done. I can't wait for the next one! I liked that this gave me a good experience with historical fiction because I have a hard time with the genre and this book made me more interested and curious so it was a win win for me.

I chose this book because I enjoyed The Nightingale. Lilac Girls was good but significantly more graphic than The Nightingale in the horrors of this era and listening to it in an audiobook made it more difficult to get through the 'tough' spots. I am glad I continued the book when I wasn't sure if I could and look forward to researching the nonfictional portions of the story further.

DNF

It's been a while (at least a year) since I finished Lilac Girls but I think this book was better. I'm sure that part of the reason why I feel that way is because it doesn't deal with Nazis or the same level of atrocities that the first book dealt with. It still has its own war sadness and disgust but at least it's a bit lesser.
I loved all of the characters except the villains (of course). But, truly, I think that's because they just seemed a bit unbelievable in a lot of their actions. They were also left at the end with a big ??? which I thought was slightly strange given the detail of everyone else's stories and how they wrapped up.

I tried reading this book - twice - and was unable to get into it and care. So, I tried the audio book and I'm so glad that i did. This is the best audio book I've heard yet with the actors portraying the characters. It really brought the book to life.

I look forward to book three showcasing the cival war and the great great grandmother Woolsey.

The Golden Doves. A pair of brave young women who became known for their daring acts in the French Resistance. American Josie Anderson and Parisian Arlette LaRue face harrowing consequences when they're captured by the Gestapo and sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp. A decade later, Josie works for U.S. Army intelligence and pursues a notorious Nazi doctor, while a stranger offers Arlette hope of finding her long-lost son. Together, the Golden Doves embark on a perilous journey across Europe and French Guiana, uncovering horrifying secrets and risking everything for justice and their loved ones.

I really wanted to like this one, especially with how much it was based on true stories and facts. The author did an excellent job highlighting the unfairness of how Nazi officers escaped justice for the crimes they did. Also, the horror of the continued experiments was also shown well.

However, I didn’t like either main character. Throughout the story, I found them both unlikely spies and I was frustrated by the decisions they made. It was hard to believe either of them had been trained in espionage. They also seemed to fall into bed with every good looking man who crossed their path. And would continue to sleep with them, even when they didn’t trust them.

Overall, I found this a difficult book to get through. I appreciated the details of life after World War II, but would have liked characters that I could actually like. I received an ARC through NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.

This is an extremely important piece of writing insofar as it shines a blinding light on a country’s complicity in the horrors of war and how far powerful men will go to gain their objective. I took a long time reflecting on this book before trying to review it because so much of it was so difficult to explain and embrace. Murderers treated to tennis whites and court time and forget about the horrors they perpetrated, in their torture chambers, on innocent women. There is so much ugliness, so much misplaced rationalizing, and that may be the best we can say about those perceived to be the good guys. Those described in The Golden Doves are damaged survivors who are willing to follow instructions almost blindly, searching for the enemy, a lost son, and ultimately their betrayers.

Meticulously researched, slow going at times, I kept coming back to how much can be forgiven, while insuring that this story will not be forgotten. Thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for a copy.

read 2023

Martha Hall Kelley's page-turning novel, a historical fiction that spans from 1939 - 1959, braids together three compelling first-person narratives about women in the throes of World War II. We meet a hero, victim, and villian as Martha shares the complexities of each of their lives: loves, loss, hope, despair, triumphs, and choices - which at times were difficullt, limited, or non-existent.

1) Caroline Ferriday, the real life heroine that inspired the book, was a former Broadway actress and New York City socialite turned philanthropist who volunteered at the French Embassy and was involved with the Association des Déportées et Internées Résistantes to provide relief to French orphans. She had a complex affair with a married French actor. Among Caroline's heroic accomplishments is that she brought Polish women who were subjected to cruel Nazi medical experimentation at Ravensbrück concentration camp to America for treatment.

2) Kasia Kuzmerick, a lively teenager in Lubin, Poland with a mad crush on her best friend, begins to work with the Underground Resistance. Her efforts to help save others results in her imprisonment by the Gestapo at Ravensbrück, ("Hitler's Hell for Women"), the largest concentration camp for females in Nazi Germany. She was taken along with her mother, Helina, and her sister, Zuzanna, neighbors and friends. Kasia is a conglomeration of prisoners and the only one of the three main characters that is not based on a real person.

In her story, the Nazi doctors removed nerves, bone, and muscles from Kasia's leg, resulting in unrelenting pain and disability. Due to being injured as a Nazi lab animal, she hobbled and hopped like a rabbit, which is why the female victims at this sadistic prison were called "Ravensbrück Rabbits." There is nothing more despicable to me than "doctors" putting innocent women under anesthesia and surgically assaulting them for their own twisted purposes.

3) Herta Oberheuser, was the real life Nazi physician and war criminal who worked at Auschwitz and Ravensbrück concentration camps. At Ravensbrück, Oberheuser was assistant to Karl Gebhardt, then Chief Surgeon and Heinrich Himmler's personal doctor. There, Herta gave lethal injections, sent women to gas chambers, and performed grotesque, inhumane experimental surgery on the Polish political prisoners. "Doctor" Oberheuser deliberately inflicted surgical wounds and then rubbed bacteria, wood, rusty nails, and slivers of glass in the open areas trying to cause gangrene. The goal was to emulate combat wounds of German soldiers to find a cure for their war injuries.

Herta Obenheuser was tried at Nuremberg where she was sentanced to twenty years, but let out in five. I disagree with this little "hand slap" for this contemptuous person.

I found Lilac Girls by reading samples from one hundred books on Amazon, mostly historical fiction. Martha's writing rose to the top as I immediately connected with her style. I'm glad I choose this book, which is a deeply moving page turner with descriptions so vivid I felt as if I were in the story. I enjoy the author's use of metaphors, her sharp storytelling skills, and choice of subject. I finished reading this last week; the story has stayed with me.

I chose this as an audio book and I am so glad I did. The accents and the power of the narrators' voice really helped. It is about a woman who finds herself pregnant while at a WWII concentration camp. The woman's sister writes to the baby about the hardships they face in keeping her sister's pregnancy a secret.

This longish review contains spoilers. They aren’t major, but if you are new to the book and want to read it with a virgin mind, as I did, read the book first and then read the review.

Lilac Girls (Martha Hall Kelly, author) is the story of three women and a war: American Caroline, Polish Kasia, and German Herta. The setting and plot is World War II Nazi-occupied Poland (because World War II creates its own plot).

I read the Kindle version, with no prior research. Below is my experience as I moved through the story (and this is where you want to stop if you don’t want spoilers):

Each main character has her own first-person voice. Chapter One (I promise I am not going to walk through each chapter), devoted to Caroline, is frenetically paced. We learn that Caroline used to act on Broadway and that she now works for the French Consulate in a New York City described in excessive detail. The chapter ends with the news that Hitler has invaded Poland, closing with the words “May God help us all,” as spoken by the maître d’ at a restaurant.

Chapter Two is Kasia’s voice, and the contrast between the simplicity of her world and the clutter of Caroline’s New York is striking. The description of the first Nazi attack on Kasia’s city of Lublin is evocative, with genuine beauty amidst the slaughter.

Chapter Three is the voice of Dr. Herta Oberheuser, Nazi doctor. We all know what Nazi doctors did, and this is the case with Herta. Even speaking in the first person, she appears on the inside to be what we see on the outside – a loyal Nazi with scorn for the weak.

My experience of the three voices as presented in these chapters held true throughout the novel: Caroline is presented awkwardly but with obvious fondness on the author’s part, with real celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe dropped clumsily into her universe. Wallis Simpson makes an appearance and Norman Cousins is present for much of the last part of the book. This apparent name-dropping was odd and very noticeable; the author’s presence is felt so strongly I wanted to look for her fingerprints in the margins.

Kasia’s words I read without any sense of intrusion by the author. Her characterization and her narrative are natural and believable. Interestingly, Kasia addresses the reader directly in the opening sentence of Chapter Eight (“what you must understand . . .”). I am curious about this choice; it happens nowhere else in the novel.

Herta remains a cardboard character. There is no expression of sadistic pleasure in the atrocities she has committed; neither is there remorse, except for the possible shadow of a hint of regret about Malina, Kasia’s mother. Any questions we might have about her motivation remain completely unanswered.

There are no plot twists; this is a story of Nazi atrocity and its aftermath.

I wondered about the contrast in writing style between characters – Caroline and Kasia, specifically. Kasia was written so beautifully, while Caroline’s world was populated with superfluous characters and events. When I finished the book, I read Kelly’s note at the end and I understood something that probably every other reader already knew:

This is based on a true story, and two of the three main characters are based on people who existed. Would I have experienced the story differently if I had known that? Probably; I would have fact checked every celebrity who showed up in Caroline’s life as well as every action taken by Oberheuser. I’m glad I didn’t do this; I only had one chance to read this with fresh eyes.

Caroline Ferriday2 existed. Martha Hall Kelly researched her exhaustively and tried her best to bring Caroline to life, including tidbits that were historically accurate such as celebrity name dropping. The author’s notes state that she did try to incorporate some of Caroline’s own words into the story.

Herta Oberheuser3 existed. She was tried and sentenced to prison for the atrocities she committed, as depicted in the novel.

Kasia, the most beautifully and naturally written character, did not exist, although she was based on a real person. Ms. Hall Kelly didn’t have to write to fit historical facts or characterizations, and without all that clutter she was able to produce a believable, authentic character.

I’ve had a couple of readers comment that they wondered why Caroline Ferriday is even part of the story. It’s because Caroline is the catalyst. The real Caroline facilitated the healing of a number of Polish women who suffered crippling injuries as a result of Herta Oberheuser’s ‘experiments,’ and she was also instrumental in the loss of Oberheuser’s license to practice medicine after the war. A visit to Caroline’s family home was the author’s inspiration for the book.

Would I read this again, knowing what I know about the plot and characterization? No, and I will not be reading the prequel, Lost Roses. Wartime fiction is just not my cup of tea. However, I am grateful for the new historical information made available to me by Martha Hall Kelly, and I am likely to do a bit more reading about Caroline Ferriday in particular.

FOOTNOTES:

1All The Light We Cannot See (Anthony Doerr) I put off reading this book for a long time due to my general dislike of WWII fiction, and I was so glad that I finally did read it. It’s fresh and original, with a good bit of whimsy.

2There is an abundance of information on Caroline Ferriday online, including photos of Caroline and photos of the women who are represented in this book.

3The infamous Herta Oberheuser is also easy to locate online.

This is the story of two young women, Josie Anderson and Arlette, who had served as resistance fighters in France during WWII. They were dubbed Golden Doves when they were able to provide sensitive information to the British by listening into Nazi transmissions. It is told in two time frames, 1943-45 and 1952. Josie is an Army captain who seeks out German scientists for Project Paperclip, a program to recruit former Nazi scientists to the US before Russia can recruit them for their knowledge. Both had been sent to Ravensbruck when they were arrested when a young homeless girl, Fleur, sought safety in their home in Paris. Josie's father was a diplomat and Arlette now works in a cafe in Paris. She had a young son, Willie, which she lost while at Ravensbruck. Josie is trying to locate Dr. Snow to recruit him to Project Paperclip. Dr. Snow is a physician who experimented on the women at Ravensbruck and also selected which women would be transported to their death. She travels around Europe seeking information while Arlette follows a lead on her son to French Guiana at the behest of Luc Mineau and his mother Doria, where she finds Father Peter Vogel in charge of an orphan camp with European boys and Maroon boys. Arlette knows something is not right about the camp, but she wants to find her son Willie.

Martha Hall Kelly is one of my favorite historical fiction writers. Lilac Girls is in my Top 1o favorites. I find that I learn things about WW II that I knew nothing about.

Dual timeline, told in two different voices, Josie and Arlette, young resistance fighters in 1942 trying to help end the war. Thrown together initially, they form a bond like no other. They become quite notorious, ending up being captured and sent to Ravensbruck Camp, housing women and children, and many horrendous experiments are carried out. Fast forward to 1952 and Josie is working for the US on Operation Paperclip, a little know (to me) operation trying to locate high ranking Nazi official before Russia can claim them as their own to use their knowledge. Arlette is working in a Paris cafe and still looking for her son that went missing at Ravensbruck. The Golden Doves are working together again but will they be successful on this mission?

A beautiful, gut wrenching story told with compassion and honesty extolling the horrors women encountered at the Ravensbruck camp and the atrocities still being carried out in 1952 by Nazis hiding and protected in South America. It was infuriating to see how these high ranking officials were protected by many countries, the Vatican included, in South America and were sought after by Russia, USA and others for their knowledge on germ warfare. As a history geek, I enjoy reading stories where I learn so much. Remember history so we may never allow this to happen again.

Thanks to Random House/Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.½

This is an excellent book! I cried a few times! I love how there were true life characters as well as fictional. My mom personally experienced some of what was shared in this book and it gave me an opportunity to ask her questions throughout my reading of the book.

This story is told in alternating time lines. During WWII, Josie and Arlette work for the French resistance. After being discovered, they end up in the Ravensbruck concentration camp. A decade after liberation, Josie is working for US intelligence, and accepts a mission to hunt down a Ravensbruck camp doctor. In France, Arlette is given a tip about the child who was taken from her in the camp.

This first half of this book felt like a sequel. It felt like I was missing vital information and had to make some guesses about the story. The two main characters were pretty compelling and very likeable. I think the book could have used some revision and editing to make it flow more smoothly, but overall it was a good read.

Josie Anderson, an American and Arlette LaRue, a Parisian, are working together to help the French resistance. They are named the Golden Doves. They eventually get caught by the Gestapo and are sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp. This is where Arlette’s son is stolen. A decade later, she is still on the hunt. She believes in her heart he is still alive. Josie now works for army intelligence and she searching for a Dr. Snow. These two team up to help each other. But, as you can guess nothing goes as planned.

I love Josie and Arlette. These two are tough in different ways. They compliment each other. Arlette is a bit softer to Josie’s toughness.

I knew about the USA and Operation Paperclip, I just don’t think I believed the extent of it. This book opened my eyes to the lengths the USA tried to get the scientist and the doctors to the States before Russia did.

Now, this is a five star read for me but, it is not without problems. I did feel the story is a bit coincidental and far fetched, especially at the end. However, the intensity and the emotional feelings of this story is spot on. This is what keeps drawing me to this author. I have been a fan since I read The Lilac Girls …another must read. And this is, I don’t want to say sequel, but it does follow some of the same characters. So, if you get a chance, grab this book too!

This is one of my favorite time periods. WWII always creates so much emotion for me. I just can’t fathom the loss, anger, and hurt that this period in history caused for everyone involved.

Need an intense story you will not soon forget…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly is Historical Suspense Fiction during and post World War II. Danger is everywhere, medical experiments, nightmarish secrets, psychological torment and unbelievable evil. Spies who want to find Nazi criminals and bring them to justice. What and whom do these criminals know that will keep them from just punishment?
Historical facts are woven into a fictional story and make it seem very real. Admirable characters that do what they must to survive and bring justice. Evil and darkness involving people and places where you least expect it. Thrills and suspense keep the reader on the edge to the final pages.
The Nazi’s with their evil socialism, control, policies, technology, laws, camps and experiments are the foundation for this book. This book brought to my mind the similarities in 21st Century oppressive actions of most world governments in the last few years.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. Well Done 5 Stars

This book grabbed my attention from the first chapter. Even though the story is about World War II, Martha Hall Kelly puts a different spin on this one and takes readers to two different timelines, one during the war and the other ten years later.

The story centers around two young women with very different backgrounds who were thrown together working for the resistance in France. Through their work, they become close friends, developing a successful working relationship.

Inevitably, they are discovered, though not for what they were actually doing. Sent to Ravensbruck, the two women became familiar with some of the infamous Nazi doctors. Thankfully they survive and ten years later are moving on with their lives.

Josie works for US Army Intelligence and Arlette is working in a cafe in France, when they each set out on separate paths for very different reasons. Arlettte is still trying to find her son and gets a good lead on where he might be and Josie is sent to Europe to hunt down one of the infamous Nazi doctors from Ravensbruck.

Eventually their paths collide and Josie and Arlette find themselves working together once again. The story moved at a brisk pace and I was continually engaged. I especially liked how Kelly included the Operation Paperclip program into the story.

Readers who love thrillers, history and spy novels will enjoy this story. Also there is a bit of a surprise in the ending.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group—Ballantine for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to recommend this novel and give my honest review.

If Jodi Picoult were to do historical fiction, this book would be just like that! Lilac Girls tells the story of the Polish "rabbits" . . .femal prisoners sent to the Ravensbruck concentration camp during World War II and experimented upon by the doctors that worked there. The book is told from three different perspectives: an American charity worker, a Polish prisoner, and a German doctor. It definitely has some difficult moments, as you might imagine if you've read anything about World War II and concentration camps. Kelly gives the reader some breaks by weaving in some romance . . .which I found to be more distracting from the story as opposed to enhancing it. The parent/child relationships were more powerful and interesting.

Overall, I liked it, but felt as though it could have been a little shorter. Up through the end of the war, is five stars, but the post war section seemed a little more rushed and less compelling. All in all a very good read on a hard topic, and one I think a wide range of readers would appreciate.

It's always hard to rate and review books about war.

The book is told from the 3 girls' perspectives. And it was pretty interesting to read about how the beginning of the war affected all of them, considering they lived in different countries. Herta's parts surprised me the most. After the first chapter from her point of view, I thought it would be the story of an innocent German girl who wasn't in favour of the war. And later I was just disgusted at all the things she did.

I also enjoyed Kasia's story, especially after the war. The writer didn't just make her thankful and happy to go on with her life. Instead, we see how the war influenced the lives of many other people even many years afterwards. Usually, when we think of war we tend to think of those who died or were injured at that time. So, this novel made me realise that there are always much more people who suffer in the other way - mentally.

I appreciated learning about one more side of World War II. I hadn't heard of the Rabbits before so the novel made me look for more information about those experiments.

There were some particularly cruel and too vivid scenes for me in the novel. I'd rather not have them included.