With the cloud of the Holocaust still looming over them, twin sisters Bronka and Johanna Lubinski and their parents arrive in the US from a Displaced Persons Camp. In the years after World War II, they experience the difficulties of adjusting to American culture as well as the burgeoning fear of the Cold War. Years later, the discovery of a former Nazi hiding in their community brings the … Holocaust out of the shadows. As the girls get older, they start to wonder about their parents’ pasts, and they begin to demand answers. But it soon becomes clear that those memories will be more difficult and painful to uncover than they could have anticipated. Poignant and haunting, The Takeaway Men explores the impact of immigration, identity, prejudice, secrets, and lies on parents and children in mid-twentieth-century America.
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MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
The Takeaway Men follows the Lubinski family and their lives during and many years following the Holocaust. Deciding to leave the Germany Displaced person Camp, they headed to America to restart their lives. I did enjoy the scene as the ship sails into New York Harbor and the family gets a first look at Lady Liberty. I could just imagine the awe of that sight for them.
Author Meryl Ain captures the many situations, feelings, fears, the horrible heartaches and heartbreaks the people had to face during and after the Holocaust. They lost so much, everything they had including family, friends, everything. The authors unique details in each scene, the history on each page makes this story a wonderful read for those who enjoy stories about WWII.
The Lubinski family now lives in Queens NY, with family but they still have their own struggles, the different lifestyle in America was a real culture shock to them all. My favorite characters are the twins, it was fun watching the two as they grow up in Queens, making their own friends, even though life was still hard. There were so many questions, so many secrets, so much happening. And it is all beautifully woven together in this wonderful book that you can read for all of the answers! If you are a WWII buff, you will love this story. And even though it is fiction, so many details here so relevant to things happening today. Grab a copy of Take Away Men today!
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
The Takeaway Men is an excellent historical fiction story. Set after the Holocaust written by Meryl Ain.
This story resonated with me on so many levels. Once I started reading putting it down was impossible. A story of loss, love, secrets, trauma, heartbreak and how important family is.
The story of a Jewish family leaving Poland to a Displaced Camp in Germany. From Germany to being immigrants in America and how they deal with their past, fears and moving forward.
I highly recommend this book.
I received an ARC prior to publication and decided to voluntarily review it. Thank you to Meryl Ain and SparkPress forgiving me the opportunity to read this book.
The Takeaway Men by Meryl Ain is an excellent historical fiction that encompasses several themes. This is a story of trauma, horror, heartbreak, resilience, loss, love, second changes, secrets, and forgiveness.
Through this book, we read not only of just one family’s experience during the Shoah, but of many families and individuals experiences. We learn of events that occurred in Europe, in America, and also learn of their lives that continue on post-war.
The novel starts with one family’s experience from Poland during and immediately after the war, their flight from Poland to a German Displaced Persons Camp, their immigration to America, and their post-war lives. Here in Bellerose, NY we see a community all affected by WWII and how they are all coping with the atrocities. We are first privy to Aron and Judy Lubinski’s inner thoughts as they escape from Europe and come to America to stay with Faye and Izzy Lubinski (Izzy was Aron’s father’s first cousin) in their home with their twin girls.
As they adjust and learn to create a second life, the narrative jumps from one person’s mind and perspectives to others. We are able to get inside the thought processes of Faye, Izzy, Aron, Judy, neighbors: Lenora, Jennie, Irv, Jakob, Eva, and others. We also get to see inside the twin girls’ thoughts (Bronka and Johanna) as young girls and as they grow up.
Everyone in this community has experienced this horrific situation in one way or another. Some experiences more traumatic then others. Each person has their own identity and their own way of working through their experiences and how they cope with the after effects. Some talk openly about their experiences, others chose to smother their fears and feelings negatively affecting their own relationships and lives.
There are secrets throughout. It seems as if almost everyone is hiding something or someone. It is fascinating to see the human psyche and to see how flaws are justified and addressed. I absolutely loved to read through the changes (time period wise and maturing wise).
This book was definitely not what I thought it was going to originally be, however I was pleasantly surprised. This book, I feel is unique, and very much needed. To be able to jump from one person to the next and see inside into the deep recesses of their souls, was breathtaking.
As a fellow person of the Jewish faith, it is vital to continue to express, support, and acknowledge the atrocities that occurred to our people, as well as so many others and continue to educate future generations to avoid this from ever occurring again.
Excellent 5/5 stars
Thank you EW and SparkPress for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.