In war-torn London, 1941, fourteen-year-old Ruth Goldberg and her two younger siblings, Gabi and Hannah, survive the terrifying bombing of their family home. They believe their parents are dead, their bodies buried underneath the burnt remains – but unbeknownst to them, their father, Joe, survives and is taken to hospital with amnesia.Four years on, Ruth stumbles across a newspaper photo of a … photo of a celebrated pianist and is struck by the resemblance to her father. Desperate for evidence she sends him a letter, and as the pianist’s dormant memories emerge, his past unravels, revealing his true identity – as her beloved father, Joe. Ruth sets out to meet him, only to find herself plunged into an aristocratic world of sinister dark secrets.
Can she help him escape and find a way to stay alive?
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I’ve read many books set in WWII, and the most powerful ones take the reader on an emotional journey of suffering, despair, and courage. Letters to the Pianist is one of these powerful books.
The reader is drawn into Ruth, Gabi and Hannah’s story right from the start, each character tugging on your heartstrings as their world is turned upside down when their home is bombed. Split up and sent away to two different relatives, you feel their pain as they struggle to cope with this new reality.
But little do they know that their father is still alive, although he has amnesia and can’t remember anything from his life before the bombing. Now a famous pianist, and married to the daughter of one of the richest men in the country, he is at first oblivious to what is happening around him. When he discovers what his father-in-law really is, he realises that his life might be in danger.
Full of drama and intrigue, and an ending that keeps you turning the pages, this is an emotional read that I highly recommend.
This is one of those books that you would love to give 10 stars to! This book captured me from the first few pages and it was really hard to put down. It starts out in London in March 1941 when a bomb goes off and the Goldberg’s home is destroyed. The three Goldberg children, Ruth 14, Gabi 12 and Hannah 10 are rescued but the parents, Joseph and Rose, are not to be found. The children are sent to live with a relative and subsequently split up with two going to a different relative. Joseph Goldberg wakes up in the hospital with absolutely no memory of what happened or who he is. The story goes on from there and what a story it is. There are lots of characters and different story lines but everything ties together nicely. This was one fantastic read and I absolutely loved it. If you are looking for a great WWII historical fiction read, this is it.
Letters… is an epic saga about family, loyalty, and secrets. It’s a book about forgetting and then remembering, a story about love, loss, and treachery. S.D. Mayes paints a vivid picture of a fascinating tale about a family torn apart by the cruel hands of a madman and brought back together by the delicate fingers of time and fate. This is one of those novels that sings. The rhythm is right and the perfectly paced plot and subplots carefully constructed. The writing doesn’t get in the way of the story but compliments it with great imagery, snappy, authentic dialogue, and action woven in throughout.
In the spirit of The Book Thief, Letters to the Pianist is one of the best novels I’ve ever read and has the makings of a mini-series. The story reads more like a true account than historical suspense/fiction. The characters, and there are many, are carefully and brilliantly crafted to feel real and consistent. Gabi and Hannah are adorable. Ruth is the proverbial heroine, and you fall more in love with her in every scene. Edward is irresistible on the page and a perfectly flawed protagonist. You’re never sure whether to root for or be angry at him. Connie is the clueless victim, and Henry will make your blood boil.
I can’t help but feel I’ve been given the opportunity to be a part of literary history by reading this novel several weeks before it publishes, and I give it my highest recommendation, not just to be read but read slowly, savoring every tantalizing word. It’s quite a mesmerizing journey.
Let me just say WOW, WOW, WOW! When I first heard about Letters to the Pianist a year ago, I was immediately intrigued. The problem with having so much lead time is the fear of disappointment with all of the hype you build up in your head. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case here. Letters to the Pianist far exceeded my expectations!
S.D. Mayes obviously did a lot of research on this project as her descriptions of a war torn London set in the 1940’s paint an accurate picture that the reader has no choice but to jump in head first. Her story is rich with not only the current styles and language, but especially with the fear and heartbreak brought on by the Nazi attacks.
While Letters to the Pianist is a historical fiction and WWII is an important part of the book, the real story is about a family torn apart and how unexpected events pull them back together, both as a family and within themselves. There is a bit of everything in this story: war, love, suspense, even a touch of thriller.
The thing that I love most about this novel is that Mayes has written it from the perspective of several of the main character and allows you to really get to know each of them. She created each of her characters dynamically with depth, personality, and flaws. Ruth: the responsible eldest daughter with self-esteem issues. Joe/Eddie: the loving, seemingly perfect father and husband, stricken with amnesia and trying to make a new life for himself. Connie: the superficial rich new young wife. Adores her husband, Eddie, but knows nothing of true love. And of course there are the supporting characters, family, friends, and lovers that come into play with just a touch depth for you to get to know them well enough to have an attachment without bogging the story down with too many details.
Letters to the Pianist is a true work of art and one of the best books that I’ve read in quite some time. Mayes has created a masterpiece that will not only touch your heart but will get your adrenaline pumping!
A compelling story that traces the challenges faced by a Jewish family in Britain during WWII and the immediate post-war period. The characters are well-drawn and engaging, and their tale is one of unexpected twists and challenges, culminating in a nail-biter of a climax.