NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERInspired by the incredible true story of one Jewish family separated at the start of World War II, determined to survive—and to reunite—We Were the Lucky Ones is a tribute to the triumph of hope and love against all odds. “Love in the face of global adversity? It couldn’t be more timely.” —Glamour It is the spring of 1939 and three generations of the Kurc family are … is the spring of 1939 and three generations of the Kurc family are doing their best to live normal lives, even as the shadow of war grows closer. The talk around the family Seder table is of new babies and budding romance, not of the increasing hardships threatening Jews in their hometown of Radom, Poland. But soon the horrors overtaking Europe will become inescapable and the Kurcs will be flung to the far corners of the world, each desperately trying to navigate his or her own path to safety.
As one sibling is forced into exile, another attempts to flee the continent, while others struggle to escape certain death, either by working grueling hours on empty stomachs in the factories of the ghetto or by hiding as gentiles in plain sight. Driven by an unwavering will to survive and by the fear that they may never see one another again, the Kurcs must rely on hope, ingenuity, and inner strength to persevere.
An extraordinary, propulsive novel, We Were the Lucky Ones demonstrates how in the face of the twentieth century’s darkest moment, the human spirit can endure and even thrive.
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One of the best WWII books I’ve read (and there are a lot lately). I loved that it’s based on an actual family. Very informative and interesting. Talked about phases of the war I was not aware of. 5stars for sure!
An amazing read!
I have shared this book with my 99 year old mother who tells me it is the most worthwhile read I have passed to her in ages! This family story is inspiring, tragic, sad and we can NEVER let something like this happen to an ethnic group or any group of people again. This is what I call a “ hangover” book….it stays with you for a long time. Inspirational story of survival. ( yes, they all survive).
I really learned a lot (as I usually do when reading historical fiction. Poland was a country I haven’t read about during the war. Extremely sad, but good ending for the family written about – not good ending for so many Poles.
If you want another Holocaust memoir, here is a worthy one. The author traces her family’s survival of the Holocaust – no spoilers on the survival. It is written as historical fiction based on real life, because that is the only way to treat such a subject and come up with realistic dialogue. The book is well-written, but I admit there so many people – each character with a spouse/significant other, and sometimes siblings and parents, there were times I had a hard time keeping track of who was who. A family tree would have been extremely helpful in the book to keep track of names, as well as a map of their journeys. She begins each chapter with historical events to keep the story on a chronological timeline. It’s important to include for those unfamiliar with the history – which would be a lot (except that I’m well versed on WWII and Poland.) Overall the book is a well-researched labor of love that works better than many other Holocaust accounts. Her family must be very proud.
This is the best book I’ve read this year, 2018. Any time you think you’re having a bad day, think of the mother, father, five children, four spouses and other members of their family during the Holocaust in Poland. The experience is riveting and unforgettable. What they went through is absolutely amazing. I’m going to read it again.
This was a WOW book. Loved the characters and resilience of their family. Based on a true story which makes this book even more powerful. If you want a book that tugs on your heartstrings and informs you of history, this is a read for you!
An excellent book. Written in the form of a novel about the author’s family’s experience of the Holocaust.