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Lila
Sarah and Lila both born in 1946, 11 months after the war, on the same day, minutes apart, in a displaced persons camp in Germany, were seen by their parents, Holocaust survivors, as a miracle, and their lives destined to have a bond that would never be broken. They were ... wrong.Both families relocate to the United States, and settle in the South Bronx, in the same neighborhood and building, to start their new lives. By the end of the summer of 1960, everyone finds themselves in the turmoil of love, friendship, and competition. Secrets are disclosed; accusations are made ... leading to an act of vengeance.LILA is the story about the experiences and complexities of coming of age, complicated by parents forever scarred by the Holocaust.
239 pages, Paperback
First published March 4, 2020
About the author
Rose Ross
4 books7 followersRose Ross was the first child born in the Neustadt, Germany displaced persons camp (1946). “Growing up in the Bronx, the only child of Holocaust survivors, affected me deeply, filling up my mind and the very air I breathed, ” says Ross. “Their story, and the stories of other survivors, and the second generation of the children I grew up with were the motivation for Lila – my first novel at age 73!”
Ross, a former actress, was a Board Member of Stageworks/Hudson and The Chatham Film Club/FilmColumbia Film Festival, a nationally recognized film event, known as “Cannes in the Hudson.” She continues today as an active participant in film-related programs in Delray Beach. She is the author of Tar Beach Memories, a screenplay about growing up in the Bronx. Ross is currently working on a stage play exploring the relationship with her mother, set in the safety of movie theaters, over a period of 40 years.
Ross, a former actress, was a Board Member of Stageworks/Hudson and The Chatham Film Club/FilmColumbia Film Festival, a nationally recognized film event, known as “Cannes in the Hudson.” She continues today as an active participant in film-related programs in Delray Beach. She is the author of Tar Beach Memories, a screenplay about growing up in the Bronx. Ross is currently working on a stage play exploring the relationship with her mother, set in the safety of movie theaters, over a period of 40 years.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 14, 2020
Born into an intergenerational legacy of pain, guilt and trauma, children of Holocaust survivors are a delicate breed. Where some members of the second generation overcompensate for the horrors visited upon their parents by becoming overachievers, others, like the eponymous “Lila” in Rose Ross’ wrenching and unsettling new coming of age novel, act out. In Lila’s case, the havoc she wreaks has devastating consequences, culminating in tragedy.
The daughter of Holocaust survivors, beautiful and damaged Lila grows up in the same New York City apartment building with Sarah. Like Lila, Sarah is also a daughter of survivors and was even born in the same displaced persons camp in Germany after World War II. With so much in common, you would think the two would naturally gravitate toward each other, becoming surrogate sisters, the best of friends. Instead, Lila treats Sarah with a mingling of contempt and suspicion. To Lila, Sarah is someone to persecute and play mind games with. But, as written with great nuance and psychological understanding by the author, Lila is very much a victim as she is a victimizer.
Lila’s big problem, which she cannot escape, is her toxic family. Her father has an unseemly obsession with her that is troubling to say the least while her mother is ravaged with jealousy and hatred toward the girl. It’s a disturbing dynamic rendered more so when set against Sarah’s loving and stable family environment. With this kind of upbringing, small wonder Lila is her own worst enemy. And it is this self-destructiveness that sows the seeds for Lila’s ultimate ruin.
Ross, herself the child of Holocaust survivors, has written a poignant novel that is both unforgettable and haunting. It’s a must-have for anyone’s bookshelf. Highly recommended.
I received an early copy of this book in advance for a fair and honest review
The daughter of Holocaust survivors, beautiful and damaged Lila grows up in the same New York City apartment building with Sarah. Like Lila, Sarah is also a daughter of survivors and was even born in the same displaced persons camp in Germany after World War II. With so much in common, you would think the two would naturally gravitate toward each other, becoming surrogate sisters, the best of friends. Instead, Lila treats Sarah with a mingling of contempt and suspicion. To Lila, Sarah is someone to persecute and play mind games with. But, as written with great nuance and psychological understanding by the author, Lila is very much a victim as she is a victimizer.
Lila’s big problem, which she cannot escape, is her toxic family. Her father has an unseemly obsession with her that is troubling to say the least while her mother is ravaged with jealousy and hatred toward the girl. It’s a disturbing dynamic rendered more so when set against Sarah’s loving and stable family environment. With this kind of upbringing, small wonder Lila is her own worst enemy. And it is this self-destructiveness that sows the seeds for Lila’s ultimate ruin.
Ross, herself the child of Holocaust survivors, has written a poignant novel that is both unforgettable and haunting. It’s a must-have for anyone’s bookshelf. Highly recommended.
I received an early copy of this book in advance for a fair and honest review
March 31, 2020
It has been awhile since a book has captivated me like Rose Ross’s LILA. It is a beautifully written story about the coming of age Sarah and Lila, children of Holocaust survivors. The tale unfolds in their post-war South Bronx neighborhood in the late forties and fifties.
Like the story itself, Ms. Ross’s writing style is honest and unpretentious. Written in the first person from each character’s point of view, LILA wrapped itself around me as if I was part of the experience. Sarah and Lila come to life through their own actions and reactions rather than through the author’s descriptions of them. This simplicity of style makes for a very authentic, readable book.
The author brings to light a unique perspective on the Holocaust, how the atrocities of the War pass from one generation to the next. Two families’ intertwined lives carry the indelible imprint of long ago events. In her deft and subtle treatment of the subject, Ms. Ross conveys the existential reality of the Holocaust’s lasting effect. As Sarah says in the Prologue, these “horrors… seeped into our souls.”
I could not put LILA down.
Like the story itself, Ms. Ross’s writing style is honest and unpretentious. Written in the first person from each character’s point of view, LILA wrapped itself around me as if I was part of the experience. Sarah and Lila come to life through their own actions and reactions rather than through the author’s descriptions of them. This simplicity of style makes for a very authentic, readable book.
The author brings to light a unique perspective on the Holocaust, how the atrocities of the War pass from one generation to the next. Two families’ intertwined lives carry the indelible imprint of long ago events. In her deft and subtle treatment of the subject, Ms. Ross conveys the existential reality of the Holocaust’s lasting effect. As Sarah says in the Prologue, these “horrors… seeped into our souls.”
I could not put LILA down.
March 18, 2020
Evidence shows that the children of Holocaust survivors, referred to as the Second Generation, can be deeply affected by the horrific events their parents experienced. This intergenerational transmission of trauma is clearly and subtly depicted in the absorbing novel "Lila" by Rose Ross.
It’s the story of three Second Generation kids as they grow into adolescence in their 1950’s Bronx neighborhood. Short chapters rotate between the points of view of Sarah, whose loving parents contrast with those of her nemesis Lila, and Sarah's beloved best friend, the gifted Michael, who grapples with the awareness of his never-made-explicit homosexual longings. All three nurture dreams of artistic accomplishment and fame. Every voice is distinct, recalling the turmoil of the teens, drawing the reader into each character’s point of view of the same events.
Their relationships are nuanced, intertwined with those of their parents, each of whom is damaged in a different way by the past. The plot develops with a light touch, as these kids start to grow into who they will become, for better or worse.
Each character is portrayed, warts and all, with compassion and subtlety. Ross shows us that survivors (and perhaps all of us) contain both victim and aggressor, and that, under certain circumstances, dark impulses may awaken within each of us. This is a satisfying book, a page turner. I felt I had briefly inhabited that old-timey Bronx neighborhood where all the neighbors knew everyone’s business and folks brought platters of appetizers to the New Year’s Eve Party in Apartment 4B. In the end, I felt richer for reading this book. I’m perhaps a little sadder, but also a more compassionate person.
It’s the story of three Second Generation kids as they grow into adolescence in their 1950’s Bronx neighborhood. Short chapters rotate between the points of view of Sarah, whose loving parents contrast with those of her nemesis Lila, and Sarah's beloved best friend, the gifted Michael, who grapples with the awareness of his never-made-explicit homosexual longings. All three nurture dreams of artistic accomplishment and fame. Every voice is distinct, recalling the turmoil of the teens, drawing the reader into each character’s point of view of the same events.
Their relationships are nuanced, intertwined with those of their parents, each of whom is damaged in a different way by the past. The plot develops with a light touch, as these kids start to grow into who they will become, for better or worse.
Each character is portrayed, warts and all, with compassion and subtlety. Ross shows us that survivors (and perhaps all of us) contain both victim and aggressor, and that, under certain circumstances, dark impulses may awaken within each of us. This is a satisfying book, a page turner. I felt I had briefly inhabited that old-timey Bronx neighborhood where all the neighbors knew everyone’s business and folks brought platters of appetizers to the New Year’s Eve Party in Apartment 4B. In the end, I felt richer for reading this book. I’m perhaps a little sadder, but also a more compassionate person.
April 29, 2020
Rose has written a powerful book that grabs your curiosity from the very first page. She gradually develops each character with a systematic precision and clarity, that pulls you into the moment, making you believe you can predict what comes next – but often, what you anticipate is far from what happens! The book is well written, engaging and a page turner! Lila’s story portrays the complicated, universal ‘coming of age’ phenomenon with knowledge, subtlety and sensitivity. After reading Lila you will understand once and for all, the underlining role and inevitable psychological and cultural influences, we all inherit at birth. What we inherit, haunts us, and becomes the hidden road-map for how we lead our lives. The circumstances of our birth can be burdens or blessings depending on how honestly we deal with them. Rose urges us to learn each other’s stories and listen before we judge. She reminds us not to let societal norms, prejudices and expectations override what we know about ourselves and our family’s inter-generational secrets. In Lila, we see how facing our history liberates us and opens up our minds and hearts to forgive ourselves and others for otherwise inexplicable behavior.
March 22, 2020
Extraordinary. Beautiful, crisp prose. Scenes as vivid as a motion picture. The story of three families struggling to move on from the shadows of the holocaust in New York City through the eyes of three adolescents. The characters are so vivid and complex, I rooted for all of them at times—even the most damaged.
This heart filled novel made me feel the angst of the teenager on a very personal, intimate level. It has universal appeal for anyone seeking to understand the adolescent mind and how it struggles to overcome trauma.
A moving, lyrical narrative I’ll read again. Some of the passages and scenes—unforgettable.
This heart filled novel made me feel the angst of the teenager on a very personal, intimate level. It has universal appeal for anyone seeking to understand the adolescent mind and how it struggles to overcome trauma.
A moving, lyrical narrative I’ll read again. Some of the passages and scenes—unforgettable.
July 16, 2021
The idea of this book was intriguing - the impact of the Holocaust on the children of those who survived. I have read many books on the Holocaust, but none on this aspect of it. I only wish the author would have spent more time making that connection. Otherwise, I thought LILA was well written, the pacing was good, and the story kept my interest. Kudos to Rose Ross for writing her first book. What will she offer next?
May 12, 2021
Rose Ross's novel LILA is a beautifully written story of two girls who were born on the same day in the same Displaced Persons camp after the war to Holocaust survivor parents who then move to the U.S. and take apartments in the same building in the Bronx. The girls have to go to school together and meet the same people. Although everyone expects them to be as close as twins, they actually despise each other and live through years of jealousy, competition, betrayal, and hostilities. One girl has loving parents; the other - Lila - has a dysfunctional and perverted family.
The book is a picture of life for children of Holocaust survivors who deal with the secrets of their parents' experiences and their own inherited trauma. It is also a coming-of-age story and and a portrayal of post-WW11 life for immigrants. Parents transferring their own pain onto their children, keeping secrets, covering up hostilities, and attempting to control their children's lives all play a part in the story. There is so much to be learned from this book. I became totally engrossed in the lives of the protagonists and very concerned with the outcome of several family sagas. This is an excellent and sobering read!
The book is a picture of life for children of Holocaust survivors who deal with the secrets of their parents' experiences and their own inherited trauma. It is also a coming-of-age story and and a portrayal of post-WW11 life for immigrants. Parents transferring their own pain onto their children, keeping secrets, covering up hostilities, and attempting to control their children's lives all play a part in the story. There is so much to be learned from this book. I became totally engrossed in the lives of the protagonists and very concerned with the outcome of several family sagas. This is an excellent and sobering read!
July 8, 2020
Rose Ross's Lila is a moving and well-written story of three children growing up in the Bronx, in the shadow of the Holocaust. The characters are beautifully drawn and what the novel reveals is enough to make the pages turn quickly to the end. A very satisfying read and I learned a lot.
Judy Staber
Judy Staber
May 26, 2021
Fascinating to read about the life of holocaust survivors - actually the second generation.
And about Rose.
And about Rose.
April 24, 2021
West Chester square solitaire
Good first novel....but the characters were too wooden and basic , too easy to predict., all the way through.
Needed more guts of the “crushed survivors” of the Holocaust, to allow the girls to really tell their stories.They just became extensions of their parents disjunctions.
They deserved their own story.
Good first novel....but the characters were too wooden and basic , too easy to predict., all the way through.
Needed more guts of the “crushed survivors” of the Holocaust, to allow the girls to really tell their stories.They just became extensions of their parents disjunctions.
They deserved their own story.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews