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The Doctor's Daughter
Auschwitz, 1941: It was her father’s job to save the lives of the SS. But she chose to risk everything and save the lives of prisoners.
In Nazi-occupied Poland, Sofia cannot look her father in the eye. Sofia’s mother, her papa’s cherished wife, is Jewish—how dare he work as a doctor for the SS? She cannot forgive him, even if the bargain was made to spare their lives.
In the middle of the night, Isaac emerges from a packed train with hundreds of others. Beneath Auschwitz’s barbed wire, soldiers surround them, and gunshots pierce the dark sky. The SS decide prisoners’ fates on the spot—and Isaac is chosen to work, rather than to die.
Every day, Isaac and his fellow inmates are sent to a nearby farm. From sunup to sundown, they toil the land with barely a scrap to eat. Every breath feels like it could be Isaac’s last, so when he sees a beautiful auburn-haired girl peering out of the farmhouse window, it feels like a dream…
Sofia refuses to accept what she is seeing. Disobeying her father and evading the guards, she risks her life to sneak a letter to the green-eyed boy outside. She explains that she has hidden them food, and that she’ll do everything in her power to save them.
This secret exchange sparks an escape that should have been impossible—and a love story that is unforgettable. But is love enough in the face of evil? And when Sofia and Isaac are concealed underground, holding their breath as the Nazis hunt them, will they survive?
Fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Choice, and Orphan Train. will be utterly gripped by this heartbreaking and unputdownable tale. This tear-jerking page-turner shows that even if your freedom has been robbed, and your loved ones torn from you, nobody can steal your hope…
In Nazi-occupied Poland, Sofia cannot look her father in the eye. Sofia’s mother, her papa’s cherished wife, is Jewish—how dare he work as a doctor for the SS? She cannot forgive him, even if the bargain was made to spare their lives.
In the middle of the night, Isaac emerges from a packed train with hundreds of others. Beneath Auschwitz’s barbed wire, soldiers surround them, and gunshots pierce the dark sky. The SS decide prisoners’ fates on the spot—and Isaac is chosen to work, rather than to die.
Every day, Isaac and his fellow inmates are sent to a nearby farm. From sunup to sundown, they toil the land with barely a scrap to eat. Every breath feels like it could be Isaac’s last, so when he sees a beautiful auburn-haired girl peering out of the farmhouse window, it feels like a dream…
Sofia refuses to accept what she is seeing. Disobeying her father and evading the guards, she risks her life to sneak a letter to the green-eyed boy outside. She explains that she has hidden them food, and that she’ll do everything in her power to save them.
This secret exchange sparks an escape that should have been impossible—and a love story that is unforgettable. But is love enough in the face of evil? And when Sofia and Isaac are concealed underground, holding their breath as the Nazis hunt them, will they survive?
Fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Choice, and Orphan Train. will be utterly gripped by this heartbreaking and unputdownable tale. This tear-jerking page-turner shows that even if your freedom has been robbed, and your loved ones torn from you, nobody can steal your hope…
285 pages, ebook
First published April 28, 2022
About the author
Shari J. Ryan
63 books1,929 followersUSA Today and International Bestselling Author, Shari J Ryan, is known for her captivating World War Two Historical Fiction, Women’s Romance Fiction, and gripping Psychological Thriller novels. Each series and standalone contains a wide range of dark suspense and heartbreaking emotions.
Shari has a bachelor's degree in marketing from Johnson & Wales University and started her career as a graphic artist and freelance writer until 2012 when she discovered her passion for writing books. Since then, she has been captivating readers with her compelling storytelling and has written over thirty-five novels with translated publications in twelve languages.
Shari’s talent and dedication have earned her a place on the USA Today Bestseller List, as well as rankings in Amazon’s Top 100, Barnes & Noble’s Top Ten, and iBooks at number one. She has also received two Rone awards for her outstanding work.
Some of Shari’s bestselling books include: “The Stolen Twins,” The Bookseller of Dachau,” “The Doctor’s Daughter,” “The Girl with the Diary,” “Prison Child,” “The Soldier’s Letters,” and “The Lieutenant’s Girl.” These gripping novels are sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats.
Shari, a lifelong Boston girl lives in a small town in the suburbs and has a loving marriage with her adored husband. Together, they have two incredible young sons who make make her feel like the luckiest woman in the world.
To learn more about Shari J. Ryan and her captivating books, visit her official website at sharijryan.com
Shari has a bachelor's degree in marketing from Johnson & Wales University and started her career as a graphic artist and freelance writer until 2012 when she discovered her passion for writing books. Since then, she has been captivating readers with her compelling storytelling and has written over thirty-five novels with translated publications in twelve languages.
Shari’s talent and dedication have earned her a place on the USA Today Bestseller List, as well as rankings in Amazon’s Top 100, Barnes & Noble’s Top Ten, and iBooks at number one. She has also received two Rone awards for her outstanding work.
Some of Shari’s bestselling books include: “The Stolen Twins,” The Bookseller of Dachau,” “The Doctor’s Daughter,” “The Girl with the Diary,” “Prison Child,” “The Soldier’s Letters,” and “The Lieutenant’s Girl.” These gripping novels are sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats.
Shari, a lifelong Boston girl lives in a small town in the suburbs and has a loving marriage with her adored husband. Together, they have two incredible young sons who make make her feel like the luckiest woman in the world.
To learn more about Shari J. Ryan and her captivating books, visit her official website at sharijryan.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
April 20, 2022
Sofia and her mother, Lena, were Jewish, but her father wasn’t. His life as a doctor had been to care for his patients and now the Germans were taking the Jews away to unimaginable horrors, Sofia and Lena were safe for a time. Papa was doing work for the Nazis and although he’d told his wife and daughter it was for them that he was doing it, they couldn’t see that – only that he was betraying his people.
Isaac, his sister Olivia and their parents were in the ghetto in Warsaw when the Germans began taking the Jews away to relocate. Isaac and his family had a good hiding spot, which they barely moved from. But Isaac’s papa would go out at night, not returning until the early hours, helping and working with the resistance. When he didn’t return one night, their mother tried to save the children, but she was taken as well, leaving Isaac and Olivia to live below ground in the sewers with a few others. After months, they were finally captured by the Germans and taken to Auschwitz.
As Sofia watched the prisoners working on their property below her window, men and boys who came from Auschwitz early in the morning, leaving late afternoon, she desperately wanted to do something to help. She and her mother came up with a plan to help the prisoners – keeping it from trigger happy guards was a challenge. A little food here, a little there – it wasn’t enough. The plan they made was a daring one, but would it succeed? Or would they receive one of the bullets the Germans were always happy to fire?
The Doctor’s Daughter by Shari J. Ryan is my first by this author, and it won’t be my last. An excellent narrative, in both Isaac’s and Sofia’s voices, the horrors of what they and many others went through, was described well. Isaac was a strong, resilient young man, having to grow up much too soon. Olivia, only fourteen when she entered the camp, went through much. Sofia and her mother suffered immensely. We all know, in what we’ve read, how many atrocities surrounded the Jews in the second world war. The author has written a well-researched novel of the times. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Isaac, his sister Olivia and their parents were in the ghetto in Warsaw when the Germans began taking the Jews away to relocate. Isaac and his family had a good hiding spot, which they barely moved from. But Isaac’s papa would go out at night, not returning until the early hours, helping and working with the resistance. When he didn’t return one night, their mother tried to save the children, but she was taken as well, leaving Isaac and Olivia to live below ground in the sewers with a few others. After months, they were finally captured by the Germans and taken to Auschwitz.
As Sofia watched the prisoners working on their property below her window, men and boys who came from Auschwitz early in the morning, leaving late afternoon, she desperately wanted to do something to help. She and her mother came up with a plan to help the prisoners – keeping it from trigger happy guards was a challenge. A little food here, a little there – it wasn’t enough. The plan they made was a daring one, but would it succeed? Or would they receive one of the bullets the Germans were always happy to fire?
The Doctor’s Daughter by Shari J. Ryan is my first by this author, and it won’t be my last. An excellent narrative, in both Isaac’s and Sofia’s voices, the horrors of what they and many others went through, was described well. Isaac was a strong, resilient young man, having to grow up much too soon. Olivia, only fourteen when she entered the camp, went through much. Sofia and her mother suffered immensely. We all know, in what we’ve read, how many atrocities surrounded the Jews in the second world war. The author has written a well-researched novel of the times. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2022
3.5 stars
There is always hope, no matter how bad things are many do survive because of that human feeling, hope. For the characters in this Holocaust story, it is the thing they cling to.
Sophia and her mother are Jews. Sophia's mother is married to a gentile, a well-known doctor who both ladies feel has made a pack with the Nazis. He has agreed to train Nazi doctors in exchange for his wife and daughter's safety. They don't seem to understand why he does it and both ladies tend to shun him.
We are then introduced to Isaac and his sister, Olivia who have been caught in the Warsaw Ghetto and sent to Auschwitz. Both of them are struggling not only with the conditions, but also with the probably loss of their parents. Isaac is ordered to work in the fields that surround Sophia's family home. Sophia and Isaac meet, after Sophia witnesses the brutality and harsh circumstances the men toil under. Meeting secretly, they begin to hatch a plan for possible freedom for both Isaac and Olivia. All they have really is hope. With the help of her parents Sophia secrets Isaac away and hides in an underground tunnel, her dad had constructed.
Then the worst happens and Sophia and her mother lose their privileged status. They go, with supplies from their father, into the tunnel where Isaac is concealed and then their father goes missing and hope is on a tenuous thread.
What will become of them? Is Olivia and the father still alive, and when will this hell end?
Once again, we are given a grim reminder of what occurred those seventy plus years ago. The horror and the abomination that happened can never be forgotten and the fact that many books have been written using this topic is a credit to the fact that we must never forget.
Will the hope that exists be enough to carry these characters through the hell that have lived in?
Thank you to Shari J. Ryan, Bookouture, and NetGalley for a copy of this book which published on April 28, 2022.
There is always hope, no matter how bad things are many do survive because of that human feeling, hope. For the characters in this Holocaust story, it is the thing they cling to.
Sophia and her mother are Jews. Sophia's mother is married to a gentile, a well-known doctor who both ladies feel has made a pack with the Nazis. He has agreed to train Nazi doctors in exchange for his wife and daughter's safety. They don't seem to understand why he does it and both ladies tend to shun him.
We are then introduced to Isaac and his sister, Olivia who have been caught in the Warsaw Ghetto and sent to Auschwitz. Both of them are struggling not only with the conditions, but also with the probably loss of their parents. Isaac is ordered to work in the fields that surround Sophia's family home. Sophia and Isaac meet, after Sophia witnesses the brutality and harsh circumstances the men toil under. Meeting secretly, they begin to hatch a plan for possible freedom for both Isaac and Olivia. All they have really is hope. With the help of her parents Sophia secrets Isaac away and hides in an underground tunnel, her dad had constructed.
Then the worst happens and Sophia and her mother lose their privileged status. They go, with supplies from their father, into the tunnel where Isaac is concealed and then their father goes missing and hope is on a tenuous thread.
What will become of them? Is Olivia and the father still alive, and when will this hell end?
Once again, we are given a grim reminder of what occurred those seventy plus years ago. The horror and the abomination that happened can never be forgotten and the fact that many books have been written using this topic is a credit to the fact that we must never forget.
Will the hope that exists be enough to carry these characters through the hell that have lived in?
Thank you to Shari J. Ryan, Bookouture, and NetGalley for a copy of this book which published on April 28, 2022.
August 3, 2024
The Doctor's Daughter is a profoundly moving and exquisitely written novel that captivates readers from beginning to end. Set in Oświęcim, Poland, a mere three miles from the notorious Auschwitz Concentration Camp, this story delves into the harrowing realities of World War II through the lens of the Amsler family.
Dr. Frederik Amsler, a respected Protestant physician, and his Jewish wife, Lena, are initially safeguarded by their “Privileged Marriage.” However, this precarious protection demands a heavy price as Frederik is coerced into training incoming SS doctors. This arrangement brings high-ranking Nazi officers into their home, causing significant tension, particularly for their 16-year-old daughter, Sofia. Sofia struggles to understand why her father entertains the very people responsible for the devastation around them, feeling as though he is transforming into someone unrecognizable.
The delicate balance within the Amsler household is further disrupted by two pivotal events: Sofia's discovery of a teenage boy labouring in their fields, and the revocation of the “Privileged Marriage” status by the Nuremberg Laws. The teenage boy is Isaac Cohen, whose family had been deported from Krakow to the Warsaw Ghetto before fleeing to the sewers to evade Nazi capture. Isaac’s harrowing journey, marked by the loss of his father and relentless struggle for survival, is utterly heart-wrenching and inspiring.
Ryan’s portrayal of the atrocities of war is unflinchingly realistic, yet moments of hope and humanity are skilfully woven into the narrative. The suspenseful scenes of their concealment and evasion of capture are masterfully written, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.
Overall, The Doctor's Daughter is a poignant, beautifully crafted novel that illuminates the human side of history’s darkest times. It is a story of resilience, sacrifice, and the enduring power of love. Highly recommend!
Dr. Frederik Amsler, a respected Protestant physician, and his Jewish wife, Lena, are initially safeguarded by their “Privileged Marriage.” However, this precarious protection demands a heavy price as Frederik is coerced into training incoming SS doctors. This arrangement brings high-ranking Nazi officers into their home, causing significant tension, particularly for their 16-year-old daughter, Sofia. Sofia struggles to understand why her father entertains the very people responsible for the devastation around them, feeling as though he is transforming into someone unrecognizable.
“He’s slowly changing into someone neither of us knows and I’m not sure how much skin one person can shed before they are completely unrecognizable.”
The delicate balance within the Amsler household is further disrupted by two pivotal events: Sofia's discovery of a teenage boy labouring in their fields, and the revocation of the “Privileged Marriage” status by the Nuremberg Laws. The teenage boy is Isaac Cohen, whose family had been deported from Krakow to the Warsaw Ghetto before fleeing to the sewers to evade Nazi capture. Isaac’s harrowing journey, marked by the loss of his father and relentless struggle for survival, is utterly heart-wrenching and inspiring.
Ryan’s portrayal of the atrocities of war is unflinchingly realistic, yet moments of hope and humanity are skilfully woven into the narrative. The suspenseful scenes of their concealment and evasion of capture are masterfully written, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.
Overall, The Doctor's Daughter is a poignant, beautifully crafted novel that illuminates the human side of history’s darkest times. It is a story of resilience, sacrifice, and the enduring power of love. Highly recommend!
June 15, 2023
Ir nesvarbu, kad pagrindinė siužetinė linija yra išgalvota. Ir visai nesvarbu, kad greičiausiai ši istorija taip pasibaigti net negalėjo, bet visada lieka mažulytis gal... mažytė viltis, o gal ir galėjo bent kartą, kažkur, labai seniai.
April 9, 2022
Never Look Back
Heartbreaking, Tragic and Romantic this story tells the brutal truth of the death camp Auschwitz and the brutal cruelty of the Nazi's. It is also the story of courage under grave threat of death.
A prominent physician married to a Jewish woman agrees to be a physician to treat the Nazi's to save the lives of his wife and child. Sofia his daughter and her mother do not agree with his decision and defy him by sneaking food to the prisoners working on their farm. Sofia and her mother shut her father out and refuse to speak to him. He works long hours and they have no idea what his is working on but they assume it has something to do with the Nazi's he is serving.
It is only when Sofia and her mother help a young prisoner Isaac escape, defying her father's wishes and put all their lives at risk do they realize that everything he has done was to save them and their lives.
A father trying to save his family, a young girl ashamed to be protected when other's are treated so cruelly. A husband and wife disagreeing on the decision to help the Nazi's. A young prisoner and his sister alone in the prison camp of Auschwitz and the horrors they face each day His guilt when he escapes and leaves his sister behind in the camp.
All of these factors will have a lasting effect on everyone involved. Some survive...some do not and those that do live with the guilt of surviving when others did not. Their nightmares, their courage to face the future and their determination to Never Look Back.
What a horrible time in history this was . How a whole sector of civilization could be marked for death by the Nazi's and how one man Hitler caused so much pain and death to so many. It is even more shocking how a whole country except for the few brave could rally around him and support his policies closing their eyes to the atrocities being committed.
This was a hard book to read of so much pain and suffering , but the story was a good story of courage of the brave and faith of the strong. I would recommend reading this book.
Thanks to Shari J. Ryan for writing the story, to Bookouture for publishing it and to NetGalley for making it available to me to read and review.
Heartbreaking, Tragic and Romantic this story tells the brutal truth of the death camp Auschwitz and the brutal cruelty of the Nazi's. It is also the story of courage under grave threat of death.
A prominent physician married to a Jewish woman agrees to be a physician to treat the Nazi's to save the lives of his wife and child. Sofia his daughter and her mother do not agree with his decision and defy him by sneaking food to the prisoners working on their farm. Sofia and her mother shut her father out and refuse to speak to him. He works long hours and they have no idea what his is working on but they assume it has something to do with the Nazi's he is serving.
It is only when Sofia and her mother help a young prisoner Isaac escape, defying her father's wishes and put all their lives at risk do they realize that everything he has done was to save them and their lives.
A father trying to save his family, a young girl ashamed to be protected when other's are treated so cruelly. A husband and wife disagreeing on the decision to help the Nazi's. A young prisoner and his sister alone in the prison camp of Auschwitz and the horrors they face each day His guilt when he escapes and leaves his sister behind in the camp.
All of these factors will have a lasting effect on everyone involved. Some survive...some do not and those that do live with the guilt of surviving when others did not. Their nightmares, their courage to face the future and their determination to Never Look Back.
What a horrible time in history this was . How a whole sector of civilization could be marked for death by the Nazi's and how one man Hitler caused so much pain and death to so many. It is even more shocking how a whole country except for the few brave could rally around him and support his policies closing their eyes to the atrocities being committed.
This was a hard book to read of so much pain and suffering , but the story was a good story of courage of the brave and faith of the strong. I would recommend reading this book.
Thanks to Shari J. Ryan for writing the story, to Bookouture for publishing it and to NetGalley for making it available to me to read and review.
May 9, 2023
Dar vienas istorinis grožinės literatūros romanas, kuriame atskleidžiama tuometin�� realybė bei patiriami išgyvenimai.
Lengvai skaitoma istorija, kurioje nebuvo tiek daug žiaurumo bei smurto, kaip kitose šio žanro knygose. Nors ir buvo pasakojama apie baisius dalykus, tačiau knyga nestokoje vilties bei šviesos. Izaokas bei Sofija buvo tie žmonės, kurie verti didžiausios pagarbos. Jie nepaisant žiaurių aplinkybių "nepametė savęs" ir vis dėlto išliko žmonėmis. Tokiais, kuriems nebuvo svetimas kito skausmas.
O kur dar Olivija, kurios ryšys su broliu tiesiog nepakartojamas. Tokiomis akimirkomis supranti, jog reikia be galo vertinti brolių bei seserų ryšį. To niekas gyvenime nepakeis.
Nors ši knyga man tikrai patiko, tačiau didelių jausmų bei kibirkščių man ji nesukėlė. Šia tematika skaityta "Aušvico smuikininkė" man patiko labiau, tačiau "Gydytojo dukra" tikrai patiks mėgstantiems Aušvico temą.
Lengvai skaitoma istorija, kurioje nebuvo tiek daug žiaurumo bei smurto, kaip kitose šio žanro knygose. Nors ir buvo pasakojama apie baisius dalykus, tačiau knyga nestokoje vilties bei šviesos. Izaokas bei Sofija buvo tie žmonės, kurie verti didžiausios pagarbos. Jie nepaisant žiaurių aplinkybių "nepametė savęs" ir vis dėlto išliko žmonėmis. Tokiais, kuriems nebuvo svetimas kito skausmas.
O kur dar Olivija, kurios ryšys su broliu tiesiog nepakartojamas. Tokiomis akimirkomis supranti, jog reikia be galo vertinti brolių bei seserų ryšį. To niekas gyvenime nepakeis.
Nors ši knyga man tikrai patiko, tačiau didelių jausmų bei kibirkščių man ji nesukėlė. Šia tematika skaityta "Aušvico smuikininkė" man patiko labiau, tačiau "Gydytojo dukra" tikrai patiks mėgstantiems Aušvico temą.
July 26, 2023
"Kai skaitytojas prisikasa iki paskutinio knygos puslapio, užverčia ketvirtą viršelį, ir nugarėlė gailiai girgžteli - tai pabaiga, metas padėti istoriją į lentyną kitam smalsuoliui. Karas nepanėši į knygą - jis be galo. Sukrėtimas trunka amžinai."💔
Knyga man patiko nuo pradžios iki galo..
Tai istorinis romanas apie žydų genocidą.
Sofija negali pažvelgti tėvui į akis, nes jis sutiko dirbti SS gydytoju, jug ji ir jos mama - žydės. Tėvas bando paaiškinti kad viską daro dėl jų saugumo.
Nepaisant pavojaus sau Sofija nusprendžia rizikuoti savo gyvybę ir išgelbėti Izaoka. Vaikiną rausianti žemę nuo ryto iki vakaro.
Meilė kartais priverčia krėsti kvailystes, o kartais jos vedami gali išsigelbėti. ❤️
Knyga man patiko nuo pradžios iki galo..
Tai istorinis romanas apie žydų genocidą.
Sofija negali pažvelgti tėvui į akis, nes jis sutiko dirbti SS gydytoju, jug ji ir jos mama - žydės. Tėvas bando paaiškinti kad viską daro dėl jų saugumo.
Nepaisant pavojaus sau Sofija nusprendžia rizikuoti savo gyvybę ir išgelbėti Izaoka. Vaikiną rausianti žemę nuo ryto iki vakaro.
Meilė kartais priverčia krėsti kvailystes, o kartais jos vedami gali išsigelbėti. ❤️
February 16, 2024
Labai įdomi šeimos istorija. Patiko labai. 📔❤️
April 30, 2023
Atrodo Antrasis pasaulinis karas ir Holokaustas - aprašyta ir išnagrinėta tema. Bet vis man ranka tiesiasi prie šios tematkos knygų. Ir vis randu kažką naujo..
Veiksmas vyksta nacių okupuotoje Lenkijoje. Sofijos mama yra žydė, o tėtis vokietis. Jis renkasi saugoti šeimą ir metęs savo praktiką kaime, tampa SS gydytoju. Sofijai galvoje netelpa, kaip pats artimiausias žmogus gali taip pasielgti. Taip Sofija tampa "privilegijuota". Na, o kita pasakojimo dalis jau Izaoko akimis. Sofijos bendraamžis vaikinas atsiduria Aušvico koncentracijos stovykloje. Jis išsiunčiamas dirbti į Sofijos šeimai priklausantį ūkį ir čia jaunuolių keliai susikerta. Žvilgsnis po žvilgsnio, žodis po žodžio, įsiplieskia meilė, o Sofija ryžtasi rizikingam planui.
Graži ir šviesi istorija. Pagrindiniai veikėjai saugo savo žmogiškumą, kur atrodo visus norima nužmoginti. Labai gražus Sofijos ir tėvo ryšys, bandymas vienas kitą suprasti. O kur dar Frydricho, Sofijos tėčio vidinė drama... Juk jis turėjo pasidalyti tarp savo įsitikinimų ir pačių mylimiausių žmonių. O ir pati Sofija prastai jaučiasi būdama "privilegijuota".
Rašytoja priverčia patikėti, kad meilė gali gimti ir tamsiausiu periodu. Tik reikia tikėti ir plačiai atverti širdį. Sofija ir Izaokas, dvi jaunos širdys, kurios svetimas savanaudiškumas. Manau, kad daugumos širdis ši istorija užpildys viltimi ir šiluma. Na, ir autentišku pasakojimu apie getą bei koncentracijos stovyklą.
Rekomenduoju istorinių romanų gerbėjams. Nors ir tai dar viena knyga apie Holokaustą - šį kartą visai kitas požiūris.
Veiksmas vyksta nacių okupuotoje Lenkijoje. Sofijos mama yra žydė, o tėtis vokietis. Jis renkasi saugoti šeimą ir metęs savo praktiką kaime, tampa SS gydytoju. Sofijai galvoje netelpa, kaip pats artimiausias žmogus gali taip pasielgti. Taip Sofija tampa "privilegijuota". Na, o kita pasakojimo dalis jau Izaoko akimis. Sofijos bendraamžis vaikinas atsiduria Aušvico koncentracijos stovykloje. Jis išsiunčiamas dirbti į Sofijos šeimai priklausantį ūkį ir čia jaunuolių keliai susikerta. Žvilgsnis po žvilgsnio, žodis po žodžio, įsiplieskia meilė, o Sofija ryžtasi rizikingam planui.
Graži ir šviesi istorija. Pagrindiniai veikėjai saugo savo žmogiškumą, kur atrodo visus norima nužmoginti. Labai gražus Sofijos ir tėvo ryšys, bandymas vienas kitą suprasti. O kur dar Frydricho, Sofijos tėčio vidinė drama... Juk jis turėjo pasidalyti tarp savo įsitikinimų ir pačių mylimiausių žmonių. O ir pati Sofija prastai jaučiasi būdama "privilegijuota".
Rašytoja priverčia patikėti, kad meilė gali gimti ir tamsiausiu periodu. Tik reikia tikėti ir plačiai atverti širdį. Sofija ir Izaokas, dvi jaunos širdys, kurios svetimas savanaudiškumas. Manau, kad daugumos širdis ši istorija užpildys viltimi ir šiluma. Na, ir autentišku pasakojimu apie getą bei koncentracijos stovyklą.
Rekomenduoju istorinių romanų gerbėjams. Nors ir tai dar viena knyga apie Holokaustą - šį kartą visai kitas požiūris.
March 23, 2022
“This war isn’t about who has more muscles, or who has a higher level of intelligence, more money, or power - it’s about hatred, and the repercussions of such a feeling are more powerful than any weapon in the world.”
The Amsler family live in Oświęcim, Poland, a town just 3 miles down the road from the Auschwitz Concentration Camp. Frederik and Lena are protected by “Privileged Marriage” - Lena is Jewish and Frederik is Protestant. To keep this status, the Waffen-SS have strong-armed Frederik, a prominent doctor, to train the incoming SS doctors. Their home, much to the dismay of their 16-year-old daughter, Sofia, is frequented by high-ranking Nazi officers. Sofia, not understanding why her father is entertaining Nazis, feels he has turned his back on Poland. Everything in her world is changing. Where she used to hear birds chirping from the fields, she now hears “ghosts singing in the night.” That’s not all, her father is changing under the pressure into someone she doesn’t recognize.
“He’s slowly changing into someone neither of us knows and I’m not sure how much skin one person can shed before they are completely unrecognizable.”
Two things happen to change the delicate balance of security in the Amsler home: 1) she sees a teenage boy working in the fields of her family’s farm and 2) the Nuremberg Laws declare “Privileged Marriage” no longer an exception to the eradication of the Jewish people.
The Cohen Family had been living in Krakow before being deported to the Warsaw Ghetto in 1939. Ludwik and Ania and their teenage children, Isaac 18, and Olivia, 14, head for a life in the sewers when they discover others in the ghetto are being rounded up. When their father fails to return one night, they sneak out to look for him - a decision that will haunt them forever.
You’ll have to read this 5-star story to discover how Isaac and Sofia’s paths cross and if fate has something else in mind for these two Jewish teens.
Ryan is an auto-read author for me because she is one of the best historical fiction writers at capturing emotion and producing a visceral read. She seems to know just how much detail her readers want from this horrifying slice of history and presents the Holocaust in such a way that readers learn and increase their empathy. Both these ingredients are needed to begin our journey in making sure this never happens again.
Ryan takes us to Nazi-occupied Poland and explores the serendipitous moments that arise when we find ourselves in between a rock and a hard place. She shows that even if your freedom has been robbed, and your loved ones torn from you, nobody can steal your hope.
I was gifted this advance copy by Shari J. Ryan, Bookouture, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
The Amsler family live in Oświęcim, Poland, a town just 3 miles down the road from the Auschwitz Concentration Camp. Frederik and Lena are protected by “Privileged Marriage” - Lena is Jewish and Frederik is Protestant. To keep this status, the Waffen-SS have strong-armed Frederik, a prominent doctor, to train the incoming SS doctors. Their home, much to the dismay of their 16-year-old daughter, Sofia, is frequented by high-ranking Nazi officers. Sofia, not understanding why her father is entertaining Nazis, feels he has turned his back on Poland. Everything in her world is changing. Where she used to hear birds chirping from the fields, she now hears “ghosts singing in the night.” That’s not all, her father is changing under the pressure into someone she doesn’t recognize.
“He’s slowly changing into someone neither of us knows and I’m not sure how much skin one person can shed before they are completely unrecognizable.”
Two things happen to change the delicate balance of security in the Amsler home: 1) she sees a teenage boy working in the fields of her family’s farm and 2) the Nuremberg Laws declare “Privileged Marriage” no longer an exception to the eradication of the Jewish people.
The Cohen Family had been living in Krakow before being deported to the Warsaw Ghetto in 1939. Ludwik and Ania and their teenage children, Isaac 18, and Olivia, 14, head for a life in the sewers when they discover others in the ghetto are being rounded up. When their father fails to return one night, they sneak out to look for him - a decision that will haunt them forever.
You’ll have to read this 5-star story to discover how Isaac and Sofia’s paths cross and if fate has something else in mind for these two Jewish teens.
Ryan is an auto-read author for me because she is one of the best historical fiction writers at capturing emotion and producing a visceral read. She seems to know just how much detail her readers want from this horrifying slice of history and presents the Holocaust in such a way that readers learn and increase their empathy. Both these ingredients are needed to begin our journey in making sure this never happens again.
Ryan takes us to Nazi-occupied Poland and explores the serendipitous moments that arise when we find ourselves in between a rock and a hard place. She shows that even if your freedom has been robbed, and your loved ones torn from you, nobody can steal your hope.
I was gifted this advance copy by Shari J. Ryan, Bookouture, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
March 8, 2024
Istorija jautri ir skaudi, skatinanti neprarast vilties net ir beviltiškose gyvenimo atkarpose, bet didelių jausmų man nesukėlė. Parašyta paprastu pasakojimo stiliumi, pajausti ir pamilti veikėjų nepavyko. Gal todėl, kad esu skaičiusi nemažai knygų apie Holokaustą ir jau lyginu jas tarpusavy.
“Baimė - tai ženklas, jog elgiesi teisingai."
“Juk šitaip kenčiu ne veltui - be to, kad
gimiau žydų šeimoje, tikrai turėjau nusikalsti dar kažkuo. O, kad žinočiau kuo, - tada galėčiau atgailauti už tas nuodėmes, o kol negaliu, mano kasdienė kančia nesibaigs. Galbūt blogiausia tai, kad iš viso gimiau. Galbūt šiame pasaulyje esu nepageidaujama ar bent ne dėl to, dėl ko žmogus norėtų būti reikalingas.”
“Karas nepanėši į knygą - jis neturi galo. Sukrėtimas trunka amžinai”.
July 9, 2023
4/5⭐️
Kartais skaitant knygą apie karą laimi istorija būtent apie jį, o kartais laimi viltis bei tikėjimas. Šios istorijos veikėjai Izaokas ir Sofija būtent tie žmonės, kurie knygai suteikė šviesos bei tikėjimo geresniu rytojumi.
Sofijai sunku suvokti kaip jos tėtis būdamas gydytojas gali sutikti tarnauti naciams. Tačiau jis vokietis, o žmona - žydė. Kaip tikras mylintis vyras ir tėvas renkasi saugoti šeimą net ir tokiu būdu. Mergina tampa priveligijuota, gyvena jiems paskirtame ūkyje, tačiau kasdien mato tuos kurie nėra priveligijuoti ir atsidūrę tikrai ne savo noru. Taip susipažįsta su Izaoku, jaunuoliu, kuris žodis po žodžio, žvilgsnis po žvilgsnio pavergia Sofijos širdį.
Meilė kartais priverčia krėsti kvailystes, o kartais jos vedami gali išsigelbėti. Neretai ji padeda išlikti žmonėmis, net tamsiausią valandą ir neprarasti žmogiškumo. Šiame pasakojime labai daug žiaurumo ar smurto nebuvo, nors holokausto realybės tikrai pateikta. Lengva skaityti, šilta ir maloni istorija, kupina vilties.
Kartais skaitant knygą apie karą laimi istorija būtent apie jį, o kartais laimi viltis bei tikėjimas. Šios istorijos veikėjai Izaokas ir Sofija būtent tie žmonės, kurie knygai suteikė šviesos bei tikėjimo geresniu rytojumi.
Sofijai sunku suvokti kaip jos tėtis būdamas gydytojas gali sutikti tarnauti naciams. Tačiau jis vokietis, o žmona - žydė. Kaip tikras mylintis vyras ir tėvas renkasi saugoti šeimą net ir tokiu būdu. Mergina tampa priveligijuota, gyvena jiems paskirtame ūkyje, tačiau kasdien mato tuos kurie nėra priveligijuoti ir atsidūrę tikrai ne savo noru. Taip susipažįsta su Izaoku, jaunuoliu, kuris žodis po žodžio, žvilgsnis po žvilgsnio pavergia Sofijos širdį.
Meilė kartais priverčia krėsti kvailystes, o kartais jos vedami gali išsigelbėti. Neretai ji padeda išlikti žmonėmis, net tamsiausią valandą ir neprarasti žmogiškumo. Šiame pasakojime labai daug žiaurumo ar smurto nebuvo, nors holokausto realybės tikrai pateikta. Lengva skaityti, šilta ir maloni istorija, kupina vilties.
September 30, 2023
Dar vienas puikus, istorinis romanas. Iš tokios perspektyvos (šeimoje dukra su žmona yra žydės, o tėtis ne), kuria buvo pasakojama šioje knygoje, nesu nieko skaičiusi.
Patiko kaip buvo vaizduojama Sofija ir jos jausmai. Viskas atrodė labai tikra ir stipru. Žavi jaunos merginos gerumas, ryžtas ir noras padėti. Aplamai visi veikėjai šioje knygoje labai ryškūs,su charakteriais. Aišku neišsiplesiu rašydama apie kiekvieną. Daugiau sužinosite patys, perskaitę šią knygą 😍
Patiko kaip buvo vaizduojama Sofija ir jos jausmai. Viskas atrodė labai tikra ir stipru. Žavi jaunos merginos gerumas, ryžtas ir noras padėti. Aplamai visi veikėjai šioje knygoje labai ryškūs,su charakteriais. Aišku neišsiplesiu rašydama apie kiekvieną. Daugiau sužinosite patys, perskaitę šią knygą 😍
May 1, 2022
I really enjoy writing that brings out my emotions and makes me feel connected to the characters and story. This book brought me in to the story so much that I felt what the characters felt whether it was sadness, fear, determination or triumph.
I knew going into thus book that it was going to pull me into the darkness of the Holocaust and Auchwitz. The bravery of Isaac, Sophia, and Olivia brought out that glimpse of love that couldn't be extinguished by all of the atrocities.
This book really covered a lot of areas, including the ghetto, a death camp, prisoner work, and hiding from the Nazis. Plus the ending was done very well!
This whole book had me grabbing for the tissues which was a testament to the great writing!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
I knew going into thus book that it was going to pull me into the darkness of the Holocaust and Auchwitz. The bravery of Isaac, Sophia, and Olivia brought out that glimpse of love that couldn't be extinguished by all of the atrocities.
This book really covered a lot of areas, including the ghetto, a death camp, prisoner work, and hiding from the Nazis. Plus the ending was done very well!
This whole book had me grabbing for the tissues which was a testament to the great writing!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
June 16, 2022
I have read a lot of compelling Holocaust fiction, and this story fell a bit flat for me. The characters were relatable, but I found the story to be oddly unemotional at times.
June 24, 2023
The book I’m reading today is called “The Doctor’s Daughter” written by Shari J Ryan. I have read four books including this one which Ryan writes many beautiful stories about ww2 which I have enjoyed reading her books in this genre. Her ancestors are Jewish. They have been through horrific experiences during the holocaust. Her storytelling of the horrific events of the Holocaust is unfortunately too real. Her writing was descriptive and made your heart break remembering what the people have endured. The story is about between Sofia and Issac. Sofia’s father, Frederich is a doctor and training the SS doctors. Frederich married Sofia’s mother Lena. He Is Christian and is not Jewish. His wife Lena and his daughter are both Jewish. They live on the farm not far from Auschwitz. Issac and his sister Olivia lived in the underground sewer until they were discovered and sent to Auschwitz. Issac sees a young woman peering out the window and secretly gives food to the labourers. He learns when they took him into their home. As a result, did they all survive? What happened to them all in the end? You can decide.
August 18, 2023
Knyga silpnoka, pritrūko man tos stiprios ir išmintingos merginos kuri rizikavo viskuo, kad pasipriešintu SS. Man heroje, tai išlepinta paaugle, nei supratimo nei dėkingumo. Vietomis dialogai buvo absurdiški, taip ir norėjosi paklausti: "tu čia rimtai? "
Man būtų žymiai įdomiau paskaityti apie herojės tėvą, kuris pasirinko dirbti "velniui", kad gal��tu išgelbėti savo šeimą.
Man būtų žymiai įdomiau paskaityti apie herojės tėvą, kuris pasirinko dirbti "velniui", kad gal��tu išgelbėti savo šeimą.
June 26, 2023
This book was slow; very slow at first. But when it started to pick up, it was great! Another wonderful addition to my historical fiction collection! Love the romance involved and the little details included.
P.S. pay attention to the dates!!
P.S. pay attention to the dates!!
January 31, 2023
All the atrocities that happened in Auschwitz is never easy to read. It is cruel and brutal. Not only was this a heart wrenching story, it was also a heart-warming story about the perseverance of hope during the most dreadful of conditions. The main characters were brilliantly developed and the interchanging perspectives between them made this harrowing and moving story come to life. (Audio)
May 1, 2022
The Doctor’s Daughter is the second book that I have read by Shari J. Ryan in the last number of months and she is certainly an impressive author when it comes to writing in the historical fiction genre. This book is once again set during World War Two. Despite a slow start, once the two main characters meet things did really pick up pace. A very brief prologue takes place in May 1945, when war has been declared over. A female character, whom we soon learn to be Sofia, emerges after experiencing war for more than a third of her life. You can sense her apprehension at entering this new and uncharted world but there is a small sense of hope that surrounds her as she knows that she is in now in charge of her own destiny. ‘Some might see this moment as an opening to Heaven’s gates while others could argue we are stepping away from the depths of hell’.
We are then taken back to May 1941 and from then on chapters move back and forth between Soifa and Isaac, both of whom are having very different experiences of war despite both being Jewish. Sofia lives on a farm with her mother Lena and father Friedrich. Sofia and her mother are Jewish but due to the marriage laws they are protected but still they fear things could change at any moment and the small comfort and security they have as a family could be shattered. Freidrich is a doctor and is soon tasked by the SS to train their incoming doctors. Sofia had planned to follow her father and become a nurse and she is horrified when she feels that he is betraying her and her mother by working for the side that is inflicting so much terror, distress and torture on people whom they deem unworthy of living.
Sofia had wanted to be like her father more than anything in the world. To have a life where she could help others but now as she doesn’t look up to him anymore rather she resents him she questions when things get really tough will her father give up on her and Lena and turn them in? To be honest I felt that Friedrich had no choice but to accept the position because if he hadn’t it would have meant certain death for all his family. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place and had to accept that Sofia’s opinion of him had altered. On the other hand, I could also understand how Sofia felt. The person you loved so much was in a way complicet in the torture delivered by the SS to so many innocent men, women and children and you know this is wrong so how can you look at your father in the same light. When she visits Warsaw with her father and from a high up buiding can see the ghetto in which hundreds of thousands of Jews are imprisoned she comes to a stark realisation that it should have been her and her mother behind those walls living in a hole in a wall or overcrowded room. In one way her father through his actions has spared her because of his last name and because of his job acceptance but in another does guilt eat away at Sofia that she is getting away with things?
Sofia was a well written character whom I grew to really appreciate the further the story progressed. Both herself and her mother are strong, brave and courageous in that they go above and beyond to try and help the workers sent from the camp at Auschwitz who have to toil away on their land. Through this, Sofia establishes a connection with Isaac and although only brief moments can be snatched together you do feel the genuine love that develops between the pair. It’s love in the face of evil and you question given the shocking circumstances that unfold can it ever come to fruition where they can live in happiness side by side? Sofia isn’t afraid to face the darkness that grows stronger the further you delve into the story. It becomes all consuming but can there be any light at the end of the tunnel?
I found myself connecting more to Isaac’s story, not that I didn’t appreciate Sofia’s it’s just I think because he was going through a much tougher time and we really got indepth detail about the suffering he was enduring alongside his family I found I connected with him more and was more concerned for the eventual outcome for him and his sister Olivia. Isaac’s family were forced into the ghetto in Warsaw with promises from the Germans of safety and shelter which turned out to be utter lies. The earlier sections of the book set in the ghetto were so detailed and quite frankly horrific. Unfortunately, I could picture everything so clearly in my mind and these images have not left me long after I have finished reading the book. ‘It’s as if they’re trapped in a container without holes for air, and it’s only a matter of time before they all waste away’. This quote sums things up perfectly the situation Isaac is in. The scenes where the Jewish resistance attempt to battle against the German soldiers were utterly heartbreaking and the result of this sees Isaac and Olivia separated from their parents. Isaac has to now step up and be the father figure for Olivia who is only 14. There is still an air of innocence about her but this is soon quashed as the two are sent to Auschwitz and separated upon their arrival.
I felt the book took on a different tone once the sections set in Auschwitz began. I thought there had been too long spent describing the ghetto and what happened to the family there so when the camp was reached I thought things picked up pace and I was grateful for that. It meant periods of time occurred quickly, as they reached the camp in 1942 and there was still 3 years of the war to go through before the victory. Maybe just a little more balance between the two parts of the story was needed as at times it did read like a book of two halves and definitely the epilogue tried to fit too much in even though it was nice to see how things turned out in the end. I found Issac to be a fantastically written character and someone who wise beyond his years. I can’t say much as to what occurs regarding Isaac’s storyline but I found his unwavering strength and devotion to be admirable.
I can’t fail to mention Olivia. I was surprised she took such prominence as I initially thought the entire focus of the book would be on Sofia and Isaac. Her aspect of the story was raw, powerful, heartbreaking and will have you in tears. It’s but a small snapshot of what happened at Auschwitz but it hits you right to the core and makes the book all the better for its inclusion. Olivia is but one of many victims but her story stands out here for all she endured and the guilt that Isaac feels as he is separated from her and can’t prevent what is happening to her.
The Doctor’s Daughter is another interesting, thought provoking and hard hitting story from Shari J Ryan and fans of books set during World War Two will definitely enjoy it. Although it is the wrong word to use given the subject matter this is one of the better books in this genre and highlights how far family will go to protect and be there for one another.
We are then taken back to May 1941 and from then on chapters move back and forth between Soifa and Isaac, both of whom are having very different experiences of war despite both being Jewish. Sofia lives on a farm with her mother Lena and father Friedrich. Sofia and her mother are Jewish but due to the marriage laws they are protected but still they fear things could change at any moment and the small comfort and security they have as a family could be shattered. Freidrich is a doctor and is soon tasked by the SS to train their incoming doctors. Sofia had planned to follow her father and become a nurse and she is horrified when she feels that he is betraying her and her mother by working for the side that is inflicting so much terror, distress and torture on people whom they deem unworthy of living.
Sofia had wanted to be like her father more than anything in the world. To have a life where she could help others but now as she doesn’t look up to him anymore rather she resents him she questions when things get really tough will her father give up on her and Lena and turn them in? To be honest I felt that Friedrich had no choice but to accept the position because if he hadn’t it would have meant certain death for all his family. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place and had to accept that Sofia’s opinion of him had altered. On the other hand, I could also understand how Sofia felt. The person you loved so much was in a way complicet in the torture delivered by the SS to so many innocent men, women and children and you know this is wrong so how can you look at your father in the same light. When she visits Warsaw with her father and from a high up buiding can see the ghetto in which hundreds of thousands of Jews are imprisoned she comes to a stark realisation that it should have been her and her mother behind those walls living in a hole in a wall or overcrowded room. In one way her father through his actions has spared her because of his last name and because of his job acceptance but in another does guilt eat away at Sofia that she is getting away with things?
Sofia was a well written character whom I grew to really appreciate the further the story progressed. Both herself and her mother are strong, brave and courageous in that they go above and beyond to try and help the workers sent from the camp at Auschwitz who have to toil away on their land. Through this, Sofia establishes a connection with Isaac and although only brief moments can be snatched together you do feel the genuine love that develops between the pair. It’s love in the face of evil and you question given the shocking circumstances that unfold can it ever come to fruition where they can live in happiness side by side? Sofia isn’t afraid to face the darkness that grows stronger the further you delve into the story. It becomes all consuming but can there be any light at the end of the tunnel?
I found myself connecting more to Isaac’s story, not that I didn’t appreciate Sofia’s it’s just I think because he was going through a much tougher time and we really got indepth detail about the suffering he was enduring alongside his family I found I connected with him more and was more concerned for the eventual outcome for him and his sister Olivia. Isaac’s family were forced into the ghetto in Warsaw with promises from the Germans of safety and shelter which turned out to be utter lies. The earlier sections of the book set in the ghetto were so detailed and quite frankly horrific. Unfortunately, I could picture everything so clearly in my mind and these images have not left me long after I have finished reading the book. ‘It’s as if they’re trapped in a container without holes for air, and it’s only a matter of time before they all waste away’. This quote sums things up perfectly the situation Isaac is in. The scenes where the Jewish resistance attempt to battle against the German soldiers were utterly heartbreaking and the result of this sees Isaac and Olivia separated from their parents. Isaac has to now step up and be the father figure for Olivia who is only 14. There is still an air of innocence about her but this is soon quashed as the two are sent to Auschwitz and separated upon their arrival.
I felt the book took on a different tone once the sections set in Auschwitz began. I thought there had been too long spent describing the ghetto and what happened to the family there so when the camp was reached I thought things picked up pace and I was grateful for that. It meant periods of time occurred quickly, as they reached the camp in 1942 and there was still 3 years of the war to go through before the victory. Maybe just a little more balance between the two parts of the story was needed as at times it did read like a book of two halves and definitely the epilogue tried to fit too much in even though it was nice to see how things turned out in the end. I found Issac to be a fantastically written character and someone who wise beyond his years. I can’t say much as to what occurs regarding Isaac’s storyline but I found his unwavering strength and devotion to be admirable.
I can’t fail to mention Olivia. I was surprised she took such prominence as I initially thought the entire focus of the book would be on Sofia and Isaac. Her aspect of the story was raw, powerful, heartbreaking and will have you in tears. It’s but a small snapshot of what happened at Auschwitz but it hits you right to the core and makes the book all the better for its inclusion. Olivia is but one of many victims but her story stands out here for all she endured and the guilt that Isaac feels as he is separated from her and can’t prevent what is happening to her.
The Doctor’s Daughter is another interesting, thought provoking and hard hitting story from Shari J Ryan and fans of books set during World War Two will definitely enjoy it. Although it is the wrong word to use given the subject matter this is one of the better books in this genre and highlights how far family will go to protect and be there for one another.
April 28, 2022
Imagine you are a doctor living in Oświęcim, Poland during the time it is under Nazi occupation. Your wife and daughter are Jewish, but you are not. What would you do to save the lives of your family? Would you work for the Nazi's? If you did would that be enough to save them?
These are all questions that Sofia's father had to ask himself. Did he have a choice? Really? I tend to think he didn't but as an adult he was doing his best to protect those he loved and that meant keeping secrets from them and spending time with those they all hated, helping those who meted out torture and death without batting an eye. As a reader, I cannot imagine how difficult that would have been and although this story is a fictional one, I am sure that there were many people who faced just such a dilemma.
To Sofia, her father's choice is a heinous one that causes her relationship with him to disintegrate. Her mother is equally torn although with an adult perspective she seems to understand a little better. As Sofia looks out her bedroom window each day she sees the horrors of the Holocaust played out right in front of her and knows that it could so easily be her living a life like the slave labourers who tend her family garden. But what can a girl do to make a difference?
Isaac and his sister Olivia, have lost both of their parents while in the Warsaw ghetto and find themselves living in the sewers to survive. Eventually they resurface and immediately find themselves on the way to Auschwitz. There they face the horrors that all new inmates face and they are separated from each other. Isaac is chosen to be a slave labourer in the gardens of Sofia's family. Olivia works in Kanada, one of the "best" places to be, but full of horrors of it's own.
Throughout the novel, the reader experiences the story primarily through the eyes of Sofia, Isaac and Olivia. How their lives intersect and what happens to them throughout the years of the war was vivid enough to keep me reading through the night. As I write on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, this story reminds me that it is all to easy for humanity to sink to deplorable levels. The cruelty of the Nazi's is impossible to fully understand.
Some of the words of Isaac really stood out for me, especially in light of the current war in Ukraine. "When a reader reaches the last page of a book, the spine creaks as the back cover closes - a definitive end, and time to place the story up on a shelf for the next person. War is not like a book -there is no end. The tremors are everlasting."
Many thanks to #NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
These are all questions that Sofia's father had to ask himself. Did he have a choice? Really? I tend to think he didn't but as an adult he was doing his best to protect those he loved and that meant keeping secrets from them and spending time with those they all hated, helping those who meted out torture and death without batting an eye. As a reader, I cannot imagine how difficult that would have been and although this story is a fictional one, I am sure that there were many people who faced just such a dilemma.
To Sofia, her father's choice is a heinous one that causes her relationship with him to disintegrate. Her mother is equally torn although with an adult perspective she seems to understand a little better. As Sofia looks out her bedroom window each day she sees the horrors of the Holocaust played out right in front of her and knows that it could so easily be her living a life like the slave labourers who tend her family garden. But what can a girl do to make a difference?
Isaac and his sister Olivia, have lost both of their parents while in the Warsaw ghetto and find themselves living in the sewers to survive. Eventually they resurface and immediately find themselves on the way to Auschwitz. There they face the horrors that all new inmates face and they are separated from each other. Isaac is chosen to be a slave labourer in the gardens of Sofia's family. Olivia works in Kanada, one of the "best" places to be, but full of horrors of it's own.
Throughout the novel, the reader experiences the story primarily through the eyes of Sofia, Isaac and Olivia. How their lives intersect and what happens to them throughout the years of the war was vivid enough to keep me reading through the night. As I write on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, this story reminds me that it is all to easy for humanity to sink to deplorable levels. The cruelty of the Nazi's is impossible to fully understand.
Some of the words of Isaac really stood out for me, especially in light of the current war in Ukraine. "When a reader reaches the last page of a book, the spine creaks as the back cover closes - a definitive end, and time to place the story up on a shelf for the next person. War is not like a book -there is no end. The tremors are everlasting."
Many thanks to #NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
June 8, 2024
Wat was dit een hartverscheurend en heftig verhaal om te lezen.
Het boek speelt zich af in Polen tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Isaac, Olivia en hun ouders zijn Joods en moeten wonen in de omheinde getto van Warschau waar de Joden gevangen worden gehouden en de omstandigheden zeer slecht zijn. Op een dag worden Isaac en Olivia afgevoerd naar Auschwitz, waar de omstandigheden verschrikkelijk zijn. Sophia ziet Isaac dagelijks dwangarbeid verrichten op de akkers rond haar huis. Sophia is een Joods meisje, wiens omstandigheden beter zijn, omdat haar vader niet-Joods is en de SS ondersteunt als arts (om zo zijn vrouw en dochter te redden). Sophia heeft heel veel medelijden met Isaac en ze bedenkt een plan om hem te redden. Gaat dat lukken en zal Olivia, Isaac’s zusje de tijd in Auschwitz overleven?
Ik geef dit boek 4,5 ster afgerond naar 4⭐️
Het boek speelt zich af in Polen tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Isaac, Olivia en hun ouders zijn Joods en moeten wonen in de omheinde getto van Warschau waar de Joden gevangen worden gehouden en de omstandigheden zeer slecht zijn. Op een dag worden Isaac en Olivia afgevoerd naar Auschwitz, waar de omstandigheden verschrikkelijk zijn. Sophia ziet Isaac dagelijks dwangarbeid verrichten op de akkers rond haar huis. Sophia is een Joods meisje, wiens omstandigheden beter zijn, omdat haar vader niet-Joods is en de SS ondersteunt als arts (om zo zijn vrouw en dochter te redden). Sophia heeft heel veel medelijden met Isaac en ze bedenkt een plan om hem te redden. Gaat dat lukken en zal Olivia, Isaac’s zusje de tijd in Auschwitz overleven?
Ik geef dit boek 4,5 ster afgerond naar 4⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2022
I honestly can not get enough of Shari’s books.
So many emotions go through you when reading her stories.
The pain people endured during that time should never be forgotten. Evil should not win.
So many emotions go through you when reading her stories.
The pain people endured during that time should never be forgotten. Evil should not win.
March 25, 2023
History should never be forgotten! The atrocities of Hitler's regime is unspeakable. People don't realize the strength of the human spirit until surviving becomes the ultimate goal. This is a beautiful story of friendship, families and love.
April 28, 2022
This book broke my heart. It’s incredibly sad and at times quite dark.
I love reading books about World War II, and ones that involve the tragedies in Poland. This book was no exception.
This book makes you put yourself in the position of those who lived through this awful time in history. I can’t even imagine having to make some of these choices, or try so hard while being devastated. Ryan brings you to think about such choices. While I did cringe for a split second when thought there was going to be a love story involved in such a tragic time, once it happened I actually enjoyed it.
This book is written chapter by chapter told by different characters, but it’s not the typical repeat. Ryan added in another character story line halfway through the book and I really enjoyed seeing that characters perspective.
Historical fiction lovers, read this one! :)
I love reading books about World War II, and ones that involve the tragedies in Poland. This book was no exception.
This book makes you put yourself in the position of those who lived through this awful time in history. I can’t even imagine having to make some of these choices, or try so hard while being devastated. Ryan brings you to think about such choices. While I did cringe for a split second when thought there was going to be a love story involved in such a tragic time, once it happened I actually enjoyed it.
This book is written chapter by chapter told by different characters, but it’s not the typical repeat. Ryan added in another character story line halfway through the book and I really enjoyed seeing that characters perspective.
Historical fiction lovers, read this one! :)
April 17, 2022
The Doctor’s Daughter by Shari J Ryan is a must read! Shari’s portrayal of the Holocaust and historical fiction will have you grabbing for tissues, tugging at your heart and leave you gripping the pages until the last word.
This story introduces you to Sofia, a Jewish girl who idolizes her non-Jewish doctor father and Isaac, the son of Jewish parents trying to survive in the Warsaw Ghetto. Sofia loves her father, but comes to question his intentions as he works with the SS. Although he has no choice, Sofia comes to question his motives. Sofia sees Isaac working on their farm and instantly knows she needs to help him. Isaac was sent to work on their farm from Auschwitz as his daily work.
Isaac has been separated from his parents and only has his sister Olivia left.
Sofia’s family opens their home to Isaac until it becomes unsafe and the privileged must go into hiding to survive.
The immediate connection felt between Sofia and Isaac is felt through Shari’s words. All the emotions you will feel inside as the characters struggle to survive in this horrible time. The reader cannot help to think about all the horrors of the past in each of the characters stories.
Every page brings emotion and heartache with the tragedy of those times.
Shari J Ryan tells amazing tales of this genre. Her words will leave you feeling all of the emotions that these characters went through and questioning how this could have happened.
I cannot recommend her books enough. She is one of the best Writers of Holocaust historical fiction.
This story introduces you to Sofia, a Jewish girl who idolizes her non-Jewish doctor father and Isaac, the son of Jewish parents trying to survive in the Warsaw Ghetto. Sofia loves her father, but comes to question his intentions as he works with the SS. Although he has no choice, Sofia comes to question his motives. Sofia sees Isaac working on their farm and instantly knows she needs to help him. Isaac was sent to work on their farm from Auschwitz as his daily work.
Isaac has been separated from his parents and only has his sister Olivia left.
Sofia’s family opens their home to Isaac until it becomes unsafe and the privileged must go into hiding to survive.
The immediate connection felt between Sofia and Isaac is felt through Shari’s words. All the emotions you will feel inside as the characters struggle to survive in this horrible time. The reader cannot help to think about all the horrors of the past in each of the characters stories.
Every page brings emotion and heartache with the tragedy of those times.
Shari J Ryan tells amazing tales of this genre. Her words will leave you feeling all of the emotions that these characters went through and questioning how this could have happened.
I cannot recommend her books enough. She is one of the best Writers of Holocaust historical fiction.
March 23, 2022
The Doctor's Daughter by Shari J. Ryan
Auschwitz, 1941: It was her father’s job to save the lives of the SS. But she chose to risk everything and save the lives of prisoners.
In Nazi-occupied Poland, Sofia cannot look her father in the eye. Sofia’s mother, her papa’s cherished wife, is Jewish—how dare he work as a doctor for the SS? She cannot forgive him, even if the bargain was made to spare their lives.
In the middle of the night, Isaac emerges from a packed train with hundreds of others. Beneath Auschwitz’s barbed wire, soldiers surround them, and gunshots pierce the dark sky. The SS decide prisoners’ fates on the spot—and Isaac is chosen to work, rather than to die.
A fabulous , fabulous read. Poignant , heart breaking , yet beautiful in its story.
Loved hearing all about Sofia and her determined way of fighting the wrongs of her father and the Nazi's in general.
A true love story.
Auschwitz, 1941: It was her father’s job to save the lives of the SS. But she chose to risk everything and save the lives of prisoners.
In Nazi-occupied Poland, Sofia cannot look her father in the eye. Sofia’s mother, her papa’s cherished wife, is Jewish—how dare he work as a doctor for the SS? She cannot forgive him, even if the bargain was made to spare their lives.
In the middle of the night, Isaac emerges from a packed train with hundreds of others. Beneath Auschwitz’s barbed wire, soldiers surround them, and gunshots pierce the dark sky. The SS decide prisoners’ fates on the spot—and Isaac is chosen to work, rather than to die.
A fabulous , fabulous read. Poignant , heart breaking , yet beautiful in its story.
Loved hearing all about Sofia and her determined way of fighting the wrongs of her father and the Nazi's in general.
A true love story.
April 8, 2022
This book was absolutely riveting!! I couldn’t put it down yet I honestly feared turning the page as the story developed. Shari weaves a beautiful story of life, loss, love and perseverance. Strength born from the determination to live through one of the most horrific times in history. The atrocities of WW 2 could not be expressed any more vividly than in these stories. This story is gut wrenching and harrowing yet you can feel the need to survive from the amazing characters especially Isaac, Sofia and Olivia. This series is a must read!! Amazing story!
April 9, 2024
Fictief verhaal dat tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog in Polen doorgaat. Een roman waar fictie en feiten in elkaar verweven zijn. Een liefdesverhaal met het nodige gezinsdrama. Mooie verwoordingen van gevoelens en emoties van joden in verschillende posities en standen. Naar mijn gevoel iets te veel fictie en enkele feiten die niet realistisch genoeg zijn... Waarschijnlijk omdat ik reeds te veel non-fictie over dit thema heb gelezen. Ideaal boek om aan het zwembad op reis te lezen. Leest erg makkelijk!👍
May 2, 2022
Exquisite
There are only few books that so deeply touched my heart like The Doctor’s Daughter. I cried for Olivia, I admired Sofia, I felt intrigued by Issac and his strength... Shari Ryan has this special gift of making her readers feeling so close to her characters. Everyone should read this book, it’s how good it is! Well done, Shari Ryan!
There are only few books that so deeply touched my heart like The Doctor’s Daughter. I cried for Olivia, I admired Sofia, I felt intrigued by Issac and his strength... Shari Ryan has this special gift of making her readers feeling so close to her characters. Everyone should read this book, it’s how good it is! Well done, Shari Ryan!
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