The Invisible Bridge

The Invisible Bridge  By Julie Orringer  The saga of a Hungarian family during WWII. This story is filled with love, friendship, and family during a time in history when Europe is torn apart by fear and hatred and fighting. Andras Levi and Klara fall into an unlikely love affair. Andras is a Hungarian studying architecture in Paris during 1937. He is much younger than Klara who has a 16 year old daughter and teaches ballet. Klara holds tight to a dark secret in her past, Andras will do anything to have her in his life. The story winds into a group of wonderful friends and a relationship of extraordinary closeness between Andras and his brothers. Sadly, when exploring the lives of a Jewish family during WWII, it is filled with heartache and loss. In contrast to many of the other WWII stories told, I was unaware of the status and part played by Hungary and its relationship as allies to the Nazi's but in many ways protecting the Jewish people as long as they were able. This novel is an excellent read of history through the eyes of the Levi family. It is long and some parts seem to last longer than necessary.

22 Britannia Road

22 Britannia Road  By Amanda Hodgkinson   A young couple with a small child are separated for 6 years during WWII. They are from Warsaw and Januscz goes off to war, Sylvana is left with little baby Aurek. She tries to get to her inlaws home but the bus runs out of gas and all their lives are forever changed. They survive in the forest. By some miracle the family is reunited when she arrives with her son in England and Januscz tries in vain to make them a proper home, and start a new life. But the past is full of secrets and mysteries of war. Love and loss that is buried deep but cannot be forgotten. The reader can picture the characters and feel their sadness and their hope. Excellent story of love, history and moving on even if you have to take the past with you.

Juliet

Juliet  By Anne Fortier   If you love the infamous Romeo and Juliet, you may have wondered if it was originally based on a true story. This historical novel follows that very ideal and takes the reader on a journey from 1340 through today to the very descendants of Romeo and Guilietta.  Julie Jacobs finds out she is a descendant of the real life Juliet and sets out on an adventure to learn more about her past and mysterious deaths of her parents. Julie finds herself traveling through modern day Italy on the adventure of a lifetime. The story is a bit slow midway through but when the pieces begin to make more sense it quickly gains momentum. Overall a fun, easy read and most interesting take on the most famous love story ever told. Recommend!