Many years ago I read The Golem and the Jinni, which made a real impression on me. This book was every bit as affecting. Even though the book spans many locations, every character is interconnected in both touching and heartbreaking ways. Although this is a tale rooted in Judaism I was especially reminded of the Greek concepts of love as each seemed to be explored- parental love, selfless love, platonic love, everlasting love etc. Put simply I was moved by every example. I also appreciated that the supernatural did not detract from the very real and very passionate research into this subject that the author poured onto the page. Beautiful work and highly recommended.

This was really beautiful book to read, heartbreaking and hopeful in turns. I read the Museum of Extraordinary things a while back and found it enjoyable and interesting but this book was even better, quite magical and poignantly sad. It is set during the second world war, opening in Berlin and then moving for most of the narrative to France. Hanni's beautiful, blonde haired daughter is almost raped by a soldier whilst keeping watch for her mother who is trying to steal some items from a derelict shop to use to buy food. Hanni kills the soldier but realises that she must get her daughter out of France as the round up of Jews is intensifying. She will need to stay to look after her bedridden mother so she uses the last of her family treasures to pay a rabbi's daughter to create a Golem woman who will be tasked with getting her daughter to safety. The long trip to safety and the people they meet along the way and their lives under the occupation are explored in the narrative. Magic realism is used to describe the demons and wolves (the soldiers) that are proliferating,how the Golem can speak to the birds and animals and see glimpses of the future and the visits of Azriel, the angel of death, so beautiful and strangely comforting for those about to die. I don't want to spoiler so won't describe the plot in detail. Suffice to say I read this book in every spare moment I had, it is so beautifully crafted, stunning.

This is one of the most beautiful and heartwarming books ever
The writing is superb and the storytelling is magnificent
There are stories within the story and I felt so connected to the characters
A brilliant book

Alice Hoffman is one of my favourite authors and I was absolutely thrilled to be given a chance to read her new book. The World that we Knew is one of her finest books yet.

Set in a horrifying time in history, Berlin 1941, this is a story of good and evil. It's also a story of love and resilience. Definitely one of my favourites this year.

Thank you NetGalley for my copy.

‘The World That We Knew’ is a wonderful, life-enhancing novel, set in the cruellest of times. That Hoffman is able to generate convincing scenarios of trust and treachery, hope and despair in equal measures is testament to her powerful writing and compelling storytelling.
Set during the Second World War, this novel begins in Berlin, moves to Paris and then to rural France where Hoffman weaves historical details such as the horrors of the infamous Montluc prison, and the round-up and murder of the children of Izieu (a group of Jewish refugees of different nationalities cared for in a country house) into her story of Jewish persecution, death and survival.
Once twelve-year-old Lea has been commanded by her mother to leave Berlin, she is protected by Ava, a golem made by Ettie, daughter of a rabbi, as they travel to Paris. Safe in the house of the Levis, distant cousins, Lea and Ava gradually find their place in this society, ever aware that all Jews are vulnerable. Eventually the political situation necessitates that they flee once more. Escaping Paris, too, are the Levis’ maid, Marianne, Victor Levi and Julien, his younger brother.
Whilst we follow these characters’ fates and fortunes in the countryside, Hoffman never allows us to forget that, all around them, Jewish citizens are rounded up and sent, firstly, to Montluc and then on to concentration camps. Those left in Berlin and Paris suffer similar ends. Over the whole narrative hovers the shadow of Azriel, Angel of Death and, yet, countering this spectre is such love and strength.
This novel is a tribute to the many, many brave acts carried out during World War Two by members of the Resistance and by ordinary citizens determined to survive and to help others to survive. ‘The World That We Knew’ reminds us that much good can be done through the power of love and Alice Hoffman illustrates this through romantic, familial and platonic love in all its forms. Perhaps most moving of all is the way in which Lea and Ava’s relationship changes and grows even though it is understood that the golem is destined to die by Lea’s hand. The world is turned on its head and, extraordinarily, when righted once more, out of all the suffering that can never be unfelt, comes new strength and a kind of healing.
My thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Shuster UK for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.

This is not my usual genre but in the capable hands of someone of the calibre of Alice Hoffman you know it’s going to be an interesting read. This is a very moving story of love and survival. As the cruel yoke of Nazism tightens via the Nuremberg Laws and thereafter the Final Solution in Germany and conquered Europe, Hanni Kohn in Berlin decides she has to save her daughter Lea by any means. Hanni is brave and fearless and she tries to teach Lea to be a ‘wolf’. . Hanni employs all the magic at her disposal to ensure that Lea gets out of Germany. There is a wonderful image of Hanni sprinkling her coat with an invisibility mixture as she seeks help for Lea to create a golem to protect her and get her out of Berlin. The story traces Lea’s journey out of Germany and into France as she tries to evade capture. At times the danger is palpable, the writing is beautiful, emotional and very powerful. This is a novel about strength and endurance against evil, in particular female strength. All the female characters are strong - Hanni, Lea, Ava, Ettie and Marianne and I felt invested in their survival. The male characters that stand out are brothers Julien and Victor. They encounter things that can only be described as horrific and most of the incidents are based on historical fact which blends really well into the storytelling. The author has clearly researched very widely in order to write this moving tale.
This is a wonderfully written story with some beautiful imagery. Who could not love Ava dancing with the heron or the appearance of angels, some protective and Azriel, the harbinger of death. This is a book principally about love - Hanni for Lea, Lea for Julien, Marianne for Victor, Ava for Lea and the heron, Ettie for her sister. It’s also about love of life as the characters strife to survive and help others to do so. The cruelty beggars belief especially the actions of Klaus Barbie as described towards the end of the book. The ending is not what I expected but I liked it. This is a fantastic book which will stay with me for a long time.

This book is haunting and beautiful.

Lea is just 12 years old when we first meet her and her mother Hanni. They are German Jews living in Berlin and the world is at war.

Magic, mystery and spiritualism are all explored in this evocative and spell-binding novel. The characters are well written and described and their stories are told carefully as they intertwine and lead us onwards.

I loved this story and I will be searching out further books by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.