Those who save us by jenna blum for fifty years, anna schlemmer has refused to talk about her life in germany during world war ii. Those who save us bursts with provocative questions about the ambiguous possibilities of culpability. This is one of the few books whose narrator has kept me awake while driving hours and hours late at night. She conducted an affair with a jewish baker who was summarily killed. Those who save us is a 2004 novel by american author jenna blum. Those who save us is from the point of view of a german mother during the holocaust and the lengths she goes to protect her daughter. Those who save us by jenna blum, book cover jenna blums debut novel those who save us is the intimate story, almost as personal in tone as a memoir. Jenna blum portrays characters that are absorbing, gripping, and interesting. Pdf those who save us book by jenna blum free download 479. Those who save us book columbus metropolitan library. It is the authors debut novel and concerns the ways in which germans who were not jewish handled the holocaust. In striving to enrich the lives of all readers, teachingbooks supports the first amendment and celebrates the right to read.
Jenna blums eloquent first novel those who save us, speaks with restraint and conviction about understanding ones past and moving ahead with life. How does blum play with the concept of being saved, being safe, being a savior. The story combines wisdom and depth with good storytelling. Those who save us helps us better understand both the victims and their victimizers. Those who save us by jenna blum by curlygeek04, may 1, 2011. Those who save us ties together the life experiences of anna and her daughter trudy.
The first edition of the novel was published in april 5th 2004, and was written by jenna blum. The book alternates between annas experience as a young adult in weimar, germany. Anna is an eighteen year old girl who falls in love with a jewish doctor and finds the courage to finally stand up to her domineering father, a nazi sympathizer and altogether unkind man, and hide her lover in her own home. Cagily plotted between past and present, guilt and innocence, those who save us is a moving, unsentimental page turner. Those who save us by jenna blum book club discussion. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of those who save us by jenna blum. In that context, its a penetrating novel which touches the heart and questions the conscience. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 479 pages and is available in paperback format. In what ways do the characters save each other in the novel, and who saves whom. In 20 she was selected by the modern scholar series to teach an audio lecture course entitled the author at work. Those who save us book central rappahannock regional. Combining a passionate, doomed love story, a vivid evocation of life during the war, and a poignant motherdaughter drama, those who save us is a profound exploration of what we endure to survive and the legacy of shame. An absorbing tale of two womens struggles with the burdens and responsibilities of remembrance.
In the beginning of the novel, what is annas attitude towards the jewish people of weimar. Those who save us, by jenna blum the independent i felt a little bad putting this book down halfway through it is, after all, a book about the holocaust. It is also a book about heroism, not the kind we are normally subject to, but the kind of heroes that do not realise, at the time, that this is how they appear to those they help. Publishers weekly said of the book, blums spare imagery is. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Synopsis for fifty years, anna schlemmer has refused to talk about her life in germany during world war ii. Those who save us is a profound exploration of what we endure to survive and the legacy of shame.
May 02, 2005 combining a passionate, doomed love story, a vivid evocation of life during the war, and a poignant motherdaughter drama, those who save us is a profound exploration of what we endure to survive and the legacy of shame. The main characters of this historical, historical fiction story are anna schlemmer. She worked for steven spielbergs shoah foundation for four years, interviewing holocaust survivors. Those who save us for fifty years, anna schlemmer has refused to talk about her life in germany during world war ii. I felt a little bad putting this book down halfway through it is, after all, a book about the holocaust. Sep 04, 2017 combining a passionate, doomed love story, a vivid evocation of life during the war, and a poignant motherdaughter drama, those who save us is a profound exploration of what we endure to survive and the legacy of shame. Apr 05, 2004 those who save us, written by jenna blum, is an historical fiction novel set in germany during world war ii. Those who save us by jenna blum book cover, description, publication history. Her mother, anna, refuses to talk to her, but annas story is revealed in flashback. Anna is now in a nursing home and still silent about her history. Those who save us those who save us audiobook, by jenna blum. Those who save us by jenna blum booksamillion online book. This book really makes you think about what you would do in a similar situation.
Usually i start dozing and switch to music, but i couldnt stop listening to this book, and was sad. Free download or read online those who save us pdf epub book. In her compelling first novel, jenna blum forces a moral reevaluation on her characters and on the reader. In the end, this historically specific novel tells a universal story of guilt, forgiveness and love. April 1, 2004 an emotionally estranged mother and daughter are reconciled when the daughter learns the truth about her german mothers actions in wwii. Goodreads members who liked those who save us also liked. Reviewed by susan gillmor those who save us by jenna blum, book cover jenna blums debut novel those who save us is the. Those who save us by jenna blum is a historical fiction book based on a terrible and devasting time. Secrets abound in the pages of this book, some of which we only discover the true nature of by reading, as the person holding the secret will take it with them to.
Those who save us book johnson county library bibliocommons. Tenyearold sarah is brutally arrested with her family in the vel dhiv roundup, the most notorious act of french collaboration with the nazis. Those who save us jenna blum, 2004 houghton mifflin harcourt 496 pp. Alison leslie gold, a u t h o r o f f i e t s vase and annefrank remembered w i t h m i e p g i e s. Trudys sole evidence of the past is an old photograph. In addition, blum leads novelists as part of the grub street writing center, a bostonbased workshop for writers.
Pdf those who save us book by jenna blum free download. Those who save us made me think about the very personal side of ww2, and very deftly roped me deeply into the atrocities of the camps and all of the injustices by making it uniquely personal. Find books like those who save us from the worlds largest community of readers. Those who save us draws together the life experiences of anna and her daughter trudy. Those who save us, written by jenna blum, is an historical fiction novel set in germany during world war ii. Trudy, a college history professor, is collecting oral histories from world war ii survivors both german and jewish. Publishers weekly apr 5, 2004 blum, who worked for steven spielbergs shoah foundation, takes a direct, unsentimental look at the holocaust in her first novel. Buy a cheap copy of those who save us book by jenna blum. Digital rights management drm the publisher has supplied this book in encrypted form, which means that you need to install free software in order to unlock and read it. Milwaukee journal sentinel the themes of love, sacrifice and family secrets are at the core of blums powerful first novel. As a young woman, she conceived the child of max, a jewish doctor she had hidden in her home in an effort to protect him from the nazis. The opening chapter of those who save us ends with a woman shunned by her nice minnesota neighbors following the funeral of her husband, jack.
Praise for those who save us jenna blums accomplished first novel, those who save us, is both vast and intimate in its reach. This study guide consists of approximately 62 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of those who save us. Those who save us an excellent, gripping, thought provocking story book. Her daughter, trudy, was only three when she and her mother were liberated by an american soldier and went to live with him in minnesota. Blum, who is halfjewish and of german descent, worked for steven spielbergs shoah foundation.
Haunted by an old family photo of her mother and a highranking nazi officer, historian trudy swenson begins to dig deep into the past to uncover the wartime experiences her mother refuses to talk about. San francisco chronicle praise for those who save us jenna blums accomplished first novel, those who save us, is both vast and intimate in its reach. As a young woman, anna lived in weimar, germany during world war ii. Heartbreaking, and graphic, this book will transform your thinking. Trudie knows nothing about her father but believes he was a nazi officer, from a photo hidden in annas drawer. For fifty years, anna schlemmer has refused to talk about her life in germany during world war ii. A book on tape that will keep you awake in the car where does those who save us rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far. Jenna blums accomplished first novel, those who save us, is both vast and intimate in its reach. I enjoyed her writing style, which was raw and simple, yet very beautiful in some parts as well. For fifty years, anna schlemmer has refused to talk about her. Her daughter, trudy, was only three when she and her mother were liberated by an american soldier.
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