THE THINGS WE CHERISHED
Once I understood the sudden shifts in time, locale and characters, I was drawn into the personal pain of brothers and the women they loved and the pain of the Holocaust repeated in the present day struggle of two brothers and a woman, a survivor of the Holocaust herself. My heart ached again for the Holocaust victims as highlighted by Jenoff. Having lived in that era, I felt again the madness of those times, the old struggle of love and pain in wartime, everything loosely held together here by a clockmaker, the Nazis and an antique clock.. It is a novel of love in the horrors of war and in the sufferings of the men and women who lived it.
Rated of 5
by Bob W. (Oakland, TN)
The Things We Cherished
I was initially drawn to the book by its title and close behind by it's historical fiction subject matter...and I was not disappointed. Using her personal background of law and history she skillfully weaves the story from the past (beginning in 1903) to the present (2009), and throughout various cities in Europe. And she ties it all together in a most interesting and unique way: an anniversary clock handmade in Bavaria in 1903 and the several lives it touches. Ms Jenoff also does an excellent work of developing personal relationships, both in the past and the present, and in her character development. All in all quite an accomplishment for under 300 pages. If you enjoy fact-based historical fiction you should enjoy her efforts. Romance is also prominent, but is in no way overpowering.
Rated of 5
by Gee (Troutdale, OR)
The Things We Cherished
This was a marvelous story spanning many years and locations. It is the story of two attorneys who while working to defend a man against charges of war crimes during the Holocaust find themselves falling in love. The accused is the brother of a man who was deemed a hero during the time. It's the story of their mutual love for the same woman and the significance of an anniversary clock. The book is part love story, mystery and historical fiction.
Rated of 5
by Marlys D. (Grand Rapids, MI)
The Things We Cherished
I found this book very engaging. The back-and-forth between present-day and the past, and the tracking of the clock through history were well done and held my interest throughout. I did think there could have been a bit more historical background in the "past" chapters (for instance, details of what happened to Johann's wife) but I did like following the clock's travels. Some of the characters could have been developed a bit more as well, but overall I found it a good read if not particularly deep. I think it would make a pretty good "beach read" because it isn't too long or detailed--easy to pick up/put down without losing the thread of the story & characters.
Rated of 5
by Elise B. (Macedonia, OH)
The Thigs We Cherished
The book, The Things We Cherished, is a combination of a modern day romance and historical fiction. It is the story of a man, Roger Dykmans, who is being accused of war crimes during World War II, and is refusing to assist his attorneys in providing a defense. The three attorneys involved in the case have an interesting love triangle between a woman and two brothers. This story is interwoven with various tales of historical fiction involving the clock and the various families that owned it - primarily throughout World War II. Each of the individual stories were quite engaging separately; however, the blending of the clock into people’s lives, leading into modern day, was very forced and not very plausible.
Rated of 5
by Carolyn L. (Summerville, SC)
The Things We Cherished
I liked this book a lot, and will look for more by this author. I became involved in the story right away, and found it quite interesting. Chapters alternated between the past and the present, and it worked for me in this novel, providing an understanding of how, and perhaps why, certain things happened. I am drawn to books which have connections to the World War II era, and this one did not disappoint.
Rated of 5
by Lucy B. (Urbana, Ohio)
Holocaust Hero's brother
I loved this story of love and suspense. There is a love connection not only between the public defender and the brother of her ex-lover but between the accused Nazi collaborator, who the public defender is asked to help defend, and the accused's brother's wife.
The book starts in 2009, jumps to 1903, 1922, 1940, 1942, 1961, and 1911, jumping into 2009 in and about the earlier years. I sometimes got confused as to where I was.
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Loved this book. Magical, quirky, enchanting I could go on. All books do not have to be literary fiction, sometimes it is just so comforting to read...
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British Parliament asks Amazon to clarify why it pays $9 million in income tax on $23 billion of UK sales.(May 20 2013) Amazon will be called back to give further evidence to members of the British Parliament "to clarify how its activities in the U.K. justify its low corporate...
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by Shirley D. (Amherst, MA)
of 5
by Elise B. (Macedonia, OH)
