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Gee (Troutdale, OR)
(05/25/11)
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.
Betty T. (Warner Robins, Georgia)
(05/25/11)
Love Triangles
I enjoyed the book even though the story is not all that deep. The two love triangles somewhat mirror each other -- two brothers in love with the same woman. Neither story gets very deep. After all, the book is only 286 pages. It was sometimes hard to grab the thread of the story when it bounced into the past. But the sentimentality of the story saved it. The clock ties the chapters from the past together. Overall, I enjoyed it.
Bob W. (Oakland, TN)
(05/24/11)
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.
Diane H. (San Diego, CA)
(05/21/11)
Things We Cherished
A quick, easy read with an interesting story. I like the way the chapters alternated between the current story and the story unfolding in the past and the way the author made connections between past and present. The characters in the present could have been given a little more depth. Overall it was an enjoyable book.
Jennifer F. (Saratoga, CA)
(05/19/11)
More a romantic novel than historical fiction
As a fan of historical fiction, I was disappointed in the level of detail given to the historic events within the novel. The author had more of a focus on the romantic plot, which I found predictable and therefore, not as interesting as a traditional historical fiction work.
Florence K. (Encino, California)
(05/16/11)
The Things We Cherished
Some history, some mystery, and some deftly woven twists and turns make for a quick read. The chapters zigzag between past and present with the quest for and possession of a very special timepiece as the crux of the book. I enjoyed reading about the events of the past; I found the present love story somewhat hackneyed.
It's an "airplane reading" novel and while I enjoyed reading it, the writing could have been more sophisticated.
tchapters zigzag between past and
Marcia W. (Toledo, Ohio)
(05/15/11)
Another Historical Romance from Jenoff
Surprisingly The Things We Cherished is a nice week-end curl up and read. Surprising because of the potentially depressing topic. However this story skims lightly over any real details of the Holocaust giving the reader just enough detail to carry the story. Indeed this is a romantic tale strung together by a rather surface mystery surrounding a clock and the Holocaust. A nice read but not a lot of depth.
Shirley D. (Amherst, MA)
(05/13/11)
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.