As the brutality of Russian forces violate the citizenry of Ukraine, I started Once We Were Brothers, a bewildering portrayal of the human spirit in both love and hate. “We must never forget…” seem like empty words as Ukraine stumbles, akin to WWII Europe. This book …more emphasizes that wars of greed and vanity continue to haunt the human spirit then and now.

Ben Solomon’s ethereal experiences with the souls of the deceased underscores that soul doesn’t leave us even though the body does. Balson reminds us to listen to those voices of the past, if you can hear them. I was touched, even struck, by this spiritualism.

Also, the pacing of the book has a velocity that shot way into the night, leaving me sleepless.

I love this book! (less)