Bookclub- We Must Not Think of Ourselves by Laura Grodstein

We'll be meeting on Wed, April 2nd at 6:15 pm virtually for our next bookclub. We'll be discussing the extraordinary, dazzling, compelling, masterpiece of a novel "We Must Not Think of Ourselves" by Lauren Grodstein, a Read with Jenna. We'll enjoy a stimulating & fun discussion.

A heart-wrenching story of love and defiance set in the Warsaw Ghetto, based on the actual archives kept by those determined to have their stories survive World War II. On a November day in 1940, Adam Paskow becomes a prisoner in the Warsaw Ghetto, where the Jews of the city are cut off from their former lives and held captive by Nazi guards, and await an uncertain fate. Weeks later, he is approached by a mysterious figure with a surprising request: Will he join a secret group of archivists working to preserve the truth of what is happening inside these walls? Adam agrees and begins taking testimonies from his students, friends, and neighbors. He learns about their childhoods and their daydreams, their passions and their fears, their desperate strategies for safety and survival. The stories form a portrait of endurance in a world where no choices are good ones.

One of the people Adam interviews is his flatmate Sala Wiskoff, who is stoic, determined, and funny—and married with two children. Over the months of their confinement, in the presence of her family, Adam and Sala fall in love. As they desperately carve out intimacy, their relationship feels both impossible and vital, their connection keeping them alive. But when Adam discovers a possible escape from the Ghetto, he is faced with an unbearable choice: Whom can he save, and at what cost?. Inspired by the testimony-gathering project with the code name Oneg Shabbat, New York Times bestselling author Lauren Grodstein draws readers into the lives of people living on the edge. Told with immediacy and heart, We Must Not Think of Ourselves is a piercing story of love, determination, and sacrifice for the many fans of literary World War II fiction.

I can't wait til I see you all again if I have the privilege on April 2nd &/or prior to at our fun&stimulating bookclubs.
Cheers Robbie Susan
Reviews
Named a Best Book of 2023 by Kirkus Reviews (Best Fiction Books of the Year & Best Historical Fiction of 2023)

"Accomplished…This is a tender, heartbreaking novel that grapples with timeless questions. Is collaboration forgivable? Can sparks of human kindness, however tiny, fend off hopelessness in the face of evil?” New York Times Book Review

"Grodstein expertly weaves the tale of this lonely storyteller, his students and the families he lives with into the true history of the Oneg Shabbat project. Gripping, emotional, and, against all odds, hopeful."―People

“Lauren Grodstein’s masterpiece… an extraordinary work of historical fiction.”―Associated Press

"[A] gripping historical novel."―Washington Post

"Emotionally charged and meticulously researched, We Must Not Think of Ourselves pays homage to the Oneg Shabbat's goal of honoring the Jewish people by bearing witness to the entirety of their experience. This is a compelling and compassionate tribute that will resonate deeply with readers."―BookPage

"[R]ealistic, heartrending… Thought-provoking, tender, and horrifying, this memorable novel of Jewish lives in the Warsaw Ghetto offers timeless lessons."―Shelf Awareness

"[A] crucial, compelling, and important new novel."―Lilith Magazine

“[A] delicate, warm account of a brutal, cold time, grounded in humanity, small details, and unwavering clarity.”―Kirkus Reviews

“Grodstein brings to life a critical piece of history with her strong sense of place and complex characters... [The Oneg Shabbat archive] is represented beautifully in Grodstein’s first historical novel, supported by her intensive research and the book’s dynamic relationships that show the value of everyday intimacies. Recommended for readers who enjoy stories from all time periods about the extraordinary actions of ordinary people.”―Library Journal

“Grodstein makes her persecuted characters achingly human... This will stay with readers.”―Publishers Weekly

“[A] moving chronicle, a worthy tribute to those who fought to survive the unthinkable.”―Booklist

“[A] story of hope, love, doing what we can to survive.”―Lilith Magazine

"Profound… This will move you to tears."―Montecito Journal

"[A] penetrating novel… Grodstein movingly re-creates the circumstances behind [Oneg Shabbat’s] creation…a memorable standout."―Historical Novels Review