Tears of Amber
- Downloads：9745
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-05-02 12:31:58
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Sofía Segovia
- ISBN：1713560216
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
Tammy
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Great story， but heartbreaking。
Susan
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This is a tale of 2 families and their experiences of a war torn Prussia and their trials running from the red army in 1945。 It is well written but dark and difficult， particularly the last 25% of the book。 I was hoping for a light at the end but it's just too much。 I suppose the reality of war is pain and scars but in fiction I was looking for more hope。 This is a tale of 2 families and their experiences of a war torn Prussia and their trials running from the red army in 1945。 It is well written but dark and difficult， particularly the last 25% of the book。 I was hoping for a light at the end but it's just too much。 I suppose the reality of war is pain and scars but in fiction I was looking for more hope。 。。。more
elizabeth sweeney
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Excellent writingThe descriptive and eloquent writing of this painful yet inspiring story had me up all night reading。 The perspective of the children really made me think of war and it’s effects on the young。 How it shaped that generation。
Glady
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Tears of Amber is one of those novels that I will think about in the middle of the night， safe and secure in the knowledge that all is right with my world， but with the understanding that anything and everything can change in an instant。 As a former high school librarian， I value how well-written literature can open a window to our essential humanity and our basest instincts。 Recognizing the cruelties of the past and their consequences for the smallest among us is how we can affect the present a Tears of Amber is one of those novels that I will think about in the middle of the night， safe and secure in the knowledge that all is right with my world， but with the understanding that anything and everything can change in an instant。 As a former high school librarian， I value how well-written literature can open a window to our essential humanity and our basest instincts。 Recognizing the cruelties of the past and their consequences for the smallest among us is how we can affect the present and the future for the better。 For the two Prussian families in Segovia's novel， the rise of Nazism， the horrors of war， and the utter devastation that follows mean that family is everything and true strength has nothing to do with physicality。Ilse and Arno are both toddlers as the war begins - carefree and secure in the love of their families。 Each family has love， a home， and children but each has so much to lose。 Segovia takes readers on a decade long journey as both families attempt to keep their heads down and their innermost thoughts quiet。 But， the insanity grows and the war edges ever closer。 Fear， deprivation， and ultimately separation result in both families experiencing a nightmare that is all too frequent - loss of home and uncertainty as to the fate of all their loved ones。 Ilse has her stories， taught to her by their Polish laborer， Janusz， and it is these tales of wonder that bring her joy and comfort and steady her as events unfold around this little girl。 Arno has two books， The Three Musketeers and Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea， that he and his mother savor as they read aloud in the bombed out ruins of their hideout。 Both families dread the oncoming Russians even more than they fear the unknown open road。Segovia takes the vast， sweeping events of World War II and personalizes them through these two families。 The terror is felt by many but readers can taste the horrors along with Ilse， Arno， and their families。 Including the postwar period with its continued uncertainties and unexpected joys adds to the extraordinary reading experience。Segovia writes in Spanish and her work has been translated into English by Simon Bruni。 The inclusion of German and Polish idioms is lovely and well-done。 Sometimes translations are stilted and they lose the musicality of language but Bruni's work on Tears of Amber is exquisite。 。。。more
Ann
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Beautifully written and translated from Spanish， this novel gives the heartbreaking story of several families and their means of survival in WWII。 How blah my writing sounds！ Can't find words that give this title justice。 I learned so much and it was so very good！ Beautifully written and translated from Spanish， this novel gives the heartbreaking story of several families and their means of survival in WWII。 How blah my writing sounds！ Can't find words that give this title justice。 I learned so much and it was so very good！ 。。。more
Diane
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What a great story。 I enjoyed this author's style immensely。 Will definitely add her to my faves list！ Fascinating to read the different journeys of the many interesting characters and have it all wrap up so nicely。 Wonderful。 What a great story。 I enjoyed this author's style immensely。 Will definitely add her to my faves list！ Fascinating to read the different journeys of the many interesting characters and have it all wrap up so nicely。 Wonderful。 。。。more
MJ Carnino
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Wow what a journey with this book。 Beautifully written。 Loved when the intersections come together in the last third of the story。 While l I loved Murmur of Bees more， this was another solid story and afterword - again timely awareness of all we have to be grateful for despite pandemic times。
Kathy
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A different viewpointFew of the fiction books I have read on WWII have included the war from the point of view of the Prussians， as this book does。 Despite being citizens in their towns for generations， they were regarded as intruders by Germans and then abused by all as the war progressed。 The deprivation， the starvation， being at the mercy of horrible winters produced a death toll in the general citizenry not often mentioned in most accounts。
Dorothea Giordano
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A really good book。 There are so many books set in World War II， but this one looks at the war from a unique perspective， that of two children and their families living through the war。
Katt
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Wonderful and truly horrifying。 A part of WW2 I had not previously been aware of。
Debbie Baxter
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This is the stories of two families surviving WWII。 The epic drama unfolds in the early days of Hitler's seduction of the people and quickly escalates to manipulation and oppression。 It was often hard to read the abuses and sacrifices of their everyday lives。 They gave their all for no rewards but persevered。 It's an extremely thought provoking novel。 Worth the read and resonates within。 I enjoyed it and very happy to have read it。 I look forward to reading this author again。 This is the stories of two families surviving WWII。 The epic drama unfolds in the early days of Hitler's seduction of the people and quickly escalates to manipulation and oppression。 It was often hard to read the abuses and sacrifices of their everyday lives。 They gave their all for no rewards but persevered。 It's an extremely thought provoking novel。 Worth the read and resonates within。 I enjoyed it and very happy to have read it。 I look forward to reading this author again。 。。。more
LJM
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Such a difficult subject， but beautifully written。 Definitely a must read。
Cheryl Greer
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DNF
Janice Helms
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A story of survival。A very moving story about life and survival。 A reminder of what is important and all we take for granted。
Jennifer Molyneaux
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Very depressing book about the terrible trials of the German/Prussian/Polish people during WWII。 The story of two families and their journeys through the German countryside during the winter。 Hunger， freezing to death， brutality of the Germans and the Russians。
Susan Super
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Never forgetHistorically written in a new perspective paying tribute to those who were victims of their homeland。 The story brilliantly weaves the suffering that occurred for the Germans as well。 One character who disappears all together left me wanting to know what became of him。 Was the giant Pole a real character in Ilse’ life？ I would love to know。
Casey
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3。5-4 but waffling。。。 I understand why this received so many high ratings， it was a very good book。 The story was good， the translation was good， the character development was good。 It was good， not great， good。 I kept thinking that I would understand the title and the tie to Polish amber-too long to introduce， two disparate stories interconnected-too long to connect。 I do love a WWII novel based on a true story， but I struggled to suspend my disbelief。 Even knowing the horrors， some things were 3。5-4 but waffling。。。 I understand why this received so many high ratings， it was a very good book。 The story was good， the translation was good， the character development was good。 It was good， not great， good。 I kept thinking that I would understand the title and the tie to Polish amber-too long to introduce， two disparate stories interconnected-too long to connect。 I do love a WWII novel based on a true story， but I struggled to suspend my disbelief。 Even knowing the horrors， some things were too light， others meh。 。。。more
Megan Town
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One of the best amazon first read books I've read！ One of the best amazon first read books I've read！ 。。。more
Tina Gerber
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Extraordinary WWII StoryMuch has been written about World War II， both pre war and post war。 But none have captured my attention so vividly as Tears of Amber。 The journeys of two separate families from Prussia prompted some research of my own。 I had no idea of the significance of this now non-existent land on world history。 The post war atrocities described here will be forever imprinted on my mind。
Carol Feuerstein
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I was a young child when all this happened。 I remember that my dad was an air raid warden and had half-blocked headlights on his truck to drive at night。 And I remember the black out curtains and still have my ration book。 So when I read this I kept thinking of what was happening a world away to other people。 How frightening to have to leave your home and strike out not knowing where， and in the middle of winter。 Segovia captures the emotion and the pain and the despair。 This is a book I won't f I was a young child when all this happened。 I remember that my dad was an air raid warden and had half-blocked headlights on his truck to drive at night。 And I remember the black out curtains and still have my ration book。 So when I read this I kept thinking of what was happening a world away to other people。 How frightening to have to leave your home and strike out not knowing where， and in the middle of winter。 Segovia captures the emotion and the pain and the despair。 This is a book I won't forget and I still feel sad when I think about it。 A necessary story， well written。 。。。more
Susan Mansfield
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I'm hesitant to say I enjoyed this book - it's heartbreaking。 I've read several WWII books - historical fiction as well as history books on this awful time。 Although the topic wasn't new to me， the perspective was - seeing the second world war through the eyes of Prussians and Poles and the utterly heartbreaking time they had was difficult to read but I'm glad I did。 The observations， the family life， the tumble of emotion， fears， hopes and sacrifice。 The story is told so well。 Ilse and Arno's f I'm hesitant to say I enjoyed this book - it's heartbreaking。 I've read several WWII books - historical fiction as well as history books on this awful time。 Although the topic wasn't new to me， the perspective was - seeing the second world war through the eyes of Prussians and Poles and the utterly heartbreaking time they had was difficult to read but I'm glad I did。 The observations， the family life， the tumble of emotion， fears， hopes and sacrifice。 The story is told so well。 Ilse and Arno's families and friends will stay with me。I'm not usually a fan of books where two stories are being told simultaneously， and initially I had trouble remembering who was who， but the author made me want to carry on reading。 I felt I was there， smelling， hearing and feeling it all。 You'll want to hug your family and look them deep in their eyes and the simple pleasures of a clean bed， food and shelter will seem terribly fragile and precious。 。。。more
Thereseanne
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Prepare to be engrossedThis book like many others deals with war and the uncertainty of life。 The stories within stories， the heartfelt characters， the indept details， the descriptions are so vivid to the mind。 The book draws you in from start to finish。 Give yourself time and some space to read this book in peace and you will love it。
Sharyn
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I found this book hard to get into as the characters seemed wooden and one dimensional。 Luckily I stuck with it as t really picked up around the halfway point。 It's a heart rending tale of struggles to survive amidst some of the worst atrocities of the Second World War。 The author writes well （I have yet to read A Murmer of Bees but it's certainly on my wish list now） and the transalation reads perfectly。 Also a book in which I didn't spot one typo or goof。 That's rare enough to be commented on I found this book hard to get into as the characters seemed wooden and one dimensional。 Luckily I stuck with it as t really picked up around the halfway point。 It's a heart rending tale of struggles to survive amidst some of the worst atrocities of the Second World War。 The author writes well （I have yet to read A Murmer of Bees but it's certainly on my wish list now） and the transalation reads perfectly。 Also a book in which I didn't spot one typo or goof。 That's rare enough to be commented on these days。 Four stars。 。。。more
Helgaw
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CompellingTragic and desperate。 Hopeful and despondent。 The vision and history of survival during catastrophic warfare。 Ordinary people under extraordinary times。 The horror。 The horror。
D。S。
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Although it took over 100 pages to start flowing， I was riveted。 There have been many good novels written about World War II， but this one stands out with its focus on the loss of Prussia。 Two families are profiled during the process， with chapters alternating between their various points of view。 The author does a remarkable job of describing the multiple and severe traumas that these families and their friends endured。 She shows， rather than tells， what it does to their minds。 The slow start a Although it took over 100 pages to start flowing， I was riveted。 There have been many good novels written about World War II， but this one stands out with its focus on the loss of Prussia。 Two families are profiled during the process， with chapters alternating between their various points of view。 The author does a remarkable job of describing the multiple and severe traumas that these families and their friends endured。 She shows， rather than tells， what it does to their minds。 The slow start and tied-with-a-bow ending are major flaws， but it's still worth your time。 。。。more
Stanley H。 Elman
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A marvelous storySophia Segovia is a masterful writer and shaper of words into living and breathing characters。 She has an uncanny way of allowing her characters to speak to the reader in language and tone appropriate to them at their age。 A spectacular tale of timeless import。 Stan Elman
Elisa
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Writing was too simplistic。 The boy is on his father's shoulders and his mouth is agape in wonder and the father tells the boy to close his mouth so he doesn't swallow flies- how can the father see the son's mouth if he is on his shoulders？ Little details like that bother me。 Writing was too simplistic。 The boy is on his father's shoulders and his mouth is agape in wonder and the father tells the boy to close his mouth so he doesn't swallow flies- how can the father see the son's mouth if he is on his shoulders？ Little details like that bother me。 。。。more
Mary Quain
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Exhausting It was an exhausting， relentless slog of cruelty and unimaginable suffering until the last few pages。 Filled with excruciating pain and rampant depravity， it puts a heavy burden on the soul。
Terry Throop
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A harrowing tale of WW2 from the perspective of the non-combatant。 Told from the perspective of two German families whose lives were shaped by the war， Tears of Amber immerses the reader in the tradegies suffered as their lives are trampled under the feet of German and Russian war machines。
Robert Gallager
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