| Title | : | While We're Far Apart |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0764204971 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780764204975 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 412 |
| Publication | : | First published October 1, 2010 |
| Awards | : | Christy Award Historical (2011) |
While We're Far Apart Reviews
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2.75 stars
First off, Esther's parts drove me batty and almost made me put the book down. I would have said she was 7 or 8 instead of 12 because of the immature and whiny tone she began the book with. Apparently she'd been living under some sort of shell for the first two years of the war and didn't know that men couldn't just decide to stay home after enlisting? Then she jumped straight from little kid to wanting a big, handsome boy to take her to the movies and thinking about kissing him. This book would have been much tighter and better written without the inclusion of Esther's POV. It makes it seem as though the author has not spent proper time learning the thought processes of a young girl of the period (hint: they were more mature than now and they were very involved in the war effort through schools.)
Second, Penny initially put me off. I had a hard time believing that she actually cherished a crush on a married man from the age of 11. This is...edgy. Sort of creepy. That said, she grew on me through the book, and I was rooting for her as she gained confidence to step out of her shell.
Jacob/Yaacov was probably my favorite character. He has real problems and real questions. He has a clear motivation and a consistent POV.
Now, last complaint: it seemed to me that the answers to the world's questions are found through this kind-hearted Orthodox Jew, who puts his trust in Hashem. I liked Jacob's part in that, because it is consistent with his character. However, this is a Christian book from a Christian publisher. The pastor is portrayed as unable to answer the philosophic questions brought on by the war, but the Jew gains all the answers and counsels the Christians to faith in God. My question: in a Christian-published book...where did Jesus go? Small oversight, there. Christian characters should be believing in Jesus. -
While We're Far Apart by Lynn Austin will definitely be considered as a boring book by many who judge a book only after reading a couple of chapters but for those who actually invest their time and energy to it, they will find it all worthwhile in the end. This book is emotional and will leave you thinking long after you're done with it. I don't read a lot of books that have that kind of impression on me and so that's why I consider this a very good read. You know you are reading a good book when you're so drawn into the story and of the characters even when not much is really happening plot wise. I know, this sounds really weird but that's exactly how I felt when reading this book. The characters are fleshed out very nicely and you just can't help but keep reading into the next chapter even though there is no cliff hanger from the last one!
The writing for this book is superb. I really don't know how else to put it. Never once throughout reading the 400+ pages of this book did I find myself skipping any parts. If this book was turned into a movie, I'm sure it would feel and look low budget because the entire book focuses only in a couple of locations. You have Mr. Mendel's apartment, the duplex for both Esther and Peter's grandparents along with Penny's parent, the bus station where Penny works, the inside of a bus and that pretty much sums it up. Obviously some of the characters will travel to other places close to within their vicinity but for the most part, what I've listed is all there is to it. However, the author makes it clear that it's not about traveling to different places and having the characters do incredible things that makes her book so incredible. It's about the trials and tribulation one goes through during hard times.
All in all, I have nothing but high praise for this book by Lynn Austin, which is my first from her. I simply loved the characters in this book not because they are heroes or anything but for the fact that you can connect with them on an emotional level. I admit that I have shed a couple of tears while reading some of the letters written by the family members of Mr. Mendel stuck in a country so close to the war. While this book is fiction, you just can't help but think if this really didn't happen to a real family back in this war torn era. It's just amazing how many things this book teaches us and that's why I highly urge people to read it. If you know of someone who is depressed or just confused in life, I also believe this book can help in a very special way. -
I often take breaks from reading about WW2 because of the emotional ride I undergo. But, this book was special. The perspective of the characters was different than most WW2 stories since the main characters were in America. Jacob Mendel is a Jew who is stricken with grief as he awaits news from his Jewish family last heard from in Hungary. His tenants live above him and are two young, Christian children anxious for their father's return from the war. Their sheltered and naive neighbor, Penny, has agreed to leave her parents residence and watch over the children while their father fights in the war. These two families, along with Penny, are bonded over their grief and at the core of their hope is their faith in God, or Hashem, which is His Jewish reference. The two faiths are so similar and I'm so thankful for having learned more about the Jewish religion. This was a definite 5 star read!
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My new favorite book! I was completely enthralled by this story and the characters! I love how it all wrapped together and came together in the end. I read most of this book with a tight throat and tears. I can't believe I waited so long to read this amazing book. It really reinforces how when God is silent, it doesn't mean He's not working or there. He working behind the scenes and turning it all into good and it all has purpose.
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This book made me cry. In all the very best ways!
I don't cry super easily, but this book had me teary more than once with the sheer beauty and poignancy of the story. I loved the way the author wove together the experiences of multiple different characters in the middle of WWII, as they struggle to overcome loss, disappointment, antisemitism, loneliness, grief, and the bigger tragedies of a world at war. The book has a slightly slow start. But don't let that stop you, it is SO worth the read.
All the characters were fascinating, unique, and expertly written, but Penny Goodrich was definitely my favorite. Watching her maturing and changing through the story was simply beautiful.
I also loved the way the author dealt with faith and loss in the story, as characters struggled to understand why God would allow such personal and worldwide tragedy and evil in the world. The conclusions they come to are deep, layered, and anything but trite.
You don't want to miss this story! One of my favorite WWII books ever! -
„Când o lume întreagă ne desparte” este o poveste emoționantă despre pierdere, dragoste, sacrificiu, toate asezonate cu secrete care se cer dezvăluite după zeci de ani de tăcere. Toate personajele mi-au fost dragi! Nu ai cum să rămâi indiferent la tristețea unor copii sau la suferința unei mame care are trei băieți pe front. Nu poți rămâne de gheață când vezi un tată disperat să afle câteva detalii despre fiul său rămas în Ungaria ocupată de naziști. Nu are cum să nu te impresioneze sacrificiul unei fete care se oferă să îngrijească doi copii numai pentru că este îndrăgostită de tatăl acestora.
https://ancasicartile.wordpress.com/2... -
The novel opens in Brooklyn, New York in the fall of 1943 during WWII. Eddie Schaffer age 33 and his two children, 12-year-old Esther and 9-year-old Peter live in a small apartment upstairs from their landlord, Jacob Mendel. A year prior, Eddie’s wife Rachel was killed together with his landlord’s wife, Miriam. Eddie is having difficulty coping with Rachel’s death and decides to enlist in the army throwing the entire family for a loop. The children had already lost their mother and feared losing their father in battle.
Eddie’s mother, Grandma Shaffer, lives next door to the Goodrich family who has a daughter Penny, aged 24. Penny’s parents are older, quite strict and have sheltered Penny her entire life, always telling her she had no more sense than a green bean. As a result poor Penny suffers from terrible fear of being on her own and afraid of the world at large, although she holds a job as a ticket agent at the local bus station. Unbeknownst to Eddie, Penny has had a crush on him for years and years and always wished Eddie had married her instead of Rachel. She cried her eyes out when she learned Eddie was getting married.
Now enlisted in the Army and ready to head off for basic training, Eddie needs someone to care for young Esther and Peter. His own mother, Grandma Shaffer is adamant that there is no way possible she can look after two young children and is completely dead set against Eddie enlisting but Eddie had already enlisted sending Grandma into quite a dramatic tizzy. Penny steps forward and offers to care for the children herself with her underlying motive being that Eddie will fall in love with her and marry HER this time.
Soon Penny and children are ensconced in Eddie’s apartment, living above Jacob Mendel who is suffering with his own problems. His son, Avraham traveled to Hungary five years ago to study the Torah, met and married Sarah and they had a daughter together whom they named Fredeleh, but now all three of them are missing!
Young Esther is struggling in Sunday school asking the teacher why there are wars, why her mother died in the car accident and asks: “Why doesn’t God just kill all the evil people himself”. Her teacher tells the class they should pray for their loved ones who are off fighting in the war but Esther can’t accept that as an answer and inquires: “Even if we pray and pray, God doesn’t stop people from dying, so what good does it do”? How many of us have asked that very same question during our own journey of faith?
In the meantime, poor little Peter seems to have lost his ability to talk once his father went off to war and is frightened. He writes a note on his chalkboard for his sister saying: “I don’t know what’s wrong. I try to talk and nothing comes out. Help me!” Esther doesn’t know what to do and won’t ask Penny for any help as she despises Penny and thinks that she is trying to replace her mother. But Penny, at this point, couldn’t be much help as she herself has no self-confidence, always telling herself she can’t do things and always makes a mess of everything. These put-downs are old tapes playing in her head that her parents have pounded into her since she was a young child. They continue to treat Penny as a child and make her feel as though everything that happens is her fault. Yet somehow she found the inner strength and courage to move out of her parents home and care for Eddie’s children.
Downstairs, Jacob Mendel has lost his Jewish faith completely. Esther and Peter visit Mr. Mendel after school each day to help him around the house. Esther begins to seek answers about God, prayer and faith from Mr. Mendel but he doesn’t know how to help Esther or what to say to her. He too has lost faith in his religion and his God. He finally explains the story of Joseph and the coat of many colours and tells the children that: “Faith is believing even when you cannot see it”. But, does Jacob himself still really believe that?
Due to Esther’s persistence and questions, and Peter’s sad eyes, Jacob was beginning to come out from under the veil of darkness and unbelief he had been under for the past year and a half. Jacob decides that he and the children will invite Penny in celebrating “Purim”, which is the feast of “Queen Esther” from the Bible. Keeping with tradition, Jacob tells the children that instead of him telling the story, they will each read the story together with everyone taking a part. Of course, Esther will play the part of Queen Esther and Peter will be Hashem (The Man or God). They will also bake the traditional “Hamantaschen” (cookies). During Jacob’s planning of the party he realizes he is truly happy.
As the relationship between Mr. Mendel, the children and Penny begins to grow, they come to learn together about faith, loss, love, and forgiveness. There are so many other exciting parts in this story that I don’t want to give anything else away. But there are a few morals in this story that I believe are important for all of us to remember.
We need to remember that God is always there, even when we can’t see Him or hear Him. Even when we think our prayers are not being heard, they are, just not always in the way we’d like them to be. It is and has always been God’s will that shall be done, not ours! Even during silence and painful hardships, God is still there. Sometimes we must travel through hardships in our lives in order for us to learn something or to understand something. Without hardships we wouldn’t be able to grow in our faith. We need to trust God and live our lives as humble servants, even when we cannot see, even when we feel tired of looking and want to give up. God is ALWAYS there, even when He is silent.
This is also an important story that talks about the atrocities that were placed upon the people of Jewish faith during the war, in my opinion, one of the saddest and most hurtful of all times in history.
Lynn Austin has once again written a riveting story. A story that you’ll remember long after the last page has been turned. It’s the type of book you’ll want to read again and again. This is one story you can’t miss!! -
Charming story and I loved the narrator! (She also does the All-of-a-kind Family series)
Story set in New York during WW II including some Jews. Loved how it all tied together and Penny gets with Roy! So sweet!🥰 -
What I love about Lynn Austin is that she makes history come alive in her books. I haven't always been the biggest fan of books set in this era -- simply because there was so much devastation and heartbreak - so much evil that I have a hard time reading them. This book manages to deal with the issues from perspectives that most of the books I've read haven't before. It's deep, thoughtful, complex, and - in many ways - beautiful.
My first love in books is characters and these are some of the richest and most complex you will meet. Unlike most books with two developed characters, this one has a depth that makes you think she wrote about real people instead of made created people feel real.
Penny is the obvious first choice. She is like the center of a wheel. All the other characters connect through her in one way or another. I loved her transformation in the book. She learns so much about herself, her family, values ... what's the difference between real love and a crush. We see her grow into her own skin over the course of the book.
Mr. Mendel has been through so much loss and is going through a crisis of faith. As he helps with the children and Penny, he has to evaluate what he does and does not believe in as he faces even more obstacles and set backs.
Esther is Eddie's daughter and she starts off angry and resenting everything and everybody. All she wants is her dad and life back to normal. She lost her mom in a car accident and fear is controlling her. She obsessively clips newspaper pics of the war. She's also having to deal with all the things a normal girl her age does. She's interested in a boy but isn't comfortable in everything he wants her to do ...
Peter is so traumatized that he isn't speaking. He has to write down or make hand gestures to communicate with his sister or Penny. The boys at school tease and abuse him. He loves to listen to baseball games on the radio. Peter doesn't like the boy Penny is hanging around with, even though he stops the other boys from picking on him.
Eddie's mom is a hoarder who hasn't left her home in years. She lives right next door to Penny's parents. They talk down to Penny and call her names. They also discourage her from being around strangers. They say she's special and needs to be extra careful.
This book deals with everything from the importance of family, forgiveness, the issue of prejudice, coming of age, mourning ... It is a wonderfully rich book that deals with relationships of all kinds in a respectful way. I really enjoyed it. I think seeing into the lives of people living during this time makes history about more than facts, figures, and even the horrific images we've come to associate with this particular war. -
4.5 stars
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There is a lot I want to say about this novel. First is if I had know it was faith-infused historical fiction, I wouldn't have read it. I downloaded this novel for two reasons: it was a Kindle freebie and it's set during World War II. When I started reading it, I didn't know the story would unfold the way it did. The next thing I want to say is good thing I didn't know what I was getting into because this was one of the best novels I read this year.
The novel begins when Eddie, widower and father of two children, enlists leaving his children in need of a guardian while he was away. To his surprise, slightly pathetic next door neighbor Penny - who is secretly in love with him - volunteers to watch them while he is away. I know I may be a little harsh on Penny by saying she's pathetic , but sadly it's true. She is the product of two overbearing parents who not only belittle her at every opportunity but are so protective she has no confidence in herself at all. One of the joys of this novel is watching Penny grow from an insecure girl to a mature woman. I absolutely disliked her in the beginning, she was mousy, needy and giving all at the same time. I was surprised to see how much she changed. More importantly, I thought her rebirth was completely believable.
Mainly the novel focuses on the life and relationships of Penny, the kids and Mr. Jacob Mendel, their landlord. I loved the time I spent getting to know Mr. Mendel. I do not know a lot about the Jewish faith. I also have never read a novel which focused on a father's point of view, waiting for news of his Jewish son in war stricken Hungary. It was so heartbreaking emotional. I think Ms. Austin did a beautiful job of making Mr. Mendel's heartache and grief so real to me. I also enjoying watching him heal from the loss of his wife and the uncertainty of his son's welfare.
With each character Ms. Austin introduced, I was more and more engrossed in the story. It flowed so easily. And I really felt like I was a becoming part of their makeshift family. I loved that there was a bit of mystery and romance. I loved that there was hope.
As I said earlier, I wouldn't have read this novel if I knew it discussed faith. I think it didn't take anything away from the novel, in fact I think it added to it. I was moved by their struggles with God, and their spiritual reawakening.
Overall this novel was a great read and one I would have gladly paid for. -
SUMMARY: In an unassuming apartment building in Brooklyn, New York, three lives intersect as the reality of war invades each aspect of their lives. Young Esther is heartbroken when her father decides to enlist in the army shortly after the death of her mother. Penny Goodrich has been in love with Eddie Shaffer for as long as she can remember; now that Eddie's wife is dead, Penny feels she has been given a second chance and offers to care for his children in the hope that he will finally notice her and marry her after the war. And elderly Mr. Mendel, the landlord, waits for the war to end to hear what has happened to his son trapped in war-torn Hungary.
But during the long, endless wait for victory overseas, life on the home front will go from bad to worse. Yet these characters will find themselves growing and changing in ways they never expected--and ultimately discovering truths about God's love...even when He is silent
REVIEW: Lynn Austin has always been a favorite author of mine. Once again, she has penned a novel that has historical content, characters that are interesting and grow and change, and a spiritual message that pervades the novel without being preachy. Each of the characters faced their own particular problems which led to intertwined subplots within a wonderfully woven main plot. The ending felt a bit rushed but by then it was fairly evident how things were going to conclude. Overall an excellent read.
FAVORITE QUOTES:
"He was slowly learning that walking in faith meant leaving a way of life in which he was in control and willingly walking in uncertainty, trusting that God was in control."
"Happiness is something that comes from our own hearts, not from other people."
"Sometimes it is wrong to judge the effectiveness of prayer by looking at the immediate results."
"Traditions are good. They give order and stability to our lives. But change is part of life, too. The secret is to find the balance between the two."
"We may never understand Hashem's (God's) plans and purposes, or see the fulfillment of all that He is doing. But He asks us to live our lives in humble faith, trusting Him even when we cannot see." -
A beautifully told World War II Home Front story with interesting characters. I appreciated the truthful and sensitive acknowledgement of anti-Semitism in wartime America.
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Great story, it touched me. The storytelling was, as always, amazing by Lynn Austin. She knows how to write stories and characters very well. Their pain and joy was felt throughout.
The only issue I really had with this book was that Jesus was missing. He wasn't there. The whole time I was hoping that the Jewish people in the book would get to know Jesus. Especially since they were spending a lot of time with Christians. And here is even talk about such conflicts, but all the Christians seem happy to let the guy not even know about Jesus, when Jesus is THE way, the ONLY way to God. This was not something I expected from a book by Austin, as the Christian faith is usually quite prominent. And faith was a big part of this book, it just wasn't the Christian faith. And this is a Christian book, with Christians in it, even as the main characters.
Because of this, I couldn't rate it 5 stars, but otherwise it would have been a 5 star read.
Another thing I appreciated. Feminism was not a big plot point in this book. Thank you! I'm just tired of every book (especially historical fiction) having to be about it. Literally almost every historical fiction I read. It's even put me off the genre for a while. It's a big thing in history, but not every book has to be about it, and this one wasn't, even though a couple things were mentioned, it wasn't a plot point. Thank you! :) -
Very predictable book. I loved the Jewish man Jacob, he was the most believable character. The book ended with all the bad guys losing and miraculously all the good guys surviving and going on the lead happy lives.
The only great thing was learning about the Swedish businessman, Raoul Wallenberg who volunteered to go to Hungary as a diplomat and saved thousands of Jewish lives. Now there is a great book waiting to be written! -
It was a lovely story. I really enjoyed it!
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It wasn't until I was 98% done with the book that I finally got some respect for Penny. For 98% of the book however I despised her. She was incredibly annoying, and the whole premise of her creeping on this widower (who was married for at least 13 years….come on now! Wouldn't you think at some point she would let go of her crush on a MARRIED man and move on?!) was just disturbing. The fact that she went around telling people they were dating was creepy. She was also incredibly childish for a 24 year old in the 40's. I was going to have a "conniption fit" because of how many times I had to read the phrase "Penny's parents/mother would have a conniption fit." The twists of the book were all predictable to me, except the one about who caused the fire (that was genuinely a surprise.) I really like Jacob's plot line. His grief and him questioning his faith was a realistic and interesting story arc that I enjoyed reading. He was the reason I kept reading the book. Esther's storyline was so-so. She was bratty and annoying, but if I were a pre-teen during WWII with a dead mother and a father at war, I'd probably be bratty and annoying too. It was more forgivable to me than the 24y/o Penny. The theology of the book was fine and I thought it addressed some spiritual issues well. But over all I was not pleased with the characters and I would definitely not read it again.
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An alright read, more like 2 1/2 stars. I usually enjoy books by Lynn Austin but I struggled with this one. The writing felt awkward, juggling several characters and their storylines and then adding to the mix were the WW2 details and lastly a good mingling of Jewish traditions. It was as awkward as my trying to write that sentence! I did feel relieved when the book ended, not a good sign.
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2.5 stars
I've read a couple of other Lynn Austin books which I immensely enjoyed. I was really looking forward to reading this one, and sorely disappointed that I found it slow with virtually no plot. I had to force myself to finish this book.
So I figured I'd break down my thoughts: -
Loved this book! I bought this e-book about 4 years ago and for some reason, just couldn't get myself to read it. I'm so glad I finally did. It was fantastic! I was drawn into the lives of the characters almost from the first page. It is a book about hope, faith, unanswered prayers, friendship, love, family, and so much more. I loved how the author brought in aspects of religious faith (both Jewish and Christian) without it coming across as preachy. The story flowed so well, yet I still wasn't able to predict what would happen next most of the time. I especially enjoyed Jacob's perspective, wondering what was happening to his family in Hungary. Just a great story. I wish I could read it again for the first time!
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I was a fair amount of the way through this book when I decided to put it down. I didn't appreciate one of the revelations in it... hmm. Yeah. Moving on, I didn't love some of the things that were addressed... things that weren't okay! That's not just okay to say, okay?
I also put down 'Wonderland Creek' by this author, so I'm hoping that I'm going to be able to find something else that I enjoy, although I'm starting to think that maybe Lynn Austin books just aren't for me. However, I do own 'Legacy of Mercy', so I hope to be getting to that, and maybe I'll like that better. If you've read that, then let me know what you thought. -
I give this book 4 stars as the first part of the book is a little boring and seems like it is going nowhere. However, I cannot put down a book that I have started and I must finish it. This story that was told was very cute and was a story that I haven’t really heard before. Overall, I think it was a very good book.
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This is the second book from this Author and I really enjoyed this book as well. I loved learning more about the Jewish religion and the easy flow of this book made the learning and the story fly by. Great character development.
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Cute but forgettable.
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#11 of #14Books14Weeks was also my 100th book for this year. It seems fitting it was a Lynn Austin book ☺️ Lynn Austin is a fabulous author and I've been lucky to be on a couple of her launch teams! I always find that her books really touch my heart ♥️. Historical Christian fiction at its finest in this book set during world war II spanning generations and countries. Wonderful!
