One of my top five books that I've read in 2016.

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received this advanced reader copy for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I also participated in an online discussion on Goodreads with the author. What a wonderful first book by this author! It was about three different women at the same time period, whose paths cross in unexpected ways. I didn't realize until the end that it was actually based on a true story and two of the characters were real people. The discussion was very interesting and I really liked hearing what the author actually had to say about this book; what a privilege it was to partcipate!

I have read many many holocaust-themed books and this one is very different. First of all, it deals with the all-women's Ravensbruck camp, that I didn't know as much about as the other camps we usually hear about (although I knew that Corrie Ten Boom from The Hiding Place was sent here). Then there was an American, Caroline, in this story, and her story about how she helped from the US was very interesting. It made me want to read more about her and her true life. Then there was the German female doctor's story, and the horrible experiments she was made to perform at the camp. I did not like her character (a true person) very much - she was a brainwashed Nazi.

The book was a long book, but from the beginning I almost could not put it down. I found it to be extremely well-written and believable and a fast read. I cannot wait to read more by this author! I highly recommend this book and it is out now in the stores.

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