Publication
Farmington Hills, Mich. : Gale, 2017 ; Wheeler Publishing large print hardcover
Collection
Call number
Large Print Fiction C
Physical description
443 p.; 23 cm
Status
Available
Call number
Description
Austria, 1938. Kristoff is a young apprentice to a master Jewish stamp engraver. When his teacher disappears during Kristallnacht, Kristoff is forced to engrave stamps for the Germans, and simultaneously works alongside Elena, his beloved teacher's fiery daughter, and with the Austrian resistance to send underground messages and forge papers. As he falls for Elena amidst the brutal chaos of war, Kristoff must find a way to save her, and himself. Los Angeles, 1989. Katie Nelson is going through a divorce and while cleaning out her house and life in the aftermath, she comes across the stamp collection of her father, who recently went into a nursing home. When an appraiser, Benjamin, discovers an unusual World War II-era Austrian stamp placed on an old love letter as he goes through her dad's collection, Katie and Benjamin are sent on a journey together that will uncover a story of passion and tragedy spanning decades and continents, behind the just fallen Berlin Wall. -- Page [2] of dust jacket.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Slevyr26
Thank you to Penguin First to Read for the opportunity to read this book in advance.
I'm giving this book a solid three stars, as I wasn't overly impressed/blown away by the writing style or the story, but nevertheless, The Lost Letter is readable and never came across as boring.
The stories
Everything about this was very clean and each issue/problem that arises has a clean resolve that you don't have to wait too long for. Very spic and span, if you're into that. No real mystery here. I also didn't feel that I gained new knowledge about the World War II time period, nor the East/West Germany time period in the late 80s and early 90s. As I said, this is not a boring read, but it is in no way challenging.
I'm giving this book a solid three stars, as I wasn't overly impressed/blown away by the writing style or the story, but nevertheless, The Lost Letter is readable and never came across as boring.
The stories
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alternate between late 1989-91 in LA and 1938-39 in Austria. Both focus on love connections which are obvious from the start, and especially in wartime Austria, detracted from the overall seriousness of the being-Jewish-in-Europe situation. Furthermore, the internal thoughts the characters had to themselves seemed very melodramatic to me. There was a lot of telling and not a lot of showing, which simplified the writing. This could easily have been read by a mature teenager and have the entire message of the book grasped and understood. To the author's credit, however, the conversations were realistic in the 1989-91 Los Angeles half of the story, though less so in German-occupied Austria.Everything about this was very clean and each issue/problem that arises has a clean resolve that you don't have to wait too long for. Very spic and span, if you're into that. No real mystery here. I also didn't feel that I gained new knowledge about the World War II time period, nor the East/West Germany time period in the late 80s and early 90s. As I said, this is not a boring read, but it is in no way challenging.
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LibraryThing member Beamis12
Her father had been an avid stamp collector his entire life, Katie fondly remembers going with him to resale shops and garage sales, as he searched for unusual stamps. Now in a memory care unit, regressing to the past, Katie takes his collection to an appraiser to see if there are any hidden gems.
A new take on the importance of using stamps to send messages by the resistance and though this story was slow to seduce, it includes so much history that I was wondering over. Of course the sympathetic characters eventually won me over as did the clarity of the writing, and the seamless weaving of historical events. Dual story line but had no trouble following and in fact enjoyed both, one set in Austria and the other set during and shortly after the Berlin Wall was finally taken down.
The author chronicles what is fact and how she came up with the idea for this novel, in her end note.. The Lost art of letter writing, so rare in this electronic age, but meant so much in the past. Left a record we won't be leaving, left traces when the people involved were gone. Wonder how we will be remembered, if at all? The ending is conclusive and satisfying if a little too sentimental, but then again there weren't very many happy endings in the Holocaust.
ARC from publisher.
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A letter is found, unopened, addressed to a Miss Faber, bearing an unusual stamp. This will be the impetus for a search that will take us back to Austria in 1938, and to an Jewish engraver, his daughters and his young non Jewish apprentice.A new take on the importance of using stamps to send messages by the resistance and though this story was slow to seduce, it includes so much history that I was wondering over. Of course the sympathetic characters eventually won me over as did the clarity of the writing, and the seamless weaving of historical events. Dual story line but had no trouble following and in fact enjoyed both, one set in Austria and the other set during and shortly after the Berlin Wall was finally taken down.
The author chronicles what is fact and how she came up with the idea for this novel, in her end note.. The Lost art of letter writing, so rare in this electronic age, but meant so much in the past. Left a record we won't be leaving, left traces when the people involved were gone. Wonder how we will be remembered, if at all? The ending is conclusive and satisfying if a little too sentimental, but then again there weren't very many happy endings in the Holocaust.
ARC from publisher.
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LibraryThing member JanJanFreeman
Kristoff has found a home, finally. Having been abandoned as a young child, finding his way as an adult has proved difficult. He finds refuge as an apprentice in the home of well-known stamp engraver, Frederick Faber. Frederick and his family, a wife and two daughters, are Jewish and living in
In another time and place, (California, 1989 to be precise) another family is tearing at the seams. Kate is struggling at work because her co-worker is her soon to be ex-husband. He filed the papers, she just needs to sign them. She is also juggling that with her father, Ted, a formerly avid stamp collector who has Alzheimer's. She meets Benjamin, a philatelist, to get her father's stamp collection appraised and one stamp in particular sends them on an adventure.
Although the plot jumped between the two stories, I thought it was done seamlessly. There were some chapters, however, where I wish it had not jumped because I was too eager to find out what happens next in one setting. It had several twists and turns, as well as several times where my heart ached for the characters. Although romance stories from World War II have been done quite often, this one stands out as unique. It brings elements of stamp engraving as well as collecting that I have yet to read elsewhere. Furthermore, the romance is a subtle build that is often cast aside in the urgency of the war period timeframe. The characters are not begging for attention nor are they overdramatic in responses. This is true for the stories in both time periods.
I do recommend this book for those who enjoy historical fiction, a bit of adventure, and romance. I read through it quickly as I found it to be gripping at times and heart-wrenching at other times.
For those who may be offended: there was kidnapping, guns, and sexually suggestive scenarios.
Please note: an electronic copy of this book was generously provided for free from Penguin's First To Read program in exchange for an honest review.
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Austria. However, as winter begins to invade, so do the Nazis, tearing Kristoff's new family apart.In another time and place, (California, 1989 to be precise) another family is tearing at the seams. Kate is struggling at work because her co-worker is her soon to be ex-husband. He filed the papers, she just needs to sign them. She is also juggling that with her father, Ted, a formerly avid stamp collector who has Alzheimer's. She meets Benjamin, a philatelist, to get her father's stamp collection appraised and one stamp in particular sends them on an adventure.
Although the plot jumped between the two stories, I thought it was done seamlessly. There were some chapters, however, where I wish it had not jumped because I was too eager to find out what happens next in one setting. It had several twists and turns, as well as several times where my heart ached for the characters. Although romance stories from World War II have been done quite often, this one stands out as unique. It brings elements of stamp engraving as well as collecting that I have yet to read elsewhere. Furthermore, the romance is a subtle build that is often cast aside in the urgency of the war period timeframe. The characters are not begging for attention nor are they overdramatic in responses. This is true for the stories in both time periods.
I do recommend this book for those who enjoy historical fiction, a bit of adventure, and romance. I read through it quickly as I found it to be gripping at times and heart-wrenching at other times.
For those who may be offended: there was kidnapping, guns, and sexually suggestive scenarios.
Please note: an electronic copy of this book was generously provided for free from Penguin's First To Read program in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member alekee
I loved this book, was a reminder of the happenings in Austria during 1938, and the loved ones you never see again, here one moment and gone forever the next. The story flips between 1989 and 1938, and the story revolves around a talented stamp engraver and his apprentice, and of course his
While the story is fictional, you find yourself fully absorbed in this story, and throughout all we want answers, all the while knowing over eleven million Jewish people were killed in the terror that spread through Europe in the late 1930’s.
The story does revolve around a letter with a stamp on it that all the philatelist have not ever seen and that stamp that is attached to a letter was never mailed, and was found in Katie Nelson Dad’s collection, unfortunately he has the dreaded Alzheimer’s, and can’t tell her much.
When you feel that you are at the darkest times in your life, at Katie did, a door has opened and she is about to embark on a life changing journey, and all because of an unusual Austrian stamp. While we should never forget the horrible time in history, a stamp shows the perseverance of the survivors, a book that you don’t want to miss, I’m glad I turned that first page.
I received this book through Edelweiss Above The Tree Line and the Publisher Riverhead Books, and was not required to give a positive review.
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family.While the story is fictional, you find yourself fully absorbed in this story, and throughout all we want answers, all the while knowing over eleven million Jewish people were killed in the terror that spread through Europe in the late 1930’s.
The story does revolve around a letter with a stamp on it that all the philatelist have not ever seen and that stamp that is attached to a letter was never mailed, and was found in Katie Nelson Dad’s collection, unfortunately he has the dreaded Alzheimer’s, and can’t tell her much.
When you feel that you are at the darkest times in your life, at Katie did, a door has opened and she is about to embark on a life changing journey, and all because of an unusual Austrian stamp. While we should never forget the horrible time in history, a stamp shows the perseverance of the survivors, a book that you don’t want to miss, I’m glad I turned that first page.
I received this book through Edelweiss Above The Tree Line and the Publisher Riverhead Books, and was not required to give a positive review.
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LibraryThing member Mrs.DuBois
I have enjoyed every book I've read by Jillian Cantor and this one is no exception. It's historical fiction, woven between two time periods;WWII and the late 1980's. It revolves around the WWII resistance in the form of forged stamps and a presumed love letter bearing one of those stamps. The
(This book was an arc provided to me in exchange for an honest review. Expected publication June 13.)
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letter is found undelivered in a stamp collection when the owner, Ted, is placed in a nursing home and his daughter, Katie, has the collection appraised. The search for the letter's recipient takes the reader to the UK and Germany. Through the eyes of the characters the reader witnesses not only Kristallnacht and the worries of those in the resistance but also the much more recent fall of the Berlin Wall. An excellent read that I wish would have gone on but admittedly was better left to the imagination of the reader.(This book was an arc provided to me in exchange for an honest review. Expected publication June 13.)
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LibraryThing member susan0316
I love reading books about WWII and this is one of the best that I've read. The characters and story are so well done that I read long into the night to finish it because I was so intrigued with the story.
The novel has dual time lines - 1938-9 in Austria telling Kristoff's story and 1989 in LA
This is a beautiful novel about love and family and how the love and loss during war time can have repercussions that last for generations. It's wonderful novel and I highly recommend it.
Thanks to the author and the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
The novel has dual time lines - 1938-9 in Austria telling Kristoff's story and 1989 in LA
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telling Katie's story. Both stories are very interesting on their own and when they merge into one it's creates a fantastic story line. Katie takes her Dad's stamp collection to be appraised because her dad is in a memory care unit with early dementia. The appraiser finds an unopened letter with a stamp that he has never seen and he and Katie try to solve the mystery together. The other story line involves Kristoff, an apprentice stamp engraver working with the Farber family in Austria. As he is working and living with the family, the Nazis are approaching and finally arrive in the town they live in. Since the Farber's are Jewish, their lives are in grave danger. This is a beautiful novel about love and family and how the love and loss during war time can have repercussions that last for generations. It's wonderful novel and I highly recommend it.
Thanks to the author and the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
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LibraryThing member leopolds
Release Date: June 13, 2017
Kate Nelson grew up with a father who was an avid stamp collector. He is currently in a nursing home, and Kate decides to take his large collection to be appraised. During the review an unusual Austrian World War II stamp on a sealed letter is discovered. Kate, along
Kristoff grew up in an Austrian orphanage and is an apprentice at a stamp engraver in 1938. His employer, the Farber family, are deeply religious Jews. Kristoff works hard to learn his trade and does his best to assimilate into the local way of life. He becomes very attached to the family, especially one of the daughters named Elena. When the Nazi invasion makes it to their small town, Kristoff’s skills and allegiances are challenged as he is asked to design stamps for the Nazi party.
This historical novel is about love and survival during World War II. It alternates between stories set in 1989, Los Angeles and 1938, Austria. It is a touching book about sacrifice and resilience. Jillian Cantor does a wonderful job of blending two time periods together in this beautiful book.
Kate Nelson grew up with a father who was an avid stamp collector. He is currently in a nursing home, and Kate decides to take his large collection to be appraised. During the review an unusual Austrian World War II stamp on a sealed letter is discovered. Kate, along
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with the appraiser, investigate the history behind the stamp and the origins of the letter. Kristoff grew up in an Austrian orphanage and is an apprentice at a stamp engraver in 1938. His employer, the Farber family, are deeply religious Jews. Kristoff works hard to learn his trade and does his best to assimilate into the local way of life. He becomes very attached to the family, especially one of the daughters named Elena. When the Nazi invasion makes it to their small town, Kristoff’s skills and allegiances are challenged as he is asked to design stamps for the Nazi party.
This historical novel is about love and survival during World War II. It alternates between stories set in 1989, Los Angeles and 1938, Austria. It is a touching book about sacrifice and resilience. Jillian Cantor does a wonderful job of blending two time periods together in this beautiful book.
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LibraryThing member wagner.sarah35
I liked this book, but it doesn't really stand out much for me among the historical fiction I've read. I was much more impressed with this author's earlier novel The Hours Count. In this book, the popular topic of World War II emerges in the form of an Jewish-Austrian stamp maker, his family, his
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apprentice, and a scheme to help Jews escape Nazi Germany - all of which comes to a head over fifty years later when a young woman in Los Angeles is trying to sell her father's stamp collection. I'd recommend this to fans of World War II-era fiction. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookofsecrets
Three words: beautiful, moving, and bittersweet. This book is a unique tale of the Austrian Resistance during World War II, centering around the love story between the daughter of a Jewish stamp maker and his apprentice. THE LOST LETTER is really historical fiction within historical fiction; the
In 1989, Katie Nelson, whose life has been upended by her divorce and caring for an ailing father, finds a curious stamp on a letter from the World War II era in her father’s extensive stamp collection. With the help of an appraiser named Benjamin, Katie is able to uncover the story behind the mysterious letter.
I enjoyed this book very much, and was intrigued by both Katie and Benjamin in 1989, and Elena and Kristoff in 1939. What secrets did the stamp and letter hold? This book was a lovely blend of mystery, romance, and history. I do love vintage stamps, and this book gave readers a look at the intricacies of stamp engraving, and how they were miniature works of art. Highly recommended!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book through Penguin’s First to Read Program in exchange for an honest review.
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story alternates between the fall of the Berlin Wall (late 80s/early 90s) and the German invasion of Austria (late 1930s).In 1989, Katie Nelson, whose life has been upended by her divorce and caring for an ailing father, finds a curious stamp on a letter from the World War II era in her father’s extensive stamp collection. With the help of an appraiser named Benjamin, Katie is able to uncover the story behind the mysterious letter.
I enjoyed this book very much, and was intrigued by both Katie and Benjamin in 1989, and Elena and Kristoff in 1939. What secrets did the stamp and letter hold? This book was a lovely blend of mystery, romance, and history. I do love vintage stamps, and this book gave readers a look at the intricacies of stamp engraving, and how they were miniature works of art. Highly recommended!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book through Penguin’s First to Read Program in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member flourgirl49
Very interesting historical fiction. I enjoyed the story and the characters and thought it was well-written. I would definitely recommend this book.
LibraryThing member teachlz
I love everything about "The Lost Letter" by Jillian Cantor. The publisher is Penquin Group, Riverhead and the publishing date is June 13, 2017. The genres of this book are Historical Fiction and Fiction.
Kudos to Jillian Cantor for the beautiful storytelling and descriptions of the locations in
The characters are complex and complicated. In the turbulent time of World War Two, there is betrayal and secrets. Some of the characters during this time period are brave and courageous and hold on to their beliefs of a free Austria. These characters take risks to survive the German occupation
In the present timeline in the book, the wall is coming down between East and West Germany. many of the characters are looking for answers and are fighting for freedom.
I love the way that the author has both past and present like puzzle pieces, that have to be put together
I appreciate the research the author has done on stamps and engraving, and the significance in history.
Everything about this book is amazing, and intriguing. I recommend this book tremendously! Happy Reading! I received an ARC of this book for my honest review.
Kudos to Jillian Cantor for the beautiful storytelling and descriptions of the locations in
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this novel. The timeline of this story is both World War Two and in the time when the wall came down between East and West Germany, both significant times in history. The locations take place in Austria, Germany, England and the United States.The characters are complex and complicated. In the turbulent time of World War Two, there is betrayal and secrets. Some of the characters during this time period are brave and courageous and hold on to their beliefs of a free Austria. These characters take risks to survive the German occupation
In the present timeline in the book, the wall is coming down between East and West Germany. many of the characters are looking for answers and are fighting for freedom.
I love the way that the author has both past and present like puzzle pieces, that have to be put together
I appreciate the research the author has done on stamps and engraving, and the significance in history.
Everything about this book is amazing, and intriguing. I recommend this book tremendously! Happy Reading! I received an ARC of this book for my honest review.
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LibraryThing member veeshee
Thank you to Penguin Random House and their First to Read program for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I'm not a big fan of historical fiction and if you go through my blog, you will see that I haven't read very many books from this genre. I always feel a bit guilty about not widening my
This was a very well-written story and looked at a very different angle of the war than one I've previously read about. I've heard of Kristallnacht, of course, but this novel took an interesting perspective of it. Even though half of the story takes place during WWII, the emphasis was evenly divided between the relationship of Kristoff and Elena and the resistance effort. I also really liked the other narrative that was happening with Katie and her father's stamp collection. I learned a lot about stamps and their significance that I was unaware of before this story, and that was a nice surprise. The romance aspect of this novel was really well done; it was believable and simple and touching. I quite enjoyed the read and got a bit emotional at the end, which is always a good sign. This is definitely a strong historical fiction novel with a well written romance angle!
I'm not a big fan of historical fiction and if you go through my blog, you will see that I haven't read very many books from this genre. I always feel a bit guilty about not widening my
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horizons so this time I chose a book that is not only part of the historical fiction genre but also the romance genre (which I also don't delve into very much).This was a very well-written story and looked at a very different angle of the war than one I've previously read about. I've heard of Kristallnacht, of course, but this novel took an interesting perspective of it. Even though half of the story takes place during WWII, the emphasis was evenly divided between the relationship of Kristoff and Elena and the resistance effort. I also really liked the other narrative that was happening with Katie and her father's stamp collection. I learned a lot about stamps and their significance that I was unaware of before this story, and that was a nice surprise. The romance aspect of this novel was really well done; it was believable and simple and touching. I quite enjoyed the read and got a bit emotional at the end, which is always a good sign. This is definitely a strong historical fiction novel with a well written romance angle!
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LibraryThing member cfk
Katie Nelson, in the midst of a divorce and her father's losing battle with memory loss, loses herself in a search for meaning and connection following the trail of a lost love letter in her father's stamp collection. She begins connecting people and events between 1989 and the resistance in
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Austria in 1939. Show Less
LibraryThing member Carlathelibrarian
The story opens with Katie, dropping of her father's stamp collection to a dealer to get it appraised. Katie fondly remembers going with her father to resale shops and garage sales, as he searched for unusual stamps, a gem he called them. Now suffering from dimentia/alzheimers, he is in a home, The
The story is told with two narrators. Katie in the present, and Elena Faber in 1938/1939 in Austria. We learn about Elena and a young man named Kristoff. He is an apprentice engraver with her father Frederick Faber who is renowned for engraving stamps. In the present Katie and Benjamin, the stamp appraiser, follow up on the information they find about the letter heading off to Europe to see if they can find the mysterious Fraulein Faber and deliver her letter to her. We learn about the lives of all four of these characters and how they end up where they are now.
This story pulled me in right from the first page. We know that there are risks involved with being Jewish in 1938 as well as the risk of helping the resistance. The story of Katie and Benjamin was also interesting and it was nice to see their relationship blossom. I did not know much about stamps and stamp collecting, but learned several things while reading this book. I found out about the importance of using stamps to send messages by the resistance. The characters were very sympathetic as is usually the case when reading books that took place during this time, but to actually have the ending that occurred in this book was a nice change, although some may see it as a convenient conclusion. I had no trouble following the double story line and enjoyed the way they came together. Historically, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Holocaust, the beginning of WWII were all well researched. The author's note at the end was very enlightening. She explained how she came up with the idea for this book, make sure you read it as well. Overall, a very satisfying read and one that kept me hooked right from the start. I want to thank the First To Read program for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.
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Willows, and has told Katie she can keep his collection. She tells her father and he becomes very agitated. When she calls the dealer to tell him she is going to pick up the collection, he tells her he has found something and wants to meet her to discuss it. It is a letter that was addressed to a Fraulein Faber, but was never mailed and the stamp was one he had never seen before.The story is told with two narrators. Katie in the present, and Elena Faber in 1938/1939 in Austria. We learn about Elena and a young man named Kristoff. He is an apprentice engraver with her father Frederick Faber who is renowned for engraving stamps. In the present Katie and Benjamin, the stamp appraiser, follow up on the information they find about the letter heading off to Europe to see if they can find the mysterious Fraulein Faber and deliver her letter to her. We learn about the lives of all four of these characters and how they end up where they are now.
This story pulled me in right from the first page. We know that there are risks involved with being Jewish in 1938 as well as the risk of helping the resistance. The story of Katie and Benjamin was also interesting and it was nice to see their relationship blossom. I did not know much about stamps and stamp collecting, but learned several things while reading this book. I found out about the importance of using stamps to send messages by the resistance. The characters were very sympathetic as is usually the case when reading books that took place during this time, but to actually have the ending that occurred in this book was a nice change, although some may see it as a convenient conclusion. I had no trouble following the double story line and enjoyed the way they came together. Historically, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Holocaust, the beginning of WWII were all well researched. The author's note at the end was very enlightening. She explained how she came up with the idea for this book, make sure you read it as well. Overall, a very satisfying read and one that kept me hooked right from the start. I want to thank the First To Read program for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.
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LibraryThing member HeatherLINC
"The Lost Letter" moved between Austria in 1938, at the start of the German Occupation, and Los Angeles in 1989. The two stories slowly unravel throughout the novel and merge at the end, although a bit unrealistically.
I usually enjoy the historical story more in these books but I found myself
"The Lost Letter" was about love, sacrifice, resilience and never giving up hope, and the mystery of the lost letter kept me engaged and entertained throughout the entire novel.
I usually enjoy the historical story more in these books but I found myself
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totally caught up in the lives of Katie and Benjamin, as well as Elena and Kristoff who were living in Austria. These characters were all very sympathetic and I liked the secondary characters as well, especially Katie's grandmother."The Lost Letter" was about love, sacrifice, resilience and never giving up hope, and the mystery of the lost letter kept me engaged and entertained throughout the entire novel.
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LibraryThing member ML923
What a delightful read and definitely what I would call a “feel good” book! The story takes place in two alternate times and places: 1938-39 Austria, under the Nazi occupation, and 1989-90 Los Angeles. In Austria, the story focuses on Frederick, a Jewish stamp engraver, who — along with his
This novel is beautifully written and well-researched; it is history mixed with fiction at its best. I truly enjoyed this heartwarming story and look forward to reading other works by Jill Cantor.
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wife, daughters Elena and Miri, and his non-Jewish apprentice Kristoff deal with the Nazi invasion and occupation of their country. In Los Angeles, the story focuses on 30-something Katie Nelson, a journalist who is dealing with a sudden divorce and her father — an avid stamp collecter — who has been stricken with Alzheimer’s. Obviously, stamps play an important role in the novel, and the author seamlessly weaves the alternate narratives together beautifully, throwing in a few well-placed surprises toward the latter part of the novel as well.This novel is beautifully written and well-researched; it is history mixed with fiction at its best. I truly enjoyed this heartwarming story and look forward to reading other works by Jill Cantor.
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LibraryThing member linda.marsheells
Not just another WW2 Jewish novel....this book is a keeper by a great author!
I loved the familial connections from that horrid era to 1990. I learned that philately has to do with the study/ collection of stamps. And I stayed up way too late , at 11pm-ish I decided I could read another chapter,
I did wonder if I would run to safety, or stay and resist, and most likely die.
I loved the familial connections from that horrid era to 1990. I learned that philately has to do with the study/ collection of stamps. And I stayed up way too late , at 11pm-ish I decided I could read another chapter,
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pages flew by and when I checked the time again? 1:30 a.m.I did wonder if I would run to safety, or stay and resist, and most likely die.
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LibraryThing member Nancyjcbs
The Lost Letter is a beautiful novel of historical fiction. In the late 1980's Katie is caring for her father who suffers with Alzheimer's Disease. Her father had been an avid stamp collector and she's beginning the process of evaluating/selling his collection. One stamp on an unopened letter
Alternating between 1980's-1990's Los Angeles and 1930's Austria we learn about the stamp, the letter-writer and the intended recipient. Other than The Sound of Music I've rarely read of the Nazi occupation in Austria. And yes, the stamp has an edelweiss!
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brings a journey to the past and understanding in the present tense.Alternating between 1980's-1990's Los Angeles and 1930's Austria we learn about the stamp, the letter-writer and the intended recipient. Other than The Sound of Music I've rarely read of the Nazi occupation in Austria. And yes, the stamp has an edelweiss!
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LibraryThing member crtsjffrsn
When Katie Nelson takes her father's stamp collection to an expert to see if there's anything of value, she doesn't expect anything will come of it. But when the appraiser, Benjamin, expresses interest in what may be not only a rare find but also an anomaly, a mystery is laid before her that she
When this book first started jumping back and forth between the 1989 "present" and the 1938 "past", I found myself wondering if there was any real connection or if it was just two stories being told side-by-side because of a single point of connection: a stamp. And the reality is that while that stamp is the key to much of the story and the connection, there is so much more here that reveals itself as you go. This is a story of love, of perseverance, of exploration, and of never giving up hope.
[Disclaimer: This review is based on an advance review copy received from the publisher as part of the First to Read program.]
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can't help but try to answer. And the journey takes her down a path that spans back over fifty years and exposes secrets and identities that have been long-buried and thought lost forever. Along the way, Katie also just might find some things she thought she had lost forever as well...When this book first started jumping back and forth between the 1989 "present" and the 1938 "past", I found myself wondering if there was any real connection or if it was just two stories being told side-by-side because of a single point of connection: a stamp. And the reality is that while that stamp is the key to much of the story and the connection, there is so much more here that reveals itself as you go. This is a story of love, of perseverance, of exploration, and of never giving up hope.
[Disclaimer: This review is based on an advance review copy received from the publisher as part of the First to Read program.]
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LibraryThing member Micareads
A truly wonderful story! I loved the back and forth of the chapters between Austria and LA. It's nice to read such a sweet story during such a dark time in history.
LibraryThing member MarthaJeanne
I lost my ability to believe the story when the author said that Vienna is as flat as one of the steel plates. Vienna is a very hilly city, even in the city centre.
I don't think she has ever been in Oxford either. What she describes as the 'campus' of Oxford University could be one of the colleges,
I don't think she has ever been in Oxford either. What she describes as the 'campus' of Oxford University could be one of the colleges,
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but is certainly not the University. Show Less
Language
Original publication date
2017
ISBN
9781432841591 ;1432841599