The Book of Lost Names
by Kristin Harmel
388 pages, Hardcover
Publisher: Gallery Books
Release Date: July 21, 2020
My Rating: ★★★★☆
Book Summary
Eva Traube Abrams, a semi-retired librarian in Florida, is shelving books one morning when her eyes lock on a photograph in a magazine lying open nearby. She freezes; it’s an image of a book she hasn’t seen in sixty-five years—a book she recognizes as The Book of Lost Names.
The accompanying article discusses the looting of libraries by the Nazis across Europe during World War II—an experience Eva remembers well—and the search to reunite people with the texts taken from them so long ago. The book in the photograph, an eighteenth-century religious text thought to have been taken from France in the waning days of the war, is one of the most fascinating cases. Now housed in Berlin’s Zentral- und Landesbibliothek library, it appears to contain some sort of code, but researchers don’t know where it came from—or what the code means. Only Eva holds the answer—but will she have the strength to revisit old memories and help reunite those lost during the war?
As a graduate student in 1942, Eva was forced to flee Paris after the arrest of her father, a Polish Jew. Finding refuge in a small mountain town in the Free Zone, she begins forging identity documents for Jewish children fleeing to neutral Switzerland. But erasing people comes with a price, and along with a mysterious, handsome forger named Rémy, Eva decides she must find a way to preserve the real names of the children who are too young to remember who they really are. The records they keep in The Book of Lost Names will become even more vital when the resistance cell they work for is betrayed and Rémy disappears.
An engaging and evocative novel reminiscent of The Lost Girls of Paris and The Alice Network, The Book of Lost Names is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of bravery and love in the face of evil.
— from Goodreads
Book Review
“The Book of Lost Names” by Kristin Harmel is a captivating and emotionally resonant historical fiction novel that explores the enduring power of identity, love, and the resilience of the human spirit. With its meticulous research, compelling characters, and a poignant storyline, this book transports readers to a turbulent period in history.
The story follows Eva Traube Abrams, a young Jewish woman who, during World War II, helps forge documents to aid children fleeing Nazi-occupied France. Alongside her mentor, Remy, Eva creates a codebook, “The Book of Lost Names,” containing the names of the children she helps. Decades later, as an elderly woman, Eva embarks on a journey to reconcile her past and unravel the mysteries surrounding the book, reconnecting with lost loved ones and confronting painful memories.
Kristin Harmel’s writing is immersive and evocative, capturing the turmoil and emotional depth of wartime experiences. Her attention to historical detail is meticulous, transporting readers to the harrowing era of World War II. Moreover, the characters in “The Book of Lost Names” are well-developed and compelling.
The book delves into themes of identity, loss, and the lasting impact of choices made during times of adversity. Eva’s journey of self-discovery and reconciliation with her past underscores the importance of preserving personal history and the value of memory in shaping our sense of self. Harmel’s exploration of the enduring power of art and the written word adds an additional layer of depth to the narrative.
In conclusion, “The Book of Lost Names” is a poignant and immersive historical fiction novel that captivates readers with its compelling characters and heart-wrenching storyline. Kristin Harmel’s meticulous research and evocative writing bring the past to life while exploring themes such as identity and resilience resonates on a profoundly emotional level. Although it may have some pacing concerns, the book’s powerful narrative and themes of love, sacrifice, and the enduring power of memory make it a compelling read for fans of historical fiction. “The Book of Lost Names” is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and a reminder of the indomitable power of hope and love in the face of unimaginable darkness.
