As its title implies, this was the most beautiful book I read this year! Besides being a heartfelt memoir, All the Beauty in the World brings to life the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Bringley weaves together three diverse elements so that they all make sense: his love and grief for his brother, the solace he finds in art and contemplative thought, and the down-to-earth life of a security guard.
The glimpse into the world of art took me back to my university years when I majored in art history. The varied personalities and global origins of Bringley’s fellow guards delivered additional appeal. But best of all (almost) were the illustrations. Rather than photos of the art in the Met, the author chose exquisite drawings of artworks, all created by the talented artist, Maya McMahon.
A fascinating, revelatory portrait of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and its treasures by a former New Yorker staffer who spent a decade as a museum guard.
Millions of people climb the grand marble staircase to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art every year. But only a select few have unrestricted access to every nook and cranny. They’re the guards who roam unobtrusively in dark blue suits, keeping a watchful eye on the two million square foot treasure house. Caught up in his glamorous fledgling career at The New Yorker, Patrick Bringley never thought he’d be one of them. Then…
I love reading fine language and a surprising story well told, and Safekeep fit the bill.
Van Der Wouden makes every word count in a novel on three levels: a mystery, a story of human emotions and passions, and revelations about the aftermath of the Holocaust. The author writes in terse, spare, poetry-like language that pulled me into her story of damaged and unforgettable characters who struggle to find their place in The Netherlands in 1961.
In the opening passage, Isabel finds a shard of broken pottery in her garden and recognizes it as from her mother’s treasured set of dinnerware, plates and bowls that were only brought out on special occasions. This small pottery fragment is the catalyst that revives long-hidden memories.
Secrets, sibling relationships, an unwanted visitor, the legacy of WWII, LGBTQ passion, and love—Safekeep has it all.
Longlisted for the 2025 Aspen Words Literary Prize • A Best Book of 2024: Time, Kirkus Reviews, BookPage, The Sunday Times (London)
“Remarkable…Compelling…Fine and taut…Indelible.” —The New York Times • “Moving, unnerving, and deeply sexy.” —Tracy Chevalier, author of Girl with the Pearl Earring • “A brilliant debut, as multi-faceted as a gem.” —Kirkus Reviews
A “razor-sharp, perfectly plotted” (The Sunday Times, London) tale of desire, suspicion, and obsession between two women staying in the same house in the Dutch countryside during the summer of 1961—a powerful exploration of the legacy of…
I've read a lot of WWII fiction, the same genre as my two historical novels. Sometimes the books bleed together, but The Lost Letter stood out. It offers dual story lines, both interesting, and they are effortlessly blended together.
The novel tells a gentle tale with moments of excitement, especially in the 1939 timeline. The characters are complex and honorable, making me care about them. The information about philately (stamp collecting) and the artistic process of making stamps was fascinating.
The final reveal of the characters’ connections across time came after a perfect portion of suspense. I can unequivocally recommend this novel to anyone who loves WWII Jewish fiction and/or contemporary novels with a mystery about family heritage.
“A gorgeous and thrilling novel… Perfect for book clubs and fans of The Nightingale.” –PopSugar
A historical novel of love and survival inspired by real resistance workers during World War II Austria, and the mysterious love letter that connects generations of Jewish families. A heart-breaking, heart-warming read for fans of The Nightingale, Lilac Girls, and Sarah's Key.
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…
FROM NAZI GERMANY TO BLITZ-TORN LONDON, a Jewish mother and daughter face turmoil, lost love, and hardship. After years of a loveless marriage, recently widowed Clara finds solace in music and memories. Then, as living in Germany becomes ever more dangerous, she discovers romance for the first time.
Meanwhile, Edith, no longer willing to endure Nazi persecution, leaves her first love to find safety in London and the arms of an Englishman.
On the eve of war, Clara and Edith reunite in London and forge a new relationship. Will mother and daughter weather the stress of air raids, the mood swings of Edith’s erratic husband, and the demands of house and childcare? Will their bond sustain them, or will it crack under the pressure of wartime traumas?
Based on the true story of the author’s grandmother and aunt, Ashes and Ruins brings readers the full story of Clara and Edith, two women introduced in K. Lang-Slattery’s first novel, Immigrant Soldier. In this stand-alone story, mother and daughter come alive in a tale of quiet courage and perseverance before and during World War II.
