Comment

Community comment are the opinions of contributing users. These comment do not represent the opinions of Fraser Valley Regional Library.
Oct 07, 2016GLNovak rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
After his father's death, the author's mother gives him two packets of letters tied with ribbons. These letters reveal how his parents met, fell in love and went on to marry. They are the basis for this interesting but sketchy fictionalized account of that six month courtship. They were both survivors of German concentration camps sent to convalesce in Sweden. His father decides he needs a wife and begins an ingenious and laborious search for a suitable Hungarian woman. The story is told in prose interspersed with snippets from both their letters, a technique that can sometimes be jerky and disjointed. The blend here is a bit choppy. I found the whole narrative could have been expanded and more depth given to the characters and to the circumstances. He could have done a better job of building the growing relationship and love between them. That being said, this is a quick read, and one does get the sense that the two did overcome terrible circumstances to find each other and take a chance on a life together. Fifty-two years together is not a bad feat.