We Must Not Think of Ourselves
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On a November day in...
Published By Algonquin Books
Format Hardback
Category
Number Of Pages 304
Publication Date 11/28/2023
ISBN 9781643752341
Dimensions 6.4 inches x 9.5 inches
Named a Best Book of 2023 by Kirkus Reviews (Best Fiction Books of the Year & Best Historical Fiction of 2023)
"Accomplished…This is a tender, heartbreaking novel that grapples with timeless questions. Is collaboration forgivable? Can sparks of human kindness, however tiny, fend off hopelessness in the face of evil?”
“In We Must Not Think of Ourselves, Lauren Grodstein writes with such a blazing commitment to the truth of the Warsaw Ghetto that sometimes I had to stop reading and catch my breath. But in the midst of the brutality, she clears a path for the parallel stories of love and decency. Make no mistake: this is a heartbreaking portrait of a dark moment. But this novel shimmers with light.”
"Grodstein expertly weaves the tale of this lonely storyteller, his students and the families he lives with into the true history of the Oneg Shabbat project. Gripping, emotional, and, against all odds, hopeful."
“Lauren Grodstein’s masterpiece… an extraordinary work of historical fiction.”
"[A] gripping historical novel."
"Emotionally charged and meticulously researched, We Must Not Think of Ourselves pays homage to the Oneg Shabbat's goal of honoring the Jewish people by bearing witness to the entirety of their experience. This is a compelling and compassionate tribute that will resonate deeply with readers."
"[R]ealistic, heartrending… Thought-provoking, tender, and horrifying, this memorable novel of Jewish lives in the Warsaw Ghetto offers timeless lessons."
"[A] crucial, compelling, and important new novel."
“We Must Not Think of Ourselves focuses on glimmers of hope amid overwhelming catastrophe… both a love story of sorts and a philosophical tale about moral choice in extreme circumstances… skillful, warm-hearted storytelling.”
“[A] delicate, warm account of a brutal, cold time, grounded in humanity, small details, and unwavering clarity.”
“[T]his timely novel is a story of love, resilience, and hope in the darkest moments.”
“Grodstein brings to life a critical piece of history with her strong sense of place and complex characters... [The Oneg Shabbat archive] is represented beautifully in Grodstein’s first historical novel, supported by her intensive research and the book’s dynamic relationships that show the value of everyday intimacies. Recommended for readers who enjoy stories from all time periods about the extraordinary actions of ordinary people.”
“Grodstein makes her persecuted characters achingly human... This will stay with readers.”
“[A] moving chronicle, a worthy tribute to those who fought to survive the unthinkable.”
“[A] story of hope, love, doing what we can to survive.”
"Profound… This will move you to tears."
"[A] penetrating novel… Grodstein movingly re-creates the circumstances behind [Oneg Shabbat’s] creation…a memorable standout."
“We Must Not Think of Ourselves is a novel so exquisitely written that it elevates tragedy to art, and beyond art, to a soul-expanding testament.”
“This heart-wrenching tale explores love, defiance, and sacrifice in the face of unimaginable circumstances, making it a compelling addition to the literary World War II fiction genre.”
“This powerful book resonates today as we see how people struggle to keep their humanity while they are being treated inhumanely.”