The Light After the War
Book Review - The Light After the War by Anita Abriel
Book Review - The Light After the War by Anita Abriel
I’d heard this book was inspired by a true story, but it wasn’t until I finished the book and read the author’s note that I realized this book was inspired by the author’s mother and her best friend. I love how personal this story is to the author. Of all the books I’ve read and authors I’ve interviewed, it is rather rare for an author to write a historical fiction piece so closely based on a personal acquaintance or family member. One of the things I love most about Historical Fiction is that I often find myself thinking, this couldn’t possibly have all happened to one person… And yet, it is based on a true story! As they say, sometimes life is stranger than fiction.
Book Review - The Light After the War by Anita Abriel
The Light After the War by Anita Abriel is about Vera Frankel and her best friend Edith Ban who survive WWII together and are left to build lives for themselves after the war. They haven’t heard from their parents or Edith’s fiance since they were separated, all are presumed dead. After the war, they went on to lead extraordinary lives filled with heartbreak and success. Vera has a lead on a job in Naples, so they both move to a new country far from their home and painful memories back in Hungary. From Naples, they end up in Venezuela and then they part ways: Vera to Australia and Edith to California. Their story of survival and friendship is inspiring and heartbreaking.
Book Review - The Light After the War by Anita Abriel
I read A LOT of WWII novels. What I particularly loved about this one is that it takes place primarily after the war, while offering a few flashbacks to WWII to explain Vera and Edith’s background. This book focused more on their future after war (I.e. the light after the war) rather than their experience during the war. Their friendship survived the war, petty disagreements, moving to multiple continents, breakups, attempted murder, and more. I think we all wish we could have a friendship as strong as Vera and Edith’s to help us through all that life throws at us.
