I received an advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley and the author, Dean Cycon, for providing me a copy to this wonderful book.
"In a generation, nobody would remember that Jews ever lived in Laszlo."
"Finding Home," is set in post-World War II Hungary, the novel delves into the lives of Jewish survivors of concentration camps as they navigate the challenging aftermath of the war. The story follows Eva, a pianist returning from Auschwitz, as she strives to reclaim her place at the Academy. Through Eva's journey, the book explores themes of prejudice, discrimination, and the enduring impact of the Holocaust. This novel was an absolutely heartbreaking read that kept me turning the pages. From the very first page to the end, it carried a weight that left a lasting impact. Even between reading sessions, I found myself immersed in thoughts about the story, the power of music, and it's parallels to today's political climate in the US. While acknowledging that we cannot equate the experiences of the LGBTQIA+ and trans community with those of the Jewish community, the novel skillfully explores themes of extremism, fascism, discrimination, racism, and the destructive force of lies and propaganda. It is for these reasons that I rate this book 5/5 for being thought-provoking. This is a novel that will stay with me for a long time.
"A steady stream of people stopped by their table and chatted with the mayor, occasionally smiling or acknowledging Eva without recognition. Some looked at her nervously, talked too fast or had fear in their eyes. Eva wondered what she represented to them. Lost friends? Guilt or shame?
Having delved into both nonfiction and fiction books about World War II, I noticed that most of them focus on wartime events and rarely touch upon the aftermath or the return of survivors to their hometowns. This WW2 novel set in Hungary stands out because it addresses what happened after the war. It was naive of me to assume that prejudice, discrimination, and violence towards the Jewish community would magically disappear with the end of the war.
In the author's note, he expressed doubt about his right to write a story about Jewish survivors of concentration camps. However, I'm glad he chose to write this novel because the literature about the Holocaust needed this particular story. I wholeheartedly recommend this book!
Keep on reading!
Bobbi
The Details
Author: Dean Cycon
Length: 343
Genre: Historical
Release Year: 2023
TW: Violence, Religious bigotry, Hate crime, Genocide, and Antisemitism
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