By 
WOW! Shirley Russak Wachtel, the Author of “The Baker of Lost Memories” has written a powerful, poignant, captivating and memorable Historical Fiction Novel. The Genres for this novel are :Historical Fiction, Historical World War Two Fiction, Friendship Fiction, and Women’s Friendship Fiction, In this well written and well researched novel, the author uses two set of timelines, and family. It feels like the author is pounding out dough for a recipe and places the different pieces in different containers. Ultimately all the ingredients fit and connect to fit in one bowl to make a unified final creation. The timelines for this story are set in 1940, during World War Two, when Jewish people were discriminated against, (in Poland) and 1960 in New York.
I appreciate how the author vividly captures the tragedy of war, the landscape, and the dramatic and complex characters. In 1940, Anya and Joseph suffer tragedy when the Germans take over. Eventually they are able to come to the United States, and be sponsored by relatives. Anya, once loved to bake, and now is surviving. Anya and Joseph have a daughter Lena in America. Can you imagine after the many losses, betrayals, and danger, how difficult it is to deal with past memories?
In 1960, Lena is searching for what she would like to do. There are secrets that go back generations, and Lena and her mother Anya aren’t close. Lena marries Luke, who is instrumental in encouraging her to open a bakery. Only Lena has viewed baking as a hobby.
I appreciate that Shirley Russak Wachtel discusses the importance of family, forgiveness, honesty, the tragedies of war, the danger of secrets, and love and hope. This is such a powerful, heartfelt and emotional book, that I highly recommend this thought-provoking book to others.
BUYING LINKS: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org
SYNOPSIS: It can take a lifetime to turn painful memories of the past into hope for the future. Growing up in 1960s Brooklyn, Lena wants to be a baker just like her mother was back in Poland prior to World War II. But questions about those days, and about a sister Lena never even knew, are ignored with solemn silence. It’s as if everything her parents left behind was a subject never to be broached.
The one person in whom Lena can confide is her best friend, Pearl. When she suddenly disappears from Lena’s life, Lena forges ahead: college, love and marriage with a wonderful man, the dream of owning a bakery becoming a reality, and the hope that someday Pearl will return to share in Lena’s happiness―and to be there for her during the unexpected losses to come.
Only when Lena discovers the depth of her parents’ anguish, and a startling truth about her own past, can they rebuild a family and overcome the heart-wrenching memories that have torn them apart.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Shirley Russak Wachtel is the author of A Castle in Brooklyn. She is the daughter of Holocaust survivors and was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Shirley holds a doctor of letters degree from Drew University and for the past thirty-five years has taught English literature at Middlesex College in Edison, New Jersey. Her podcast, EXTRAordinary People, features inspiring individuals who have overcome obstacles to make a difference. The mother of three grown sons and grandmother to three precocious granddaughters, she currently resides in East Brunswick, New Jersey, with her husband, Arthur. For more information, visit www.shirleywachtel.com.
Linda's Book Obsession: 