Review #91: Day after Night by Anita Diamant

Day After Night by Anita Diamant

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Scribner

ISBN: 978-0-7432-9985-5

Price/Pages: $15.00/292

My thoughts:

Like many I was taken by Anita Diamant's first novel, The Red Tent. It was compelling and different from a lot of the books I was reading at that time. Even though she has written several other books since, I have not picked another up until just a few weeks ago.

Though I would not rate Day After Night as high as I would The Red Tent, I would say it was still a well written novel about a time I know very little about.

It is set in October 1945 at an internment camp, a prison for "illegal" immigrants run by the British military. Told from the perspectives of four very different women, this novel holds a lot of weight and emotion in it. The four women have all suffered, survived and lost during the Holocaust and come together at this camp to "move on".

Though treated well, they still are essentially prisoners. All struggle with overcoming the tragedies of their past and eventually lean on one another for support and hope.

I would not say I have read a ton about the Holocaust; a very novels and memoirs here and there. I admit, I struggle with wanting to know more but at the same time, horrified to read such stories. Recently I had read Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay which knocked me over in the emotion department. It was really hard to read such tales of horror and loss.

This particular novel did not leave me with such a heavy heart. Because it took place after the Holocaust, there was a feel throughout that things would eventually get better. The horrors of the past weren't overly dwelled on.

I found myself learning quite a bit about that time; the politics of the British, the promises made to many Jews, and the land of Israel. The four women were compelling and offered a varied insight into that time.

Rating: 4 stars/ 6 stars

I would not say I would be quick to recommend to every reader out there. I would, however, certainly suggest it to those who have a interest in Jewish history. It was well written and obviously well researched considering Anita Diamant is also the author of several nonfiction guides to Jewish life.

Book Club Note:

This is one of those novels that you can pretty much guarantee strong discussion at a book club. I have suggested to my own and they are pondering it as we speak. Aside from the massive topic of the Holocaust, during and after, you have the lives of these women to dissect and discuss. I would recommend it as a stellar choice for a book club.

Author Website:

Anita Diamant

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child