The Last Girl: A Novel

Rating:
Summary: suspensful
Review: The characters and their motivations are well done. After the first few pages the reader is anxious to see the resolution to the characters' problems. The author keeps you in suspense and deepens the problems as the novel goes along. It is also an insightful book about being Jewish during the late 30's in Europe.

Rating:
Summary: Simply heart breaking
Review: This straightforward, beautifully-written novel breaks your heart and puts it back together again. It is not overly ambitious but the author suceeeds in creating a story that draws you in and makes you reflect. It takes courage and skill for a writer to develop serious weaknesses in a character and still have the readers feel compassion for him or her. In most of these situations, I come to dislike the character. But not in this book. Everyone we meet is multi-dimensional and full of complex baggage. They are just trying to survive and find meaning in a cruel and unfair world. But at the end, the book is all about redemption and new opportunities in life no matter how far a person has fallen. What a satisfying experience!