Jessica Baker (A Baker's Perspective)'s Reviews > Within These Walls of Sorrow: A Novel of World War II Poland

I'm not sure there are words to describe the depths of emotion I had while reading this novel. Barratt doesn't just give you a lesson in history, she makes you feel it. And if I felt it this much as a reader, I cannot even fathom how she was able to write it, and write it so eloquently. Barratt finds this unknown little stories about such an awful time in history, and just brings them to life. When we think of the tragedy of WWII, we really just think over the overall brutality of it. We often don't stop to consider each individual life that was affected by it. Barratt makes you think about each individual. Both on the good side and the bad side.

One thing that always touches my heart about her novels, and this one is no different - she reminds us that there are good guys who are unfortunately part of the bad side of history. In that I mean there were God fearing men dressed in German uniform. They didn't like what they had to endure, and some of them, like Janek, tried to use their position for good. It's a good reminder to not judge a person by their appearance. They might not be the bad guy you think they are.

The other thing I appreciate about Barratt is that she does not sugar coat what is happening in her story. Now, I will admit sometimes it is very hard to read, and by hard I mean like emotionally hard. Some people may not appreciate reading the horrific events of WWI that took place around these characters. Some of the characters themselves had to endure things I could never imagine, nor would I want to. But while she doesn't sugar coat it, she isn't explicit either. She writes enough so you know what's going on without the graphic writing. Trust me, the images still come to my head, and that's tough. I'm always in a fog when I read her stories honestly. But among the awful events surrounding this story, Barratt still provides hope. I don't want to give any spoilers, so I can't expand on that too much. The hope comes from the faith of the characters. Hope comes from those officers that choose to help the Jews even though they could die. Hope comes from the pharmacy workers who choose to put their life on the line in order to help. I think the way she sprinkles these little glimpses of hope throughout the story is perfectly timed- just when you need it.

I knew going in this would probably be on my favorites list of 2023 and I was not wrong. Full of emotion, history, inspiration, hope, and faith, this book will be on my mind for a very long time. Not only that, I can see myself rereading it, and pairing it with some historical websites so I can research some of the accounts myself as my own history lesson. History is hard, but it's something we need to learn so it doesn't repeat itself. Thank you Amanda Barratt for bringing this story to life. I am honored to read your words.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.