Review of "Maps and Shadows"
http://www.book-views.com/articles/567/1/Review-of-Maps-and-Shadows/Page1.html
Darcy Odden
Lover of books, especially mysteries. By Darcy Odden
Published on 08/6/2010
A Polish family's odyssey
Review of "Maps and Shadows"
"Maps and Shadows," a novel by Krysia Jopek, informs readers about an aspect of World War II that has rarely seen the light of day – the Soviet deportation of almost 1.5 million Polish civilians to forced labor camps in Siberia. Jopek's family was among those deported.
Each chapter in Jopek's novel is narrated by one of four family members: Andrzej (father), Zofia (mother), Henryk (brother), and Helcia (sister).
The story begins with the family living a good life farming land the Polish government gave to Andrzej as a reward for his service in the Polish army during World War I. Then, in September 1939, Germany attacks Poland, easily overpowering its military and slaughtering civilians. While Germany invades from the west, Russia invades from the east.
At gunpoint, Russian soldiers force Jopek's family to be herded with other Poles onto trains to Siberia where Andrzej and Henryk are part of a work crew charged with felling trees to aid in Russia's war effort. The family is at the work camp for 18 months, enduring seasons of bitter cold and a paucity of food. They are freed only because Russia needs the Poles to help fight the Germans.
The family is then torn apart. Andrzej leaves the camp to enlist in the Polish army while the rest of the family flees to Uzbekistan, where Henryk joins the Young Soldiers Battalions. Zofia, Helcia and Jozef, the family's youngest son, continue on to Persia. Henryk's battalion is then assigned duty in Palestine, where fate brings him together with Andrzej for a few precious minutes.
Family members endure more displacement until the end of the war. Surviving against all odds, they reunite in England and finally make their home in Connecticut.
I had not heard of the Polish deportation prior to reading "Maps and Shadows" and find it amazing that this family and other families endured such a long journey of displacement and cruel and inhumane conditions. It all makes my current troubles seem so very insignificant. I appreciate the story being told from four different viewpoints, each shedding light on the family's inner turmoil and struggles. Author Kysia Jopek is also a poet and she intersperses poetry throughout the novel. The cover art is beautiful, adding more historical snippets to the story. I recommend this book to everyone, but especially to those of Polish descent and to readers of historical fiction.
My review is based on an advance copy from the publisher, Aquila Polonica Publishing. The publication date is November 2010.
Each chapter in Jopek's novel is narrated by one of four family members: Andrzej (father), Zofia (mother), Henryk (brother), and Helcia (sister).
The story begins with the family living a good life farming land the Polish government gave to Andrzej as a reward for his service in the Polish army during World War I. Then, in September 1939, Germany attacks Poland, easily overpowering its military and slaughtering civilians. While Germany invades from the west, Russia invades from the east.
At gunpoint, Russian soldiers force Jopek's family to be herded with other Poles onto trains to Siberia where Andrzej and Henryk are part of a work crew charged with felling trees to aid in Russia's war effort. The family is at the work camp for 18 months, enduring seasons of bitter cold and a paucity of food. They are freed only because Russia needs the Poles to help fight the Germans.
The family is then torn apart. Andrzej leaves the camp to enlist in the Polish army while the rest of the family flees to Uzbekistan, where Henryk joins the Young Soldiers Battalions. Zofia, Helcia and Jozef, the family's youngest son, continue on to Persia. Henryk's battalion is then assigned duty in Palestine, where fate brings him together with Andrzej for a few precious minutes.
Family members endure more displacement until the end of the war. Surviving against all odds, they reunite in England and finally make their home in Connecticut.
I had not heard of the Polish deportation prior to reading "Maps and Shadows" and find it amazing that this family and other families endured such a long journey of displacement and cruel and inhumane conditions. It all makes my current troubles seem so very insignificant. I appreciate the story being told from four different viewpoints, each shedding light on the family's inner turmoil and struggles. Author Kysia Jopek is also a poet and she intersperses poetry throughout the novel. The cover art is beautiful, adding more historical snippets to the story. I recommend this book to everyone, but especially to those of Polish descent and to readers of historical fiction.
My review is based on an advance copy from the publisher, Aquila Polonica Publishing. The publication date is November 2010.