Within These Walls of Sorrow: A Novel of World War II Poland

"Grief is not a thing to be measured. Only lived." How do I even begin to write a review for such a heartbreaking yet hope-infused story that reads like a diary? This is historical fiction at its finest, where real events meld seamlessly with fictional characters to challenge the readers emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. It's not an easy read and the women's ghetto and concentration camp experiences will leave you raw and aching. But the author does a brilliant job of stitching each painful event with glimmers of hope and future. It's beautifully written, absolutely gripping, totally immersive, and emotionally charged to encompass every possible human feeling. It's one of the most powerful books I've read in a long time. Told through first person present tense narrative of Zosia and Hania, the readers are immediately transported to pre-war Poland and through the long, stark years of WWII as a handful of people try to help Hania and the people she loves. This book will move you and have you pondering what it means to be human long after the last chapter is read. I received the book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.