we were the lucky ones book club questions

They know they were lucky. And since the events actually happened, you don’t have to ask readers to suspend disbelief of your factual backdrop. I know for me, stepping into my ancestors’ shoes to experience the Holocaust through their eyes brought a whole new meaning to what I thought I knew about the era. Both of these trips became the inspiration for Elena and Kristoff and the Fabers in the novel. This is an excellent book and is based on the author's family history. Discovering this piece of my not-so-distant ancestral past at such a late age sparked an intense curiosity and a thirst for answers that later drove me to dive into my research. The more they know, the more empathetic they can be to people who experience difficult circumstances in life and the more resilient they can become. That can be a challenge. RIF: Tell us about your research process. I would let my middle schooler read it. I also make a secret Pinterest board when I’m working, filled with images and links relevant to the time as I’m writing. I got to read an early copy, and it is has stayed with me a year later—I’ve been telling everyone to read it because the writing is extraordinary and the story is emotional and beautiful and important. Discussion Questions: 1. I've read many WWII books about this subject and this one is excellent and powerful. It is based on the author's family. Jillian Cantor: I’ve written both. The Kurc family was assimilated into Polish life before the war. JC: This is a tough question! They know they were lucky. So I’m going to say Georgia’s novel, We Were the Lucky Ones first. who are separated at the start of the Second World War, but are determined to survive—and to reunite. The novel begins in Paris where Addy, middle son of the Kurc family, is living as a composer. Our Book Club page for We Were the Lucky Ones By Georgia Hunter - includes Book Club Discussion Questions, Author Website, Book Summary, Talking Points, Review & Reader Comments The author has and might still be, touring with her books. One of my absolute favorite genres to read is historical fiction. Best Book Club Guide. Is there one online? This is an excellent book and is based on the author's family history. We Were the Lucky Ones was born of her quest to uncover her family’s staggering history. You can now purchase books directly from Penguin Random House on RIF. JC: Georgia, this sounds amazing! Read it Forward: How is writing historical fiction more limiting than writing modern-day fiction? I also visited the Holocaust Memorial Museum in D.C. around that time and spent a while walking through their resistance exhibit. The Lost Letter also takes place in the 1980s which I found really fun on a historical fiction level because it’s technically historical but it’s the first “historical time” I wrote about where I was also alive during that time. RIF: Why do you think historical fiction appeals to readers? Julianna wrote: "Most Holocaust survivors do not talk about as it is a very painful chapter of their lives. into an intriguing and very personal story of resistance. The words “Based on True Events” are printed at the beginning of the book. She lives in Connecticut. Did anyone else feel like this book was completely unrealistic because no body died? RIF: What are some of your favorite eras to explore in your work? I find it difficult to follow who's who. As my manuscript came to life, I traveled through Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Italy, retracing my family’s footsteps, and trying my best to see the world around me as my ancestors might have, seventy-five years before. I've also visited Poland on a WWII journey. Georgia Hunter is the author of We Were the Lucky Ones, a propulsive novel based on the true story of a family of Polish Jews (her family!) GH: My research for We Were the Lucky Ones began with a series of interviews. Discussion questions for We Were the Lucky Ones ... message 3: by Chris, Book Club Leader (new) Sep 13, 2018 08:44AM. … But I have often wondered if the rigidity of having to maintain historical accuracy impinges on an author’s creativity as they write. I wrote We Were the Lucky Ones to honor my relatives, and also to ensure that my children (and their children, and so on) would understand and appreciate not only our shared ancestry but also the era itself—an era that for many, sadly, will soon feel like ancient history. NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Inspired by the incredible true story of one Jewish family separated at the start of World War II, determined to survive—and to reunite—We Were the Lucky Ones is a tribute to the triumph of hope and love against all odds. They know they were lucky. Then I’ll do some smaller detail-oriented research as I’m drafting (but I do leave some blanks), and then I do another large research stage before and as I revise. I devoured The Lost Letter in a matter of days, staying up far too late to finish it (telling in itself, as I was at the tail end of a pregnancy and a book tour at the time, and thus utterly spent!). There were many extended family and in laws that were talked of in this book … We Are The Lucky Ones is that book. JC: I agree—that it makes history feel personal and gives readers a visceral way to experience it. Part of my fascination with it comes from the fact that I didn’t know I was a quarter Jewish, or that I came from a family of Holocaust survivors until I was fifteen. I love historical novels that transport me and really make me feel like I’m in that time. These authors are masters at the art of bringing their characters to life and crafting captivating storylines in ways a reader will never forget, and their books were all major inspirations behind my own work. I want to start reading, is this a good book to read? I have read many books on this topic, both fiction and non-fiction, and found it very accurate. I REALLY wish there was a family tree diagram with a notation as to where each one journeyed and ended up. Copyright ©1995-2020 Penguin Random House. How is it more freeing? The following questions may contain spoilers for parts of the book. Welcome back. I hope, too, that my book—the culmination of years of research—might inspire a few readers to embark on their own ancestry searches, and perhaps learn something about their roots, maybe even about themselves. What are some examples of that assimilation, and how do you think that helped or hindered the family’s chances of survival? No email! I have read many books on this topic, both fiction and non-fiction, and found i. I think you've missed the point. This book was pretty tame in that there was no sexual content, no profanity, nothing explicit. For one thing, history itself can provide more dramatic narratives than even the most imaginative writer could ever dream up. GEORGIA HUNTER was fifteen years old when she learned that she came from a family of Holocaust survivors. We are experiencing an error, please try again. I’ve been in a lot of book clubs, and I know it’s not always easy to get a conversation going on a book. As my manuscript came to life, I traveled through Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Italy, retracing my family’s footsteps, and trying my best to see the world around me as my ancestors might have, seventy-five years before. Discussion Questions for WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES This book was a favorite this year in the Prose & Pastime online book club! My research for The Lost Letter was much closer to home than Georgia’s. Jillian Cantor Author Photo: © Alan Cantor; Georgia Hunter Author Photo: © Andrea Carson. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. I asked two of my favorite historical fiction authors, Jillian Cantor and Georgia Hunter, to spill the details. You can see the other books we read in 2017 here. So, I do sometimes feel like I’m maneuvering my characters around the constraints of their time. Georgia Hunter: I’ve only written historical fiction (and I must admit I’ve always been intimidated by the thought of crafting purely imaginative, modern-day fiction! I’ll do an initial large research stage before I write a draft as I figure out the plot and the characters.

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