Overview

Winner of the Choix Goncourt Prize, Anne Berest’s The Postcard is a vivid portrait of twentieth-century Parisian intellectual and artistic life, an enthralling investigation into family secrets, and poignant tale of a Jewish family devastated by the Holocaust and partly restored through the power of storytelling.

January, 2003. Together with the usual holiday cards, an anonymous postcard is delivered to the Berest family home. On the front, a photo of the Opéra Garnier in Paris. On the back, the names of Anne Berest’s maternal great-grandparents, Ephraïm and Emma, and their children, Noémie and Jacques—all killed at Auschwitz.

Fifteen years after the postcard is delivered, Anne, the heroine of this novel, is moved to discover who sent it and why. Aided by her chain-smoking mother, family members, friends, associates, a private detective, a graphologist, and many others, she embarks on a journey to discover the fate of the Rabinovitch family: their flight from Russia following the revolution, their journey to Latvia, Palestine, and Paris. What emerges is a moving saga that shatters long-held certainties about Anne’s family, her country, and herself.

Review

A mysterious postcard was delivered to the Berest home in 2003. It had the names of Ephraïm, Emma, and their children, Noémie and Jacques written on it. They were all killed at Auschwitz. Now, 15 years later, Anne is determined to find out who sent it and why.

Anne is not going to let the hesitancy of her mother stop her from finding out about her ancestors. Her mother is just not as interested in discovering the past as Anne. But Anne knows, she feels it in her heart, that she must do this, even if it opens old wounds.

This is a great story full of twists and turns, heartaches and powerful memories. I was captivated by the way this story unfolded. The author really creates a tale which is riddled with secrecy and questions.

Need a good novel full of family secrets and mysteries…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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