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There are currently 23 member reviews
for Once We Were Brothers
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Jeff M. (Morris Plains, NJ)
Once We Were Brothers
A very powerful story and one of the best books that I've read recently. It depicts the lives of people in Poland before WWII in such a tender and sincere way. You feel as though you are part of their experiences and the morbidity of the situation isn't spelled out in a gruesome manner. The characters are all very strong. Ben remains steadfast in what he believes he knows. Catherine is willing to sacrifice her career for what she believes is the ethical thing to do. Elliot feels that money can buy him everything and everyone. Supporting characters added emotional substance to the story. The book has already been picked as a selection for a number of reading groups and you can envision the story being made into a compelling movie. Strongly recommended.
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Nancy L. (Zephyrhills, FL)
A Story to Remember
Wow! On a scale of 1 to 5, "Once We Were Brothers" is a 10 and I have been unable to put it down. Ronald Balson has created a deftly written story centered around an elderly Chicago man who is a concentration camp from Poland. He is determined to right a sixty year old wrong and unmask the man he believes is responsible for inflicting countless amounts of pain and suffering on Polish Jews. This is powerfully written with a beautifully moving plot line and well drawn characters. I won't soon be forgetting these characters and this emotional story!
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Diana J. (Highland Falls, NY)
Best book I've read all summer!
Once We Were Brothers is an impressive (I'm assuming) first offer by Mr Balson. It sucks you in from the first chapter and you will be up all night reading it. It follows a potential lawsuit, going back and forth between the past and the present as the two separate and then collide. Ben Solomon wants to sue a person he claims was once his 'brother' during pre-America's entry into WWII, who is now a wealthy philanthropist in Chicago. What we don't know is: Is the 'brother' who Ben Solomon says he is? and, Did he do the things Ben Solomon says he did? It follows a village in Poland from pre-Nazi takeover, through the end of WWII, into post-WWII and present Chicago. Compelling read--a mystery, with a historical lesson. We all know what happened, in an esoteric way, in Germany and the smaller East European countries under Hitler's rule, but after reading this, you will KNOW viscerally.
I HIGHLY recommend it...you will not be sorry.
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Vicky R. (Cumming, GA)
Heartbreaking...well told.
There have been hundreds of books written about the Holocaust....this one kept me spellbound. Historical fiction works best for me, as I like history interwoven with a story, a tale that draws me into the characters and makes me care about them...or despise them. I felt all of these things while gobbling up this book. The author excelled in his story-telling and I felt I knew Ben, the main character...and at the end, I loved him.
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David M. (Glendale, CA)
A Powerful, Riveting Tale of Love and Betrayal
Despite being a voracious reader, this is truly one of the most fascinating and memorable books I have read in a long time. Set in both the Holocaust and modern day Chicago, the author masterfully intertwines suspense, romance, tragedy, and a 60-year old mystery that is not resolved until the end of the novel. We Were Brothers is a page-turner that I found almost impossible to put down. Although much of the story takes place in darkness of Nazi-controlled Poland, I was pleased with the positive and uplifting conclusion to the story.
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Lynn R. (Wautoma, WI)
Brothers
I found this book a very easy read. I enjoyed the characters, the story line and the ending very much. The only reason that I gave this book a 4 rather than a 5 was because some of the escapes from the Nazis were unbelievable. I obviously did not live during that time period of WWII Poland so I don't know exactly how easy or hard some of these situations were, but I just felt that the author simplified in this area. I still would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good historical novel and especially to book clubs.
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Barbara F. (Saint Louis, MO)
Please LIsten To Me
Interesting conversation is not always right at hand, but the conversational style of this book hooked me.
If you are interested in the Holocaust, and you are not a purist and do not mind a good story, along with the facts, then historical fiction is a good bet for you.. Angst, rage, honesty, empathy, loyalty and persistence are ever present in the pages.
I would recommend this book for a thoughtful read and I am quite sure book clubs would find plenty to digest and discuss.
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