Media Reviews
"Balson does a number of things superbly: he crafts a highly readable plotline and makes great use of the Chicago backdrop…many will enjoy this gripping novel for its narrative drive and its emotional storytelling." - Booklist
"In spite of the problematic narrative structure and some clunky prose, readers will be riveted by this novel's central question: Will justice long delayed be denied?" - Kirkus
"The author describes the atrocities of wartime Poland and the beautiful, eternal romance between Ben Solomon and his life, Hannah. Balson's first novel is hard to put down." - The Jewish Book World
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Reader Reviews
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Yma Rosenthal
History Repeats As the brutality of Russian forces violate the citizenry of Ukraine, I started Once We Were Brothers, a bewildering portrayal of the human spirit in both love and hate. “We must never forget…” seem like empty words as Ukraine stumbles, akin to WWII Europe. This book emphasizes that wars of greed and vanity continue to haunt the human spirit then and now.
Ben Solomon’s ethereal experiences with the souls of the deceased underscores that soul doesn’t leave us even though the body does. Balson reminds us to listen to those voices of the past, if you can hear them. I was touched, even struck, by this spiritualism.
Also, the pacing of the book has a velocity that shot way into the night, leaving me sleepless.
I love this book!
Elizabeth @Silver's Reviews
Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews - EXCELLENT "We must never allow the world to forget." Page 179
That quote says it all, and Ben Solomon vowed to follow through on this edict, and he definitely was following through.
ONCE WE WERE BROTHERS is a powerful, well-researched first novel that will have you glued to the pages as Ben tells his story of hatred, horror, and the annihilation of his and other Jewish families during WWII.
Telling the story of the horrors of the Nazi occupation of Poland was stressful for the 83-year-old main character, Ben, but he had to tell it all, and Catherine, his attorney, wanted to be the one to help arrest Elliott/Otto.
Ben knew he knew Elliott Rosenzweig was not really Elliott Rosenzweig, but Otto Piatek, his brother turned Nazi during the war, and the person who was not accused of his horrific war crimes but living in the United States as a billionaire philanthropist.
ONCE WE WERE BROTHERS moves from present day to WWII in Poland as Ben Solomon tells how his family had to live and survive under Nazi occupation as a Jewish family.
ONCE WE WERE BROTHERS tells how Otto, a German boy, was left with the Solomon family, a Jewish family, because his mother couldn't take care of him. Otto became part of the Jewish home and loved the Solomons like his own family until his mother showed up and insisted he join the Germans.
Mr. Balson did a fantastic job researching for his first book and detailing every scene. ONCE WE WERE BROTHERS is a beautiful way to tell a horrible historical story.
You will feel as though you are inside the pages of the book and connecting with the characters both present and past. This book was amazing.
I am always in awe of the strength of the Europeans during this time period. How did they survive and deal with all that was going on especially the Jewish population?
This compelling WWII book is one you will want to read. It is perfectly relayed, phenomenal, and a part of history that again reveals what WWII was about. I finished this book in ONE day, and that is unusual for me.
Don't miss reading ONCE WE WERE BROTHERS. I definitely needed tissues a number of times and especially at the end and definitely when they told of the freeing of Buchenwald because my father was one of the Americans that freed this concentration camp.
This book is given an unequivocal 5/5.
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.
Kathy
Great historical fiction What an exciting, heart-wrenching book! I have read many books about the Holocaust and enjoyed the perspective of this story that begins with the lives of Jews in Poland before the Nazi invasion. This was a well written book containing lots of interesting history. I would recommend this to anyone that is interested in this period of time and who enjoys a legal thriller.
Barbara (Cherry Hill, NJ)
Once We Were Brothers The self published version of the book was recommended to me earlier this year, and I didn't really want to read another Holocaust book. Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. The opening premise of a Nazi possibly hiding in America as a Jew was a new twist. In addition to the historical fiction, the legal and romantic aspects kept my interest.
The current day dialogue is a little choppy, but the WWII sections about Poland are written in a precise and deliberate manner, and this historical background was enlightening.
I would rank this in my top 5 Holocaust book picks for those written in the past decade. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to bookclubs.
Janice
Once We Were Brothers I made my comment halfway through the book. I have finished it and if I could give it higher than a 5, I would. It's been a long time since I've read a book that brought out so much emotion in me. Love, hate, compassion, grief, shock. I did not want this book to end, but I loved the ending. Looking forward to this author's next book. Thank you for a wonderful read.
Janice C. (Hayward, CA)
Once We Were Brothers This book is so well written. Such a beautiful story of love and caring during such a horrendous tragedy. I love the characters. What a great book club discussion it would make. It should be required reading for High School students.
...23 more reader reviews
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