Great Story!

I loved this book for many reasons. One of the main reasons is that it presents topics about survival and the holocaust that I have never heard before and I have read many many books on the holocaust and the human experience. Another main reason I like this book is that it kept my interest from beginning to end!

3 people found this helpful

The emotions that this book will tear from you!!!

Where does Emilia rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is by far the most emotional audio book I have ever listened to. The main character, Emilia, goes through so many horrifying moments, and hearing it brought to life is heartbreaking!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Emilia?

Listening to Emilia talk about what life was like at the camp, and what she and her friend went through was so emotional!

Have you listened to any of Sofia Willingham’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I don't know that I've listened to her work before, but I fully plan to find more of her work.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This story made a tear come to my eye several times!

Any additional comments?

Ellie Midwood is an amazing author to begin with, and hearing this story out loud is an amazing experience!!

3 people found this helpful

The darkest time indeed

The tale of sacrifice and resilience told with brutal honesty. Unforgettable and painfully moving. One more brilliant book from Ellie Midwood!

2 people found this helpful

Horro, Fascination, and Compassion

To me, Ellie Midwood’s books are unique. Fascinating, horrifying, historically accurate, she never shies away from presenting the darkness of the Nazi regime. Yet I’ve noticed she also does something else. Without making excuses for this disturbing time and its despicable characters, she manages to pose the question and possibility of a few of those “villains” as having a human side.

In the midst of all the brutality imposed on Emilia and the other girls forced into sexual slavery, there is a glimmer of protectiveness, kindness, and hope among several of the inmates and even a SS captain and a commandant. Beyond that, when the book continues on after WW2 is over and the totally damaged Emilia arises from the ashes of war and her PTSD, she learns to trust again. Very well narrated by Sofia Wilmington, this book is another page-turner!

2 people found this helpful

A touching and important book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Definitely! It tells the story of the Holocaust from a woman's point of view, which is rare to these types of books, and it certainly needs to be talked about and remembered.

What did you like best about this story?

How real Emilia was. I could feel every emotion of hers and live through every event, shown through her eyes. It wasn't overly graphic, but I learned enough about what was going on in German concentration camps. Also, I was really happy that the story ended the way it did. Emilia deserved her happiness after everything she's been through.

What does Sofia Willingham bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The emotions, the intonations, how I could imagine everything as she narrated the story. Sometimes I was getting actual shivers because the story affected me so much. It was dark, horrifying at times but so incredibly touching. Also, I loved the different accents she imitated! She did a fabulous job!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It did make me cry in a few places. Sometimes I had to pause it because I was getting too emotional and needed a break.

1 person found this helpful

Heavy themes

While technically very good, this is a hard book to suggest to everyone due to the themes involved. I've seen other reviews describe it as an important story, and I'd say that's accurate. It's hard to really compare this to anything, there aren't many fictional stories that are about the Holocaust from the perspective of a woman, at least not that I'm aware of.

Something I will day about this is that I feel it was the right length. Any shorter and it wouldn't be doing the source material justice but too long and I'm not sure there are many people who would want to endure that.

Well drawn characters

It took a few minutes to adjust to the narrator's voice. Once I was accustomed to it, she was fine except when narrating as a man. The story was, as advertised, brutal at times. I was surprised at the brutality among the women themselves. I liked Emelia and finally the love story she was able to have. The gentleness of it was a true gift for Emelia.