Those Who are Saved, Alexis Landau
Those Who are Saved, Alexis Landau
3 Rating(s)
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Those Who are Saved

Author: Alexis Landau

Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld, Holly Linneman, Will Damron

Unabridged: 12 hr 41 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Published: 02/23/2021


Synopsis

In the spirit of We Were the Lucky Ones and We Must Be Brave, a heartbreaking World War II novel of one mother's impossible choice, and her search for her daughter against the odds.

As a Russian Jewish émigré to France, Vera's wealth cannot protect her or her four-year-old-daughter, Lucie, once the Nazis occupy the country. After receiving notice that all foreigners must report to an internment camp, Vera has just a few hours to make an impossible choice: Does she subject Lucie to the horrid conditions of the camp, or does she put her into hiding with her beloved and trusted governess, safe until Vera can retrieve her? Believing the war will end soon, Vera chooses to leave Lucie in safety. She cannot know that she and her husband will have an opportunity to escape, to flee to America. She cannot know that Lucie's governess will have fled with Lucie to family in rural France, too far to reach in time.

And so begins a heartbreaking journey and separation, a war and a continent apart. Vera's marriage will falter under the surreal sun of California. Her ability to write--once her passion--will disappear. But Vera's love for Lucie, her faith that her daughter lives, will only grow. As Vera's determination to return to France and find Lucie crystalizes, she meets Sasha, a man on his own search for meaning. She is stronger with Sasha than she is alone. Together they will journey to Lucie. They will find her fate.

About Alexis Landau

Alexis Landau is a graduate of Vassar College. She received her MFA from Emerson College and her PhD in English Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Southern California. This is her first novel. Alexis lives with her husband and her two children in Santa Monica, California.


Reviews

4.5 stars rounded up A beautiful historical novel about motherhood, immigration, and the aftermath of WWII. Those Who Are Saved tells the story of Vera, Max, and Lucie. They are Jewish immigrants from Saint Petersburg who came to France after the Russian revolution. When WWII strikes, the family rece......more

Goodreads review by Karren

Vera and Max Volosenkova are Russian Jewish migrants living in France and they don’t have French citizenship. During the summer of 1940 the Nazis suddenly inform all foreign nationals they will be placed immediately into internment camps and Vera doesn’t want to take little Lucie. She’s heard terrib......more

Goodreads review by Deborah

In 1940, Max and Vera are Russian emigree Jews living the good life in Paris and spending the summer in a southern seaside French town. She is a published novelist and Max is a musician and composer. When they receive notice as foreign nationals to report for internment, Vera decides to protect thei......more

Goodreads review by Sonal

In order to save her daughter from the harshness of a concentration camp, Vera makes the difficult decision to leave her in the care of her loving governess. Vera is sure the war will be over soon and she will quickly reunite with her daughter. Several years later, Vera is now in the US but cannot r......more