Captivating. Compelling. At times horrifying. Overwhelming. The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel is an excellent book. My sister-in-law calls it “goosebump good.” I love historical fiction, especially if it’s set during World War II, and this book is a riveting tale highlighting the role of forgery in the war. Although I won’t delve into the intricacies of their forgery practices, it was an intriguing part of the story line. Among other tools of their trade, they utilized a manual typewriter like what is pictured above.
Overview of The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel:
When semi-retired librarian Eva Traube Abrams sees a photo of The Book of Lost Names in the New York Times, memories from over sixty years ago come rushing back. The book, now in a Berlin library, holds a mysterious code tied to her past.
In 1942, as a young forger in Nazi-occupied France, Eva risked everything to create fake documents for people, primarily children, fleeing to safety. With a fellow forger, Rémy, she secretly recorded the children’s real names in the book, ensuring their identities wouldn’t be lost forever. As betrayal and heartbreak loomed, the book became a symbol of hope and resistance.
Inspired by true stories, The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel celebrates courage, love, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.
Thoughts drawn from The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel
The choices we make
There is a strong emphasis on the choices we make and how they impact us. Likewise, the things we see and the experiences we have can deeply affect our faith. Many of the characters grappled with very hard questions about religion, duty, and how to honor faith and family. What sacrifice is too much? How to we live with ourselves after difficult choices? What if we’re not strong enough?
Eva’s love story
A beautiful love story intertwines with the information and happenings tied to the war. Harmel refers to a line from the Song of Solomon in the Bible: “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine” (chapter 6, verse 3a). For many, this verse celebrates the beauty of romantic love. It conveys a sense of mutual devotion and joy in belonging to one another. It could also reflect the mutual love and commitment between God and humanity. Either way, the verse presents an important reminder to nurture respect and care in our relationships.
The power of words
Eva experiences significant growth throughout the book. At the beginning of the war, she is very young. She is faced with so much hardship and heartache all at once. Throw in the strain from her relationship with her mother, and she learns some very hard lessons. Her mother seemed to take out her anger, fear, and frustration on her daughter. Because they were close, she could use words that were especially crushing. Through other conversations, she also began healing. How true it is that our conversations with those closest to us can cause both deep agony and soothing healing.
Lessons learned from a child
A child in the book shares with Eva that we should always carry hope with us, even when our situation is extremely grim. This child was just six years old and was in hiding. This heartfelt message also reverberates in other places in The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel, but it’s especially poignant coming from a small child.
Layers of trust
I’ve enjoyed thinking about the many layers of trust in the book. Who did the characters trust and why? How were they able to trust? At several points, you see them DECIDE to trust because there is no other way. That requires great strength. Sometimes they still had doubts. Sometimes their trust was abused. I found this to be very thought-provoking.
Our story
One thing that resonated with me was her conclusion later in the book that we aren’t defined by our names, religion, circumstances, or nationality. What matters most is what is written on our hearts and how that plays out in our life. How do we choose to share ourselves and with whom? I think part of Eva’s growth comes from how and when she decides to share her story with her son.
I have read a lot of books set during World War II, and this is the first one highlighting the role of forgery. Don’t miss this fascinating story!
The characters learned and grew through inconceivable hardship. We can learn much from their bravery and resilience. May we move on from here willing to trust, acting in a way worthy of trust, holding onto hope, and sharing our authentic selves with our loved ones.
Find my feature of author Kristin Harmel at this link.
Other posts you may like:
- The Dutch Wife by Ellen Keith: survival, sacrifice, and secrets (also set during World War II, at least partially)
- book review: Hidden Yellow Stars (another World War II story)
- sightseeing in Seoul
- women in the Bible: lessons on faith and courage
- tasty tortilla soup
- word of the year
Fondly,
Crysti
