4.4 Stars Out Of 5
4.4 out of 5
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(16)
(3)
(1)
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Quality:
4.1 out Of 5
(4.1 out of 5)
Value:
4.1 out Of 5
(4.1 out of 5)
Meets Expectations:
4 out Of 5
(4 out of 5)
91%
of customers would recommend this product to a friend.
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  1. Angie
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    One of the best books I've ever read!
    November 9, 2015
    Angie
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    This review was written for The Girl from the Train.
    If it were possible to give this a hundred stars, that still would not be enough to show how very much I love this book.

    Maybe the following two things will.

    1. This is the second best book that Ive read in 2015.

    2. This is the second best book that I have ever read in the thirty seven years that Ive been reading.

    I always have such a hard time writing reviews because I find it hard to be careful of what details I should mention and what I should not.

    The Girl From The Train is based off of true stories told by German war orphans who had been sent to South Africa to be adopted in order to strengthen the Aryan bloodlines. Gretl her name changes a few times throughout the book depending on where she is is one resilient child who adapts quickly from the ravages of WWII to being rescued by a young man who takes her home to his family in Poland and then leaves her to fight in the Home Army and nearly dies; from being left in a German orphanage in the hopes of her being adopted by a South African family to being adopted and adapting to a comfortable lifestyle where clothes were numerous, shoes were no longer a luxury, and the instant love of a family who enveloped her and made her feel safe.

    The author packs quite the punch as were treated to Gretls story over the span of fifteen years. Its easy to tell that English is not her (the author, that is} native language, but it didnt take away from the story. Even though I didnt like parting from the book, I found myself looking up the meanings of German, Polish, and Afrikaans words and items that Id never heard of {such as a Primus Stove}.

    If there was something missing, it was only my inquisitive nature to learn more of the ghetto that Gretl talked about several times. Theres also the fact that so much of Gretls life was glossed over and seemed a bit too perfect once she was adopted by the Neethlings and she settled down into her new family and country. It wasnt until the last 50 pages that she and Jakob really struggled with their relationship and the changes that took place.

    Differing faiths is weaved throughout the book, but its more prominent in the first half, and only really an issue in the last fifty pages or so. There is minor cussing, kissing, drinking, and smoking that is mentioned, but for me it didnt take away from the inspirational tone. Throughout time people drank wine Jesus turned water into wine! people kiss outside of marriage, light cussing isnt always frowned upon {nothing more than bloody hell or one use of the word bastard}, and men smoked cigars.

    Again, the author of this book is Afrikaans and its easy to tell that English is not her first language. I recommend this book for anyone over the age of sixteen; especially those with a love of history and an unexpected romance blossoming through one of the darkest times humanity has ever lived through.

    Disclaimer: Many thanks to Thomas Nelson/Zondervan and the Fiction Guild for sending me an ARC of this beautiful book. All opinions expressed in this review are of my own.
  2. Sue Galucki
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    A lovely story
    March 31, 2018
    Sue Galucki
    Quality: 5
    Value: 4
    Meets Expectations: 4
    This review was written for The Girl from the Train.
    I was surprised to find that this book is translated from the author's native Afrikaans (South Africa) language. It is beautifully written and takes us on a journey with six-year-old Gretl as she survives WWII with the help of Jakob, a Polish resistance fighter, who is a reluctant but caring rescuer to this little Jewish girl. This novel covers a lot of years and historic moments, and it was time well spent. I look forward to reading other works by this author.
  3. Lacey
    NB Canada
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    The Girl from the Train
    December 29, 2016
    Lacey
    NB Canada
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    This review was written for The Girl from the Train.
    This was a great book! I would like to see more books from this author. I bought this book for a friend for Christmas and she too enjoyed it!
  4. Janice
    Edmonton, Alberta
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Excellent read
    May 18, 2016
    Janice
    Edmonton, Alberta
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    This review was written for The Girl from the Train.
    Loved this book! I admit, I love WWII genre but this is a story of war, tragedy and love as seen through the eyes of a child. This is one of those books you don't want to put down!
  5. The~Wiser~Way
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    This is a fabulous historical fiction read!
    February 5, 2016
    The~Wiser~Way
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    This review was written for The Girl from the Train.
    The Girl From The Train by Irma Joubert is a fabulous historical fiction book! I was drawn into the drama and suspense from the first few pages.

    The Girl From The Train by Irma Joubert is unique in that it focuses on the time period just after World War II and the turmoil felt by entire countries, especially Poland. The story is built around the main character, a young Jewish German girl named Gretl Schmidt, who becomes orphaned as a direct result of the war. Circumstances leave the child stranded in Poland, homeless and starving.

    The details of her rescue by a Polish resistance fighter and the behind the scenes look at life in a post war torn country serve as the foundation for the story. The young child's eventual move to South Africa and placement in a new home continue the thread of determination, commitment, survival, conflict and love that form the structure of the novel. Of course, discovering that the author, Irma Joubert is a native of South Africa where she taught history for 35 years, gives credibility to this book and helps to make it feel even more authentic, despite it's fictional genre.

    This book enlightened and informed me as it relates to Poland and the country's internal struggle to maintain their own identity in the years following WWII. I am not a historian and actually was not too attentive during my history classes in school, but this narrative spurred a desire to learn more about the period after WWII and the ripple effect it had on the people in various countries.

    The consistent attention to detail and the element of mystery right down to the final chapters of The Girl From The Train by Irma Joubert is what sets this work apart from your average read. The author is able to take the reader into the scenes with her descriptive writing. The Biblical factor in this book was unmistakable. The need to rely on God through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ was communicated softly without seeming too overbearing. The collision of different cultures, past experiences (both good and bad), age, environment, professional choices and religion each seem to come out unscathed when love is applied. This is not your average "love story"...in fact it is a tale of what real love...the love of I Corinthians 13... put into action should look like. Enjoy!

    Thank you to Thomas Nelson a registered trademark of HarperCollins Christian Publishing Inc for this review copy of The Girl From The Train by Irma Joubert through the BookLook Bloggers program. I was not required to write a favorable review, but only to read this book in it's entirety in exchange for my honest opinion.

Displaying items 1-5 of 45
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