Those Who Save Us

By: Jenna Blum

Narrated by: Suzanne Toren

Length: 15 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Trudy, a college history professor, is collecting oral histories from World War II survivors (both German and Jewish). Her mother, Anna, refuses to talk to her, but Anna's story is revealed in flashback. She conducted an affair with a Jewish baker who was summarily killed. Afterward, Anna caught the eye of a high-ranking Nazi officer. She was coerced into an abusive affair with him, which she went along with in order to ensure her survival - and that of her baby.

©2005 Jenna Blum (P)2007 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Blum's spare imagery is nightmarish and intimate, imbuing familiar panoramas of Nazi atrocity with stark new power. This is a poised, hair-raising debut." ( Publishers Weekly)
"An absorbing tale of two women's struggles with the burdens and responsibilities of remembrance." ( The Boston Globe)

Excellent

It was an incredible story. Loved it. The narration was very good. Characters were very believable.

engaging

I was hooked on this book from the beginning. It delt with two major topics, that of survivors guilt and of judging others. It was interesting to see this horrible time in history tackled in a different way. The character development was excellent and the story kept me anxiously waiting to see when and if Anna would finally tell Trudie about her past. I highly recommend it!

A sad but sympathetic story

What made the experience of listening to Those Who Save Us the most enjoyable?

It was an easy listen. It is a great story with much education about the holocaust. The story really puts you back in that time frame and you are able to feel and sympathize with what how Germans felt during the war....do you just put your head down and ignore what is going on or do you risk your own life and help your Jewish neighbors?

What was one of the most memorable moments of Those Who Save Us?

When Anna came home to find the

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

There is a lot of German spoken in the book. It was nice to have the correct pronunciation and enunciation so that it flowed well with the story.

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

More than anything I felt frustration and sadness for the characters. Frustration for Anna during the war and her time with

Any additional comments?

I wish the story would have ended with a little more explaination. Did Trudy find out everything from Anna?

Beautiful, heartbreaking story!

I loved this book and found it difficult to put down. The only regret I have is that the book came to an end! I really like the style in which it was written and how the author organized the layers of this story--it is very much like peeling back the layers of an exquisite onion to unfold the story of this mother and daughter.

Novel approach to feelings of Nazi collaborators

Would you listen to Those Who Save Us again? Why?

No.I was dissapointed at the ending, which was unanticipated and left you hanging.

What other book might you compare Those Who Save Us to and why?

Don't have one.

What about Suzanne Toren’s performance did you like?

She handled the cahracters welll.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no

loved it

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

interesting story that may have been true for some who survived the war. I found the psychology well written and plausible.

What about Suzanne Toren’s performance did you like?

I enjoyed the differences she had for each character and the rate at which she spoke

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I would have if I could have!

Enjoyed the read.

Was not the story I had expected but found it to be captivating. Narration was well done. Would recommend it for readers that enjoy historical fiction.

pretty good

Would you consider the audio edition of Those Who Save Us to be better than the print version?

Haven't read it in print.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Those Who Save Us?

Too long to pick just one.

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

A great German Accent and very well written.

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

The recounted scenes from the holocaust camps were often disturbing and brought about a lot of emotions.

Any additional comments?

It is an intriguing and interesting story with a wonderful historical background. However, some of the plot lines build up very very slowly and are anticlimatic. A great historical time piece but a slow moving, sometimes boring, drama.

Wow - heavy but a great read!

Set during WWII in a small German town. I felt like I was there in her shoes. Sometimes painful to read but certainly well written and so worth the bruises.

Riveting Plot

This is a heartbreaking yet hopeful story. I love how the author explored different ways that people deal with grief and trauma. The characters were beautifully complex and nuanced. Blum provided the perfect balance between historical context and an engaging plot line. I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend!