A View Across the Rooftops - Suzanne Kelman

A View Across the Rooftops

By Suzanne Kelman

  • Release Date: 2019-10-25
  • Genre: Historical Fiction
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 385 Ratings

Description

‘Heart wrenching… I really struggled to put this book down, particularly the end of the book which I sat up until 2am reading and trying hard not to wake my husband with my crying!’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

1941, Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. An unforgettable story of love, hope and betrayal, and a testament to the courage of humanity in history’s darkest days.

As Nazis occupy his beloved city, Professor Josef Held feels helpless. So when he discovers his former pupil Michael Blum is trying to escape the Gestapo, he offers Michael a place to hide in his attic.

In the quiet gloom of the secret room, Michael talks of his beautiful, fearless girlfriend, Elke. Michael insists that not even the Nazis will come between them. But Elke is a non-Jewish Dutch girl, and their relationship is strictly forbidden. 

Josef sees the passionate determination in his young friend’s eyes. Furious with the rules of the cruel German soldiers and remembering his own heartbreak, Josef feels desperate to give Michael and Elke’s love a chance. But then tragedy strikes, and Josef is faced with an impossible choice. 

In the dark days of war, with danger and betrayal at every turn, no-one can be trusted. If Michael is to survive and get back to the woman he loves, it will be down to Josef – to find the hero inside himself, and do whatever it takes to keep Michael alive.

Even if it means putting his own life in mortal danger.

A heartbreakingly beautiful story about courage against the odds, perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, All The Light We Cannot See, and The Nightingale.

Readers are loving A View Across the Rooftops:
Oh my goodness... Hauntingly beautiful… Incredibly powerful… I cried, I grieved and I hopedI was left both heartbroken and satisfied.’ Robin Loves Reading ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Heart-wrenching… It is an emotional journey of heartache and love that will leave you in tears. One of the finest books I have ever read.’ NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I’ve read many books on WW2… but I’ve never read one like this before. Mesmerising, emotional and beautifully written.’ NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The rollercoaster of emotions I went through while reading this book is amazing… For an author to make me literally cry… The story is just incredible.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would. From the first moment I started reading the story, I could not stop. I was captured… Made me feel like I was right there.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Oh my Goodness! What a wonderful book! There is so much love, hope, and fear as well. This is a book I will put back to read again, I enjoyed it so much. It is a book you can't put down.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘It brought me to tears… impossible for me to put it down. One of my best reads of 2019.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Took me on a rollercoaster of emotions – happiness, sadness, anger. This story made me cry and the writing style is amazing. An amazing book.’ NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A beautifully written story of love, courage, self-sacrifice and determination… Such an emotional story and so different to others that I have read in this subject… [A] big fat 5 stars from me.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Reviews

  • A. Jew across the rooftops

    5
    By Abbyroad18
    Well developed story with excellent writing and the ability to express the horror, cruelty, inhumanity, and uselessness of war, at the same time telling a historical perspective along with all the things we do to turn off love, compassion, connection.. Well done!
  • View across the rooftops

    4
    By Insaxes
    This is such a touchingly beautiful story about the extraordinary decisions ordinary people make during war. It also shows the impact the Holocaust had on non-Jewish people and how they cared for their friends and neighbors
  • Excellent historical fiction

    5
    By susancapmom
    This book touched me deeply. In this day and age when Americans seem to have forgotten all that was sacrificed for freedom, this is an excellent reminder that many brave citizens and soldiers dug deep within their souls to help others and keep freedom alive.
  • A View Across the Rooftops

    5
    By sometimers3
    So much happening in this book but then it’s about the catastrophe of WWll. All the innocents, all the hatred but there was true love also.
  • The View Across the Rooftops

    5
    By RozinFlotida
    The most moving book I have read in years. Written beautifully, absolutely wonderful!
  • Captivating, inspiring, poignant, tragic and heartwarming, all bundled in one

    5
    By ticklemoipickle
    Haunted by the tragic death of his wife more than two decades ago, Mathematics professor Josef Held lives a quiet life of seclusion and solitude. After the fall of Amsterdam to the Third Reich, Josef’s former student Michael Blum appears at his doorstep seeking refuge from the relentless Gestapo. Faced with a split-second decision, Josef hides Michael in his home and begins to care for him, continuing to do so throughout the years as the war intensifies. What begins as this act of kindness evolves into a beautiful story of friendship and sacrifice as they each journey on to the path to redemption, forgiveness and freedom. Set in Nazi-occupied Holland, A View Across the Rooftops is a heart-wrenching tale of courage and heroism in the face of oppression, of love and loss, of heartache, and betrayal, but most of all, of resilience and an unwavering hope for freedom. The book explores the lives of several key characters apart from Josef - Hannah Pender, the school secretary turned Resistance-fighter, Ingrid Held, Josef’s niece who falls in love with a Nazi Major, Michael Blum, a Jewish poet with astronomical courage, and of Elke, the love of Michael’s life who possesses assailable conviction towards reuniting with him. The book is captivating, inspiring, poignant, tragic and heartwarming.
  • Excellent

    5
    By Mimionlife
    If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would. From the first moment I started reading the story, I could not stop. I was captured by the story and the characters. Descriptions made me feel like I was right there and surrounded by events and people. The dust, smells, pain and emotions were felt as I turned each page. This is a story of intense dedication of people who cared deeply for others Amidst turmoil, death and fear of the unknown, friendship and love win out. Author Suzanne Kelman has written another great story. I received a coplimentary copy of the book. No review was required.