Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

One can never read too much WWII literature to fully grasp its painful memories.  

Come Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly, I momentarily have to set this book down to reflect on the horrors of this period. The writing is raw, rich and compelling that it hurts to revel over an engrossing read knowing these actually happened in history. Told in three alternating perspective, it is a fictional account of three women loosely based on real figures, whose lives are intertwined at the event of the war. Later in the novel all the characters and the narrative will come in a satisfying full circle. 

Caroline Ferriday a New York socialite and liason to the French consulate, Herta Oberheuser an ambition driven doctor who worked at Ravensbruck, the notorious all female Nazi concentration camp and Kaisa a teenager imprisoned in Ravensbruck. Until reading this book I have not known about Ravensbruck, where political prisoners from Hitler's occupied countries, whom he considers sub human are kept for “re-education."

A thoroughly researched book, the author goes into great detail of the brutal camp life specially led  by the vile female overseers, who at that time were even barely out of their teens, were capable of inflicting torment on female prisoners. They may be less known by their male SS counterparts but nonetheless brutal and aptly described as the personification of the devil himself. It is true that any ordinary individual can yield evil when given the authority. 

After reading the book I went into full research mode of how much is known about Ravensbruck and I can't help but feel disturbed about the medical experimentation done on the women. It's unbelievable how humanity is capable of such atrocities. 

Nevertheless, I am grateful for having picked up this gem otherwise I would not have known about the Rabbits and the heroic deeds of Caroline Ferriday. Over seventy years have passed since but these kind of stories encompass generations and needs to be told time and time again so we don't forget.

Until the next read!