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The Lost Family
The Lost Family: A Novel | Jenna Blum
25 posts | 17 read | 30 to read
"I was spellbound from the start of The Lost Family. The writing is so smart and empathetic and I think what will stay with me the most are the characters, who on the surface embody glamour and verve, but who are in fact all striving to find happiness under a legacy of devastating loss. This is a dazzling novel of great compassion, honestly reckoning with the time-and-place-spanning ripple effect of great pain as well as love."Laura Moriarty, New York Times bestselling author of The Chaperone "Deftly executed, deeply moving, and full of heart, Jenna Blums The Lost Family is an evocative look at the legacy of war and how it impacts one memorable family."Jami Attenberg, bestselling author of The Middlesteins "Jenna Blum shines a powerful light on how the past swings back and how we must face it. The Lost Family is an extraordinary read, the kind of book that makes you sob and smile, the kind that gives you hope. It is compassionate, masterful and disturbingly contemporary."Tatiana de Rosnay, bestselling author of Sarahs Key The New York Times bestselling author of Those Who Save Us creates a vivid portrait of marriage, family, and the haunting grief of World War II in this emotionally charged, beautifully rendered story that spans a generation, from the 1960s to the 1980s. In 1965 Manhattan, patrons flock to Mashas to savor its brisket bourguignon and impeccable service and to admire its dashing owner and head chef Peter Rashkin. With his movie-star good looks and tragic past, Peter, a survivor of Auschwitz, is the most eligible bachelor in town. But Peter does not care for the parade of eligible women who come to the restaurant hoping to catch his eye. He has resigned himself to a solitary life. Running Mashas consumes him, as does his terrible guilt over surviving the horrors of the Nazi death camp while his wife, Mashathe restaurants namesakeand two young daughters perished. Then exquisitely beautiful June Bouquet, an up-and-coming young model, appears at the restaurant, piercing Peters guard. Though she is twenty years his junior, the two begin a passionate, whirlwind courtship. When June unexpectedly becomes pregnant, Peter proposes, believing that beginning a new family with the woman he loves will allow him to let go of the horror of the past. But over the next twenty years, the indelible sadness of those memories will overshadow Peter, June, and their daughter Elsbeth, transforming them in shocking, heartbreaking, and unexpected ways. Jenna Blum artfully brings to the page a husband devastated by a grief he cannot name, a frustrated wife struggling to compete with a ghost she cannot banish, and a daughter sensitive to the pain of both her own family and another lost before she was born. Spanning three cinematic decades, The Lost Family is a charming, funny, and elegantly bittersweet study of the repercussions of loss and love.
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Paperback.Propensity
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New Dollar Tree find

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Purplerosiepage
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Pickpick

Family drama about the effects of war told from multiple perspectives. Characters are well developed and interesting. Hard to put down.

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Bookiewookie1
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Pickpick

Enticing read about a family through the decades. Shows the influence of war and popular culture from 60s to mid 80s. Solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Bookiewookie1
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I am not a thoughtful wife.

CoffeeNBooks 🤣 6y
7 likes1 comment
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Bookiewookie1

She smiled, the expression transforming her face with a sweetness that reminded Peter of everything American: sugary cereal, Crest toothpaste, fabric softener, milk.

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Bookiewookie1
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Onto my next Labor Day weekend read. Not too sure about this one. Interesting concept, what happens after the tragedy.

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JenlovesJT47
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Sticking with my light reading for the time being, here is my latest #libraryhaul - I raided the graphic novel section and only managed to get one regular book. It‘s a miracle! 😱

#graphicnovel
#Deadpool
#SheHulk
#walkingdead
#CaptainAmerica

aprilpohren Awesome @JenlovesJT47 !! I wish our library had more of a graphic novel selection! 6y
night_shift All those Deadpool 😀😍 6y
JenlovesJT47 @UnidragonFrag I‘m a sucker for Deadpool! @aprilpohren do you have Hoopla? They have a huge selection of graphic novels! 🤗 6y
93 likes3 comments
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susanw
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Pickpick

This was quite good. A story, told from the POV of each family member a decade apart. So the fathers story told in the mid ‘60‘s, moms mid ‘70‘s daughters mid 80‘s. It shows how complicated, fragile, and connected a family really is. How what we do and say and feel, truly affect those around us.

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susanw
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Hoping to love this one as much as I love my new, most awesome mug!!

Myhusbandhatesreading I love that mug!!! ❤️❤️ 6y
BBooks 😍☕️📚 6y
66 likes1 stack add2 comments
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SincerelyStacie
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Pickpick

Historical fiction and family drama fans will love this newest book from fan-favorite Jenna Blum!

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SincerelyStacie
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I‘ve got some great vacation reading ahead!

THE LOST FAMILY by Jenna Blum
TOO CLOSE TO BREATHE by Olivia Kieran
THE BATTLE OF JUNK MOUNTAIN by Lauren Abbey Greenberg
THE INVENTION OF WINGS by Sue Monk Kidd

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actualdisneyprincess
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I‘m really hoping I can just read pretty much all day today. I‘m not at all in the mood for smart-mouthed and destructive children, or rude adults. Plus, this is just too beautiful to want to put down. #thelostfamily #jennablum

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actualdisneyprincess
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Hanging out in Children‘s for half an hour during my coworker‘s lunch; hoping my very pretty water bottle and this beauty of a book keeps me sane enough that I don‘t just kick these little demons out of the library. (Seriously, there are no parents in sight. They‘re just building towers and knocking them down and being obnoxious. They‘re at least nine years old and older. Does no one teach library etiquette anymore?) #thelostfamily #jennablum

vkois88 I've found parents don't teach etiquette of ANY kind anymore. I took my daughter to toddler time at Bounce N Play yesterday, and they have a toddler area specifically for children 3 and under... these parents kept rolling in with kids WAY above that (I think the youngest was 5-6, the oldest had to have at least been 10), & letting them go crazy. There are trucks they kept running into her & trying to run her hands over. And stomp on her hands 😠😠 6y
actualdisneyprincess @vkois88 girl, I cannot stand it. Some kids who come in are ADORABLE. And then we get a couple of gangs‘ worth who are just...not. (Of course, sometimes when we meet the parents, it all makes sense. 🙄) I‘m too young to be the angry old lady “tsking” at children from my porch (or desk!) 6y
vkois88 Oh, I'm totally that lady at my job!!! Kids run around screaming, or playing on the escalators and I have absolutely no issue yelling at them. Even if their parents are standing there. 6y
11 likes4 comments
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GirlWellRead
Pickpick

This was my first book by Jenna Blum and I'm utterly enchanted. She pens complex, interesting characters, provides gorgeous descriptions, and charges her writing with emotion and depth.

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Rhondareads
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So excited to read Jenna Blums‘ new book raves everywhere😁

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DebinHawaii
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Pickpick

Foodie historical novel with a lot of family drama, set mostly in the 1960s-80s & told from the perspectives of a chef & restauranteur-haunted by the loss of his first family in the Holocaust, his second wife-struggling to find her place, & their teenage daughter-dealing with her own demons. I took to my vintage cookbooks for this pairing of well-chilled Vichyssoise & toasts with Caraway Cheese Spread. Review & retro recipes on the blog, link👇🏻

Cinfhen It is!!! It looks delicious 😋 (edited) 6y
105 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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DebinHawaii
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#QuotsyMay18 #collision

A collision quote from one of my current reads.

BookwormM I think we watched this PBS program a few nights ago 🤣🤣🤣 6y
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DebinHawaii
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#ReadingResolutions #FemaleAuthors

These four books, plus a couple on my Kindle and an audiobook are what I am hoping to get read over the long weekend. A few are already started, two are for blog reviews and book tours, and all are by female authors. 💜📚🖊

Susannizo How do you read so much? Is that all you do? 6y
DebinHawaii @Susannizo Note the "hoping" to get through over the holiday weekend. I wish it was all I did. I read relatively fast and when I can and usually for a couple of hours at night before bed. I also sneak it in when I can--over breakfast & breaks, but I work to support myself and I do other non-reading things too. 6y
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DebinHawaii
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#Bookmail is always a delight--I got my #ARC of this foodie historical novel last week--but follow-up mail with chocolate truffles and a recipe card for the Masha Torte (a German Chocolate Torte with Cherries Flambé named after the restaurant in the novel), makes it even better. What a nice Friday treat! ?❤️ Mahalo @HarperBooks @HarperCollins

GypsyKat This is a great picture! And I know this is off topic, but I hope wherever you are in Hawaii, you‘re well away from harm. Such a scary, tragic time for so many out there. 💙 6y
DebinHawaii @GypsyKat Thank you. I am well away from harm in Oahu, but yes, it is so very tragic for those in the Big Island, especially those who have been displaced and have no idea if they will have a home to return to and those whose homes have already been destroyed. It's very scary to watch, knowing that worse could still come.💙 6y
GypsyKat @DebinHawaii I‘ve been wanting to ask you days now. I‘m glad to know you‘re safe, but it is so sad. 💙💙💙 6y
82 likes3 comments
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DebinHawaii
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#GetMovin #ThatsWhatILike

I love to cook, just not on week nights or during busy weeks, which is why I cook enough when I do have time to have leftovers for the week or I just have popcorn. Made in my air popper, then drizzled generously with melted, salted butter because that's what I like. Settling in for the night with my 🍿& this book & the season finale of Grey's Anatomy. There may be ice cream later...it's been that kind of week. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Leftcoastzen Sometimes popcorn is just right! 6y
Cinfhen Yum 😋 How‘s the book?!?! 6y
Crystalblu I am a popcorn crazy person! My favorite is to add a little soy sauce and splash of lemon to my melting butter, Devine! I am also a firm believer in nutritional yeast on my corn! Now I need a snack ;) 6y
See All 10 Comments
DebinHawaii @Leftcoastzen Definitely! 🤗 6y
DebinHawaii @Cinfhen I'm only a few chapters in but I am liking it so far. Historical foodie fiction, it's what I like! 🤣 6y
DebinHawaii @Crystalblu That sounds good--I add curry powder to my butter sometimes but I'll try the soy sauce & lemon. I like nutritional yeast on it sometimes too. 😋 6y
Cinfhen Really? a foodie aspect?! Did not know that.... 6y
BethFishReads Wine & popcorn = the best of dinners 6y
eanderson I like your plan for the evening! 6y
DebinHawaii @Cinfhen Yep--it's set in a New York restaurant in the 60s, owned by a Holocaust survivor. I'm taking part in a food blogging event around it in a couple weeks. 6y
97 likes10 comments
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DebinHawaii
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Spent time today pulling out my cookbooks from the 1960s for inspiration. I'm taking part in a virtual supper club event the first week of June for the release of this book, historical foodie fiction about a German-Jewish Auschwitz survivor who opens a restaurant in NYC in 1965, still haunted by the family he lost in the war. I'm thinking my 60's copy of The New York Times Cookbook will be especially helpful. 🥄📚❤️

Cinfhen Love EVERYTHING about this post ❤️ 6y
tpixie Book sounds fascinating and so does the concept of your meal!! 6y
tammysue Looking forward to reading it!! 😁 6y
Mdargusch That sounds fun! 6y
101 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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DebinHawaii
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I was craving a bagel today so a sun-dried tomato bagel with lox is my Friday breakfast, with coffee of course. I'm not starting this #ARC quite yet but I was downloading it & checking it out. It's for a blog party event in June. It combines some of my favorites--foodie fiction & historical fiction--WWII & the 60s. Hoping to finish some work & a blog book tour review & start the weekend.
Happy Aloha Friday🌺

BethFishReads Happy weekend! 7y
DebinHawaii @BethFishReads You too! 😀 7y
108 likes2 comments
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LindaKwakernaat
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Pickpick



Het is een goed heftig boek, het is geen boek wat je in een ruk uitleest. Ik in ieder geval niet. Ik heb het boek meerdere malen weg moeten leggen om, wat ik gelezen had, even te laten bezinken. Daar kwamen nogal wat emoties los. Misschien omdat ik er eentje van de tweede generatie ben. Als je als auteur zulke emoties weet los te maken verdien je vijf steren