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The Exiles Return: A Novel
The Exiles Return: A Novel | de Waal, Elisabeth
10 posts | 2 read | 1 reading | 10 to read
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review
LeahBergen
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
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Pickpick

This was a fascinating look at post-WWII Austria, a time of which I knew very little about before reading this novel. We follow three exiles on their return to Vienna from America and try to figure out how their lives will intersect to explain the “accidental” death described in the prologue. So good!

#PersephoneClub

andrew61 I finished it last night and would love to be having a discussion about it. Pr Alder and Nina was an outcome which was very moving but as for poor Resi , what can I say. Another great persephone read. 2d
LeahBergen @andrew61 I was very happy with the Alder and Nina outcome (and that little peek into their future together!) but poor Resi is right! What do you think of Kanakis‘ grief at the end? I was moved enough to think he really felt for her and she wasn‘t a complete “marriage of convenience”. I hope? 2d
andrew61 Yes, it was curious. Kanakis seemed to want Resi as a trophy, a beautiful curio like the shepherdess, and that would allow him to then hide his attraction to young men like Bimbo. I think he may have been upset in the way he would have been if the shepherdess had been dropped at the loss of a beautiful object. The book continually emphasises Resi's beauty. 2d
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andrew61 I thought the confrontation between Adler and Krieger was particularly dramatic. Krieger's admission of his activities in the war was shocking and Adler was remarkable in his response. I also liked the three sisters who were princesses. I will add Vienna to my list of places to visit. 2d
Cathythoughts Great review Leah. I must start soon , then I can read the spoiler too 👍🏻😁 1d
CarolynM Great review. It‘s not something I know anything about either. I‘m just about to start Part 2. I‘ll come back to your spoiler comment when I finish🙂 1d
LeahBergen @andrew61 I definitely think you‘re right about the trophy aspect of his affection for her (look at how excited he was to think of dressing her). And that whole Adler/Krieger confrontation was so powerful! 1d
LeahBergen @andrew61 I kind of wish I had three Austrian princess aunts 😆😆 1d
LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @CarolynM I tried to not give too much of the plot away in my review 😆 1d
Bookbuyingaddict Hi 👋 all great reviews and loving 🥰 following along however I‘m giving this particular one a miss but will join back in with the next 😀happy reading 📖 folks ❤️ 8h
LeahBergen @Bookbuyingaddict No worries! We‘ll see you for the next one! 😘 3h
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blurb
andrew61
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
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I am enjoying our latest foray into the persephone catalogue + so far this is an interesting tale of several individuals returning to Vienna post ww2. This was a very powerful scene in which Pr Adler is confronted by Dr Krieger + ends up justifying himself. Very powerful+ required a reflective pause
@quietjenn @Tamra @CarolynM @sisilia @Caryl @daena @elkeOriginal @Gissy @Aimeesue @Bookbuyingaddict @julieclair @willaful @LeahBergen #persephoneclub

LeahBergen That passage stopped me in my tracks, too! 2d
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Tamra
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
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My favorite paragraph & single line in the whole novel! Pg. 168
#PersephoneClub

LeahBergen This whole interaction was so powerful! 2d
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review
Tamra
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
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Pickpick

I‘m so glad the de Waals family allowed her novels to be published posthumously. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and circumstance of this one, which were unique enough to keep me engaged. It also went off in surprising directions! Makes me wonder whether this could have been published in the 1950‘s. 🤔 #PersephoneClub

Tamra There were a couple of too abrupt transitions and sadly the Adler - Grein thread was too hastily tied. I wanted more on that storyline, it just ended rather early on! 2w
LeahBergen I‘m just about to start it so I‘ll come back to comment! 😄 2w
andrew61 Great review. I'll probably start next week. Will be interesting, it's a while since I read hare with the Amber eyes which focused a lot on lost lives from war. 2w
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Tamra @LeahBergen 👏🏾 2w
Tamra @andrew61 I will have to add that to the TBR! 2w
CarolynM I‘m hoping to get started on this one in the next day or two. I‘ll come back for your spoiler comment when I‘ve finished. 1w
Tamra @CarolynM 😁 It‘s my favorite paragraph of the novel. 1w
Cathythoughts I need to start this. Finishing off my IRL bookclub book first …. 1w
Tamra @Cathythoughts I hope you like it! It‘s not flawless, but I was invested in the characters and didn‘t want it to end actually. 1w
LeahBergen I was surprised at some of the content, too! And I agree, more on Adler would have been great. I knew so little about this time period and found myself fascinated by Vienna (I must visit one day!) 2d
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blurb
Tamra
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
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Perfect outdoor reading time. ☺️ Definitely enjoying the #PersephoneClub pick. Elizabeth has made all of the characters interesting. I want to know more!

LeahBergen You have me intrigued! I must start soon. 3w
Cathythoughts Oh great ! I must start soon too ❤️ 2w
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LitsyEvents
The Exiles Return: A Novel | de Waal, Elisabeth
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Repost for @LeahBergen

It‘s now June so that means it‘s time for one of our #PersephoneClub reads!

@elkeOriginal ‘s pick for us this month is The Exiles Return by Elisabeth de Waal. This is a casual buddy read; read and comment on each other‘s posts and reviews as you see them. We usually aim to finish by the middle of the month but that‘s not written in stone. 😉 And anyone is welcome to read along with us, of course!

LeahBergen Thanks for the repost! ❤️ 3w
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LeahBergen
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
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It‘s now April so that means it‘s time for one of our #PersephoneClub reads!

@elkeOriginal ‘s pick for us this month is The Exiles Return by Elisabeth de Waal. This is a casual buddy read; read and comment on each other‘s posts and reviews as you see them. We usually aim to finish by the middle of the month but that‘s not written in stone. 😉 And anyone is welcome to read along with us, of course!

CarolynM Thanks Leah😘 I‘ll get started on it soon. 3w
Cathythoughts Thanks Leah, I‘ll take it down from my shelf today. Looking forward to it x 3w
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Cathythoughts I have this as a gift from you , two years ago ❤️🙏 3w
LeahBergen @Liz_M Thank you! 😘 3w
LeahBergen @CarolynM It should be a good one! 🤞 3w
LeahBergen @Cathythoughts That‘s right! I forgot about that. It was after we so enjoyed her other one. 😘 3w
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blurb
elkeOriginal
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
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Here are our choices for our June #PersephoneClub group read.

The Exiles Return: 5 people return to Vienna 10 years post-WWII to see if/how they can pick up their lives interrupted by war. Written by the author of Milton Place which we read together.

Doreen: story about and in the voice of a young British girl evacuated to the countryside after the Blitz. Book listing tagged in comments.

elkeOriginal Book description for: (edited) 7mo
Tamra Wow, that was quite an intriguing blurb for 7mo
Cathythoughts Both look great 👍🏻 I‘ll pick 7mo
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Cathythoughts And I have a copy 😁🥰 7mo
LeahBergen Ooo, good ones! I want to read both (and own both 😆) but because I enjoyed Milton Place so much, I‘ll opt for 7mo
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen I loved Milton Place too, and I have you to thank , Leah , for my lovely Exiles Return Persephone book X 7mo
julieclair Wow, these both sound so good! But my vote goes to 7mo
CarolynM I just saw the film Blitz about an evacuated child who ran away. I vote for 7mo
rubyslippersreads Since I own it, I vote for 7mo
quietjenn Both sound great but i'll vote for 7mo
Bookbuyingaddict Again both sound great 👍 and both on my TBR but I will also vote 🗳️ for Doreen 👍😃thanks x x 7mo
elkeOriginal This is a tight race! 7mo
LeahBergen @elkeOriginal It looks like we need you to tiebreak this one! What is your pick? 😁 6mo
elkeOriginal @LeahBergen Did I count wrong - it looks like Exiles won by 1? If not, methinks that is my vote anyway… 6mo
LeahBergen Who knows? I got 4-4. 😆 Don‘t make me math. 6mo
elkeOriginal @LeahBergen My fault - I doubled counted one person🤦🏼‍♀️ I vote Exiles. 6mo
LeahBergen And the winner is The Exiles Return! 6mo
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blurb
Cathythoughts
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
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A lovely present for me from BD from some lovely Litten ? I love it 👍🏻♥️

CarolynM Not me for this one, but keep an eye out😘 2y
rockpools Lovely ☺️ 2y
Cathythoughts @CarolynM Thanks, I‘ll keep an eye out 😘 2y
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Cathythoughts @rockpools Yes , I‘m thrilled ♥️ 2y
erzascarletbookgasm Oh, another Persephone to add to your growing collection 😍 2y
Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm Indeed! So lovely ♥️ 2y
batsy A Persephone gift! Fabulous 😍 2y
Megabooks Lucky you!! 💜 2y
LeahBergen That‘s from me! Merry Christmas, Cathy! 😘😘😘 2y
Cathythoughts @batsy I know 🥰 2y
Cathythoughts @Megabooks Yes ! I‘m looking forward to it. 2y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen Thanks so much Leah. I remember stacking this after loving Milton Place. You‘re so good , Thankyou ♥️X 2y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen I hope my BD won‘t be too long getting to you. 🤞🏻 2y
Tamra Oooooooo I‘m envious! 😍 2y
Cathythoughts @Tamra I know 😍 I‘m looking forward to it. 2y
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blurb
Oftencantdecide
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
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#FeistyFeb- I was surprised how few books I have with #FlowersOnCovers. Here's one floral book.

RealLifeReading Pretty! 8y
Libby1 Have you read this? I have it on my Amazon TBR because she's the mother of Edmund de Waal and I loved Hare With Amber Eyes. 8y
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