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A Bookshop in Berlin
A Bookshop in Berlin: The Rediscovered Memoir of One Woman's Harrowing Escape from the Nazis | Françoise Frenkel
24 posts | 18 read | 37 to read
WINNER OF THE JQ–WINGATE LITERARY PRIZE “A beautiful and important book” (The Independent) in the tradition of rediscovered works like Suite Française and The Nazi Officer’s Wife, the prize-winning memoir of a fearless Jewish bookseller on a harrowing fight for survival across Nazi-occupied Europe. In 1921, Françoise Frenkel—a Jewish woman from Poland—fulfills a dream. She opens La Maison du Livre, Berlin’s first French bookshop, attracting artists and diplomats, celebrities and poets. The shop becomes a haven for intellectual exchange as Nazi ideology begins to poison the culturally rich city. In 1935, the scene continues to darken. First come the new bureaucratic hurdles, followed by frequent police visits and book confiscations. Françoise’s dream finally shatters on Kristallnacht in November 1938, as hundreds of Jewish shops and businesses are destroyed. La Maison du Livre is miraculously spared, but fear of persecution eventually forces Françoise on a desperate, lonely flight to Paris. When the city is bombed, she seeks refuge across southern France, witnessing countless horrors: children torn from their parents, mothers throwing themselves under buses. Secreted away from one safe house to the next, Françoise survives at the heroic hands of strangers risking their lives to protect her. Published quietly in 1945, then rediscovered nearly sixty years later in an attic, A Bookshop in Berlin is a remarkable story of survival and resilience, of human cruelty and human spirit. In the tradition of Suite Française and The Nazi Officer’s Wife, this book is the tale of a fearless woman whose lust for life and literature refuses to leave her, even in her darkest hours.
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KristiAhlers
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Pickpick

This was both intriguing and heartbreaking. I was engrossed with her story...and found this one to be a keeper. Have kleenex handy. #bookspin @thearomaofbooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 10mo
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KCofKaysville
Pickpick

Interesting account of a Polish born Jewish woman who ran a French bookstore in Berlin but had to leave for France as the Nazis took over. She tells of the great relief of escaping deportation to the camps. Some great friends helped her. We see both good people and those who are racists.

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KCofKaysville
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I'm starting this one that I found at the Salt Lake City main library. I'm fascinated with Berlin before and after the Nazis.

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Rayleigh_LitAp
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Pickpick

Attended my first book club with my friend Danielle!
A Bookshop in Berlín is a different, but still informative, peek into WWII. I liked reading about Frenkel‘s experience and found her outlook on life and people very inspiring.

My book club did vote that they should have kept the original title of “No Place to Lay One‘s Head†because there is very little on the bookshop.

#wwii #memoir #history

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rsteve388

Just counted up all of my books. I read 16 books during #Scarathlon2021 for #TeamSlaughter 18 total if you include the two books I DNF'd. Woo hoo what a great month.

I am gonna listen to a podcast to finish this month up and grab a last 5 points.

Looking forward to reading Non Fiction starting tomorrow!

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rsteve388
Pickpick

What a beautiful memoirs of a woman who fleeded the Nazis and her beloved bookstore to ensure she was free. Beautifully written so elegant in it's prose it is such a pleasure to read.

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kspenmoll
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Maria514626 Thanks! I‘m in need of an audiobook and my library has it. And it‘s checked in. ğŸ‘ğŸ‘ğŸ‘ğŸ‘ğŸ‰ğŸ‰ 4y
kspenmoll @Maria514626 I‘d love to hear it. 4y
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Cinfhen
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This book broke me in its simplicity and raw beauty. Francoise Frenkel describes her narrow escape from the Nazis as she flees across Europe always one step ahead. It‘s sheer luck and chance that serves her best. This is a wonderful NF companion to Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky.

kspenmoll Just love your review & the book. Stays with you. 4y
Crazeedi Oh I want to read this one 4y
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Cinfhen
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No #BookReport and probably no #WeeklyForecast but I am strongly engaged with this book. My reading is in the shitster but I‘ve been super busy with seeing/ hanging out with family ( some friends/ not too many are comfortable meeting up). We are going to a wedding tomorrow night, so that should be interesting. Our first in person Corona event.

Megabooks 💕💕💕 good to see you! Glad you‘re having fun! 4y
MsMelissa It‘s nice that you‘re able to see family and some friends. 4y
JennyM So good to hear you are having a good time with your family and friends â¤ï¸ 4y
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Cinfhen Just being with my daughter has been a blessing @JennyM @Megabooks @Book_Fiend_Melissa On Wednesday my 2 boys are joining us...it‘s gonna be a FULL HOUSE and I can‘t wait 😊 4y
erzascarletbookgasm Reading can wait a bit, catching up is great! 🤗 4y
BarbaraBB What @erzascarletbookgasm says, reading can wait 💕 4y
TrishB Definitely reading can wait. A bit of normality sounds wonderful ♥ï¸â™¥ï¸ 4y
Leftcoastzen I see baseball cards. 4y
Cinfhen My dad is an avid collector @Leftcoastzen they are ALL over his house where we are staying 4y
93 likes9 comments
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Cinfhen
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Even though I‘m not reading a lick it‘s not stopping me from reserving library books🤓I love my library system 🥰

MicheleinPhilly You‘re definitely going to have to extend your trip to a. hang out with me and b. read all of the library books. 4y
Cinfhen Truth @MicheleinPhilly ♥ï¸I‘m actually ready to extend ~ 4y
Scochrane26 A friend just finished Bookshop in Berlin & loved it. 4y
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Cinfhen I‘m pretty sure @kspenmoll recently read it and suggested I would really like it @Scochrane26 😠4y
kspenmoll @Cinfhen That was me; the author‘s story affected me deeply. 4y
Reviewsbylola Mary Toft is so weird but good! 4y
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kspenmoll
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#bookspinbingo #16 #memoir

I am flummoxed as to just how to review this memoir.It felt like a quiet presence in my life. Beautiful passages of description of France, its natural beauty-by the sea, in it‘s countryside, its small towns.Detailed attention is paid to ancient buildings‘ architecture as she wanders and explores each new place she finds herself in her pilgrimage to survive.She writes of the generosity & bravery of those who help her;

kspenmoll of those German & French who fall in line-Simple kindnesses while imprisoned with refugees desperate to get to Switzerland rather than be deported to camps.So many stories she is witness to, and writes of,to “...ensure the dead are not forgotten, nor humble acts of self sacrifice left unacknowledged.â€She writes of the Marius‘s of Nice,who help her be it shelter,contacts, packages,visits, of the ordinary person who pays for a meal, hides her. 4y
kspenmoll For me the balance of her memoir seemed to be tipped towards acts of goodness,when such depravity,inhumanity and monstrous evil was unleashed upon the world. So many stories that are quietly powerful. (edited) 4y
TheAromaofBooks Great review!!! 4y
kspenmoll @TheAromaofBooks Thank you! I appreciate your thoughts because writing reviews is excruciating for me. I am not a natural writer 4y
TheAromaofBooks Well, I thought this one was lovely, so you're doing great!! Sometimes my reviews just end up being pro/con lists! 😂 4y
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kspenmoll
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#Bookspinbingo #16 #memoir #roundup #genocide

Frenkel writes of the sudden, frenetic round up of Jews while living in Nice, now part of Vichy France. She speaks of the young French men/boys who seem to turn their rage at defeat towards those weaker then themselves, the Jews, almost seeming to take pleasure at capturing and turning them in.
Neighbors took her in & hid her.

Cinfhen 💔 4y
Suet624 I just will never understand this impulse. 4y
TheAromaofBooks So hard to imagine! 4y
44 likes3 comments
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kspenmoll
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#ThoughtfulThursday

🌻I love summer!!! Typically I have 3 weeks in August off before I head back to school & teaching. I want it to stay summer forever!

🌻tagging all Littens!

🌻 currently reading A Bookshop in Berlin, a memoir, and Pride & Prejudice. Enjoying both! I never feel obligated to finish a book that I don‘t like unless its a buddyread.

MoonWitch94 Thanks for playing 🌻☺ï¸ğŸŒ»â˜ºï¸ 4y
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kspenmoll
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kspenmoll
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#shelerfromthestorm #poweroutage#wildwind
During a lull in the wind, we checked into a close by hotel. No idea how long we will be without power. Power lines down across our street and transformer blew.Tornadoes west of us. Over 500,000 residents without power in CT. But, Nothing, nothing, compared to devastation & tornadoes down south. Hope all Littens are safe.💕💕

Graciouswarriorprincess So sorry to hear. Sending you hugs! 4y
kspenmoll @Graciouswarriorprincess Thank you so much! Your support & hugs mean so much! 4y
LeahBergen Oh no! Stay safe. â¤ï¸â¤ï¸â¤ï¸ 4y
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Tanisha_A Stay safe! â¤ï¸ 4y
Kalalalatja Stay safe 💚 4y
kspenmoll @LeahBergen @Kalalalatja @Tanisha_A We are lucky-just lost branches & no house damage. Will be without power “multiple days†according to electric company. We are cleaning out refrig etc tomorrow. Staying at hotel another day. Thanks so much for your support! (edited) 4y
alisiakae Oh no! My BIL & SIL live in Darien, and they just got their power back last night. I hope you can go home soon! (edited) 4y
kspenmoll @4thhouseontheleft Happy for them! We still have no power; electric company saying not until weekend. 😟 4y
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Palimpsest
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It‘s hard to review this kind of a book when you‘re reading a memoir and keep wanting the person to make it to safety, but knowing that millions of people didn‘t survive. Françoise Frenkel seems cool and collected as she recounts events during France‘s occupation, and without complaint. I think the original title, Rien où poser sa tête, No Place to Lay One‘s Head) was a better description of the book as only the first 28 pages are in her shop.

RaimeyGallant Great review! 5y
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Suet624
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The generous, never-forgets-about-me, sweet and delightful @kspenmoll sent me these two terrific books. Just out of the blue. Just because she‘s so sweet. Litsy pals are the best. I can‘t wait to get to these. Thank you, Katherine. 💕💕💕

LeahBergen How lovely! The tagged book sounds so good. 5y
Suet624 @LeahBergen it does!!! 5y
Crazeedi Awesome! I just put bookshop on my tbr list!! 5y
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batsy Bookish friends are the best â¤ï¸â¤ï¸ 5y
kspenmoll Sue It was fun for me! You are more than welcome! 5y
Suet624 @kspenmoll 💕💕 5y
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MonicaLoves2Read
Pickpick

I don't usually read memories, but this was more than that. It's also a Historical book. I really enjoyed it, and felt Francoise Frenkel's feelings. What she went through is unreal. Recommend book lovers, as well as history fans, read.😊

Gissy You finished it!ğŸ‘ğŸ‘ğŸ‘👠5y
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Michellekidwell
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Pickpick

In 1921 Francoise Frenkel a Jewish woman from Poland opens the La Maison Livre, the first French bookshop in Berlin. In doing so she fulfills a childhood dream. A passionate lover of books Francoise‘s bookshop attracts artists, diplomats, poets and celebrities and everything in between. The La Maison Livre becomes a haven for intellectual exchange as the world outside is become more poisoned by Nazi ideology..,

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SilversReviews
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Pickpick

Don‘t miss reading this treasure.

REVIEW HERE: https://tinyurl.com/tczx8or

MidnightBookGirl I will definitely put this book on my radar! 5y
SilversReviews @MidnightBookGirl It was very good. I normally do not read memoirs, but really enjoyed this book. I hope you enjoy it too. 5y
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SilversReviews
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HAPPY PUB DAY!!

A treasure for historical fiction fans as well as book lovers.

@atriabooks

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SilversReviews
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Thanks for today‘s prompt:

#GRATEFULREADS
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@OriginalCyn620

Today‘s Prompt: MEMOIR

Françoise Frenkel always loved books, libraries, and especially bookstores.

A BOOKSHOP IN BERLIN is a treasure for historical fiction fans as well as book lovers.

I normally do not read memoirs, but A BOOKSHOP IN BERLIN is very well done and educational.

FULL REVIEW ON DECEMBER 10.

@SimonSchuster

OriginalCyn620 🙌ğŸ¼ğŸ“š 5y
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SilversReviews
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An excellent book...it is a memoir of Francoise Frenkel - a woman who opened a French Bookshop in Berlin.

It was successful until the Nazis started to take over.

This book tells of her love of books, France, and her escape to Freedom.

I normally do not read memoirs, but this book is well done and interesting.

@simonandschuster

TheBookAddict 💜💜sounds like a must read. 5y
SilversReviews @TheBookAddict It was very good. Thanks for commenting. 5y
TheBookAddict @SilversReviews you‘re welcome. 😊 5y
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Eggs Here‘s another one @Insightsintobooks 5y
Eggs Stacked 5y
Insightsintobooks @Eggs I have this one already. Thank you though. 😊 5y
SilversReviews @Eggs Thanks for sharing. 5y
SilversReviews @Eggs I think you will like it. I am not a memoir reader, and this read like a story. 5y
49 likes5 stack adds9 comments