Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Book of Lost Names
Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
Inspired by an astonishing true story from World War II, a young woman with a talent for forgery helps hundreds of Jewish children flee the Nazis in this unforgettable historical novel from the international bestselling author of the "epic and heart-wrenching World War II tale" (Alyson Noel, #1 New York Times bestselling author) The Winemaker's Wife. Eva Traube Abrams, a semi-retired librarian in Florida, is shelving books one morning when her eyes lock on a photograph in a magazine lying open nearby. She freezes; it's an image of a book she hasn't seen in sixty-five years--a book she recognizes as The Book of Lost Names. The accompanying article discusses the looting of libraries by the Nazis across Europe during World War II--an experience Eva remembers well--and the search to reunite people with the texts taken from them so long ago. The book in the photograph, an eighteenth-century religious text thought to have been taken from France in the waning days of the war, is one of the most fascinating cases. Now housed in Berlin's Zentral- und Landesbibliothek library, it appears to contain some sort of code, but researchers don't know where it came from--or what the code means. Only Eva holds the answer--but will she have the strength to revisit old memories and help reunite those lost during the war? As a graduate student in 1942, Eva was forced to flee Paris after the arrest of her father, a Polish Jew. Finding refuge in a small mountain town in the Free Zone, she begins forging identity documents for Jewish children fleeing to neutral Switzerland. But erasing people comes with a price, and along with a mysterious, handsome forger named Rmy, Eva decides she must find a way to preserve the real names of the children who are too young to remember who they really are. The records they keep in The Book of Lost Names will become even more vital when the resistance cell they work for is betrayed and Rmy disappears. An engaging and evocative novel reminiscent of The Lost Girls of Paris and The Alice Network, The Book of Lost Names is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of bravery and love in the face of evil.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
TheBookgeekFrau
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image
Panpan

This could've been interesting, but the writing just didn't do it for me.

69/92

#BookSpin @TheAromaofBooks

#MountTBR #ReadAway2024 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES

bookandbedandtea Oh that's a bummer! I just realized I had this and planned to read it very soon. Maybe I won't now. 🤔 1mo
TheBookgeekFrau @bookandbedandtea I was really disappointed by it 😕 1mo
DieAReader 😔Sry you got a dud. 🤞🏻The #Next up is better! 1mo
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 1mo
36 likes4 comments
quote
TheBookgeekFrau
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image

"It's a Saturday morning, and I'm midway through my shift at the Winter Park Public Library when I see it."

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

blurb
TheBookgeekFrau
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image
TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Enjoy!! 2mo
38 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
RoseMallow
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
Pickpick

Enjoyed it !

review
Mshookquilts
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image
Pickpick

This book will stay with me. A glimpse into French resistance and forgeries of documentation during WWII, with betrayal and a heartbreaking love story. Eva escapes Paris with her mother after her father and joins the resistance as a forger. Told both in 1944 and in her present of 2005.

FeatherV Ooo this has been on my list forever, good to know it‘s enjoyable 5mo
Mshookquilts @FeatherV it starts out slow….so you have to get past that point. Sorry, I already mailed it back to Aunt Denise. 5mo
FeatherV @Mshookquilts no worries haha I‘ll library it when I‘m up to historical fiction 5mo
12 likes3 comments
blurb
Littlewolf1
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image

My #FriendsPick and #ClassicCountdown for the month of May

13 likes1 stack add
review
BkClubCare
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image
Pickpick

I enjoyed the story; a bit overwrought. Book 9 of 2024

#DoubleSpin #BookClub #WW2 #FrenchResistance #library #HardCover #ReadICT category: Lost or Found

Painting “People”, currently on show at Wichita Art Museum #WAM (just a photo on my phone)

Ephemera Is the painting by Thomas Hart Benton? 9mo
BkClubCare @Ephemera - maybe?! I forgot to note it and couldn‘t find when I searched. But I do recall thinking Benton, but NO. Of course, I could be misremembering THAT, too. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 9mo
42 likes2 comments
blurb
BkClubCare
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image

Current audiobook, for a new book club that is starting with my Theta sorority alumnae group at the end of February.

#CaresPieShow #iLovePie #PeachBlueberryPie

41 likes1 stack add
review
melzen
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image
Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️3.6

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5872641575

Overall, a solid read that strikes a balance between emotion and history, though a slightly brisker pace could have enhanced the experience.
#thebookoflostnames #ww2 #romance #historicalfiction

review
Jas16
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image
Pickpick

Sometimes I just need historical fiction about someone who finds incredible courage and strength they never knew they had when faced with horrific circumstances. Who cares if it seems plausible or how well developed all of the characters are? Was this the best WWII novel I have ever read? Nope. Did I become very emotionally invested and read this book in practically one sitting? Yep. And I would do it again.

SilversReviews LOVED this book!! 14mo
CoverToCoverGirl I concur!🙂 14mo
58 likes2 comments
review
MindyK59
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image
Pickpick

This was a very good book. It was really a very sad story but it was beautiful at the same time. Kristin Harmel has written so many great books that take place during WWII and yet each one is different and tells the story from a completely new perspective.

review
Crystal83
Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
Pickpick

I love this book!!!! It was beautifully written and a tearjerker for me!!! The characters are great and the plot was amazing. I rated this book a 4 out of 5 stars!!!

review
NomNoms
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image
Pickpick

This was a great book. It has a great pace that keeps you on your toes, without going too over the top. More importantly, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, or people fighting the good fight. It was scary, and treacherous. It was back alley fights and spying. It was keeping one step ahead of your enemy the entire time and hoping that no one got suspicious, or ratted you out. Plus, it was a long and forever growing love story!

review
cklos.wa
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
Pickpick

WW2 story - sad but great story line about the underground forging IDs to save Jews.

blurb
sblbooks
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image

#12BooksOf2022 #12DaysOfChristmas @Andrew65
#Historicalfiction
I recommend for those who like dual timeline World War II historical fiction/ Romance. The MC forges documents for the French Resistance.

Andrew65 Looks good, stacked. 2y
35 likes2 stack adds1 comment
review
Rachiiebookdragon
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
Pickpick

I listened to the audiobook for this one, beautiful story.

3.75/5

Read for:

#TheNerdDaily2022ReadingChallenge2022
#52BookClubReadingChallenge2022

review
Honeybeebooks
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image
Pickpick

Another book club read. Each year we read a WWII novel and almost without exception it leads to a great discussion. The Book of Lost Names is inspired by real heroes of the war that put their talents to work creating new identities and documents for people targeted by the Nazis. Eva and Remy fall in love whilst in the French resistance. Decades later, Eva returns to reclaim the book used to track the young children saved by their efforts. 4/5 ⭐️

review
TorieStorieS
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image
Pickpick

In a few hours, my book club will gather to discuss this month‘s pick! My first experience with the author, this WWII novel clips along at a consistently quick pace. Set mainly in France during the war, there‘s also a 2005 element to Eva‘s story. A lifelong book lover, Eva falls into the role of a forger of documents during the war. The titular book houses the real names of her fakes. The plot takes a few familiar turns but is hard to put down!

SilversReviews LOVED this book and LOVE this photo!! 2y
TorieStorieS @SilversReviews Thank you so much!! My book club had a great discussion about it!!! 2y
SilversReviews @TorieStorieS Love book cub discussions. 😊 2y
TorieStorieS @SilversReviews Me too!! I am a part of two book clubs now and it‘s a little funny that both have such an affinity for WWII fiction! 2y
SilversReviews @TorieStorieS 😀😀😀😀 2y
46 likes5 comments
quote
SheilaChew
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image

“We are all guilty of seeing things through the lens of our own lives.”

This guilt is my current heartbreak. It helps to see my feelings articulated on the page.

18 likes1 stack add
review
angieinwonderland
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
Pickpick

There were was so much imagery coming from perfectly written prose. It is dual timeline but not evenly interspersed which somehow adds to the gravitas. This book really puts you there the whole time.

4 likes1 stack add
review
jspoelker
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image
Pickpick

4/5 stars Essentially a love story of Eva a young woman who is daughter of Polish immigrants. Due to luck, Eva‘s artistic talents, and fast thinking, she and her mother are saved from the Jewish round ups in Paris. Unfortunately, her father is sent to Auschwitz, & Eva eventually convinces her mother that he is dead. The high stakes decisions keeps the reader engaged as well as the many plot twists. An emotional and beautiful story. Well worth it.

blurb
KathyWheeler
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image

I saw Kristen Harmel at Page & Palette this afternoon and really enjoyed her talk. She signed my copy of The Book of Lost Names. Of course, while I was there, I bought some books: Julie Osaka‘s The Swimmers; The Sea of Tranquility; and Book Lovers.

blurb
Dcueto
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image

Friend told me this was a great one. Let‘s see

janeycanuck Oh, this was a standout for me. Hope you enjoy it! 3y
37 likes1 comment
review
Wonderwoman89
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image
Pickpick

Just finished this book today while taking care of my 2 month old granddaughter and drinking my tea from my 10 year old grandson‘s mug. This was a good book about Eva and Remy coming up with a plan to remember the children they helped escape from the awful Holocaust only for Eva to learn there are a more to life than a name. I recommend this book to anyone who loves stories about the Holocaust like I do.

blurb
thecaffinatedreader
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image

“I used to think that memories were less painful when you held them close. I think perhaps that isn't true though. Now I think pain loses its power when we share it.”

#thebookoflostnames

Just wow. What a quote!!

28 likes3 stack adds
blurb
thecaffinatedreader
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image

Started this one last night. I‘ve heard so many good things about it!

27 likes2 stack adds
blurb
Wonderwoman89
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image

This weekend I am reading The Book of Lost names. I have heard a lot of good things about this book, so I decided to see myself.

review
Cpg
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
Pickpick

I enjoyed this historical fiction. It was action packed and told lots about the lives being lived during WW II. It was my first to read by Kristin Harmel. I‘ll definitely read more of her books. 👍🏻

review
megnews
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image
Pickpick

45 likes1 stack add
blurb
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image

My most recent purchase that #beginswith #book! I keep seeing great reviews!

📚📚

megnews I‘m listening to this one right now. Very good so far. 3y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @megnews awesome! Can‘t wait! 3y
Eggs Exciting to have a new book to read💖💓 3y
See All 6 Comments
CaroPi Should I feel bad that I am interested in the book because I like the name? 3y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @CaroPi definitely not!! 😊 3y
SilversReviews LOVED this book. 3y
70 likes6 comments
review
Arvena
Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image
Pickpick

Well-written, interesting read about a horrific time in our world history. This book had all those feels. It is a story about how terrible times can bring out the best and the worst in people, about finding hope and light in the darkest hours.

65 likes2 stack adds
quote
BilboBookends
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image

“There‘s something almost miraculous about seeing a child‘s eyes light up when you hand him a book that intrigues him. I‘ve always thought that it‘s those children—the ones who realize that books are magic—who will have the brightest lives.”

Cpg Just checked this one out. Anxious to get started reading it. 3y
BilboBookends @Cpg it‘s so so good, I hope you like it! 3y
Cpg @BilboBookends Yes!!! Enjoying it- as I‘ve been home sick for the last week! I‘ve got another one to start- “People We Meet on Vacation” 3y
See All 6 Comments
Cpg @BilboBookends I did! Really enjoyed reading it! 🥇 3y
BilboBookends @Cpg I‘m glad you enjoyed it and I hope you‘re feeling better! 3y
Cpg @BilboBookends Thank you! Yes, much better now!!! Thank goodness! 🙌 3y
32 likes1 stack add6 comments
blurb
sblbooks
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image

#12AuthorsIn22 Day 4 Kristin Harmel
I absolutely love the one book I read: The Forest of Vanishing Stars I can't wait to read more. #HstoricalFiction

megnews I have Forest and The Book of Lost Names on my tbr. They look good! 3y
Cpg Just checked this one out! 📚 😍 📖 3y
27 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image

Thank you so much Debra!! You are so sweet 🥰 I‘m really looking forward to reading this one!! I LOVE the bookmark!!

#LitsyLove
#Bookmail

Deblovestoread So glad it arrived. 3y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Kdgordon88 ❤️❤️❤️ 3y
63 likes2 comments
review
terryduncan5719
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
Pickpick

Very very good and very satisfying ending. I recommend it very much!

review
Maryjoe236
Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image
Pickpick

Still reading this but so far I really like it. … I finished this and while I generally liked it including the ending, I thought there were some slow parts. Also I wished she tied up some loose ends by telling some of the children‘s stories after they escaped.

review
sleepy.ash87
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image
Pickpick

This is the first historical fiction novel I've read in a long while. It painted an excellent (though terrifying and heartbreaking) image of WWII France and how those who were Jewish were being "erased." It's the story of a brave woman who attempts to preserve the identities of young children by placing their names into a code. A story about many forms of love, perseverance, sacrifice, and loyalty; It was an emotional and moving experience for me.

14 likes1 stack add
review
ElleSkel
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image
Pickpick

So happy I tried this one! This book made me feel a bit of every emotion and really opened the door to questions about why people behave the way they do. This was a great story about a heartbreaking time in history.
It is worth it to mention that I alternated reading the hardcover and listening to the audio and the chapters actually lined up! Bonus!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

review
suvata
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image
Pickpick

Eva is a semi-retired librarian in Florida. Shelving books one morning, she sees the image of a book she hasn‘t seen in sixty-five years—a book she recognizes as The Book of Lost Names. The book is housed in a French library and it appears to contain some sort of code, but researchers have no idea what the code means. Only Eva holds the answer—but will she have the strength to revisit old memories and help reunite those lost during the war?

sprainedbrain Love the cover! 3y
55 likes1 comment
blurb
Sharpeipup
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image

I met her!
(Local author Kristin Harmel)

Gissy 🎉🎉🎉👏👏👏 4y
DrSpalding I loved the lost book of names! Lucky you! 4y
tpixie Awesomeness ! 3y
49 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
AmyK1
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image
Pickpick

“Sometimes, something as simple as a pen and a bit of imagination can alter the course of history.”

I raced through this story about Eva, a document forger who saved hundreds of lives in WWII France. While it‘s a work of fiction it is based on real people who risked their lives to save others. Loved it and the end had me in tears ❤️😢

FelinesAndFelonies This was my #1 book last year! 4y
Insightsintobooks I loved this book! ❤ 4y
53 likes2 stack adds2 comments
review
Readswithcoffee
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image
Pickpick

I really like this WWII historical fictional novel in which the main character is a document forger for the French Resistance. It was interesting in that its focus is not on the concentration camps, but rather life on the outside. Although I found Eva‘s mother to be unlikable, I am glad the character was included as she provided contrast and depth. I‘m glad I listened to the audiobook for the pronunciation of the French names.

42 likes2 stack adds
blurb
SilversReviews
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image
blurb
Librariana
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image

Got to pick up some items from my local indie that I had ordered back in January 😊

And while I was there, I couldn't resist the temptation of bringing the tagged title home with me along with:

• Klara and the Sun
• The Paris Library and
• What I Carry

#bookhaul #shopindie #shoplocal

JamieArc This looks like a great stack! 4y
Librariana @JamieArc - Thank you, Jamie! I think so, too! Hehehe 😁 Then again, I might be a little biased 😉 I had been eagerly anticipating and waiting for some of these titles for a while! 4y
43 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
Redwritinghood
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image
Mehso-so

This was pretty typical of the genre - resistance in WWII France, some romance, etc., but I felt that the dialogue was rather wooden and the part that should have been an exciting climax felt so slow. It‘s not a bad book and it is an interesting story based on real events. 2.5⭐️

blurb
Graciouswarriorprincess
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image

Use my link and then you can sign up too! https://share.simonandschuster.com/akallas

tpixie Cool!! 4y
Graciouswarriorprincess @tpixie. Share my link too to friends. Maybe we can win for the book club! 4y
30 likes3 comments
review
mcctrish
The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel
post image
Pickpick

I quite enjoyed this story involving the French Resistance. I cried at the end. This pic is of the valentine charcuterie box I ordered from a small local company to celebrate Love Day in style with. One of the positive things to come about because of Covid and lockdowns has been discovering new to me small local companies that I am thankful to support ❤️

LeahBergen That looks lovely! 4y
tpixie Yummy 😋 4y
54 likes1 stack add3 comments