RaveWashington Independent Review of BooksTragedy, betrayal, and danger stalk Hettie, but Violet nurtures her as she, in turn, nurtures Violet. Inspired by true events, this moving story of two heroines—a female zookeeper and an adolescent elephant—speaks not only to the brutality of war, but also to religious tensions in Northern Ireland that remain pervasive today. The finely drawn prose is cinematic in places, and the characters are vividly brought to life with Walsh’s deft portraiture. The Elephant of Belfast is historical fiction at its best.
Zülfü Livaneli, Trans. by Brendan Freely
RaveThe Washington Independent Review of BooksLivaneli (via Brendan Freely’s translations) swings from the present day to the war era and back again without confusion or disturbance. He introduces the reader to a slice of history unfamiliar to many. He also depicts the stereotyping, male chauvinism, and paranoia still bubbling in his country at the turn of the 21st century ... a war epic as much as it is a love story (two love stories, really: one romantic, one platonic), a literary mystery, a cross-cultural exploration, and a deep meditation on the nature of loss ... But perhaps it succeeds most as an adult Bildungsroman ... Despite the human darkness in which this story is rooted, Serenade for Nadia sings with Maya’s compassion for Max, with Max’s passion for his late wife, and with the resilience of those who suffered so tragically from betrayal and hatred.
Meg Waite Clayton
PositiveThe Washington Independent Review of Books... deftly weaves the story of how this brave and committed woman went about her mission and, in particular, the impact she had on two Austrian teenagers ... Despite one quibble — I would’ve liked a glimpse into the future of lovebirds Stephan and Zofie-Helene — my own journey through this story was a rollercoaster of sorrow, anger, joy, and hope.
Frances Liardet
PositiveWashington Indpendent Review of BooksSeveral sections weave back and forth between 1932 and 2010, a potentially risky format that, in this case, serves the story well. The novel’s only weak spot lies in its first section, which reads like a humdrum WWII story, populated by characters who are not especially intriguing. The book soars in the second section, where it delves into Ellen’s dismal childhood and the resilience that led her to a good job and, later, marriage. Rather than a war story, this is Ellen’s saga. Author Frances Liardet’s prose can only be described as gorgeous—lyrical and abounding with fresh imagery of the countryside and its inhabitants ... the often heartrending melody of We Must Be Brave lingers long after its final page.
