Book Club Second Edition

Our February meeting at Marg’s was the first time since pre-Covid that all 12 members were able to attend and we had lots to talk about.  We discussed “The Girl They Left Behind” by Roxanne Veletzos, an historical fiction novel based on the author’s mother’s story. Set in Romania, a country allied with Nazi Germany, the story begins in 1941 when a little Jewish girl is left on the steps of a building so her parents can safely escape.  She is adopted by a couple who name her Natalia and provide her with love and protection.  

At the end of the war, Romania is occupied by the Soviet Union and the lives of Natalia, her parents, and most citizens are completely upended by this take over.  The novel was a real “springboard” for our discussion as most of us felt it vividly depicted the impacts of war on innocent civilians and led us to ask how we would have reacted in such circumstances.  We all thought it was a pertinent story for today’s world events and a timely reminder of how important it is to not forget history.

Submitted by Leslie Horsman