Letting Go

The Orphan’s Tale by Pam Jenoff is a historical story. I loved it and was totally immersed in the action.

The Orphan’s Tale is a story of courage, of love, of friendship, of a fight to survive in Hitler’s Germany. The leading ladies, Noa and Astrid are both strong personalities with a sense of loyalty and a will to survive. The novel tells of their rivalry, their friendship and their love.

The circus community “presents everything Hitler hates: the freaks and the oddities.” The circus is also a family, showing more loyalty than some blood ties. Their reliance on each other is a daily necessity, not only in life but also in some of the acts. The trapeze artists have to work with tremendous trust – as one lets go, they are trusting the other to catch them.

There is the theme of values. Values in Nazi Germany were distorted. This ties in with the theme of trust. Who can one trust when one’s life is at stake? People were naturally suspicious of others. Trust bonds once formed were unbreakable.

The Orphan’s Tale was a cracking story of a time we hope never to be repeated. People were pushed to their limits. Pam Jenoff has woven the story into the reader’s conscience. It is impossible to read the book without feeling outraged at the behaviour of fellow humans. The novel has its roots in the truth – some of the events portrayed were not fiction. It was a cracking story and my first by Pam Jenoff but I shall be hunting out more by her.

I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

JULIA WILSON