We Shall Not Shatter by Elaine Stock is this week’s Reader Friday. Here’s the first line. “The French marble clock in the bedroom chimed five o’clock at the same time a pounding came to the front door.”
Now for this week’s photo and Scripture verse. I truly hope this is the last snow for our area this year! lol Although it was the best kind of snow–the kind that didn’t freeze on the streets. I’m told it made great snowballs. My Sunday school class closes out each week with this verse. It’s a great reminder to take Christ with us as we leave church.
Here’s the cover and blurb of We Shall Not Shatter:
An unforgettable story of friendship, family and hope as two courageous young women face one of history’s most horrific tragedies
Brzeziny, Poland, 1939 Zofia’s comfortable lifestyle overturns when her husband, Jabez, who monitors Nazi activity, has gone missing. Rather than fleeing the country with her young son, as she had promised Jabez who is fearing r
etaliation, she decides to stay. She cannot possibly leave her friend, Aanya. Since their childhood, they have amazed fellow Brzeziners that it does not matter that Aanya is Jewish and deaf, and that Zofia is Catholic and hearing. Now, more than ever with war looming, Zofia will do whatever is necessary to protect her family and Aanya.
As both love and war approach their Polish town, Zofia and Aanya must make choices that will change the meaning of family, home, and their precious friendship. The journey, decisions, and the no-going-back consequences the women face will either help them to survive—or not—as Hitler’s Third Reich revs up its control of the world.
Inspired by the author’s paternal heritage from Brzeziny, this is a heartbreaking yet beautiful story of two women who are determined to remain united in friendship and to live freely despite the odds.
My Take:
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Comments 39
Intriguing review and I definitely want to read the book.
Author
It’s a very good book, Delores!
We Shall Not Shatter sounds like a compelling book!
Did you change your blog theme? Something looks different . . .
I am reading Storm Dancer, an epic fantasy by Rayne Hall. Here is the first line: “Even in the shade of the grafitti-carved olive tree, the air sang with heat.” Hall is SO good at description and atmosphere!
Author
Hi Priscilla…it looks like gremlins got on my website and changed some of my text to white. Thanks for noticing! I usually answer comments from the dashboard, so I didn’t see the change.
We Shall Not Shatter is definitely a compelling book, especially in the light of what’s going on in the world. Storm Dancer–Wow! that frist line is good!
Heartfelt thanks and much appreciation for sharing We Shall Not Shatter with your readers, Pat. I’m thrilled that you enjoyed Zofia and Aanya’s story and hope your readers will too.
We are looking forward to 60-65 degrees and sunshine today. Rain tomorrow and murmurs of possible snow for the Northeast next week–hope not!
Author
I’ll be so glad to see spring get here…I may shoot (figuratively) the first person who complains about the heat. Which won’t take long. lol I loved this story about Zofia and Aanya’s friendship. The story has staying power–still think about it. Thanks for writing such a powerful book.
Thank you!! You’ve touched my heart with your generosity and kind words.
Author
It was my joy, Elaine. Love your writing.
We all need to be shining the light of Christ. Love that photo, Pat.
Hearing pounding on the door at 5AM is never a good thing. That sounds like a very good book. The description reminds me of another that has an Eastern Europe WWII setting called “The Last Bridge” by Elvera Ziebart Reu (https://grhc-northdakotastate-ndus.nbsstore.net/last-bridge). Stories like that are amazing.
“Aubrey Clark approached the low-income two-story apartment building with trepidation.” is the first line of “Sealed with Courage” by Laura Scott. It’s set in San Diego, one of my favorite cities.
Author
This is a great book, Tim. I think you would really enjoy it. In fact, I think all my readers would. 🙂 Laura Scott’s books sounds really good, too.
This entire blog brought tears to my eyes and heart, Pat. The lovely photo with the Scripture is what I pray for my life…let God be glorified.
This book blurb and your review definitely makes this a must read for me. I value the loyalty of their friendship, despite the persecution, I’m sure they faced.
I agree with you, unless we take a stand, evil will prevail!
“As long as she kept dancing, Lucille Girard could pretend the world wasn’t falling apart.” Until Leaves fall in Paris, by Sarah Sundin.
“When the Nazis march toward Paris, American ballerina Lucie Girard buys her favorite English-language bookstore to allow the Jewish owners to escape.”
Author
Barbara, you are so right! And Sarah’s book sounds wonderful!
Thank you Pat for all you do! You are such a Blessing! I look forward to receiving your blogs in my inbox each week. The picture along with the verse was a wonderful reminder and start for my day.
Before finishing your review of We Shall Not Shatter I knew it would be my selection for my month in Book Club. I already have it preordered. I can’t wait to read and share it with our members.
I love words and enjoy phases that are short and descriptive. The latest is “slow as a wet week” in The Forgotten Garden. It’s possible it spoke to me because I read it during several terribly rainy days when daily life all around seemed to be slowed and crawling. Fantastic book by the way!
Hi, Debra. Thanks for pre-ordering my novel… so excited that you will share it with your book club members. I have a special website page devoted to book clubs, with story questions and if you scroll down to the bottom, an offer to mention your club’s name Here’s the page: https://elainestock.com/book-clubs.html Thanks for your consideration.
Elaine, thank you for the link and I’ll be sharing it with our Book Club ladies! I’m looking forward to We Shall Not Shatter book release!
Author
Hi Debra! I’m so glad you’re enjoying my blogs. I know you recognized the verse. 😉 And I’m glad it’s going to be your bookclub selection!!! And I love the “slow as a wet week.”
sounds like a great book! currently between books.
“And no more digging.” Kathryn King, known to all Blue Sky, Pennsylvania, as Kappy, pointed a finger at the two beagles seated on the floor in front of her.
This Little Piggy by Amy Lillard
Author
Gail, I love that excerpt from Amy Lillard’s book! She used to live in my hometown. 🙂
Sounds like a great book! “Homicide Investigator, Ryan Parker, flashed a thumbs-up to his dive buddy and fellow homicide investigator, Gabe Chavez”… in book Beneath the Surface by Lynn Blackburn!
Author
Jackie, I knew where you were going with that first line! I love Lynn’s book. 🙂
I love the sound of this book, thank you so much for sharing about it. “For the third time that Thursday morning, Kelsey Harris fought back tears.” from The Adoption Surprise by Zoey Marie Jackson
Author
I really think you’d enjoy it, Alicia!
“I am your maid.” The Maid by Nita Prose
Author
That sounds really intriguing, BN.
Beautiful scripture and photo, Pat! Thank you for recommending We Shall Not Shatter.
This afternoon, I finished reading Once Upon a Wardrobe.
Author
Thank you Caryl. I haven’t heard of Once Upon a Wardrobe, but the title sounds intriguing.
Sounds like a really good read!
Author
It is Megan. I think you’d enjoy it.
Hi Patricia. Great picture and verse. This book sounds really good. Definitely one to check out. I just went on Elaine Stock’s website. The background story of her family is very sad and inspiring. I’m reading The Letter from Briarton Park by Sarah E. Ladd. “James Warrington met his half-sister’s determined gaze”.
Author
Thanks, Erika! I’ve known Elaine for at least eight years and I love her writing.
Love the scripture. I’m reading the Veteran’s Vow
Ellery Watson’s job description did not include tracking down veterans at their homes to investigate why they hadn’t shown up for training, but when she realized her no-show lived in her town, she’d been unable to resist.
Author
Lucy, that first sentence sounds intriguing. I’ll have to check The Veteran’s Vow out.
This sounds like a wonderful book by a talented author. I look forward to reading it. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Author
Hi Esther. Welcome to my blog! I think you’d really enjoy Elaine’s book–she is indeed talented.
Love the picture and verse. I think that was among the very earliest Bible verses I memorized as a child. It and the picture go together so well.
I have read some other books in recent months set in the same time period as this one. It sounds interesting.
I am reading both a fiction and a non-fiction book right now. The fiction is Never Leave Me by Jody Hedlund. I am enjoying it. The non-fiction is Well Versed: Biblical Answers to Today’s Tough Issues by James L. Garlow. It happens to be the one I have beside me right now. The first line reads: “I grew up on a Midwestern farm with strong Christian parents and a close family.” I have only read a few chapters, but I highly recommend the book to anyone who is concerned about what is happening to our nation.
Author
Edward, it’s the verse my Sunday school class says at the end of each meeting. I’ll check out both books you’re reading.
Nice picture. This comes from Tracking Concealed Evidence by Sharee Stover: An eerie howl clawed at the edges of Shaylee Adler’s consciousness, dragging her from the depths of darkness. She struggled to open her eyes, uncertain why they felt so heavy.
Author
Diana, that sounds really ominous! I really enjoy Sharee’s books, too.