The Things We Cherished: A Novel

This book reinforces that all stories have more than one side. Excellent distraction featuring interesting characters and a good plot.

There was so much that I liked about The Things We Cherished by Pam Jenoff, but at the same time, there were some areas that fell flat. The three main characters were attorneys; Jake and Brian were estranged brothers, and Charlotte was Brian's former girlfriend. Brian requested their expertise in order to represent Roger, a man accused of war crimes during World War II; more specifically, Roger is accused of giving information to the Nazis about the resistance efforts of his brother, Hans, which thereby led to Hans' arrest and subsequent death, along with many of the Jewish people he was trying to save. Roger's refusal to help in his own defense, as well as a substantial amount of mounting evidence against him, and a government looking to set an example of him, left a difficult and daunting task for these three attorneys to overcome.The author had the reader following the path of an anniversary clock, created by a farmer looking to sell it in order to give his wife, unborn child and himself a better life. The journey of this clock provided a variety of insights and revealed many hidden secrets that aided in the representation of Roger. The chapters alternated between the modern story of Brian, Jake and Charlotte representing Roger in 2009 and the many stories relating to the anniversary clock throughout the years of the early 1900(s). It was a unique story-line, and it captivated my attention and engaged me throughout.The weakest part of the novel was the character development. Despite liking certain characters, they were presented as too vulnerable, fragile and "wishy-washy". They acted as though they were young children, instead of adults. Things were left unsaid; bad behavior and unhappy feelings were left unresolved. I would have enjoyed an emotional outburst from Charlotte. If Charlotte could have released her true desires, expressed her deepest hurts and betrayals openly, and lashed out at the selfishness that she experienced, I believe I would have liked her more. If Jake exposed his inner thoughts and fought for what he wanted and loved, it would have made all of the difference to this reader. There was no hope for Brian; he was too narcissistic to reach. These were very closed off characters and perhaps that was the reason the author didn't want the reader to truly connect with them. The ending resolved itself quickly and fell flat; there was a missed opportunity to reunite two lost characters.I would have rated this book with 3 1/2 stars if given the option. However, the novel deserved more than a 3 star review.

This is another work where I’m not 100% sure whether I liked the dual storyline or not. Individually, I liked each one to a degree. It was interesting to see the footwork behind building a legal case as well as the journey of the clock throughout history and its importance to the developing events of the early 20th century.Yet, I felt that the historical story lost a bit when balanced against the continuous nature of the modern tale. We’re constantly exposed to Charlotte and her journey towards truth in her trial saga; the historical story is broken up into four distinct timeframes with different families. They are all connected by subtle connections and the clock, but I think the characters as people got lost since we didn’t have that long to go get to know them. Not nearly as long as Charlotte and the brothers.I also have mixed feelings on Charlotte. I cared enough about her to be invested in her emotional journey and to see how her relationship triangle would end up. But at times I felt like she was too perfect: pretty, good at her job, dedicated to the downtrodden, and drawing men like flies. She had a slight whiff of the “Mary Sue” about her that set my teeth on edge.Having so many historical time periods was a bit of a detract, but I do have to say that I enjoyed exploring the journey of this inanimate object and seeing how many lives it touched/impacted. Through that vehicle, the reader gets a window into the rise of the Nazi state and how it impacted these various families. We get to see the early stages of that rise: pre-WWI, the interwar years, during WWII, and the aftermath in Soviet occupied Poland. Learning the different fates both touched and saddened me.While I enjoyed this in-depth exploration of the Nazi years through a unique vehicle, overall this book still rates as a 3 for me. The dual storylines read a bit skewed since so many historical timeframes are explored. In the modern tale, the main lead sometimes comes off as too perfect, making me hate her as much as I’m rooting for her. So a good tale but not my favorite by this author.

I have not read a book from the pen of Pam Jenoff that I have not thoroughly enjoyed, and “The Things We Cherished” was no exception. A great cast of characters, as always, and a riveting plot…

Pam Jennoff's latest novel, The Things We Cherished, is in essence a conglomeration of many sub plots cleverly woven into an intriguing WWII based love story. This book starts in modern day Philadelphia and travels a century back through 1960 Eastern Germany, WWII Poland and Germany, and post WWI Bavaria. It centers around an excuisitely made time piece that survives the hardships of the century and is the witness to many love stories.The story starts with Charlotte a modern day public defence attorney who is asked by her first love and the one who broke her heart, to help complete legal research in order to exonerate a man accused of Nazi war crimes during WWII. It is an intriguing story that leads you through many characters, time periods and twists and turns.Jennoff once again has crafted a story that will have you turning page after page, unable to set it down. She is a master of developing characters that could step off the page and into your life. They are that believable - whole and flawed.Pam Jennoff's writing is simplistic and easy to read. If I had to criticize this story, it would be that at times the sub-plots and number of characters can become confusing. During the story you may stop and question yourself, but keep reading. Everything comes together at the end. This book is definitely worth the read. It offers a love story, intrigue, suspence, historical content and a modern twist all wrapped into one beautifully constructed package.

This was a good read but not up to the standard of some her other books.

Matron loved Kommandant's Girl - one of the superlative commercial fictionworks on the subject. Ms Jenoff deserved all praise as a writer who weaved story and emotion and horror into an an engaing and first class book - alas - this is not that book. Perhaps this writer needs to take a deep breath and have a chat with her editor and agent and think again...?The same period - again - similar subject - but Ms J cleverly involves two sets of love triangles past and present in the quest to save a Nazi War Criminal or an alledged one. Charlotte is another strong Jenoff character and the love triangles all too believable. Great premise.Only we go back and forth in time and just as the reader is absorbed we go into another time period - so many, not just pre and post war - and we get lost. But what brings this down are plain editorial issues that should be picked up in a writer as widely read as this one and with a team behind her - 'massive' - how many things and places can be massive? - Matron counted two massives in two pages and over eleven uses of the adjective - yes, picky, but it matters. And then there is the rushed plot - and here, for a writer who is meant to know the period - a key plot pin is a cable. A cable sent in Nazi Germany? In public? Where nobody dared speak on the phobe let alone in the street?Then we have a character with little education and yet who speaks English and finds all these books on a German shelf like oh...Mark Twain and yes...Gone with the Wind... and thinks she is like Scarlet...at that point, Matron literally lost the plot. Oh dear...do think hard on the next one Ms J...

If you like a crime thriller set in the lead up to the second world war and war crimes against the Jewish then this story is one for you.found it a bit hard going to start but it got better as it went on good ending.

Didn't think this book was anything likeas good as /Kommandant's-Girl orDiplomats Wife. A bit difficult tofollow as every Chapter was changing frompast to present. I was a bit disappointedafter reading the previous ones.

An excellent story and well thought out plot. I enjoyed it emmensley. I just wish Pam Jenoff would get the historical fact right. Little things like repeatedly referring to duvets when war torn countries home and abroad did not have such things in the 1940s!

Another good book by Pam Jenoff. I have read a few by this author now and always find them interesting and enjoy them immensely.