Today I have a review of The Hollow Bones by Leah Kaminsky. So far, this book has only been released in Australia, and the author mailed me a complimentary copy from there. A big thank you to Leah Kaminsky!
I hope we begin to see this beautiful book available in other countries! Last thing, it is available as a Kindle download on Amazon AU, and some in the US have been able to download that way.
Also, this is the one time that Hemingway the Bengal sat for pictures. I’m so grateful he’s in this particular picture.
My Thoughts:
In 1938 Berlin, before the war has started, Ernst Schafer, a zoologist, is discovered by Heinrich Himmler, who is forming a group of scientists. Their goal: to travel to Tibet and find the origins of the Aryan race.
The story is told through the eyes of Herat, Schafer’s wife. Kaminsky used photographs, diaries, letters, and films to piece together this compelling story.
After the mission, when Schafer and the group return to Berlin, he is viewed as a celebrity and larger than life. The next step for him involves a job at Dachau observing and filming medical experiments on Himmler’s orders.
The Hollow Bones is a chilling story, though Gerta, Ernst’s wife, offers some lightness because she is a kind person and unsure of all that is about to happen. She has her own road to travel becoming a respectful Nazi wife even though she has qualms with their beliefs. She also struggles with her feelings about her husband as he becomes more involved, but she also still sees his strengths.
There were parts of this book, as with any Holocaust book, that were extremely difficult to read due to the nature of the events. I read this book slowly, thinking, feeling, and absorbing as I turned each page.
The Hollow Bones follows Ernst all the way to the end of his life, and one must read it to find out if he is punished and how. Leah Kaminsky has penned a gripping, well-written, heartrending work of historical fiction with another perspective on the Holocaust, from that of a zoologist turned SS scientist. It’s a story of love, loss, grief, greed, and ambition.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
About the Book:
Berlin, 1938. The eve of war. Ernst Schäfer, a young, ambitious zoologist, keen hunter and devoted husband of the beautiful Herta, has come to the attention of Heinrich Himmler, who invites him to lead a group of SS scientists to the frozen mountains of Tibet. Their secret mission: to search for the origins of the Aryan race. For Schäfer, the personal consequences of failure are unthinkable, yet little does he know this outlandish expedition will become a prelude to the unimaginable horror soon to overrun Europe.
Using material discovered in field diaries, letters, films, photographs and secret documents, the novel tells the story behind Schäfer through the eyes of his ill-fated lover, Herta. Nazism proved a convenient short-cut to personal glory for Schäfer, who, accompanied by a group of SS scientists, trekked across inhospitable, treacherous terrain on a mission to conduct experiments to ‘prove’ Nordic heritage. In 1939, the team was flown out of India on Himmler’s flying boats. Schäfer was an instant celebrity on his return to Berlin and, at just twenty-eight, he became one of the most celebrated men in Hitler’s Reich. But his world was about to change, as science was enlisted for racial murder and Himmler sent Schäfer to Dachau to observe and film medical experiments.
The Hollow Bones explores how quickly human relationships and an affinity with nature can be buried under cold ambition.
Have you read The Hollow Bones, or is it on your TBR? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR
Sounds like a difficult read.
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I read Holocaust stories a few times a year, and they are all challenging, but also important I think.
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Yes, I would agree it’s important that period in time is never forgotten.
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Wow… this sounds very heavy, but you seem to say that there’s some relief with the wife. Thank goodness for that!
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Thanks, Davida! I think it’s important for me to read this times of powerful, emotional stories. The author added a nice touch of lightness and grounding with Gerta for certain.
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Sounds like an original take on the Holocaust story – scientists played such a lrage part in that whole horrible period. Hemigway is looking gorgeous – his coat seems to have grown in well! 😻
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I agree, FF. They really did. He is still getting his final top pattern. We don’t know exactly what it will be! It’s been a long wait! (Just hoping it continues to grow in more because the vet said it may not due to the trauma). ♥️
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Well, I hope it does, but he’s already gorgeous even if this is as good as he gets. And more importantly, he’s got a good home and cat servant now… 😀
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Definitely does sound like the story takes a unique angle. Great review, Jennifer.
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Thank you, Diana! It was such a unique and wonderful read, though difficult at times due to the content.
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Great review, Jennifer. The cover is indeed gorgeous. I like reading WWII stories, so, this will be another book on my wishlist. Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks, Debjani. I really enjoy them and find them memorable, too. I hope you get a chance to check this one out.
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Wow the author was fantastic to do so. Great review. The book is not for me, seems to be a tough read
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Thanks, Shalini! She was so gracious to send it to me. I am so grateful I enjoyed the read.
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This sounds very unique, Jen. Books on this subject are always hard to read, but I’m always so glad to have read them afterward. Excellent review! Your pics keep getting lovelier! 💙
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Thanks so much, favorite M! Love seeing you! ♥️ You are so right- hard, but important and good storytelling.
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This sounds like a very ambitious story! And I love seeing Hemingway curled up and so happy next to the book😁
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Thanks, Tammy! It definitely was! He’s extra sweet when he’s sleepy!
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Gorgeous picture with Hemy, great review, Jennifer! I added this WWII historical fiction to my tbr list. Happy Tuesday! 🐾🐾🐈❤️📚🌺🌺😊😘
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Thanks, Virginia! This is a wonderful one to add and read. I hope you get a chance to check it out! ♥️
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Excellent review, Jennifer. I’m always daunted by Holocaust stories as I invariably learn some new horror that I’ll never forget. Thank you for featuring this book.
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Thanks so much, Jonetta! It’s true. The horrors are neverending, but so are the stories that hope and inspire, too, thankfully. ♥️
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Wow the elusive Hemingway!😁 Wonderful review Jen and I can’t believe the author sent the book all the way from Australia! Lucky you!
Have an awesome day and try to stay cool my friend!😎🌞💜
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Thanks so much, Sus! This was a wonderful read and I’m so grateful. Hemingway sat for pics- YAY! I hope you had the best day! ♥️
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Hemingway looks so soft and content ❤
Not sure this would be my kind of read. I agree, it's important to remember the horrible things we humans do to each other, though.
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Thanks so much, Jacquie! He really does have sleek, soft fur. Yes, we definitely need to know these things so history doesn’t repeat itself. ♥️
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I’m so excited to see Hemingway! ❤️🐾. The book sounds really interesting too! 😂❤️
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Aww, thanks, Kris! I treasure this set of pictures from that one day he surprised me! Maybe it will happen again! He’s like the unicorn of bookstagram pics, at least in this family! ♥️ The book was brilliant!
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Hemy really is a unicorn! He’s so handsome. Maybe we’ll see him again soon! 💕💕
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Aww, thank you, Kris! ♥️ I hope so too!
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Where did the notion that ‘the Aryan race’ originated in Tibet come from? Well, I suppose I can read that in the book, which sounds extraordinarily difficult to get hold of (unless you are Australian). I do like stories like this even if they are heavy reading.
So this is Hemingway? He looks lovely. Doesn’t he normally like to be photographed?
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It’s kind of complex, but it has to do with the origins of language, and this theory they had. I really hope this book becomes more available; it definitely deserves to be. The author’s first book was published in other countries, but not this one so far. I was told it can be bought for Kindle via Amazon AU though.
Yes! This is my surprise Bengal cat! I adopted him (he was already an adult… and hairless) and two kittens back at the end of December, and he is slowly growing his fur back in, showing his Bengal coat! He had a bad flea allergy and all his fur was gone when I adopted him. No one knew he was a Bengal, and honestly, no one was more surprised than me because I’m not a “pure bred” cat kind of person, and certainly not a hybrid cat. But I absolutely love him… and make sure he gets exercise every day or he will tear our house apart. 😂 Oh my, all of that to say, he just doesn’t usually sit for the photos. He’s pretty busy, and then where he likes to sleep is not really the best place to take pics. I hope one day he’ll surprise me again by sitting in the photo spot unprompted! ♥️
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You have a Bengal, how amazing is that!! Looking back at the photo, I can see the colour and pattern is quite unusual. I would love to see more photos of him, you don’t even have to add a book to the photos 😉. Can’t believe you weren’t aware, when you adopted him. Where did you get him?
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We got him from the Humane Society, and they had him listed as a tabby. He had no hair from the shoulders down. He also was licking himself constantly, so you couldn’t tell his personality. Once we treated the skin allergy, one vet saw him hairless and said nothing about him being a Bengal, and the next one said, “Whoa, I think this cat is exotic,” based on his behavior (confidence) and mannerisms. We thought he was an anxious and hyper cat with some behavior issues before we knew. Now we completely understand him. They sell them for a ton of money here and he would have been snatched up at the shelter really fast had anyone known. I still can’t believe it all worked out this way! I will try to get more pics up soon. I do have some here: https://jennifertarheelreader.com/2019/05/03/its-my-first-blogiversary-help-me-celebrate-woo-hoo-tarheelreader-giveaway-bookgiveaway/
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I had a look at the photos. Hemingway really is gorgeous (Harper and Dickens as well). The colours are so unique. And it is a lovely story, about how you got him, I am sure there is a moral somewhere… The kind lady who adopts the poor cat, whom nobody wants but later turns out to be a little treasure ;-).
Btw, the blogiversary post was a lovely post. I can’t believe you are a relatively new blogger. I would never have guessed.
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Thank you so much. You write the kindest comments and the most thoughtful, well-written reviews. I have thought about the moral for adopting Hemy, too – you don’t always know what you are getting into at first glance! 😂 He’s currently in the “doghouse” because he knocked Harper off of one of the cat trees. Well…he’s not really in the doghouse because he’s actually sound asleep in her favorite spot on top of the other cat tree. He’s a handful! But we love him!
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I had so much difficulty with the medical experimentation sections of Lilac Girls that I don’t know if I can handle this one. Although I also firmly believe it’s important to hear all the WW11 stories.
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Those parts were so tough, Carol. I agree. I also agree about these stories being really important. ♥️
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This sounds like such a fantastic, if chilling read. Wonderful review.
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Thanks so much, Chrissi! Yes, it was a tough read, but a really memorable one. ♥️
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Very thoughtful review Jennifer! I agree that these WW II books can be difficult reads but are important. Always enjoy seeing your kitties!
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Aww, thanks so much, Marie. It’s so nice of you to come see me over here too. I really appreciate it. ♥️ I completely agree about difficult but important. This was a wonderful read.
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This sounds like quite a painful read. I appreciate your review!
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My pleasure, Lisa! It was difficult but it also had moments of hope and normalcy too.
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I wish this was easier to get in the US because you make it seem like such a powerful read.
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I’m hoping it will be, too, Christopher! It definitely deserves to be!
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Very different yet somehow compelling story. So glad you found it to be a worthwhile book, Jennifer.
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Thanks, Marialyce! It was a different and compelling, too. This was one that Elyse highly recommended for me, and she was right-on.
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This sounds very unique to other WWII stories I’ve read, but I’m sure this will be a heavy/difficult read due to the nature of time period and Ernst’s profession conducting scientific experiments for the Nazis. I’ve added to my TBR list.
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