The Plum Tree

by Ellen Marie Wiseman

Book Overview

A deeply moving and masterfully written story of human resilience and enduring love, The Plum Tree follows a young German woman through the chaos of World War II and its aftermath. "Bloom where you're planted," is the advice Christine B lz receives from her beloved Oma. But seventeen-year-old domestic Christine knows there is a whole world waiting beyond her small German village. It's a world she's begun to glimpse through music, books--and through...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0758278438
• ISBN13: 9780758278432
• Release Date: December 2012
• Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 0.87 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.6" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Wonderful book

I read it in one day. Extremely absorbing, beautiful story.

Historical/ Fictional world war ll

Wow..I don't know where to begin ! THIS BOOK IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!..I bought this book on a whim to tell the truth....never having heard of the Author (who by the way is a Fantastic writer) and more so because I was intrigued by the title, so when I read the short synopsis of the story, I thought ... it sounded good... enough to spike my interest, I bought it..and could tell you it was one of many purchases I have made ...and stories that I have read,... that I will Never be Sorry for.!!! Her Characters are so real, the struggles are so real...down to the onions cooking in butter in the frying pan to have with their dinner, is sooo relatable.... you can just smell them cooking..it just made the book, the Characters, the events that changed their lives, and their every day exsistance so much more than another war story. At times (alot) you will be absolutely amazed at the strength of Christina and her mother, and ALL the characters..It is a love story on so many levels, Not just between Christina and her boyfriend Issac, but between her mother and father, sister and brothers, Her Oma, and Opa (grandparents) The love she has for the beautiful Deep Forest behind her house, and her village she lives in and all the people that make it. " Their Home" . The Horrible tragedies are here in all the Hatefulness Hilter has for the Jews, the terrible laws, that grow worse seemingly overnight..The Desperation Christina and Issac feel..and know in their hearts is coming closer and closer, knowing every precious day, hour, second, may be the last time they see each other, talk to each other, hold each other, feel each other's heartbeat, and tender kisses.This book had me staying up on two different nights till 3am !!! I JUST COULD NOT put it down !!! . It's a Fantastic story....that you WOULDN'T believe what happens to Christina and Issac, and then Her Father, and Sister Maria. The terrible tragedies of war, the cold of winter, the ruthless rationing of food, and not enough of food, electricity, coal, and even firewood, is becoming scarce, because the whole village is suffering the same way, and chopping trees left and right to have warmth during the bitter cold winter. There are Many Moments your heart will break for the family, not just Christina and Issac, BUT theirs is the MOST HEARTBREAKING OF ALL, what happens to them, what they endure, and what seems Almost, Absolutely Absurdly Impossible,... How it all comes together in the end ( not telling) for them . I Can't say enough about the writing of this story... the details, big and small, the smells, the feelings, of love, cold, pain, the texture of things...just unbelievable. If It were possible I have no doubt in my mind I would give this book " 10 Big Stars" In my opinion it truly deserves them, for the story, the realistic details, and the accuracy of all the Historical parts of her story. In fact the author explains, that the story its self..is based on actual events her grandparents and mother went through during the war, but it IS NOT Her Family's Story, but facts and events that had been told to her growing up, that led her to create the Base for her story "The Plum Tree". A wonderful read, if you ever have the chance, you will not be sorry.!!!

Enjoyable

couldn't put this book down