The Takeaway Men

Join us for this tour from July 14 to Aug 10, 2020!

Book Details:

Book Title:  The Takeaway Men by Meryl Ain
Category:  Adult fiction 18 yrs +,  264 pages
Genre:  Historical Fiction
Publisher:  Sparkpress
Release date:   August 4, 2020
Content Rating:  PG-13 + M because there are references to extra-marital affairs. There is no explicit sex in the book.

Book Description:

With the cloud of the Holocaust still looming over them, twin sisters Bronka and Johanna Lubinski and their parents arrive in the US from a Displaced Persons Camp. In the years after World War II, they experience the difficulties of adjusting to American culture as well as the burgeoning fear of the Cold War. Years later, the discovery of a former Nazi hiding in their community brings the Holocaust out of the shadows. As the girls get older, they start to wonder about their parents’ pasts, and they begin to demand answers. But it soon becomes clear that those memories will be more difficult and painful to uncover than they could have anticipated. Poignant and haunting, The Takeaway Men explores the impact of immigration, identity, prejudice, secrets, and lies on parents and children in mid-twentieth-century America.

Now Available for Pre-order!
Release date: August 4, 2020
Amazon.com ~ Barnes & Noble ~ IndieBound
Add to Goodreads

Review:


Aron and Edyta Lubinski have survived the horrors of Poland during World War II. Edyta risked her life to relocate children and then hid Aron away in her attic. After the War, Aron and Edyta don't feel comfortable in Poland and find their way to a Displaced Persons Camp where Edyta converts to Judaism and gives birth to twin girls, Bronka and Johanna. Aron and Edyta find a way to the United States where they live with Aron's relatives, Izzy and Faye. Once in America Aron delves deeper into his religion and attempts to forget about the horrors of his past, never talking about his story. Dyta strives to be the best Jewish wife she can be while Johanna and Bronka find their place in American culture. The girls grow up knowing they are Jewish, but without any knowledge of their parent's past. As Communism stretches into their neighborhood, the family witnesses a Jewish neighbor being arrested for ties to Communism and Aron is immediately reminded of his time in Poland. His fear transfers to his daughter Bronka who yearns for the full story while Johanna takes a more carefree approach to life. When the truth of their parent's past comes through, Bronka and Johanna are shocked while Aron and Edyta must finally come forth with the secrets of their family.

The Takeaway Men is an insightful and heartfelt look into the experiences of Jewish immigrants after World War II. Aron and Dyta's experience was unique, although no less harrowing than many of their Jewish neighbors in New York. It was interesting to see the different approaches to dealing with the trauma that each family experienced during the War from constantly telling everyone they meet their experiences, to trying to enact revenge, and trying to hide their experiences from everyone. The effects of Aron's fear and shame was apparent through Bronka's panic attacks and showed just how lasting trauma can be. It was really thought provoking to see the similarities drawn between the arrests for Communism in America and for being Jewish in Europe. The story was told from the third person point of view in order to incorporate everyone's very different experiences; however, through this lens, I didn't feel like I connected with anyone. At the end, I was happy that the truth had come out, but I did wish that I could see the effects of this on the twins.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

Meet the Author:

Meryl Ain’s articles and essays have appeared in Huffington Post, The New York Jewish Week, The New York Times, Newsday and other publications. The Takeaway Men is her debut novel. In 2014, she co-authored the award-winning book, The Living Memories Project: Legacies That Last, and in 2016, wrote a companion workbook, My Living Memories Project Journal. She is a sought-after speaker and has been interviewed on television, radio, and podcasts. She is a career educator and is proud to be both a teacher and student of history. She has also worked as a school administrator. The Takeaway Men is the result of her life-long quest to learn more about the Holocaust, a thirst that was first triggered by reading The Diary of Anne Frank in the sixth grade. While teaching high school history, she introduced her students to the study of the Holocaust. At the same time, she also developed an enduring fascination with teaching about and researching the Julius and Ethel Rosenberg case. An interview with Robert Meeropol, the younger son of the Rosenbergs, is featured in her book, The Living Memories Project. The book also includes an interview with Holocaust survivor, Boris Chartan, the founder of the Holocaust Museum and Tolerance Center of Nassau County, New York. Meryl holds a BA from Queens College, an MA from Teachers College, Columbia University, and an Ed.D. from Hofstra University. She lives in New York with her husband, Stewart. They have three married sons and six grandchildren.

Connect with the author:  Website  ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~Instagram

Tour Schedule:

July 14 – Viviana MacKade – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
July 14 - Working Mommy Journal – book review / giveaway
July 14 - Book World Reviews  - book review / author interview
July 15 – 100 Pages A Day – book review / giveaway
July 16 – RebeccaReviewedIt – book review / author interview
July 17 – T's Stuff – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
July 18 - Just One More Chapter – book review
July 20 – Pick a good book – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
July 21 – Splashes of Joy – book review / author interview / giveaway
July 22 - Rockin' Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
July 23 – Olio by Marilyn – book spotlight / author interview
July 23 – Olio by Marilyn – book review / giveaway
July 24 – THE WORLD AS I SEE IT – book review
July 27 – Book after Book – book spotlight / author interview
July 28 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
July 28 - Leels Loves Books - book review / giveaway
July 29 – She Just Loves Books – book review / giveaway
July 30 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
July 31 – Reading is My Passion – book review / giveaway
July 31 - The Eclectic Review – book review
Aug 3 – I'm All About Books – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Aug 3 - Sefina Hawke's Books – book spotlight
Aug 4 - Library of Clean Reads – book review / giveaway
Aug 4 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
Aug 4 - Peaceful Pastime – book review
Aug 4 - Book Corner News and Reviews – book review / giveaway
Aug 5 – Svetlanas reads and views – book review
Aug 5 - Books and Zebras – book review / giveaway
Aug 5 - Alexis Marie Chute – book review / author interview
Aug 6 – Pen Possessed – book review / giveaway
Aug 6 - Books for Books – book spotlight
Aug 7 – StoreyBook Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Aug 10 – My Fictional Oasis – book review
Aug 10 - Adventurous Jessy - book review / giveaway

Enter the Giveaway:

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway