THE BOOK FAIR

Review:

Sande Berger’s Holocaust novel depicts the brothers and sisters of the Kane family, who are separated during World War II.  Charles and his wife Ina, immigrants from Vilna, reside in Brooklyn, NY, in 1941.  Charles founded Kane Knitting, a garment factory, and employs his son, Roy, his sisters, Jeanette and Rena, and his brother, Louis, who also live in his home.  Charles’ and Ina’s only daughter, Mira, designs the company’s wholesale fashion-wear.  Charles, the undisputed ruler of his home and company, manipulates his family members to his will, as he tends to their needs.

Charles however, fails to convince his brother, Mordechai, who resides in Riga, Latvia, to immigrate to America.   After Mordechai along with his wife and mother-in-law are rounded up by the Nazis, Mordechai, in a desperate attempt to save his eight year old daughter, Rosha, gives her to a Christian woman, Marta.  Marta, married to a Jewish man, Avram, takes the young girl into her home, where she must be kept hidden for all of their safety.

The novel primarily narrated by Mira and Rosha, offer very different perspectives of life.  The author states she based the novel from family stories.  The novel’s title is based on a sentiment of Rosha’s grandmother who once explained to Rosha, the sourness of lemons reminds one of sweetness.