An epic novel spanning decades about the broken bonds of family, memories of war, and redemption and hope in the face of heartbreaking loss.
Growing up in 1960s Brooklyn, Lena wants to be a baker just like her mother was back in Poland prior to World War II. But questions about those days, and about a sister Lena never even knew, are ignored with solemn silence. It’s as if everything her parents left behind was a subject never to be broached. The one person in whom Lena can confide is her best friend, Pearl. When she suddenly disappears from Lena’s life, Lena forges ahead: college, love and marriage with a wonderful man, the dream of owning a bakery becoming a reality, and the hope that someday Pearl will return to share in Lena’s happiness—and to be there for her during the unexpected losses to come. Only when Lena discovers the depth of her parents’ anguish, and a startling truth about her own past, can they rebuild a family and overcome the heart-wrenching memories that have torn them apart.
…In The Baker of Lost Memories, the past is not just history; it is a living presence, influencing the choices, relationships, and dreams of those who carry it forward.
The complexities of Lena’s personality and the effect of parental traumas are capably intertwined into a story that would make for a good book club discussion.
…The power of the narrative comes when the family’s bonds are ultimately tested. Skillfully told and filled with emotion, THE BAKER OF LOST MEMORIES is a heartfelt and moving story.
Lena ends up being a survivor in many ways, including carrying a lot of her parents pain. For anyone wondering if there will still be survivors left in a decade, the answer can be found in The Baker of Lost Memories…
…This is such a powerful, heartfelt and emotional book, that I highly recommend this thought-provoking book to others.
I absolutely loved Castle in Brooklyn and The Baker of Lost Memories is also a beautiful read… This book covers love, loss, pain, and many other surprises along the way…
Complexities abound within this quietly searing historical fiction.
Spanning decades, an unforgettable novel about reckoning with the past, the true nature of friendship, and the dream of finding home.
For fans of Ann Patchett’s The Dutch House, Lauren Fox’s Send For Me and Linda Cohen Loigman’s The Two-Family House comes a moving and heartfelt immigration story of one man’s dream to have a family and build a home in America, a place where anything is possible. In A CASTLE IN BROOKLYN (Little A; January 1, 2023), critically acclaimed author Shirley Russak Wachtel pens her debut novel, an engaging and beautifully written tale that explores three main themes: the importance of following one’s dreams; the enduring nature of family and friendship; and the idea that home is a reflection of the lives within its four walls.
…Wachtel lays bare an incredible resilience and desire to live that will inspire readers and keep them turning the page. Magnificent.
…An enchanting, lively, and heartbreaking novel―all at once… Wachtel delivers a most worthy debut.
This is a story about immigration, adaptation to new cultures, and, for Esther, a chance to grapple with the traditional roles that women play. The house itself is an important part of the story … a solid choice for book clubs.
A vibrant family saga…A CASTLE IN BROOKLYN is an impressive debut novel that illustrates the many ways that the Holocaust continues to impact contemporary Jewish life; a deeply felt hatred of fascism gives the novel its heft and lasting relevance.
