The Sugar Men by Ray Kingfisher
The Sugar Men was a touching story about loss and survival. Not only did it tackle issues such as the Holocaust, but also the struggle we each have with coming to terms with our past. The book examines old scars: scars of a country, scars of a family, and scars of a mother. It shows the importance of facing our demons and ghosts in order to make peace with our regrets and our guilt.
While there have been many books about the Holocaust, this book brings some insightful aspects. The book focuses on telling the horrors via flashbacks as an elderly woman, faced with her own mortality yet again, she embarks on a journey back to the concentration camp. There were a few clever play on words, including the title that added some special touches. Overall the story is something you may have read before in other novels, but that does not detract from the story, nor should it be a reason for not picking this book up. The horrors of that time period deserve our recognition and this book is well written and a worthwhile read.
Emotionally charged, the reader sees the various stages of coping, recovery, and daily survival. Coming to terms with the guilt of living is a heavy burden and the way Susannah copes with that makes this book an interesting and worthwhile read. The book shows the power of hope, strength, and the people who come into our lives and are unforgettable.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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