This is a novel that should haunt you. The premise is powerful: a schoolteacher recording accounts in the Warsaw Ghetto. The writing is touching and clearly well-researched, but I found it didn’t linger in my memory the way I hoped. Maybe it needs a re-read, or maybe its softness works against the weight of its topic. Either way, it’s a book I respect.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest thoughts!

Author Lauren Grodstein believes that had her great-grandparents not left Warsaw twenty years before World War II, she likely would not have been born. She first learned about the Oneg Shabbat Archive in 2019 when she traveled to Poland with her family and they “stumbled into” the Archive, one wall of which bears the words “What we’ve been unable to shout out to the world.” Displayed there are notebooks, paintings and drawings, and one of the large milk cans in which those documents were buried so that they, fortunately, withstood the destruction of the Warsaw Ghetto in 1943. Grodstein recalls that as they were leaving, she observed, “There are a thousand novels in that room,” to which her sister replied, “Maybe you should write one.” She then spent a full year researching and pondering the story because she wanted to be sure she could “do justice to those people and their stories, and honor them.”

“It is up to us to write our own history. Deny the Germans the last word.” We Must Not Think of Ourselves opens with that December 1940 entreaty to fictional Adam Paskow. He is enlisted to record “all the details, even if they seem insignificant,” as part of an archival project so that after World War II, the world will know “the truth about what happened.” Adam agrees, accepting the risk that if his activities are discovered, he will likely be executed. The archive group is called Oneg Shabbat, meaning “the joy of the Sabbath.”

Adam begins with his own history. In a first-person narrative, he explains that he is a Jewish English teacher living in a cramped apartment with two other families, teaching about four to six students in the basement of a bombed-out movie theater. He met his wife, Kasia, when they were both studying English literature in college. She was the Catholic daughter of a wealthy and influential official with the Polish government. They married in 1930 and were happy, even though they were never able to have children, until she died tragically. Even after her death, her father, Henryk, who at least ostensibly accepted his daughter’s marriage to a Jewish man, continued serving as Adam’s benefactor, enabling him to continue residing in their stylish apartment on his public teacher’s salary. After being forced to relocate to the Ghetto, Adam resolved to continue teaching, despite having no novels, short stories, or textbooks, and committed to assigning to his pupils only uplifting and joyous poems that he memorized over the years. His students attend class sporadically, largely because they are often engaging in forbidden bartering or stealing in an effort to gather enough food for their families to survive.

A year after Germany invaded Poland, Adam still struggles to understand world events and the purported logic behind them. He remains understandably baffled by the bombardment and decimation of his homeland, and the unbridled atrocities he has already witnessed. He cannot fathom what the Polish people may have done to provoke the “terrorizing of children, the stabbing of old men on the streets, the rape of our young women, and the public hanging of our soldiers.” He could have fled to Palestine to reside with his brother and mother, but like so many others, he stayed. “We had our lives and our livelihoods, and couldn’t envision starting over somewhere” else. “I’ll wait for the Allies, I suppose,” Adam told his father-in-law, when Henryk offered to secure a Polish kennkarte (passport) for him. (Henryk suspiciously sought to retrieve jewelry he gifted Kasia -- items Adam viewed as a potential safety net) Adam could not foresee, of course, that the Germans would rob him and his fellow Jews of much more than their money, prohibiting them from practicing their professions, forcing them out of their homes and synagogues, denying them basic civil rights, and, finally, taking their freedom, insisting they had to be relocated because they “carried disease.” Only when Adam arrives at his new apartment does he realize that he has been double-crossed by Henryk and the apartment he believed he would solely occupy will, in fact, also be home to the Lescovec and Wiskoff families and their total of five rambunctious sons. With no options, they all agree “to try to live our lives peaceably . . . until a better situation presents itself.” The gates to the new district in which they are forced to reside were locked on November 16, 1940.

To relate the stories of those he interviews for the project, Grodstein includes Adam’s notes. Their histories are fascinating, absorbing, and largely heartbreaking. As the days pass, their living conditions worsen and they do not have enough food. But there is a black market and Adam saved some valuable items to trade, a dangerous endeavor, in order to help feed the children who are part of his household. Adam’s narrative is straightforward and candid, his descriptions of the horrors of life in the Ghetto and the brutalities he witnesses unsparing, but essential to an understanding of his experiences and emotions.

Adam is principled, dedicated to his students, and likable. His story is completely gripping and sympathetic. His naivete is evident, as Grodstein illustrates, in part, through his interactions with other characters. He grows close to his housemates, especially Sala Wiskoff, who is focused on keeping her two sons alive. They are actively smuggling food, while her husband, Emil, has been leveled by grief over the death of his mother. Sala ponders whether they are “really are just waiting here to die.” Adam rationalizes that “they can’t kill all of us. What would be the gain in that? It’s illogical. And the Nazis pride themselves on being logical.” Isolated and cut off from the rest of the world, Adam and his fellow prisoners in the Ghetto have no idea what is actually taking place beyond the locked gates. But their musings and struggle to find reason in a world gone mad is fascinating, thought-provoking, and enlightening, especially when considered through the lens of history.

Grodstein has deftly created a cast of vibrant characters whose stories are mesmerizing. Szifra Joseph, a beautiful and intelligent fifteen-year-old who was Adam’s student before the war, is one of the most memorable. Her family was wealthy – her father owned a clothing factory which was commandeered by the Germans – but now her mother, on the verge of complete mental collapse, toils in a brush factory and her younger brothers risk their lives foraging for food. Her family has connections to the Warner Brothers in Hollywood, and she plans to use those connections to make her way to California once the Ghetto is liberated. Because of all she has been through, she is angry, outspoken, cynical, and jaded. She believes she can secure her family’s safety through manipulation and persuasion, relying on her charms to gain favor with their captors. She is certain she can obtain kennkartes that will enable them to escape. “It is my choice to take charge of my life and my goals and protect my family and rely on the good graces of whomever can help me,” she tells Afam.

We Must Not Think of Ourselves is moving and emotionally impactful because, remarkably, Grodstein manages, seemingly effortlessly, to craft an engrossing story that is both uplifting and life-affirming. Despite everything he must ensure, Adam finds love and it helps sustain him as, with each passing day, matters grow more dire. The relationship is undeniably born from the circumstances in which Adam and the woman find themselves, but the ways in which they cling to and comfort each other are believable, understandable, and deeply affecting. Grodstein says it was “very important to me to shine a light in the darkness. Even with material as serious as this, to provide some sense that life could get better at the end.” Indeed, as the late Harvey Milk wisely observed, “You cannot live on hope alone, but without it, life is not worth living.” Despite his experiences, Adam – in part because he is too naïve and inherently decent to imagine the extent and types of evil the Nazis will eventually unleash – is able to maintain hope that the Allies will in fact rescue him and the others. His commitment to the archive is evidence of his optimism and belief that the world will someday know the truth about exactly what transpired in the Ghetto. Which is not to say that his confidence is unfailing. He fights not to fall into permanent dispair, at one point convinced that "we are creating a portrait of Polish Jews at the end of our history.” However, Grodstein credibly shows that holding on to optimism and hope leads to triumph, even if not without sacrifice.

We Must Not Think of Ourselves is one of the best books of 2023, a stand-out tale on bookshelves crowded with volumes of World War II historical fiction. Grodstein elevates the genre because of the compassionate, measured, and seamless way she relates the various ways in which Adam and the other characters refuse to give up, give in, or relinquish their identities and histories . . . or abandon their commitment to the truth. In addition to being an absorbing and deeply moving exploration of events that occurred in a particular time and place to a specific group of people, it is also both contemporary and timely, a warning against complacency and a conviction that history is incapable of repeating itself. She says her motivation for penning the book was a “desire to honor those who remained, who died, and who left us their words. . . . I did my best to hear, and to share, what they could not shout out to the world.” We Must Not Think of Ourselves is inarguably the loving and riveting homage she envisioned.

This book holds an incredibly important story within it, especially in our current time where there are individuals doubting the factual history of the Holocaust and other tragedies during World War II. That being said, I think it's incredibly important to discuss some of the content warnings surrounding the content of the book all of which are important to read and learn about but could be distressing to younger readers. For example, there is a scene of sexual assault as well as discussion of power imbalances used for sexual advances. There are also several instances of physical assault, death, and starvation. All of that being said, this book captures a story of occupation during World War II that isn't always shared in common textbooks.

Unfortunately I was unable to download this book before the archive date, so I'm not able to leave a review. I look forward to reading and reviewing books by this author in the future.

A significant and important piece of historical fiction. Deeply moving and emotional look at people living in the Warsaw ghetto in WW2. A new to me bit of history. Well drawn characters and excellent story. Recommend!

Set in the Warsaw Jewish ghetto, this was a very moving story that offers a glimpse into everyday survival in horrendous conditions. Main character Adam Paskow, a middle age widower, reluctantly gives his apartment to his Catholic father in law and moves to an apartment in the ghetto. He is outraged when two other families move in, all tricked by his father in law.
They are relatively fortunate to have some money and possessions that can be sold, traded, or used for firewood through the many months they live there.
Based off true journals from the residents, thisbstory was enlightening as tragic. We must never forget the atrocities of the Holocaust.

On what seems like an ordinary November day, in 1940, Adam Paskow, finds himself trapped inside the Warsaw Ghetto. The unimaginable has happened and each he spends trying to find a new normal. The Jews of the city have been rounded up and cut off from the city. The Nazi guards, will determine the fate of each and every Jewish citizen and it is horrific. A few weeks into the lock up, a stranger asks Adam if he would like to be apart of the resistance. A group of archivists working to preserve the truth of what is happening. Adam begins and starts speaking and working with friends,
neighbors and students to get their verbal testimonies. He doesn’t want to miss one single story and once he hears makes him more defiant, to get them all. His flatmate Sala Wiskoff, becomes one of his closet friends. As they endure their confinement their friendship grows. Feelings become hard to ignore and they must tread lightly. She is a funny, smart confidant but there is a line he tries so hard not to cross. One day he is offered a way out of the ghetto and it is an offer too good to refuse. He can’t conceive staying in the ghetto but he can’t imagine leaving it. His instinct is to run but can he? Will he be able to leave those behind he now loves? A story about the Holocaust is never an easy to read. Lauren Grodstein, has written a beautiful book about another aspect of the Holocaust and it was heartbreaking. But it proves that even when men/women are being treated horrifically, the human spirit tends to rise and protect the people. This book was inspired by the testimony gathering project called Oneg Shabbat, I think it is important to know how brave these people were, how much they sacrificed their own lives to listen and to record these testimonies. I never pass up an opportunity to read a historical fiction book, it’s my favorite genre of books. We Must Not Think Of Ourselves, is a perfect example of capturing such a difficult time in history with such heart. The characters are excellent and the story is top notch. I want to thank Netgalley, the author & Algonquin Books for my copy for an honest review. It was my pleasure to read and review this book. It was a 5 star read for me and I have recommended it to all my book lovers.

In Poland 1940 while Jews are being rounded up and their houses and possessions stolen, they are being sent to a small part of the city to all live together in an urban prison - the Warsaw Ghetto. Adam, a widower and a teacher, ends up in a corner of an apartment which he shares with multiple other families. As a teacher he continues to teach the children in the Ghetto as well as joining a new project - the Oneg Shabbat. He begins helping the other secret archivists to interview other Ghetto residents and keep journals of the horrors going on around them. While trying to live through impossible circumstances Adam is forced to make choices that would have seemed inconceivable to him before the war.

This had been on my TBR for quite a while so I was excited to finally get to it. This book had so much to discuss and I’m glad I was about to get some thoughts out with a friend. While it’s a Holocaust story (and an excellent one at that) - it’s also about the human condition and how people are excellent at adapting to the circumstances that they are in. Children are children and need to have life move forward and continue to go on even with the world falling apart around them. I loved learning about the Oneg Shabbat project and the desire to document the individual stories of people in the Ghetto as well as the macro experiences around them. I am picky about what WWII novels I want to read but this one is definitely a worthwhile one.

Thank you to Algonquin Books and NetGalley for the ARC

Earlier this month I went on a tour of Poland. I had this book on my TBR and read it when I returned home. My first stop on my trip was a visit to the Warsaw ghetto which included the monument of the Footbridge over Chlodna Street which is depicted on the cover.

The book is about Adam Paskow, a teacher, living in the Warsaw ghetto. While there, he becomes part of a secret group of archivists creating a historical record for the future by interviewing students, and housemates. For each interview,he documents the horrific conditions, their feelings, as well as the daily struggles. These documents were recovered after the war - The Oneg Shabbat underground archive.

I want thank the author for this well researched and impactful novel.

The offerings for WWII historical fiction is very saturated; it is often hard to find a plotline that I haven't read before. This book offered a refreshing new story to read and enjoy. While every Holocaust story is worth the read, this one highlighted the resilience of prisoners in the Warsaw ghetto. The most heartbreaking is remembering that this book was based off of REAL and actual archives.

I know there are a lot of Holocaust books out there. This one is worth the read! Well written, raw, and honest.

An important story that I wish I saw more people reading! I did feel like the beginning was slow but I appreciated the ending. I think if someone is unfamiliar with the Warsaw Ghetto and ghettos in general they would find this story fascinating.

I have always been drawn to stories set in World War 2, this was not an exception. Lauren did a fantastic job drawing us into a terrible place in Warsaw. The ghetto. We are drawn into a story that is hard, but so was that time. I would absolutely read this again.

We Must Not Think of Ourselves by Lauren Grodstein. Pub Date: November 28, 2023. Rating: 3 stars. Set in the Warsaw Ghetto during WWII, this is a story that involves archiving the lives and stories of the people of Warsaw during a devastating time. The main character Adam is archiving what is happening at Warsaw and the people who have been affected by it. The hope is that one day people will be able to reflect and learn from the stories of the people who were put in Warsaw and shut off from their lives during WWII. WWII historical fiction can be a tough space to fit into due to it is heavily written about, which I think was why I only found this story to be 3 stars. I usually find these types of stories enthralling and engaging, but this time I did not and did not find it to be in a unique category of this heavily populated genre. I can appreciate what the author was trying to convey about preserving history, but overall this was just an okay read to me. Thanks to #netgalley and #algonquin for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

A wonderful example of historical fiction. Grodstein's characters inhabit the all of the pain and fear of jews in the wartime, Warsaw Ghetto. The plot arch was unexpected and riveting. A hard and difficult story told with a deft, graceful hand for character and voice.

We Must Not Think of Ourselves is a moving story set in the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II. The novel follows Adam Paskow, an English teacher and childless widower, confined to the ghetto along with 450,000 others. Forced to leave his spacious flat, Adam now shares a cramped apartment with two other families, works in a soup kitchen, and teaches English to children in a bombed-out movie theater.

Adam’s life takes a turn when Emanuel Ringelblum recruits him to join a secret group of archivists documenting their experiences. Through interviews with his students and fellow residents, Adam records their lives, dreams, fears, and survival strategies. One of these interviews is with his flatmate, Sala Wiskoff, who, despite being married with two children, falls in love with Adam. Their relationship becomes a vital source of connection amidst the chaos.

Grodstein masterfully captures the Warsaw Ghetto's stark reality, with vivid depictions of the squalor, fear, and desperation. With stark realism, she captures the constant threat of violence and harrowing scenes of Nazi brutality. She also highlights the relentless optimism and determination of those living on the edge.

However, the sheer number of characters and the back-and-forth narrative structure can be disorienting, making it challenging to track the various storylines. While the episodic nature allows for a broad portrayal of ghetto life, it sometimes detracts from the depth of individual character arcs. 4 stars.

** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. The opinions are my own.

”We Must Not Think of Ourselves” is set in the Warsaw Ghetto during WWII and based on the uprising against the nazis. The author creates a beautiful and harrowing tale of resilience, love, and sacrifice. This book shows the enduring human spirit and will to survive in the face of unimaginable hardship.

We Must Not Think of Ourselves should probably be on your summer reading list. It reminded me of the course I took in college entitled Literature of the Holocaust. The structure of the course was that we read 13 novels about the holocaust in a specific order starting with the ultimate victim, Anne Frank, to the ultimate perpetrator, The Reader. Like the Book of Lost Names, this fictional account of the Warsaw ghetto and the diaries kept could easily be slotted into this coursework that explores the moral complexity and ethical dilemmas nearly everyone living in this war experienced. I also appreciated how varied the characters in this book were in terms of their Jewish faith and family traditions (or lack thereof).

In We Must Not Think of Ourselves, I think the author does a good job demonstrating the sliding scale of victim and perpetrator. What would you do if it meant staying alive?

Books about the Holocaust are incredibly important, especially as the last survivors will soon be unable to share their personal accounts. Unfortunately, this book also seems timely and relevant to modern day with the ongoing war and terrorist activity happening.

Thank you to Algonquin Books/Algonquin Young Readers and NetGalley for my ARC.

Unique, unforgettable, and raw. I am always reading WW II novels and while I love the genre, they can sometimes feel a bit overdone. This was a new perceptive and way of storytelling on such a difficult time. I really enjoyed this and would recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thoughtful... draws you in... you can just feel everything and you want to know more about the characters. It is sad but the stories must be told, and the storyteller (both the author and the recorder in the book) are dramatic and well thought out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. #sponsored

This is a tough read. It’s heartbreaking. I think when you know that the stories are real and fleshed out for fiction it makes it so much harder to read. We all need to hear, share, and bear witness. We Must Not Think of Ourselves is a must read.