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We Must Not Think of Ourselves by Lauren Grodstein
We Must Not Think of Ourselves by Lauren Grodstein
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We Must Not Think of Ourselves: A Novel
by Lauren Grodstein
The Today Show "Read with Jenna" December 2023 Selection | Inspired by the Oneg Shabbat Archive
🕯️ A MASTERPIECE OF HISTORICAL PRESERVATION
Inspired by the real-life underground group that archived the lives of Warsaw Ghetto occupants, this novel explores the impossible choices of love and survival in WWII.
Extended Synopsis
In November 1940, Adam Paskow becomes a prisoner within the walls of the Warsaw Ghetto. His former life is severed, replaced by the grim reality of Nazi captivity. However, Adam is soon recruited into a secret group of archivists—based on the historic Oneg Shabbat project—dedicated to preserving the truth of their daily existence. As Adam gathers testimonies from his students and neighbors, he documents their passions, fears, and strategies for survival, creating a portrait of endurance in a world where every choice is a burden.
Amidst this confinement, Adam interviews his flatmate, Sala Wiskoff. Despite the presence of her husband and children, an impossible and vital love blossoms between them, serving as a desperate tether to their own humanity. When a potential escape route is discovered, Adam is forced to confront a soul-shattering decision: who can be saved, and at what cost? We Must Not Think of Ourselves is a piercing exploration of determination, sacrifice, and the enduring power of the written record.
Author Profile
Lauren Grodstein is the New York Times bestselling author of several novels, including A Friend of the Family and The Explanation for Everything. Her work has been translated into multiple languages and featured in The New York Times Book Review and The Washington Post. She is a professor of creative writing at Rutgers University-Camden.
Reader Targeting & Academic Utility
- Historical Fiction Scholars: An essential modern text regarding the Holocaust and the Jewish resistance through documentation.
- Book Clubs: A profound selection for discussing ethics, wartime romance, and the "Jenna’s Book Club" curriculum.
- Researchers: A narrative gateway into the history of the Oneg Shabbat archive and the sociology of the Warsaw Ghetto.
Accolades & Awards
- The Today Show "Read with Jenna" Book Club Pick (December 2023)
- Praised by Madeline Miller as "profound, gripping, urgent, and beautiful."
- Featured as a "Gripping and Hopeful" selection by People Magazine.
Product Specifications
| ISBN-13: | 9781643752341 |
| ISBN-10: | 1643752340 |
| Publisher: | Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill |
| Binding: | Hardcover |
| Edition: | 1 |
| Publication Date: | 2023 |
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