Book Review: Gracianna by Trini Amador

About:
Gracianna by Trini Amador is a fictional account of the author’s great-grandmother’s time in Paris during World War II. The book is inspired by true event, the author found a Luger hidden in Gracianna Lasaga’s nightstand and started to research how the artifact came into his grandmother’s possession.

• 296 pages
• Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1608325709

My rating for Gracianna – 3

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Thoughts:
Gracianna by Trini Amador is a difficult book to review because part of it was based on a real person and some of it was fictional.  Most of the time the book kept my attention and the portions that dealt with Nazi occupied Paris were interesting and engaging.

The protagonist is a strong, independent woman who wants to immigrate to America but finds herself in situations that give her a choice to either be victimized or use brutal force, at great peril, to come up on top.

It is understandable why the author felt compelled to write such an incredible story. The novel takes the reader on a journey of a young woman from the mountains to Paris where she has no friends, family, job or money but still manages to make ends meet. When Paris becomes occupied the protagonist’s life turns upside down and she has to give up her dream and help her sister in Auschwitz.

The way the author chose to style the story felt a little impersonal and distant. I always felt as if I was told what was happening instead of being shown. I had no idea what the characters looked like or the sensation a young girl from a rural area felt when she entered the overwhelming Paris.

I struggled a bit through the book, even though it kept up my interest. Gracianna’s story is interesting and fascinating, even if half the story is made up she is still an incredible woman.

Synopsis:
In the early 1940s, Gracianna Lasaga, a young girl from the mountains, sets her sights on reaching America. However, soon Gracianna is entangled in world War II and Nazi occupied Paris. Soon Gracianna finds a way to fight against the occupiers while also trying to achieve her dream and help her sister.

Buy this book in paper or electronic format*

More Rec­om­mended World War II books on Man of la BookStore

Give­away

• Give­away ends: November 26, 2013

• US Ship­ping Addresses Only

• No PO Boxes

• Win­ners will have 24 hours to write back with their address, oth­er­wise an alter­nate win­ner will be picked

Congratulations: dsickles87@

Zohar — Man of la Book
Dis­claimer: I got this book for free from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours.
*Ama­zon links point to an affil­i­ate account