After speaking with georgia hunter and jillian cantor about their favorite historical fiction, we became more intrigued about the backstory behind georgia hunter s novel we were the lucky ones, which is inspired by a true story of a jewish family separated at the start of world war ii, who were determined to survive and eventually reunite. We were the lucky ones was born of her quest to uncover her familys staggering history. She was close to her grandfather, who had renamed himself eddy courts from. The story starts in radom, poland in 1939 with the kurc family that. In doing so, we were the lucky ones, i think, became a story not just about my family, but about courage, perseverance, and the ability, even in the darkest of hours, to keep hope alive.
New york times bestseller inspired by the incredible true story of one jewish family separated at the start of world war ii, determined to surviveand to. Those of us who are acons and didnt become narcs ourselves really are the lucky ones. A jewish family is determined to survive and reunite after being separated in world war ii. We were the lucky ones is based on the story of how they did it. There is a notsovery subtle message here about what matters most in life. Second, the love this family held for one another and the cohesiveness of the family unit especially when all else was lost was something that really touched me. Inspired by the incredible true story of one jewish family separated at the start of world war ii, determined to surviveand to reunitewe were the lucky ones. Georgia hunter was unaware of this family history during her american childhood. We were the lucky ones georgia hunter, 2017 penguin publishing 416 pp. Why do you think the author, having amassed a thorough factual history of the familys saga, chose to write we were the lucky ones as historical fiction rather. Thomas kails old 320 sycamore has optioned georgia hunters new york times bestselling novel we were the lucky ones to adapt for television. We were the lucky ones by georgia hunter discussion.
Why do you think the author, having amassed a thorough factual history of the familys saga, chose to write we were the lucky ones as historical fiction rather than nonfiction. We were the lucky ones follows the kurc family from upper middleclass comfort in warsaw and radom to various shtetls, each of which is eventually liquidated, to siberian labor camps, to tel. We were the lucky ones is a compelling read, notable for hunters clear portraits of her plucky, resilient family, and for her ability to build suspense and investment without emotional. We were the lucky ones hunter, georgia 9780399563089 hpb. We were the lucky ones by georgia hunter is about the authors family during the time of the holocaust.
Novel recounts the survival of a family against all odds. We were the lucky ones new york times bestseller inspired by the incredible true story of one jewish family separated at the start of world war ii, determined to surviveand to reunite. Unfortunately, that means her end productthe debut novel we were the lucky onesemerges as an adventure story about a set of stick figures, each one more beautiful and noble than the. To say that we were the lucky ones is a testament to the human spirit is to state the obvious. It is spring 1939, and increasing antijewish sentiment has the community on edge. That being said, we were the lucky ones is enjoyable to read, if slow in parts, i found myself learning things i did not yet know about world war ii and all the ways one lucky family can. We were the lucky ones is the fictionalized account of the true story of the kurc family and their experiences during wwii beginning in their home town of radom, poland in. Georgia hunter, author of we were the lucky ones, speaks at the open book event fall 2016 at the penguin random house offices.
We were the lucky ones by georgia hunter debut publisher. The exercise of deciding where to go next is difficult. I reached out to georgia to learn more about her work as a family historian. World war ii annihilated over 90% of polands jews and all but about 300 of the 30,000 jews from radom, georgia hunters.
This study guide consists of approximately 63 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of we were the. We were the lucky ones by georgia hunter goodreads. To ask other readers questions about we were the lucky ones, please sign up. We were the lucky ones mapping the true storys characters. We were the lucky ones discussion guide libguides ramapo. We were the lucky ones follows one family through the. Rather because something unimaginable happened, and they persevered. We were the lucky ones is a skillfully woven reimagining of hunters own familys struggle for survival during world war ii. Before world war ii, her greatgrandparents, nechuma and sol, owned a thriving business and. The novel begins in paris where addy, middle son of the kurc family, is living as a composer. We were the lucky ones is the harrowing and unlikely story.
We were the lucky ones, an interview with georgia hunter. We were the lucky ones by hunter, georgia a novel based on the true story of a jewishpolish family recounts how the kurcs are scattered throughout the world by the horrors of world war. We were the lucky ones, an interview with georgia hunter book. The following version of this book was used to create this study guide. In hunters lightly fictionalized narrative, we meet her greatgrandfather sol and his wife nechuma, their five adult children and a beloved baby granddaughter. New york times best seller inspired by the incredible true story of one jewish family separated at the start of world war ii, determined to survive. The kurc family s experience during world war ii, beginning in poland and stretching to siberia, italy, and brazil is nothing short of a harrowing odyssey, the outcome of which defies statistics, explanation. We were the lucky ones is the fictionalized account of the true story of the kurc family and their experiences during wwii beginning in their home town of radom, poland in 1939. Thomas kail options we were the lucky ones novel for. The book spans eight years as we follow the kurc family members to several countries and continents including austria, italy, argentina, south america, and siberia, russia as the war continues and finally ends. We were the lucky ones kirkus publishers weekly book companion inspired by the incredible true story of one jewish family separated at the start of world war ii, determined to. Inspired by the incredible true story of one jewish family separated at the start of world war ii, determined to surviveand to reunitewe were the lucky ones is a sweeping. We were the lucky ones by georgia hunter reading guide. We were the lucky ones, written by georgia hunter and published in 2017, is a historical novel based on the actual experiences of the authors family during world war ii.
We were the lucky ones by georgia hunter book summary. In world war ii poland, author georgia hunters family. We were the lucky ones characters listed with descriptions. We were the lucky ones is the culmination of nearly a decade of research. Debut author hunter excavates the remarkable history of her own family in this chronicle, which follows the journeys of a polish jewish family during the holocaust. Georgia hunter at open book event fall 2016 youtube. The kurc family tries to reunite after escaping poland during world war ii. Second, the love this family held for one another and the cohesiveness of the. Georgia hunter will present her debut novel, we were the lucky ones, at the fairfield university bookstore on monday, february 27th, at 7.
Historical context is provided by the chunks of exposition that are folded into the personal stories, which are compellingly told. Sarah this is an excellent book and is based on the authors family history. Georgia hunter has written an epic novel, we were the lucky ones, based on a true family story. Following the footsteps of the characters in we were the lucky ones. In the aftermath of the war, finding each other proved largely futile. We were the lucky ones tells the story of a family of polish jews during what was arguably the most difficult time for jews in. New york times bestseller inspired by the incredible true story of one jewish family separated at the start of world war ii, determined to surviveand to reunitewe were the lucky ones is a tribute to the triumph of hope and love against all odds. We were the lucky ones is a compelling read, notable for hunter s clear portraits of her plucky, resilient family, and for her ability to build suspense and investment without emotional manipulation.
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