Lilac Girls is a historical Fiction set in the Nazi Period . I read this book a few months back , but couldn’t really bring myself to write a review about it. There are a lot of historical fictions from the WWII timelines & the sufferings of the people from then breaks my heart a little more with each book . In Lilac Girls , there are 3 main characters – Herta from Germany , Kasia from Poland & Caroline from NY  . This is  a perfectly set story giving the reader a glimpse into the lives of the Oppressor , Oppressed and Observer .
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This is one of my top 5 reads this year . Absolutely loved it ! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
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Herta is a Doctor at a concentration camp in Hitler’s Germany . Herta’s journey from a young girl to joining the camp as a Doctor to help Patients , shows her humane side. She is disgusted by the way the Prisoners are experimented upon. But She gradually turns ruthless & justifies her actions while serving Hitler’s agenda . Though this transformation was rather well written , there was a lack of depth to the cause of this change that made the character un-relatable and so unjustifiable .
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Kasia is a teenager with boy problems which seemed like the biggest issue until Hitler invaded Poland ! The new rules imposed on the Polish folks made life difficult , but things went south quickly when she got shipped to a concentration camp . The drastic shift in her reality is unimaginably heartbreaking . The prisoners from Poland were used for medical experiments & known as “Rabbits” . Their lives after the surgeries are miserable and they are left to agonize in horrible, overpopulated rooms. The public executions , typhus epidemic , lack of food , and inhumane treatment in the camp are lamentable.
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Caroline is a NY elite and dates a French actor Paul. Paul has a wife in France & attempts to return to her. Caroline’s side of the story portrays how Germany’s invasions had ripple effects in other countries too.  The events in Caroline’s life showed how extreme Kasia’s situation was in contrast , and also provided a much needed break in the narrative from the overwhelming camp incidents . Caroline’s philanthropic efforts take her to Europe .
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The 3 women are brought together under odd circumstances , and their lives cross paths brilliantly . The book goes further into the post war lives of the characters and that provides a full picture. The Author’s extensive research to write a book of this caliber is highly commendable