CHARGE (What was the author trying to say?): To describe experiences during WWI in Russia and France.
FACTS: The story is told from the point of view of three different characters .I often found it hard to follow the story because of the format. This is the prequel to The Lilac Girls written by the same author about the WWII era. Lost Roses goes back a generation to describe the childhood of Caroline Ferriday. I’m not a fan of prequels, I would prefer to read books in chronological order. The story is compelling, yet some of the characters seem less than authentic. It is a story of strong bonds among women in difficult times. It is an easy read. The brutality and privations of the times are explicitly described. I think it would have been more compelling if written in a single voice.
VERDICT (Was the author successful?)” Guilty, as charged.
Book Court 