I'm reading this on the back of a non-fiction polemic/rant by Baddiel (Jews Don't Count) - in which he mentions this book. Looks interesting.

(31/10/21) *includes spoilers* This is an odd mixture of history (with a political sub-text), thriller & love story. I’ll look at these parts separately. Yes, a love story, or maybe 2? Isaac Fabian, a weak and unlikeable Jewish communist, and the plucky Ministry of Information (very Orwellian!) translator June Murray who are forced together as interviewee and interviewer in the wartime internment camps in the Isle of Man. Although their relationship is ultimately doomed, it provides a fascinating ‘what if’ on the course of the war. Also, a parallel story between Isaac’s wife Lulu and the creepy Douglas Lean back in Cambridge, as the former tries to get enough testimonials to release Isaac. Not that he particularly deserves it - IMHO! A ‘soft-boiled’ thriller, culminating in a failed assassination attempt and some muddled retrospective tidying up of some loose ends. We follow the main characters into adulthood, which I normally like, and a rather odd finale outside the gates of Auschwitz. And lastly, or rather firstly, the existence of the camps, which I wasn’t aware of, and June’s subterfuge to get first-hand testimonies from the [mostly] German Jewish internees. If this were a true story, we would be rooting for ‘the’ truth (or any version of the truth) to be known and publicised. But, however shocking the Final Solution was, no one could quite believe that it was possible, and could navigate through the layers of propaganda & misinformation that conspired to hide it. I know from reading ‘Jews Don’t Count’ recently that Baddiel has a thing about Jewishness & prejudice, some of which you can spot here as nascent thoughts and the behaviours of the British towards migrant Jews. To me it is interesting academically to think about the nature of ‘Jew’ and ‘Jewish’ adjectives, for example, but this pales into the insignificance compared to Pogroms, the Holocaust and bigger injustices; but maybe I’m missing the point, maybe acknowledging and challenging the former might prevent (have prevented) the latter? This isn’t a wholly complete or successful novel, but a fascinating and thought-provoking subject.

The first batch of books - not all all registered - looking for some shelf space The Cross Keys new 'crossing zone.

Update Sorry I released this too soon, the Cross Keys is not happy to have books ... I forget the daft list of reasons, but basically they're not book-friendly. I can send this to you (pm me) or I'll look for another place in Chester for a new crossing zone :)

A new release location but an existing book shelf, well worth a visit for book crossing and/or beer, food, socials ... !