Lydia’s Story
A simple box of mementos, hidden in a farmhouse in Wales for nearly seventy years, is enough to set Nara Blake on a search for the truth about her great-grandparents, and to put her own life in danger. As she begins to learn the truth, two members of a family who lost everything in World War II blame Nara and her family for their lost wealth, which includes a priceless Cézanne painting. The two families are put on a collision course that can only end in the destruction of long-held beliefs, and ultimately one must pay the price for the losses of the past.
Scroll to bottom for book club questions.
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About Lydia’s Story
“I highly recommend this book
This book is a fascinating look at one family’s involvement in World War II – the wartime activities and sacrifices of the family and the impact their actions have on future generations. Kathleen Heady tells her story with a combination of diary entries, scenes taking place in 1941 and present-day scenes. These disparate elements are woven together with such skill that I was never lost. The characters are well drawn. Settings (London, Wales, France) are sharp and very real; I felt I was present in each locale. But what stands out is Heady’s attention to detail. We know about the shortages of food and clothing, but the inability to buy a toy for a child, unimportant in the grand scheme of things, but so important on a personal level, gives the story heart. I highly recommend this book.
Sandra Cody
author of the Jenny Connors
mystery series
“A truly memorable read”
This novel begins in an unforgettable, heart-wrenching way, becoming a truly `memorable read.’ It will be an `eye opener’ for many, and cause most readers to feel privileged that they’ve had the opportunity to read a book that shows the real atrocities that happened to unsuspecting families who were just trying to get along. Unlike other WWII stories, this new `angle’ is truly unforgettable and deserves only the highest recommendation.
M. Lignor
on Goodreads
Lydia’s Story
Book Club Questions
- Why do Nara and her father travel to Wales?
- Why are Paul and Lisette in London? What is their relationship?
- What was Lydia’s original job with the French Resistance?
- What was Lydia’s relationship with her parents?
- How would you describe the relationship between Lydia and Allan?
- What do Paul and Lisette want from Nara?
- How did Lisette react to Paul’s arrest?
- What happens to the Cezanne at the end of the book? Did the Blake family make the right decision?
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