
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.
Buy Lydia’s Story
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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