4.51/5
Author: Ronald H. Balson
Publication Date: Oct 8, 2013
Formats: PDF,Paperback,Kindle,Hardcover,Audible Audiobook,Audio CD
Rating: 4.51/5 out of 36128
Publisher: A Thomas Dunne Book for St. Martin's Griffin
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The gripping tale about two boys, once as close as
brothers, who find themselves on opposite sides of the
Holocaust.
"A novel of survival, justice and
redemption...riveting." ―Chicago Tribune, on Once We Were
Brothers
Elliot Rosenzweig, a respected civic leader and
wealthy philanthropist, is attending a fundraiser when he is suddenly
accosted and accused of being a former Nazi SS officer named Otto
Piatek, the Butcher of Zamosc. Although the charges are denounced as
preposterous, his accuser is convinced he is right and engages attorney
Catherine Lockhart to bring Rosenzweig to justice. Solomon persuades
attorney Catherine Lockhart to take his case, revealing that the true
Piatek was abandoned as a child and raised by Solomon's own family only
to betray them during the Nazi occupation. But has Solomon accused the
right man?
Once We Were Brothers is Ronald H. Balson's
compelling tale of two boys and a family who struggle to survive in
war-torn Poland, and a young love that struggles to endure the
unspeakable cruelty of the Holocaust. Two lives, two worlds, and sixty
years converge in an explosive race to redemption that makes for a
moving and powerful tale of love, survival, and ultimately the triumph
of the human spirit.
Dec 26, 2013
In reading the reviews for this well written first novel I am totally aghast at the low scores that people are giving this outstanding novel! I have written better reviews for books that are not even in the realm of this book. Well written and historically accurate, the book gets into to your soul and you cannot put it down. I read the entire 389 page book in less than 20 hours! This book was not at all what I was expecting but as I read more of it I became totally absorbed and engrossed not In reading the reviews for this well written first novel I am totally aghast at the low scores that people are giving this outstanding novel! I have written better reviews for books that are not even in the realm of this book. Well written and historically accurate, the book gets into to your soul and you cannot put it down. I read the entire 389 page book in less than 20 hours! This book was not at all what I was expecting but as I read more of it I became totally absorbed and engrossed not only about the historically accurate details but the modern overview of today's court system. The characters are well defined and it's heroes are heroes and it's villains are villains. I felt it was an awe inspiring first novel and I look forward to reading what comes next from Mr. Balson. As this was a first novel I am sure without a doubt that his future works will definitely climb to the top of the charts. I will look forward to his future work and can now acclaim myself a true Ronald Balson fan! His approach to the Holocaust and all that it entails was a breath of fresh air to a redundant often dismal subject and I thoroughly enjoyed every word on every page. Kudos! A soon to be must read for every Holocaust Historian! ...moreApr 04, 2013
Once We Were Brothers - to begin with - was edited by someone without an understanding of punctuation, especially interjections. That aside, if you have never heard of the Holocaust and need a quick but somewhat flawed understanding of the Holocaust in Poland during WWII and do not mind mixing your genocide with a modern day is-he-a-Nazi or isn't-he-a-Nazi accusation that involves a young lawyer and her soon to be SPOILER ALERT..... lover P.I., then perhaps you will not find this book too Once We Were Brothers - to begin with - was edited by someone without an understanding of punctuation, especially interjections. That aside, if you have never heard of the Holocaust and need a quick but somewhat flawed understanding of the Holocaust in Poland during WWII and do not mind mixing your genocide with a modern day is-he-a-Nazi or isn't-he-a-Nazi accusation that involves a young lawyer and her soon to be SPOILER ALERT..... lover P.I., then perhaps you will not find this book too offensive. Balson writes that there was a 26 mile buffer zone around Auschwitz "to hide the camp from the outside world"; however, many of the townspeople lived close to the camps, saw the daily trains, and most of all, smelled the odor of buring flesh. Everyone knew what was happening inside the camp. Balson also was quite easy on anti-semitism in Poland, which had a very, very spotty record of hostility toward Jews involving pogroms, executions, expulsions as well as tolerance at times. Catherine, the well-educated lawyer, even asks Ben what a ghetto is. She thinks she may have heard of Belzec. That defies believability.Aug 23, 2014
Say you just got back from the grocery store after witnessing a bickering couple argue to the point of near-violence. You want to tell someone, so you call up a friend. How would you tell the story? You might start by indicating how unnerved the incident left you and let them know the general shape of what happened. You might say 'I just had the most horrible experience at the store and I'm a little shook up. There was this couple there and they were shouting at each other, I thought they were Say you just got back from the grocery store after witnessing a bickering couple argue to the point of near-violence. You want to tell someone, so you call up a friend. How would you tell the story? You might start by indicating how unnerved the incident left you and let them know the general shape of what happened. You might say 'I just had the most horrible experience at the store and I'm a little shook up. There was this couple there and they were shouting at each other, I thought they were going to attack each other!'Aug 13, 2013
Really this is only a 1 1/2 star book and the half star is only because the concept of the story is intriguing. Sadly the execution of telling the story is terrible. This book reads like a cheesy predictable soap opera. The characters are flat and under developed. In fact most of the characters seem like the same person with different lines. The "amazing" lawyer who solves the case and saves the day is portrayed as dimwitted and an emotional wreck. As a reader I'm supposed to believe that this Really this is only a 1 1/2 star book and the half star is only because the concept of the story is intriguing. Sadly the execution of telling the story is terrible. This book reads like a cheesy predictable soap opera. The characters are flat and under developed. In fact most of the characters seem like the same person with different lines. The "amazing" lawyer who solves the case and saves the day is portrayed as dimwitted and an emotional wreck. As a reader I'm supposed to believe that this highly educated intelligent woman doesn't know hardly anything about the holocaust? (At one point she asks her plaintiff, a holocaust survivor, what a ghetto is. Seriously?! and that was just one of the ridiculous questions about the holocaust posed.) The main character seems like a condescending no it all and the bad guy turned from hating the Nazis to being a Nazi in no time at all. Sadly the writer was unable to portray the multi-faceted complexity of the human soul. If you want to read a book about the holocaust there are many awesome books, fiction and nonfiction alike, written about this time in history, unfortunately this isn't one of them. ...moreNov 10, 2013
“We must never allow the world to forget." Page 179Nov 04, 2013
5 STARSJul 29, 2013
I’m not inclined to pan a book, but here goes...Jan 19, 2016
3.5 starsNov 14, 2013
A compelling read. Several issues raised by Balson resonate sharply with me as I work through similar issues in my own new novel.Aug 21, 2017
Wow This book was so good, it had everything, a good narrative, a good theme and very well written supportive characters as well as a good main character. Is the one person who all know as the richest benefactor of the town secretly a Nazi war criminal who escaped Germany and has been in hiding for the last 60 years , Ben thinks so and in fact he thinks he knows that one man as a child that both his parents took care of when that child was abandoned by his parents in Poland , all because they Wow This book was so good, it had everything, a good narrative, a good theme and very well written supportive characters as well as a good main character. Is the one person who all know as the richest benefactor of the town secretly a Nazi war criminal who escaped Germany and has been in hiding for the last 60 years , Ben thinks so and in fact he thinks he knows that one man as a child that both his parents took care of when that child was abandoned by his parents in Poland , all because they couldn't take care of him at that moment. As the story unfold, a lawyer has to make a choice , stand her ground and risk everything she holds dear or take a plunge into faith by choosing to believe Ben whose mental capacity is tenuous at best . We are transported to War torn Poland , to the polish and Jewish resistance, to the concentration camps , to convents and finally to America, all leading towards an unknown end. I loved this book, highly recommend it!!! ...moreApr 12, 2012
This book reads like a screenplay, and I want to bet it becomes a movie. I believe Chicago lawyer mr. Balson has the wherewithal to make it happen. It's called a "legal thriller". The thrill is perhaps in going through WWII with Ben. We go back and forth in time as Ben tells his story to convince a young attorney than a very rich and prominent Chicago philanthropist is in reality a childhood friend of Ben's named Otto Piatek, who was abandoned by his parents and went to live with Ben's family. This book reads like a screenplay, and I want to bet it becomes a movie. I believe Chicago lawyer mr. Balson has the wherewithal to make it happen. It's called a "legal thriller". The thrill is perhaps in going through WWII with Ben. We go back and forth in time as Ben tells his story to convince a young attorney than a very rich and prominent Chicago philanthropist is in reality a childhood friend of Ben's named Otto Piatek, who was abandoned by his parents and went to live with Ben's family. Ben would have appointments with Catherine, the attorney, and while he is telling his story we are transported back to Poland just as Hitler is coming into power. When his time is up with each session, we are dropped back into the present, like going on a roller coaster. It is also a wonderful love story between Ben and Hannah. Lots of emotion going on here. Had not. Heard of the book, but took it on for a book club. Could it be one of those word-of-mouth best sellers? In which case I would highly recommend it! ...moreOct 04, 2013
I signed up for a chance to receive an advance readers' copy of Once We Were Brothers through Good Reads and was lucky enough to be sent a copy. The opening scene immediately grabbed me as an octogenarian dressed for his first trip to an opening night opera gala that he had paid $500 for but didn't plan to sit through. He, instead, tucked a German Luger into his cumberbund and headed to the formal reception preceding the performance. Although I made rather slow progress through roughly 3/4 of I signed up for a chance to receive an advance readers' copy of Once We Were Brothers through Good Reads and was lucky enough to be sent a copy. The opening scene immediately grabbed me as an octogenarian dressed for his first trip to an opening night opera gala that he had paid $500 for but didn't plan to sit through. He, instead, tucked a German Luger into his cumberbund and headed to the formal reception preceding the performance. Although I made rather slow progress through roughly 3/4 of the book, certainly not due to any lack of interest in the story, but to a busy schedule, I devoured the last quarter or so in one sitting. I didn't intend to because it was the wee hours of the morning when I picked up the book, but I couldn't lay it down.Oct 21, 2016
One of the best audio books I have listened to. I loved this book and would classify as a WWII Crime Thriller. I look forward to more in this series.Feb 13, 2018
Elliot Rosenzweig is a Chicago bigwig. A philanthropist and major donor in many causes, Rosenzweig is on a first name basis with the mayor and other political figures. When he is in attendance of a fundraiser in the opera a man approaches him with a gun and accuses him of being Otto Piatek, a Nazi officer during the war. The man, Ben Solomon, is tackled and arrested and Rosenzweig denies this allegation. Yet Ben Solomon is sure that this man was not just a Nazi but also his brother. In the court Elliot Rosenzweig is a Chicago bigwig. A philanthropist and major donor in many causes, Rosenzweig is on a first name basis with the mayor and other political figures. When he is in attendance of a fundraiser in the opera a man approaches him with a gun and accuses him of being Otto Piatek, a Nazi officer during the war. The man, Ben Solomon, is tackled and arrested and Rosenzweig denies this allegation. Yet Ben Solomon is sure that this man was not just a Nazi but also his brother. In the court of public opinion, will Rosenzwieg's name be tarnished or are those accusations the ramblings of an old man?Aug 23, 2012
I have read dozens of Holocaust books and found this novel to be well written and captivating. The author presented this story providing the reader with accurate and detailed background details of what happened during this horrific period in history. For readers who know little of the Holocaust as well as for readers who DO know of the Holocaust, the author paints a picture of survival, determination and love. Ben Solomon is an amiable man and is well read and intelligent. He illustrates I have read dozens of Holocaust books and found this novel to be well written and captivating. The author presented this story providing the reader with accurate and detailed background details of what happened during this horrific period in history. For readers who know little of the Holocaust as well as for readers who DO know of the Holocaust, the author paints a picture of survival, determination and love. Ben Solomon is an amiable man and is well read and intelligent. He illustrates determination to seek his retribution for the devastation he suffered and continued to endure as a result of the war and his once friend/brother, Otto, and the Nazis.May 08, 2012
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This was a compelling book and I stayed up late to finish it, but I thought it would have been much better if there were more nuance to the good Jews and bad Nazis theme. For example, what was going on with Otto's transformation from son in the family to evil Nazi. Did he always feel like an outsider? Slighted by not being part of the family? Did he suffer for his decision to shoot the father, or did he feel that he was saving him from torture?Aug 28, 2012
A Must Read for anyone interested in the Holocaust. One of my favorites!! As written on Amazon......From Nazi-occupied Poland to a Chicago courtroom Elliot Rosenzweig, a respected civic leader and wealthy philanthropist, is attending a fundraiser when he is suddenly accosted and accused of being a former Nazi SS officer named Otto Piatek. Although the charges are denounced as preposterous, his accuser, Ben Solomon, is convinced he is right. Solomon urges attorney Catherine Lockhart to take his A Must Read for anyone interested in the Holocaust. One of my favorites!! As written on Amazon......From Nazi-occupied Poland to a Chicago courtroom Elliot Rosenzweig, a respected civic leader and wealthy philanthropist, is attending a fundraiser when he is suddenly accosted and accused of being a former Nazi SS officer named Otto Piatek. Although the charges are denounced as preposterous, his accuser, Ben Solomon, is convinced he is right. Solomon urges attorney Catherine Lockhart to take his case, revealing that Otto Piatek was abandoned as a child and raised by Solomon's family only to betray them during the Nazi occupation. But has he accused the right man? Once We Were Brothers is the compelling tale of two boys and a family that struggles to survive in war-torn Poland. It is also the story of a young lawyer who must face not only a powerful adversary, but her own self-doubts. Two lives, two worlds and sixty years all on course to collide in a fast-paced legal thriller. The author, Ronald H. Balson, is a Chicago trial attorney and educator. His practice has taken him to international venues, including small villages in Poland, which have inspired this novel.Nov 24, 2012
Once we were brothers by Ronald H. Balson is a novel with a compelling plot about two boys and a family that struggles to survive in war-torn Poland. It is also the story of a young lawyer who must face not only a powerful adversary, but her own self doubts. Two lives, two worlds and sixty years all on course to collide in a fast paced legal thriller.Aug 30, 2013
Ben Solomon accuses one of the richest, most philanthropic men in Chicago of being the Nazi, Otto Pietak. He gets a lawyer, Catherine, to bring a law suit against Mr. Rosenzweig. In a very deliberate way, over a period of several weeks he reveals to her what exactly Pietak did and why he wants justice after so many years. It turns out that Ben's family raised Otto when his parents all but abandoned him and encouraged him to become a Nazi to help their family from the inside. But Otto became Ben Solomon accuses one of the richest, most philanthropic men in Chicago of being the Nazi, Otto Pietak. He gets a lawyer, Catherine, to bring a law suit against Mr. Rosenzweig. In a very deliberate way, over a period of several weeks he reveals to her what exactly Pietak did and why he wants justice after so many years. It turns out that Ben's family raised Otto when his parents all but abandoned him and encouraged him to become a Nazi to help their family from the inside. But Otto became enamored of the power being a Nazi gave him and he ended up being as brutal as any, actually sentencing Ben's family to death.Jul 01, 2013
This is a beautiful and powerful story based on the reality of what happened in the city of Zamosc, Poland in the 1930's and 1940's when Hitler rose to power in Germany and began the persecution of Jews in Europe. It is quite different in the way it covers the material. Ben Solomon and his Jewish family took in a Gentile child named Otto Piatek and raised him as their own son from 1933 on because his father was out of work and the German mom left Poland for her native Germany. The Solomon father This is a beautiful and powerful story based on the reality of what happened in the city of Zamosc, Poland in the 1930's and 1940's when Hitler rose to power in Germany and began the persecution of Jews in Europe. It is quite different in the way it covers the material. Ben Solomon and his Jewish family took in a Gentile child named Otto Piatek and raised him as their own son from 1933 on because his father was out of work and the German mom left Poland for her native Germany. The Solomon father found jobs for the boy's father who was such an alcoholic he couldn't hold on to them. Otto and Ben and his sister Beka were inseparable and Otto had no hatred for Jews or interest in becoming a Nazi. Repeatedly his mother and father showed up trying to get him to come to them but Otto felt the sting and the two now worked for the Nazis in Germany.Mar 18, 2017
I LOVED THIS BOOK! Ben was such a dear heart! The way this story unfolded was like a historical fiction, courtroom thriller. It was so good!May 28, 2019
In Chicago, an old man points a gun at a bigwig and pulls the trigger. The gun is unloaded, and the firing pin removed, but the man is arrested, accusing the bigwig of being a Nazi.Nov 20, 2014
I've read a lot of books, both fiction and non-fiction, set in this time period and this just failed to pack a comparable punch. The premise was good and the ideas for characters were good, but the characters themselves were one-dimensional. I didn't feel much for any of them, which is pretty unfortunate in a Holocaust tale. I also didn't care at all for the structure of the book. It was told in flashback from the point of view of the central character, but the author chose to do this with I've read a lot of books, both fiction and non-fiction, set in this time period and this just failed to pack a comparable punch. The premise was good and the ideas for characters were good, but the characters themselves were one-dimensional. I didn't feel much for any of them, which is pretty unfortunate in a Holocaust tale. I also didn't care at all for the structure of the book. It was told in flashback from the point of view of the central character, but the author chose to do this with constant quotes, which got annoying. There were quotation marks everywhere in this.Jul 17, 2013
4.5 stars.Mar 20, 2018
"Otto, who is much younger, taller, and stronger than Stanislaw, steps forward and blocks Stanislaw's approach. 'Don't you ever push anyone in my house,' he says. 'Ever. Or I'll break you into little pieces...'Take your time and choose the perfect book.
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