A Cautionary Tale Written with Unusual Grace
Over the last few days, I have been deeply engrossed in Paulette Mahurinââ?¬â?¢s affecting narrative, ââ?¬Å"Two Necklaces.ââ?¬Â? Set in the 1930s, the text winds its way back into a bleak time in history hardly written about; a forbidden and dangerous relationship of two kindred souls whose resilience and courage stand out in the darkest of times.
The majority of German citizens, as with any other citizen in countries across Europe at the time were a strong and kind lot, wishing nothing more than to put a roof over their heads and food on the table. When Hitler rose to power and took the title Fuhrer, or leader in all of Germany, he began exploiting people�s frustrations and fears through the Gestapo, a police unit established to create terror among the people while spreading antisemitic ideologies.
Young Crista, fifteen at the time and coming from a modest family, had joined The League of German Girls (BDM), as was a requirement, that indoctrinated young women. She often shared the Nazi ideas with J�¼rgen, her brother, who expressed his open criticism of the regime. But when he is snatched away from their family for good after being termed a Jewish sympathizer for maintaining his loyalty to his Jewish friend, Arthur, Christaâ��s former beliefs about the Nazis are pried from their foundation as her eyes open to the realities of the atrocious dictatorship government.
Years later, she meets Paul, a Jewish jeweler, and they begin a forbidden relationship in a hostile environment, putting their lives in constant peril. As the hateful wrath against Jews spreads across the country through propaganda and oppressive and discriminative laws, Christa must decide whether she will be brave and risk her life for Paul or sit back and let the repressive German policies take away a part of her that she holds dear.
ââ?¬Å"Two Necklacesââ?¬Â? is an utterly convincing and unforgettable love story that shares the surprising potential of two people who engage in vulnerable interactions amid a sea of darkness and despair. Paulette Mahurin does a superb job in her exposition of racism, the Nazi use of propaganda to spread German superiority ideas, and the intrinsic evil that illustrated Hitlerââ?¬â?¢s regime. At its core is an unwavering tale of a young woman on the cusp of adulthood who dares to defy political conformity and refuses to be subdued.
Well-researched and carefully written, the text takes you back in history to experience a human connection that defied all barriers in one of the most infamous periods in Germany. I loved how the author uses a slow and gentle pace, allowing readers to connect with the characters, especially those whose actions are inspiring and moving, to feel the mood of the story, and convey their personality traits, which one might easily miss if the book took on a fast pace.
The story puts forth perennial themes along with revealing the fragile but defiant nature of love. ââ?¬Å"Two Necklacesââ?¬Â? by Paulette Mahurin will have you experience many types of emotions, providing a suitable tonic for historical fiction enthusiasts. Its basis on reality, done with ardor and power, adds profound meaning to this work, inviting us to reflect and ponder on a more complex truth that lies beyond the evident, the nature of the human heart. Easy to read yet powerful, this tale is bound to capture even the pickiest of readers.
