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A View Across the Rooftops
- Narrated by: Alan Medcroft
- Length: 13 hrs and 34 mins
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction
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Summary
Would you risk your life to save just one person?
An incredible story of love, hope, and friendship; and a testament to humanity and courage in history’s darkest days.
1941, Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. Professor Josef Held has never recovered from the loss of his beloved wife - and has no intention of ever letting anyone new into his quiet, safe world. It is a world where the clock ticks steadily in his mathematics classroom, where every equation has a solution. Every day he walks the same route home, past his neighbour Mrs Epstein’s, to a home inhabited only by him and a cat he refuses to even name.
But then the Nazis come for the Jews - and Mrs Epstein is killed. And Josef, in an impulsive act of courage, offers his student Michael Blum a place to hide.
Michael is everything Josef is not: spontaneous, poetic, and unafraid to love. Even though his passionate relationship with a Dutch girl called Elke strictly is forbidden by the Nazis - for he is Jewish, and she is not.
Desperate to give Michael and Elke’s love a chance to survive, Josef gives Michael refuge in his attic: an act of bravery and resistance that will change both of their lives. But as the dark days of war continue, with danger and betrayal at every turn, no-one can be trusted, and no one is safe.
If Michael is going to get back to the woman he loves, it is down to Josef - to find the hero inside himself, and do whatever it takes to keep Michael alive.
A heartbreakingly beautiful story about love, trust, and courage against the odds, perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Lilac Girls, and The Nightingale.
What listeners say about A View Across the Rooftops
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
- Mintychristine
- 05-11-19
Loved it
A great read I loved the characters loved a different war storyline found the interesting view from Amersterdam I was invested into story Would recommend it
3 people found this helpful
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- AF
- 06-08-20
Great story but narrator leaves little to be desired
I love the story, but the narrator is extremely grating. I had to give myself a break every so often because he just annoyed me so much. I would have enjoyed it more if it had been someone else narrating
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- Rebecca
- 12-06-20
A beautiful and gripping story
Absolutely loved this book and the perfect narration. I got completely drawn into the story and the lives of the main characters. I would say this story is even better than ‘When we were brave’ although I loved that too.
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- Sandra balmer
- 24-03-20
Beautifully Written
This is a beautiful book, well written with excellent characterisation. If you want to learn more about the plight of civilians during World War II then this is a good example of a novel that has been well researched. Definitely worth a credit.
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- Daylelianna
- 30-10-19
Didn’t want it to end!
This was a wonderful story. I enjoyed it from beginning to end. Totally engrossing , characters engaging and well developed. An interesting look at occupied Amsterdam. Well done Suzanne and the narrator was great as well. Definitely worth a credit! Best book I’ve listened to in a while and I listen to many.
12 people found this helpful
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- paula wright
- 28-10-19
WOW what a great audible book
I spent a good part of the book thinking main character was a very weak man seemed to be scared of life but he proved me wrong I was thinking what a good movie this could be made into
9 people found this helpful
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- NICK J.
- 18-12-19
Touching
I couldn’t stop listening from the very beginning. The narrator did a fantastic job bringing these characters and their anguish of living during the war to life. I’ve listened to hundreds of books about the pain of war and this is one of the most captivating stories of all. It deserves more than five stars.
7 people found this helpful
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- Book Nerd
- 28-12-19
Emotional Journey
What a touching and emotional story about love, loss, life and redemption set in the midst of the Nazi occupation of Holland. A story of human courage in the face of some of the greatest evil this world has ever known. This book will make you laugh, touch your heart and if you’re like me it will make you cry. I wholeheartedly recommend any and everybody to get this book.
6 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 11-01-20
Loved it!!!
Captured my attention from the begging and all the way through the end! Loved all the history interspersed with the human side of the story!
5 people found this helpful
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- kramwhite
- 18-12-19
Fantastic
This is now one of my favorite books. The story is very good. The performance was outstanding.
5 people found this helpful
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- Lorna Gillespie
- 28-01-20
FANTASTIC
The BEST book I have found in a long time. Just as great as The Nightingale!
4 people found this helpful
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- R. CHANDLER
- 27-12-19
Superb!
Couldn’t stop listening but yet I didn’t want it to end! Completely absorbed into the lives of the characters and their emotions! Love getting lost in picturesque works of historical fiction!
4 people found this helpful
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- Tiffany R.
- 20-02-20
phenomenal book
This is one of the best books I have read or listened to. It was well paced and laid out. The characters were so real. I enjoyed the narration although some of his accents weren't super great. He had a pleasant voice in general.
3 people found this helpful
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- Kathy sparano
- 22-11-19
Loved this book!
This book is terrific. I’ve read a lot of books on the holocaust and occupation and this book did not disappoint. I liked that the story continued on after the war ended. The ending was a surprise. I did not watch TV during the two weeks it took me to finish listening to the book.
7 people found this helpful