That Such Men Lived tells the story of Johannes Schmitt, a young German Jew whose life is torn apart on Kristallnacht and who is thrust into the chaos of World War II. From the loss of his father to the pain of leaving his mother behind, Johannes’s journey takes him from Europe to America and eventually back again into the war that claimed everything he knew. The book blends historical events with a deeply personal narrative, capturing the fear, the anger, and the small rays of hope that kept people alive during the darkest of times.

I liked the writing style. It’s vivid without being overworked, and it has a rhythm that keeps pulling you forward. The dialogue feels alive, like conversations overheard rather than scripted, and that makes the heartbreak hit even harder. There are moments where I found myself smiling at the playful teasing between characters, only to be gutted pages later by violence or loss. That unpredictability gave the story weight. The author doesn’t shy away from horror, but he doesn’t revel in it either. It’s honest, sometimes painfully so, but never gratuitous.

This is an emotional novel. I felt Johannes’s fear of being powerless, his shame at leaving loved ones behind, and his stubborn determination to carry on anyway. I related to his anger, too, that blend of grief and fury at injustice that has nowhere to go. Some passages made me put the book down just to breathe. Others I read twice because they carried a beauty that didn’t quite sink in the first time. The author doesn’t just tell you what happened, he makes you feel it, and that’s the kind of storytelling I admire most.

I’d say this book is for readers who want more than dates and battles in their World War II stories. It’s for people who care about the human side, the quiet moments in kitchens and churches and letters home, as much as the grand sweep of history. If you’re drawn to novels that are raw and heartfelt, that let you walk in someone else’s shoes, this is a book you shouldn’t miss.

Pages: 374 | ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FP3W98J6