Author: Tania Blanchard
ISBN: 978-19-2559-616-8
RRP: $29.99
Publication Date: November 2018
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Copy: Courtesy of the Publisher
We featured Tania Blanchard’s bestselling debut novel The Girl from Munich as a book club title when it released and I adored it, so when I saw the upcoming release of another novel I knew that it would be a book our readers would love. Suitcase of Dreams is the sequel that I was so looking forward to.
Suitcase of Dreams is a dramatic tale of identity, of love, of new beginnings and it’s inspired by a true story. Blanchard’s family has a multicultural heritage that is rich with stories just waiting to be told and she has a beautiful way of telling them.
Lotte Drescher and her family have endured the horrors of Nazi Germany and the postwar occupation before finally setting off for a new life. Full of hope they arrive in Australia in 1956. Lotte and her husband Erich dream of offering their children the future they always wanted in this new land of opportunity.
Years of struggle see the Dreschers finally finding their feet and creating successful businesses. The struggles and the sacrifices seem worth it, until the past reaches out them and Erich is threatened for his role in the trade union movement.
Lotte will finally discover the true meaning of home when a visitor forces her to a crossroad that will change her life forever.
Tania Blanchard can be followed on her website and Facebook.
Suitcase of Dreams is published by Simon & Schuster and available now from Angus & Robertson Bookworld, Booktopia and where all good books are sold.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster 30 of our Beauty and Lace Club members will be reading Suitcase of Dreams so please be aware there may be spoilers in the comments below.
I devour books, vampires and supernatural creatures are my genre of choice but over the past couple of years, I have broadened my horizons considerably. In a nutshell – I love to write! I love interacting with a diverse range of artists to bring you interviews. Perhaps we were perfect before – I LOVE WORDS!
Thankyou Beauty and Lace and Simon and Schuster for a Suitcase of Dreams by Tania Blanchard. I enjoyed the book and am pleased to provide this review.
This story is based on the authors discussions with her grandmother, the real experience of war, love and the dreams of a German couple emigrating to Australia in 1956.
The family, Erich and Lotte and their two girls, Greta and Johanna. arrive in Australia with high expectations of beginning a new life. What they discover is quite different. Their experience parodies that of many migrants with issues such as racism, equal opportunity, political activism and feminism having significant effects on their attempts to assimilate.
After a myriad of disappointments, the family begin to develop a sense of belonging and work hard to achieve their goals of a safe life in a country far removed from war torn Europe.
This book is an enjoyable read, describing life for new migrants in this country. It spans several decades and provides a view of the changing Australian cultural, social and political way of life.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a little romance , a little history and a story of emigration in Australia.
Suitcase of Dreams is based on the true story of Tania Blanchard’s grandparents, which has been woven into a engrossing tale spanning the lives of the Drescher family.
The Drescher family immigrate from Germany in 1956. Lotte, her husband Erich and daughters Greta and Johanna are excited first begin their new lives in Australia at the Bonegilla Migrant Camp in Victoria.
Erich struggles to find work at first, before becoming a wood craver, while Lotte pursues her dream career in photography. They work extremely hard for years to give their daughters a better life in their new home, however Erich’s role in the trade union movement and other issues, including racism, causes issues for them. Despite this, their hard work, resilience and courage in the face of these events means they ‘put down roots’ so to speak, and create a safe, loving home for themselves in Australia.
Suitcase of Dreams is a mix of history and romance, and provides a well-written insight into the lives of migrants in Australia and the issues they face while trying to achieve their goal of creating new lives for themselves and their families.
I quickly got hooked within the first few pages of Suitcase of Dreams, it made no difference that I hadn’t read its predecessor The Girl from Munich which I was thankful for.
After surviving the horrors of the Second World War, and the chaotic post-war occupation of Germany, Lotte, her husband Erich and their daughters travel to Australia with dreams of new opportunities and better life. After arriving in Australia, they discover that the future may not be as bright as what they had thought as “New Australians”
The sacrifices they have made finally seem worth it until Erich’s role in the trade union movement threatens to have him branded a communist and endanger their family. As the shadow of the Vietnam War looms, the unexpected arrival of her former fiancé Heinrich forces Lotte to a turning point. She must decide whether to stay in Australia or return to Germany with him. Her decision will change her life forever.
It is impossible not to get caught up in the story of Lotte and her family and the many disappointments they suffer as they try to make a good and happy life for themselves in Australia. This book spans decades and gives insight not just into the family but society, culture and politics of that time.
I really enjoyed this book and it gave an extra special meaning Tania Blanchard based this story on the experiences of her grandparents. I will be purchasing The Girl from Munich so see how it all started but until then I highly recommend this book.
Thank you Beauty & Lace and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read this wonderful story and review.
I loved this book, and very highly recommend it.
It is a story of love, war, loss, heartbreak and above all the importance of family- when you think things are going to fall apart, when life is just too tough the ending of this story will shock you
I really enjoyed reading The suitcase Of Dreams by Tania Blanchard. This was my first book that I read written by Tania and I would say I am pleased with her writing style.
It was easy to follow and quite entertaining for me. It was hard to put this book down.
Surprised to learn that this story was based on a true story.
This story is based on the life struggles of a family trying to establish themselves into a new country (Australia) after leaving their family , friends and all their belongings back in Germany.
I could relate to the story so much as a migrant to Australia.
Any migrant to Australia will appreciate reading this book as it will bring/relive memories of their own life struggles when they moved to this beautiful country. It was so enjoyable to read this book and at the same time pause and relive my memories and compare and contrast the struggles and successes my family went through when we moved to Australia. This book is truly an insight or a glimpse of the lives of migrant families and the ups and downs they face when they move here. It inspired me to right down a journal of my own to pass it on to my kids so that my grand-kids have a piece of history to read.
I loved how the author described all the areas and landscapes of Australia. It was like a history lesson of how the past was.
The twists and turns happening in the lives of the main characters made an interesting read and that’s why I could not put the book down because I was always curious to know what will happen next.
There is some bit of romance in this book.
The story also teaches me the powerful strong bond of a family and how that kept the characters of the book going amidst the struggles.
Great read, recommend if you want a glimpse of migrant families and what they face when they move to Australia.
I absolutely loved reading Suitcase Of Dreams by Tania Blanchard.
It was certainly one of those novels that once I started I didnt want to put down until I finished.
Revolving around the story of a family and their struggles trying to settle and establish themselves in Australia after the 2nd World War, this is a story ofLotte , her husband Erich and their daughters.
Having left Germany with barely any of their nbelongings , it is not the fairytale new start in a new country that they would have expected.
So many twists and turns , heartbreak and loss and even some romance.There is something to keep everyone enthralled in this great novel.
Thank you to Beauty and Lace and Simon and Schuster for allowing me to read and review Suitcase Of Dreams.
I have to say I really found this book a hard read. It seemed that every chapter there was a new problem and the characters never seemed to get ahead.
The reference to politics and unions was a bit much for me and I felt dragged on.
I realise not everyone will feel the same about this book as I did.
If you wanted to have an understanding of how migrants where treated and felt when they first arrived back in the early years then this is for you. It certainly makes it look easy for our migrants today.
This is a great book which gives a real insight into the post war migrant experience. I now look at the “new Australians” of my childhood in a different way.
Lotte and Erich flee the horrors of war in Europe only to have to face another horrible war in Vietnam.
I haven’t read Girl From Munich but I will be now.
I was really looking forward to reading Suitcase of Dreams as I had read The Girl from Munich and fell in love with the characters and Tania Blanchard’s abilities as a storyteller. I was certainly not disappointed, Suitcase of Dreams was every bit the emotional, heart pounding story I had expected.
This story reminded me of my own family who experienced many similar circumstances as they arrived in Australia and lived in a shanty on the outskirts of Sydney. It amazes me the bravery of families willing to leave their homelands and travel by ship to the strange land of Australia, hoping for a better future for themselves and their families.
I often read books whilst sitting in a cafe enjoying a cappuccino; a few hours reprieve and a special time for me. I found this difficult to do with Suitcase of Dreams as I found the story evoked much emotion and many tears as we learned of the struggles this family endured.
I wish to commend Tania Blanchard on another beautiful book. The care you have taken in telling your family story, the research you have clearly done to help bring an honest reflection of the post-war era, and then the trials of the Vietnam War, has made this book a very enjoyable and emotional read. You are certainly very talented and I imagine your family are very proud to have their story told so beautifully.
Thank you very much to Simon and Schuster Australia and Beauty and Lace Book Club for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.
I hadn’t read The Girl From Munich so I was unsure how this would read as a stand-alone novel. But I loved it. Lotte was a woman who was ahead of her time. Her courage and determination made me want the best for her, her family and friends.
As an immigrant myself, I empathised with the Drescher family. Luckily I was from the UK so my challenges were different. But fitting in to a new environment is always hard and reading about what it was like for German immigrants in the 1950’s, post WW2 was very interesting.
I especially loved the historical aspect of this novel, it was brilliantly executed and a pleasure to read