Red Anemones
By Paula Dáil
By Paula Dáil
Publication Date: 17th October 2025
Publisher: Historium Press
Page Length: 446
Genre: Historical Biographical Fiction
Moving among generations of a German-Jewish-American family, "Red Anemones" is a poignant exploration of the intricate bonds, untold secrets, and unspoken legacies our ancestors bestow upon us.
Natalie Barlow's journey of self-discovery begins when her estranged mother's sudden death releases a storm of unrevealed family secrets reaching back to pre-WWI Germany.
As Natalie navigates the complexities of her newly discovered Jewish identity and her ancestral heritage, she comes face-to-face with the early 20th-century German immigrant experience, which included strong anti-German sentiment and deep antisemitism that prevailed across America.
Through diaries and letters her mother saved, Natalie learns of the personal costs this ugly reality extracted from generations of her own family. Ultimately, she must confront the question of her own identity.
Like Israel's red anemones carpeting the western Negev and Dvira Forest of the Judean foothills year after year, Natalie is determined, no matter the personal costs, to find the courage, resiliency, and passion to embrace the changes that bring new beginnings. Inspired by a true story.
Natalie never truly knew her mother, Charlotte. She often blamed herself, wondering if she had done something wrong. Now, after her estranged mother’s death, Natalie must pack up her mother’s life.
Although Natalie does not want the vast fortune her mother left behind, Charlotte bequeathed her more than just money. She left a yellow star, a German Luger with ammunition, and boxes filled with letters and diaries written in German.
The gun frightens her—why did her mother even have one? But it is the letters and diaries that will reveal the story of who her mother really was, and in turn, who she is.
“Red Anemones” by Paula Dáil is a poignant tale that delves into the intricacies of human emotion, weaving together themes of love and loss with a profound exploration of identity. The characters navigate their complex relationships, struggling with feelings of acceptance and hatred as they confront their pasts and the scars they bear from generations of trauma.
The narrative unfolds over three generations, starting in the summer of 1910 in Hildesheim, Germany. Nathalie, a spirited young woman bursting with dreams of independence, finds herself caught in the web of societal expectations. She is resolute about not rushing into marriage, regardless of the mounting pressure from her parents and the eager matchmaker. However, despite her initial resistance, she ultimately relents and agrees to marry Eitan Rosenblum, a charming man who has captured her heart. Eitan, driven by a longing for a new life, is determined to leave behind the constraints of Europe and emigrate to America—a land he describes with vivid imagery as a paradise brimming with opportunity and hope. He implores Nathalie to accompany him, painting a picture of a bright future where they can start anew. Yet, Nathalie is torn. The thought of leaving her beloved family behind in Hildesheim fills her with anguish. She understands that if she steps onto that ship, she may never see her family again, and the weight of that decision weighs heavily on her heart. Eitan, who goes to America ahead of her, cannot praise his new country enough. Yet, when Nathalie finally arrives in America, the reality starkly contrasts Eitan’s rose-tinted depictions. Jews are not welcome. Eitan, in an effort to secure a stable life and a fulfilling job, chooses to conceal his Jewish identity, shedding aspects of his past in a bid for acceptance. Nathalie, on the other hand, grapples with her sense of self. She refuses to sacrifice her identity and values for the sake of assimilation, leading to a deepening conflict between her and Eitan. While he urges her to blend into the new culture and abandon her roots, she stands firm in her beliefs, struggling to navigate the challenges of their new life. This clash of ideals between Nathalie and Eitan becomes a recurring motif throughout her life, highlighting the complexities of love, identity, and the struggle to remain true to oneself in a foreign land.
Natalie feels little grief over her mother’s death; after all, how can one mourn someone who was never truly present in their life? Driven by an insatiable curiosity, Natalie enlists the help of Adrian McCormick, a charismatic yet conflicted Catholic priest. Adrian, with his compassionate demeanour and profound understanding of German, begins translating the letters and diaries for Natalie. As he unravels the faded ink and emotional narratives within those pages, Natalie’s seemingly ordinary life is turned completely upside down. Each revelation peels back layers of her family’s past, exposing long-buried secrets that intertwine with the tumultuous history of her, up until now, unknown Jewish ancestry. The stories of her ancestors, filled with courage and resilience, draw Natalie deeper into a world of self-understanding and self-discovery. She learns of their struggles, their triumphs, and the haunting shadows of genocide. With every translated diary entry and letter, the suspense builds, leaving readers eager to uncover the truth of who Natalie really is.
Charlotte serves as one of the driving forces behind the narrative. Her complex character is revealed through the eyes of her daughter, Natalie, and later through the intimate writings of her diaries and letters that unveil the layers of her life. Charlotte is a multifaceted figure whose choices are difficult to comprehend. In a heart-wrenching decision, Charlotte leaves her baby with her husband and sister and joins the Red Cross to become a nurse on the front lines during World War II. This abandonment leads to a profound disconnect between mother and daughter, rendering both characters tragic in their isolation. Natalie’s seemingly deep indifference toward her mother adds another layer of sadness to their relationship, hinting at the emotional impact of Charlotte’s absence on her life. As the story progresses, readers begin to understand that Charlotte embodies much more than the emotionally distant woman initially portrayed from her daughter’s perspective. Like many in her family, Charlotte grapples with a silent, internal conflict: the fear of being discovered. If the truth about her Jewish heritage were to come to light, the avenues of opportunity currently available to her would be swiftly closed. To circumvent this danger, she creates a new identity, fabricating a persona that enables her to qualify as a nurse, and in this profession, she excels. With the clarity of modern understanding, readers can recognise Charlotte’s struggle with postpartum depression following Natalie’s birth—a condition that, during her time, was not understood, as well as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder when she finally returns to America. Charlotte’s story is one imbued with courage, trauma, heartbreak, and resilience. While she may have faltered in her role as a mother, her contributions as a nurse saved countless lives. She is a character who ultimately commands respect.
The historical context of the three eras is meticulously researched, providing a vivid and authentic portrayal of the harsh realities faced by the Jewish population during these turbulent times. The narrative captures the devastating mistreatment faced by a multitude of characters, portraying their suffering with sensitivity and depth. As readers are all too aware as they read, the darkening shadow of the Third Reich, and what that means for Jews living in Germany and specifically, this family, is very chilling. The pervasive sense of dread in the reader not only heightens the emotional stakes of the characters’ struggles but also emphasises the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit in the face of unspeakable adversity. Dáil makes her readers question which would be better: to be with one's family, sharing in their suffering and facing the ultimate fate together, or to find oneself in a distant, foreign land, limited to sending financial support while anxiously wondering if one's loved ones will receive it? This tension encapsulates the harrowing experience of survivor's guilt, which serves as a particularly agonising theme throughout the novel, challenging readers to consider the complex nature of survival amidst such profound persecution and loss.
Dáil intricately examines the topic of social inequality in America within the narrative of this novel. When Nathalie hires a woman of colour to assist in her sewing business, she starts to grasp a painful truth—when America proclaimed itself the land of the free, it was essentially a promise made to white Protestants, not immigrants and definitely not the native population. This realisation—that not all men and women are born equal in America—casts a sobering shadow over the reader’s understanding of the American Dream.
The theme of concealment and identity comes to the forefront with Charlotte and her sister, Sally, who, in their quest for higher education, feel compelled to hide their true selves; they change their names, religion, and heritage. They adopt a façade to gain acceptance in college, driven by the knowledge that their achievements depend on the ability to navigate a society that may not fully embrace who they are. This complex situation invites readers to reflect on their own values and decisions—what would they do if faced with such a serious dilemma of identity and survival? The narrative not only raises these questions but also immerses the audience in the life-altering realities of those striving to carve out a space for themselves in a world that often feels hostile.
The story comes full circle with Natalie embracing her Jewish background. Like her grandmother, she refuses to conceal her heritage, despite the potential devastating consequences for her family and, in particular, her cousin, Emily. Emily is a non-practising Christian married to a Muslim, and Aunty Sally worries that he would instantly divorce her daughter and take away their children if he discovered Emily was actually Jewish, as a Jewish mother has Jewish children regardless of their father’s religion. Despite Aunt Sally’s pleas to keep the past in the past, Natalie will not deny her newly acquired heritage.
The red anemones, with their vibrant hues and delicate petals, serve as potent symbols. They represent not only the beauty and fragility of life but also the sincerity and hope that persist even in the most difficult times. Moreover, the flowers evoke themes of death and lost love, acting as a poignant reminder that, amidst life’s trials and tribulations, the connections we forge with others endure and offer solace. Dáil’s craftsmanship in her prose elevates this exploration of love, loss, and resilience, making this book an unforgettable read that resonates with the human experience in all its complexity.
"Red Anemones" by Paula Dáil weaves a powerful narrative inspired by a gripping true story, infusing the text with authenticity and emotional resonance. This book is an absolute must-read for fans of the genre, as it expertly blends enthralling storytelling with fully realised characters and a rich plot.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde
Yarde Reviews & Book Promotion
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Red Anemones
Release Date: 17th October 2025
Paula Dáil
Paula's first publication was a Letter to the Editor of the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper written when she was seven years old. In it she pleaded to spend the newspaper's annual Christmas fund donations to purchase shoes for the impoverished children of Hispanic migrant workers in California's Central Valley. On the Sunday before Christmas, the letter appeared on the newspaper's front page.
Later, after earning a doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and entering into a career as an academic research professor of social welfare and public policy, she became widely published in the social sciences. She has received several awards for her feminist-oriented research, graduate teaching, and non-fiction writing. Her books have won two international book awards, an Independent Publishers Book Award, a Pinnacle Book Achievement Award, a coveted Booklist Starred Review, and twice been named the Non-fiction Book of the Year by the Council for Wisconsin Writers. Her Letters to the Editor and Op-Eds on contemporary social and political issues are published in various outlets and newspapers around the country. All of these are social justice-driven efforts inspired by Tikkun Olam - repairing the broken world we find ourselves living in.
A native Californian, she spent several years in a Catholic girls' boarding school but has not been an observant Catholic for most of her adult life. Ultimately, she abandoned Catholicism in favor of a spiritual and actual journey leading her closer to her deeper Jewish roots, which she reverently embraces. She belongs to B'nai Jeshurun Synagogue in New York City and currently resides in the Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest with her award-winning writer husband, their dog, and various other wildlife. Across her career, she has authored ten books, so far.
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Congratulations, on such a fabulous review. I have added your book to my to-read list. I am really looking forward to reading it.
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