How we cite our quotes: Chapter.Paragraph
Quote #7
The persecution—systematic and horrible—against the homosexuals had begun as early as 1933. Some part of Josef must have known. (25.27)
The book is careful to correct some of the misunderstandings that people have about World War II, including the elimination or "erasure" of victims who were gay.
Quote #8
The war was filled with such unbelievable stories. This man hid in the cupboard of his neighbor's house the entire war. That one was killed out walking his dog. This woman missed her train and it was blown up. That woman begged a ride and was murdered. (28.1)
Briar Rose emphasizes the sometimes arbitrary nature of war. People didn't necessarily survive because of skill or fate; sometimes they were just lucky.
Quote #9
The brothers never returned. If they were captured, if they were tortured, they surely gave nothing away. But they were gone as if they had never been. So it was with this war. (29.12)
Some stories don't have a tidy ending. Until he met Becca, Josef didn't even know for sure that Gemma had made it to America, or survived at all.