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The Toymaker

By Liam Pieper
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3.68 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 1,415 ratings, 201 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Toymaker by Liam Pieper weaves together the lives of two individuals across different timelines. One story follows Arkady, a survivor of the Holocaust who reinvents himself in Australia, while the other is about Adam, his idealistic grandson facing moral dilemmas in a contemporary setting. Themes of survival, legacy, and confronting past truths drive this complex narrative as it explores the impacts of history on identity and ethics.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This intriguing novel may appeal to you if you enjoy stories that weave together themes of moral complexity, redemption, and family secrets. The narrative offers a gripping exploration of human nature, shifting between past and present to unravel how dark histories influence contemporary lives. If you're drawn to richly layered tales that challenge perceptions and provoke thought, you might find this book captivating.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A person is defined by the secrets they keep. Adam Kulakov likes his life. He's on the right side of middle age; the toy company he owns brightens the lives of children around the world; and he has more money than he can ever spend, a wife and child he adores, and as many mistresses as he can reasonably hide from them. And he is not the only one with secrets.

In 1944, Adam's grandfather, Arkady, was imprisoned in Auschwitz and given an impossible choice. Now, as he's coming to the end of his life, he has to keep the truth from his family, and hold back the crushing memories of his time with one of history's greatest monsters.

As a mistake threatens to bring Adam's world tumbling down around him, the past reaches for Arkady. Everything he's spent a lifetime building will be threatened, as will everything Adam and his family think they know of the world.

Bold, dark and compelling, The Toymaker is a novel about privilege, fear and the great harm we can do when we are afraid of losing what we hold dear.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Toymaker by Liam Pieper has received mixed reviews. Some readers praise its poignant exploration of complex themes such as historical trauma and moral ambiguity. The narrative skillfully weaves past and present, while delivering thought-provoking character development. However, a few critiques suggest certain plot elements may feel familiar or predictable. Overall, it's considered compelling for its depth and emotional resonance.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780143784623

Publisher: Random House Australia

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 30 January 2017

Country: Australia

Imprint: Random House Australia

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 21.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 198g

Pages: 272

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Liam Pieper Literary Fiction Penguin Books

About the Author

Liam Pieper is a Melbourne-based author and journalist. His first book was a memoir, The Feel-Good Hit of the Year, shortlisted for the National Biography Award and the Ned Kelly Best True Crime award. His second was the Penguin Special Mistakes Were Made, a volume of humorous essays. He was co-recipient of the 2014 M Literary Award, winner of the 2015 Geoff Dean Short Story Prize and the inaugural creative resident of the UNESCO City of Literature of Prague. The Toymaker is his first novel.

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