Literary reviews by Tim Love.
Warning: Rather than reviews, these are often notes in preparation for reviews that were never finished, or pleas for help with understanding pieces. See Litref Reviews - a rationale for details.

Wednesday, 19 August 2020

"Dying by numbers" by Sam Kates (2018)

A short story with 2 time-lines - 1944 Auschwitz and 2001 Paris. The conditions in Auschwitz are well described. Joe and Sam make 2 promises: if one of their numbers is called out, the other will step forward; if only one of them gets out, he'll find the daughter of the other. Sam's number is called. Joe dies. Sam's ordered to cover the bodies. In 2001, Sam's daughter finds Joe's daughter by chance (Sam's extensive searches had failed). Sam, 78 years old, immediately flies over from England riddled with guilt, and apologises to Joe's daughter. That's it.

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