When Time Stopped

When Time Stopped is a memoir that traces the author's investigation into her father Hans Neumann's hidden past as a Holocaust survivor. Through documents, photographs, and letters discovered after his death, she reconstructs his life in Nazi-occupied Prague and his path to Venezuela. The narrative moves between Ariana's childhood in Venezuela, where her father never spoke of his Jewish heritage or wartime experiences, and her research journey across Europe decades later. She interviews survivors, visits archives, and pieces together the stories of her father's family members who lived - and died - during the Holocaust. The book examines identity, memory, and the impact of trauma across generations through one family's story. By uncovering her father's past, Neumann grapples with questions about survival, sacrifice, and the price of keeping secrets to protect oneself and others.

Readers describe this memoir as both a detective story and an intimate family history, with many noting how it reads like a suspense novel despite being non-fiction. What readers liked: - Meticulous research and documentation - Personal photographs and documents integrated throughout - Clear writing style that makes complex history accessible - Balance between historical facts and emotional storytelling - Fresh perspective on Holocaust history through one family's experience What readers disliked: - Slow start before reaching the main narrative - Some found the early chapters about the author's childhood less engaging - A few readers wanted more details about other family members Ratings: Goodreads: 4.4/5 (24,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (2,800+ ratings) BookBrowse: 4.8/5 Representative review: "Like piecing together a puzzle, each revelation builds on the last. The author's determination to uncover her father's past creates a powerful testament to survival." - Goodreads reviewer

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🕰️ Ariana Neumann discovered her father's past only after his death in 2001, when she found a box containing documents, photographs, and an ID card bearing his picture but a different name. 📜 The author spent over a decade researching her family history, traveling to eight countries and interviewing dozens of people to piece together her father's story of survival during the Holocaust. 🏢 Hans Neumann, the author's father, survived the Holocaust by hiding in plain sight in Berlin, working under an assumed identity in the very offices of the Nazi military intelligence. 🗺️ The book traces the fate of 34 family members across Czechoslovakia, Germany, Venezuela, and beyond - only a handful survived the Holocaust. 🏆 "When Time Stopped" was named a "Best Book of 2020" by The Sunday Times and was awarded the 2020 Wingate Literary Prize, which recognizes Jewish themes in literature.