This book is more than an art historical novel. It is almost a memoir; a great rediscovery of the many lives of Jewish and so-called "degenerate," unwanted art looted during Nazi Germany. What stands out is the story's focus on the collectors, artists, and fascist art dealers, who, through vivid and engaging storytelling, seem to come to life once more.

The book is deeply tied to the author's own life - from fleeing Germany, to surviving the Holocaust, and migrating to the United States, while always staying connected with her deep interest in and devotion to art - making it a read with a lot of resonance that lingers for a long time after reading. This engaging approach to telling her story and the story of many others inextricably ties the history of the 20th century to the present day, illuminating the ongoing struggles that Holocaust survivors, artists, and art collectors still face in the present day.

Although this book was a very engaging read, I feel a little ambivalent about the many characters and historical figures introduced in this book. And sometimes, it was a little overwhelming. I wish that the connection between the many people would have been elaborated on, as I believe it would have increased the plot's clarity. If that was the case, I would have loved to read even more about the individual stories. However, diving into the story of rather minor historical figures seemed a little superficial and disturbing to the general reading flow.

Other than that, I can recommend this compellign introduction to anyone interested in Jewish-German art history, as well as German Expressionism, Impressionism, and Bauhaus, as well as the stories of various other artworks deemed "degenerate."
The book covers the broad history and art history of the 20th century across Germany, Europe, and the United States, while raising essential questions about justice that remained unsolved even today.