Bookreporter Talks To... Sharon Kurtzman

Sharon Kurtzman joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her debut novel, THE LOST BAKER OF VIENNA, which is inspired by her mother, aunt and grandmother's experiences as Holocaust survivors. The book, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection, follows two timelines. In 1946 Vienna, Chana Rosenzweig navigates a dangerous love triangle while working in a hotel kitchen and pursuing her passion for baking. In 2018, Zoe Rosenzweig, a food writer, becomes obsessed with uncovering her family's history.

Sharon talks about her research on post-war Vienna, where she learned that the city was divided into four sections governed by the Allied powers. She emphasizes the importance of food and baking in the story, using it as a creative outlet and a means to convey the characters' experiences. Sharon shares her passion for baking, particularly her obsession with perfecting chocolate chip cookies and chocolate pecan pie as a teenager with one twist on an ingredient. Her website features an enhanced discussion guide that includes recipes.

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Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions