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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
I was provided an advance copy of this novel from the publisher, Harper Collins, through Netgalley.
4.5 stars. World War II novels are typically set during the war, so I was intrigued when I came across The German House which is set about twenty years after the war in Germany. The focus of the book is the 1963 Auschwitz Trials in Frankfurt. Eva begins to translate for the trial and quickly becomes torn between her family, the expectations society has placed on her, and the ever increasing guilt she has for her nation's actions.
I quickly became immersed in this novel, set on the verge of a changing era. Eva feels torn between the life she loves with her family and the life--with all its new and exciting possibilities--that she is drawn to beyond the safety of her home. This is a character driven novel, and they are flawed characters, which I always appreciate. They don't necessarily make the choices I would want them to make, but they reflect the realities of life.
It took me much longer to read this novel than it should have, but only because life got in the way. I was eager to pick it up and would have preferred to read it in a few longer spells than short spurts because it is so very immersive.
Witnessing the trial through Eva's eyes was daunting and emotional, but a reminder that even through the worst, most unimaginable atrocities, the human spirit prevails.
4.5 stars. World War II novels are typically set during the war, so I was intrigued when I came across The German House which is set about twenty years after the war in Germany. The focus of the book is the 1963 Auschwitz Trials in Frankfurt. Eva begins to translate for the trial and quickly becomes torn between her family, the expectations society has placed on her, and the ever increasing guilt she has for her nation's actions.
I quickly became immersed in this novel, set on the verge of a changing era. Eva feels torn between the life she loves with her family and the life--with all its new and exciting possibilities--that she is drawn to beyond the safety of her home. This is a character driven novel, and they are flawed characters, which I always appreciate. They don't necessarily make the choices I would want them to make, but they reflect the realities of life.
It took me much longer to read this novel than it should have, but only because life got in the way. I was eager to pick it up and would have preferred to read it in a few longer spells than short spurts because it is so very immersive.
Witnessing the trial through Eva's eyes was daunting and emotional, but a reminder that even through the worst, most unimaginable atrocities, the human spirit prevails.
This turned out to be a completely different book from what I thought it would be, but it was a pleasant surprise.
Eva is a young interpreter who ends up working in a trial where the accused are people who used to work in Auschwitz. The story was a bit slow to get going, focusing a lot on Eva and her relationship with Jürgen, the wealthy heir of a postal order company. The exploration of their very different backgrounds was interesting and did bring depth to their characters.
The bulk of this book focuses on Eva's work at the trial, and while it's interesting, it's also extremely depressing. And I couldn't help but think of Hannah Arendt's concept of "the banality of evil", this book does an excellent job of helping you understand what Arendt meant by it. The men standing accused are not given much space, surprisingly, the focus is more on the prosecution. It's a smart choice I think, though at times it would have been beneficial to portray them as more than by their current professions to help understand why they denied their actions. Though I also think as a whole it's such a difficult topic to balance but Hess manages it.
Of course Eva's own family ties into the trial as well, something she learns along the way. I'd like to think her reactions are fairly accurate for someone of her age, having been just a small child during WWII and now as an adult having to face the reality and horrors of what went on during those years. Her family is full of interesting characters, not all of them good. It's interesting to look at her family and wonder, which things they do because of what they did decades ago, does something her sister does derive from the actions of her parents. To wonder, if ignorance is better than facing things, admitting horrors and discussing the past. This book somehow manages to be deeply rooted in history and painfully topical even today and I think many people would benefit from reading it and really thinking about what they've read.
This isn't a light read, there are some graphic descriptions, but then, said things are based on reality and when even more horrible things have happened. The story is full of flawed people, each with their own burden to bear. And while the romance between Eva and Jürgen takes up a good chunk of this book too, I think it is justified. I'd recommend this to everyone who wants to understand history and people better.
And when I come across a good translation, I have to mention it. This one has been wonderfully translated into Finnish which makes me truly happy.
Eva is a young interpreter who ends up working in a trial where the accused are people who used to work in Auschwitz. The story was a bit slow to get going, focusing a lot on Eva and her relationship with Jürgen, the wealthy heir of a postal order company. The exploration of their very different backgrounds was interesting and did bring depth to their characters.
The bulk of this book focuses on Eva's work at the trial, and while it's interesting, it's also extremely depressing. And I couldn't help but think of Hannah Arendt's concept of "the banality of evil", this book does an excellent job of helping you understand what Arendt meant by it. The men standing accused are not given much space, surprisingly, the focus is more on the prosecution. It's a smart choice I think, though at times it would have been beneficial to portray them as more than by their current professions to help understand why they denied their actions. Though I also think as a whole it's such a difficult topic to balance but Hess manages it.
Of course Eva's own family ties into the trial as well, something she learns along the way. I'd like to think her reactions are fairly accurate for someone of her age, having been just a small child during WWII and now as an adult having to face the reality and horrors of what went on during those years. Her family is full of interesting characters, not all of them good. It's interesting to look at her family and wonder, which things they do because of what they did decades ago, does something her sister does derive from the actions of her parents. To wonder, if ignorance is better than facing things, admitting horrors and discussing the past. This book somehow manages to be deeply rooted in history and painfully topical even today and I think many people would benefit from reading it and really thinking about what they've read.
This isn't a light read, there are some graphic descriptions, but then, said things are based on reality and when even more horrible things have happened. The story is full of flawed people, each with their own burden to bear. And while the romance between Eva and Jürgen takes up a good chunk of this book too, I think it is justified. I'd recommend this to everyone who wants to understand history and people better.
And when I come across a good translation, I have to mention it. This one has been wonderfully translated into Finnish which makes me truly happy.
I am lucky in that I get to read some books that I normally wouldn’t be able to. ARCs from NetGalley tend to do that and I am so glad that I got to know about it. The German House is about Frankfurt trials and I admit that I didn’t know much about this but I am so glad that I chose to request this one. I know a bit about the matter and the book also helped me gain knowledge so yay for that.
It’s translated fiction and it was a bit dry in the beginning and my pace was slow in the beginning because of that. However as the plot started to reveal itself, I started speeding up the reading. It also made me pause my reading and google some things because I simply wasn’t aware of those things and needed help.
So let’s get into the story. Eva Bruhns is twenty four years old, she’s hoping her boyfriend (Jürgen Schoormann) will propose to her soon, talk to her family about their wedding soon. She’s a translator and someone called David Miller suddenly wants her to translate some interviews, she does arrive to the interview and realises that it’s not her normal work. It’s about the war crimes trials and what she learns during this time horrifies her.
This is the gist of the book but what made it really notable to me was the way it’s written. While there was a patch in the beginning that was jarring when it just simply switched perspectives and I was super confused but apart from that, the book is so solid. Eva is a great main character and I think, from what I have read on the internet, her overall feelings on the trials are similar to what many people thought during that time who were also living Frankfurt.
There are other perspectives that also work wonderfully in the book, unlike in the beginning, these happen later in the book and were written in a better way. The other thing I loved about this one is the way the author wove a way to go into detail about the atrocities of war and concentration camps and just the general inhuman acts that happened in Auschwitz.
As someone who is always ready to learn more about history of the world, this one was a great educational trip. Seriously. So much googling. But in the best way possible. I would definitely recommend it to those who like to read about history or more importantly, WWII then this is a great pick.
It’s translated fiction and it was a bit dry in the beginning and my pace was slow in the beginning because of that. However as the plot started to reveal itself, I started speeding up the reading. It also made me pause my reading and google some things because I simply wasn’t aware of those things and needed help.
So let’s get into the story. Eva Bruhns is twenty four years old, she’s hoping her boyfriend (Jürgen Schoormann) will propose to her soon, talk to her family about their wedding soon. She’s a translator and someone called David Miller suddenly wants her to translate some interviews, she does arrive to the interview and realises that it’s not her normal work. It’s about the war crimes trials and what she learns during this time horrifies her.
This is the gist of the book but what made it really notable to me was the way it’s written. While there was a patch in the beginning that was jarring when it just simply switched perspectives and I was super confused but apart from that, the book is so solid. Eva is a great main character and I think, from what I have read on the internet, her overall feelings on the trials are similar to what many people thought during that time who were also living Frankfurt.
There are other perspectives that also work wonderfully in the book, unlike in the beginning, these happen later in the book and were written in a better way. The other thing I loved about this one is the way the author wove a way to go into detail about the atrocities of war and concentration camps and just the general inhuman acts that happened in Auschwitz.
As someone who is always ready to learn more about history of the world, this one was a great educational trip. Seriously. So much googling. But in the best way possible. I would definitely recommend it to those who like to read about history or more importantly, WWII then this is a great pick.
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I won a copy of The German House from BookishFirst and I was so excited to receive that I started it almost immediately. Set during the Frankfurt Auschwitz Trials in the 1960s in West Germany, the story follows Eva, a German woman in her twenties who works as a translator. She is brought into the trial because of her ability to speak Polish. Through the different characters, we see the ways in which Germans dealt with the aftermath of the Holocaust, from denial to complete ignorance. Eva was a young child during WWII and starts the book not really understanding the depth of the atrocities committed in the camps. Through the events of the trial, Eva begins to uncover the dark secrets of her country’s and family’s past during the war.
The author of the book has written a lot for television and you can really see that influence in the way that the book switches between different POVs. Mid-paragraph, you switch from one character to the next without much warning. This was hard to follow at first but kind of cool once I got used to it.
I found Eva’s ignorance about the events of the Holocaust surprising but realistic of a lot of people who were children during the war. I also appreciated how, according to the notes in the back of the book, much of the dialogue during the trial itself was direct quotations from the real transcripts. This lent a layer of authenticity to the story, while also making the trial scenes that much more heartbreaking. What I did not like was the character of Jurgen, her boyfriend, who really just seemed like an awful person not matter how many excuses we were given for his actions.
Though presented as a bit of a mystery, of Eva uncovering her family’s past, the real story here is the evolution of her character from a naive young adult to a woman full in grasp of her past and personality. I greatly enjoyed this look at a time in Germany’s past that doesn’t get as much attention.
Thanks HarperVia for the advanced copy. Out in the US on December 3!
The author of the book has written a lot for television and you can really see that influence in the way that the book switches between different POVs. Mid-paragraph, you switch from one character to the next without much warning. This was hard to follow at first but kind of cool once I got used to it.
I found Eva’s ignorance about the events of the Holocaust surprising but realistic of a lot of people who were children during the war. I also appreciated how, according to the notes in the back of the book, much of the dialogue during the trial itself was direct quotations from the real transcripts. This lent a layer of authenticity to the story, while also making the trial scenes that much more heartbreaking. What I did not like was the character of Jurgen, her boyfriend, who really just seemed like an awful person not matter how many excuses we were given for his actions.
Though presented as a bit of a mystery, of Eva uncovering her family’s past, the real story here is the evolution of her character from a naive young adult to a woman full in grasp of her past and personality. I greatly enjoyed this look at a time in Germany’s past that doesn’t get as much attention.
Thanks HarperVia for the advanced copy. Out in the US on December 3!
I was intrigued by the plot of this book - a young German woman in the 1960's coming to terms with her family's involvement in Auschwitz - but this hit all sorts of wrong notes for me. Maybe something about the translation was off? There were really odd changes in tone in different places ... switching from a YA feel with lots of details about her relationship with her fiance to horror at the testimony she translates and the memories it brings up. I think wrestling with an idea (here the idea of complicity) can be of great value even if it doesn't result in a pleasing whole, so I am glad that Annette Hess wrote this novel even though I can't say I enjoyed it. A book you might want to pick up if this left you unsatisfied is Belonging: A German Reckons with History and Home .
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
German-Polish interpreter, Eva Bruhns, is living an undisturbed life with her parents in Frankfurt during the 1960s. She’s about to be engaged to an heir to a wealthy family business and will finally be able to escape the confines of her parent’s house, her brother and sister and the family restaurant, The German House. Shortly after her boyfriend, Jürgen, finally musters up the courage to ask Eva’s hand in marriage, she is hired to work at the Frankfurt trials and her future takes a turn.
What follows is a rendition of Eva’s realisation of the atrocities which took place less than twenty years ago during the Second World War. Together with the gruesome details of war crimes conducted by the Nazis, Eva also learns that her own parents have a connection to Auschwitz and she starts to question not only her fellow countrymen's part in the genocide, but also the truth about her parents.
Even though there has been quite an upsurge in fiction set in or related to the Second World War, particularly the role of Germany and the Nazis, The German House looks at this period in history from a fresh, more personal perspective. It shows that while history, in hindsight, might seem black and white, this isn’t necessarily the case and that when people and circumstances are taken into account, it’s much more complicated.The German House will provide you with a different perspective into a truly horrific part of our history.
Full review on https://wanderingwestswords.wordpress.com/2020/01/13/the-german-house-annette-hess/
What follows is a rendition of Eva’s realisation of the atrocities which took place less than twenty years ago during the Second World War. Together with the gruesome details of war crimes conducted by the Nazis, Eva also learns that her own parents have a connection to Auschwitz and she starts to question not only her fellow countrymen's part in the genocide, but also the truth about her parents.
Even though there has been quite an upsurge in fiction set in or related to the Second World War, particularly the role of Germany and the Nazis, The German House looks at this period in history from a fresh, more personal perspective. It shows that while history, in hindsight, might seem black and white, this isn’t necessarily the case and that when people and circumstances are taken into account, it’s much more complicated.The German House will provide you with a different perspective into a truly horrific part of our history.
Full review on https://wanderingwestswords.wordpress.com/2020/01/13/the-german-house-annette-hess/
I have a new-found appreciation of world war II era books but what attracted me to reading this story, in particular, was that it is based after the war is over when most are based on the lead up to it or during. It also is unique in that it merges war crimes with a family drama and caught my interest right from the beginning. Almost two decades after the Nuremberg trials the Frankfurt trials are in full swing exploring the Nazi Holocaust and holding to account former SS concentration camp guards. Young Eva Bruhn (hmm, yes, the name is very familiar) takes the role of translator at the trials (translating Polish survivors witness testimonies) and is shocked and appalled at what she hears. The trials hope to bring a sense of justice and prosecute those German's who committed the horrific war crimes in Auschwitz. However, this opens a can of worms and Eva is left contemplating why her family will not talk about the war and their roles in it. But Eva is adamant about discovering the truth and will not stop until she knows.
This is a story all about the issues of complicity and how this can impact future generations. It's heart-wrenching to hear the stories of Auschwitz and a real eye-opener. Annette Hess manages to create a profoundly moving tale that envelops and immerses you beautifully and 1960s Frankfurt is depicted as having the fog of war not yet lifted hanging over the city. It's atmospheric, well written and poignant. It asks the question of whether those who knew about the Nazi atrocities and turned a blind eye to them are just as guilty as those doing the exterminating. The delicate subject matter is treated with the utmost respect and compassion. It's clear the author has carried out extensive research into this sad and often harrowing topic which makes the narrative believable. The translation, at times, felt rather clunky and clumsy but, for the most part, I enjoyed reading a different, thought-provoking perspective of events. Many thanks to HarperVia for an ARC.
This is a story all about the issues of complicity and how this can impact future generations. It's heart-wrenching to hear the stories of Auschwitz and a real eye-opener. Annette Hess manages to create a profoundly moving tale that envelops and immerses you beautifully and 1960s Frankfurt is depicted as having the fog of war not yet lifted hanging over the city. It's atmospheric, well written and poignant. It asks the question of whether those who knew about the Nazi atrocities and turned a blind eye to them are just as guilty as those doing the exterminating. The delicate subject matter is treated with the utmost respect and compassion. It's clear the author has carried out extensive research into this sad and often harrowing topic which makes the narrative believable. The translation, at times, felt rather clunky and clumsy but, for the most part, I enjoyed reading a different, thought-provoking perspective of events. Many thanks to HarperVia for an ARC.