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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
This was a solid read for me! I absolutely loved all the small details throughout the book that really touched on who hitler was as a person and how people were inclined to follow him etc.
If asked I could probably talk about this book for 20 minutes straight. Definitely picking up the sequel!
If asked I could probably talk about this book for 20 minutes straight. Definitely picking up the sequel!
Rating - ☆☆☆
Review:
I wasn't too sure on this one as it was historical fiction and it's not my kind of thing, but I actually enjoyed it.
Gretchen Muller is a normal little girl who does normal things, her brother is awful to her and tries to get her into trouble as every opportunity.
She is brought up inside the National Society Party and her favourite person in the whole world is her uncle Dolf.
Unfortunately for Gretchen uncle Dolf is no other than Adolf Hitler!
Gretchens father was shot while protecting Hitler at a rally for the NSP but after speaking to a young Jewish boy she finds out all is not as it seems.
This was an interesting read as it is before Hitler really came into power and the man we know today, and also how he manipulated people into his way of thinking.
Review:
I wasn't too sure on this one as it was historical fiction and it's not my kind of thing, but I actually enjoyed it.
Gretchen Muller is a normal little girl who does normal things, her brother is awful to her and tries to get her into trouble as every opportunity.
She is brought up inside the National Society Party and her favourite person in the whole world is her uncle Dolf.
Unfortunately for Gretchen uncle Dolf is no other than Adolf Hitler!
Gretchens father was shot while protecting Hitler at a rally for the NSP but after speaking to a young Jewish boy she finds out all is not as it seems.
This was an interesting read as it is before Hitler really came into power and the man we know today, and also how he manipulated people into his way of thinking.
Wow. I am in awe of how amazing this novel is, let alone for a debut. Anne Blankman’s Prisoner of Night and Fog is a book I had high expectations for, but it left them all in the dust. Truly, I couldn’t conceive of the book being this amazing, but Prisoner of Night and Fog hits every note beautifully: the writing, the plot, the concept, the history, and the characters. This is a book you’re going to see me talking about a lot, and will no doubt be on my lists of favorite books at the year’s end. Anne Blankman debuts with a heartbreaking, psychologically-compelling, dark and beautiful novel set during the Weimar Republic era as Hitler rises to power.
Read the full review at A Reader of Fictions.
Read the full review at A Reader of Fictions.
Blackman has created a strange story that draws the reader in quickly. What would it be like to be a close friend (even a "pet") of Hitler in the years before his absolute leadership? This is that story.
Gretchen's father died five years ago, during Hitler's beer hall putsch, and the story says he jumped in front of a bullet to save Hitler. Gretchen and her brother Reichart admire Uncle Dolf immensely, although for different reasons, and he has helped and protected her family for years.
A chance meeting in an alley with a Jewish boy her age makes her question everything Uncle Dolf and her sheltered life made her believe. He also raises questions about her father's death and helps her see just how dysfunctional her family is.
About half the characters are based on real people, but Gretchen and her family, and the Jewish boy and journalist, are all fictional, to help us see this tough situation.
Prisoner of Night and Fog is a little over dramatic a name for the story, but it is dramatic, with mysteries, some light violence, chase scenes, and romance. One of my students is reading this book, too, and very much enjoying it. I might have to pick up the second book for me, though. :)
Gretchen's father died five years ago, during Hitler's beer hall putsch, and the story says he jumped in front of a bullet to save Hitler. Gretchen and her brother Reichart admire Uncle Dolf immensely, although for different reasons, and he has helped and protected her family for years.
A chance meeting in an alley with a Jewish boy her age makes her question everything Uncle Dolf and her sheltered life made her believe. He also raises questions about her father's death and helps her see just how dysfunctional her family is.
About half the characters are based on real people, but Gretchen and her family, and the Jewish boy and journalist, are all fictional, to help us see this tough situation.
Prisoner of Night and Fog is a little over dramatic a name for the story, but it is dramatic, with mysteries, some light violence, chase scenes, and romance. One of my students is reading this book, too, and very much enjoying it. I might have to pick up the second book for me, though. :)
The first half of this book was amazing, easily 5 star worthy. But after that things became boring. The writing is brilliant and the story is hauntingly beautiful, I just wanted a but more twists, because there was loads slacking.
3 stars. I really liked the plot of this book, even though I don't think it's being marketed right. The synopsis makes it seem like it is just a love story about Hitler's niece falling in love with a Jewish reporter, which it is but it actually is more than that. The romance is not the driving force of this book which I really liked. It was more about the suspense and mystery of the murder of our main character's father. The romance is really just after thought.
The writing was great, and again the plot was great. I also liked the way the author used her setting. I felt I was right there in the middle of it all at certain times.
On the negative side, I really didn't like the romance. It was kind of insta-love and it wasn't believable at all. It actually made me cringe how fast they fell in love. My main problem with this book though were the characters. They just were so one dimensional and flat. The only character that I felt actually had a personality was her portrayal of Hitler. He was a really fleshed out character and it was interesting to think about the other side of him than what we learned in history books. I was fascinated by his character every time he was on the page.
Gretchen was an okay character but there really wasn't much to her. I liked her determination to find out what happened to her father and I really the strength she gained in the end and how she stood up toHitler . She just wasn't really interesting other than that because we didn't know anything about her.
Daniel was, just like Gretchen, a very dull character. There was nothing that set him apart or made him stand out in comparison to other YA male characters. He was just kind of there and while it would it would've been nice to get something from his character, in the end I just didn't care enough about him.
The plot and the writing were strong enough to where I will definitely continue on with the series.
The writing was great, and again the plot was great. I also liked the way the author used her setting. I felt I was right there in the middle of it all at certain times.
On the negative side, I really didn't like the romance. It was kind of insta-love and it wasn't believable at all. It actually made me cringe how fast they fell in love. My main problem with this book though were the characters. They just were so one dimensional and flat. The only character that I felt actually had a personality was her portrayal of Hitler. He was a really fleshed out character and it was interesting to think about the other side of him than what we learned in history books. I was fascinated by his character every time he was on the page.
Gretchen was an okay character but there really wasn't much to her. I liked her determination to find out what happened to her father and I really the strength she gained in the end and how she stood up to
Daniel was, just like Gretchen, a very dull character. There was nothing that set him apart or made him stand out in comparison to other YA male characters. He was just kind of there and while it would it would've been nice to get something from his character, in the end I just didn't care enough about him.
The plot and the writing were strong enough to where I will definitely continue on with the series.
DNF at 31%
I have a headache so short and sweet.
1. Gretchen was an idiot. Do you think that she would be that stupid with having a literal sociopath for a brother? Do you think that she would just trust some stranger, especially a stranger who is Jewish (considering her upbringing), to help her out? Do you think she would just toss her life off to the side like that? No. I'm sorry, but no.
2. Of course her brother was a stereotypical Nazi. Psychopath all the way through. Authors, just a heads up and a tip, that wasn't typically the case.
3. I can't come up with a third reason. I liked the writing, so I'd try this author again. I thought the setting was interesting. I liked the low-key introduction of Eva Braun, even though I don't think the age was accurate. Those just didn't save it for me. Also, the mystery wasn't great. It was there but unsurprising.
I have a headache so short and sweet.
1. Gretchen was an idiot. Do you think that she would be that stupid with having a literal sociopath for a brother? Do you think that she would just trust some stranger, especially a stranger who is Jewish (considering her upbringing), to help her out? Do you think she would just toss her life off to the side like that? No. I'm sorry, but no.
2. Of course her brother was a stereotypical Nazi. Psychopath all the way through. Authors, just a heads up and a tip, that wasn't typically the case.
3. I can't come up with a third reason. I liked the writing, so I'd try this author again. I thought the setting was interesting. I liked the low-key introduction of Eva Braun, even though I don't think the age was accurate. Those just didn't save it for me. Also, the mystery wasn't great. It was there but unsurprising.
I loved Prisoner of Night and Fog. In high school, I learnt a lot about Adolf Hitler and his road to power. It was interesting to find a lot of true events in the book. It wasn't annoying at all that Gretchen (the main protagonist) was a fictional character. She was intelligent and brave and she was everything I want in a female protagonist. The relationship between Daniel and Gretchen was well built up and sweet. I honestly can't think of any aspects I didn't like. Well, the end was really rushed. That could've been slower and more worked out. All together, 5 star worth!