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feriha's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
thekatedit's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
filmingpages's review against another edition
4.0
It was high time I read a historical fiction novel and I'm so glad I chose this one! To say that I loved it is definitely an understatement, this book made me think so much, I had hour long debates with myself, trying to explore both sides of the coin, German and English.
Our main characters are so different from each other yet so similar, each of them has a unique voice, which I appreciated so much, because it was more than easy to distinguish one from another. Even though I understood him, I just couldn't completely agree with Lewis' kindness, because in the end, this kindness bit him in the hand and had different consequences for his family and his circle of friends. One of my favorites had to be Herr Lubert, I think he really tried to make the best of things and he knew his place from day one, never wanting more than being able to continue living with dignity.
As for the kids, one of the most interesting characters was Frieda. I'd love to know more about her, what happens when she was training with the Nazi youth and what happened when the war finished and what will happen to her, because even though the book finished at a certain point, I think her story has so much more to give! My heart broke for Ozi and his friends though and I want to know more about what happened to Germans when Hitler was finally defeated. I think this book gave a small glimpse of a huge subject and now all I want is to know more!
Lastly, the romance was good in the sense that it wasn't either overplayed or underplayed. I think it was enough to make the plot even more interested and I was so invested in it, even though I knew it was probably doomed from the start. Also, the plot twist had me turning the pages like crazy!
All in all, I really loved this book. It rekindled my passion for historical fiction and for that, I'm grateful!
Our main characters are so different from each other yet so similar, each of them has a unique voice, which I appreciated so much, because it was more than easy to distinguish one from another. Even though I understood him, I just couldn't completely agree with Lewis' kindness, because in the end, this kindness bit him in the hand and had different consequences for his family and his circle of friends. One of my favorites had to be Herr Lubert, I think he really tried to make the best of things and he knew his place from day one, never wanting more than being able to continue living with dignity.
As for the kids, one of the most interesting characters was Frieda. I'd love to know more about her, what happens when she was training with the Nazi youth and what happened when the war finished and what will happen to her, because even though the book finished at a certain point, I think her story has so much more to give! My heart broke for Ozi and his friends though and I want to know more about what happened to Germans when Hitler was finally defeated. I think this book gave a small glimpse of a huge subject and now all I want is to know more!
Lastly, the romance was good in the sense that it wasn't either overplayed or underplayed. I think it was enough to make the plot even more interested and I was so invested in it, even though I knew it was probably doomed from the start. Also, the plot twist had me turning the pages like crazy!
All in all, I really loved this book. It rekindled my passion for historical fiction and for that, I'm grateful!
daisyt's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
marjati_reads's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
bepisaun's review against another edition
3.0
A short story set in post WWII Germany, with the British proposing a 'cleansing program' for the Germans. This book reads like a soap opera or novella. Romance, scandal and the gritty realism of war make for a quick and interesting read.
kadeherrera's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0