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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
I don't give five stars very often, but this novel is deserving. Brook does a tremendous job with the characters. They draw you in from the start and remain true to themselves throughout the story. I also found the subject matter very interesting. Not many books (that I know of, at least) focus on this post World War II era in Germany. It's always enjoyable to learn a little something while being thoroughly entertained. Overall, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this novel to others, especially historical fiction fans.
This book for whatever reason was like a breath of fresh air compared to any other books dealing with affairs. I went into reading this was a preconceived notion of how everything was likely to play out - having seen the trailer for the movie version - already with an inkling of what might conspire but nonetheless intrigued. However, I am very happy to say I was completely wrong!
While there was definitely an affair between the two (main) characters Rachel Morgan and Stefan Lubert, I was surprised by how it played out in actuality.
1) Although a large part of the book was centered around this storyline, I really appreciated how the author also heavily drew out other characters, weaving a sort of web of secrets, wishes, and trepidations (if you will;). I really enjoyed Edmund and Colonel Morgan's stories, as well as even the somewhat rather heartbreaking one of Freda.
2) All the (character) choices throughout felt really natural and realistic. Often times in shows and movies, affairs are depicted being hot, heavy, mischievious, and even illicent (for lack of a better term). In this book however, I found comfort in the fact that a) none of descriptions were drawn out in a distateful way and b) both Rachel and Lubert constantly grappled with the fact they still had some love for their "former" spouses. Their relationship wasn't formed without prior thought, but rather as a means of coping almost for all they had both lost throughout the war, ultimately helping Rachel to get over her fear of Germans and see them for their own broken people as well. This definitely added a melancholy aspect to it, but this only added to the story for me as it wasn't a very jolly time and many people were greiving for their losses. I choose to view it as comfort in severely hard times.
Lastly, 3) I have to say I was initially shocked by Rachel's decision to so early on show Lubert the file she had discovered on Frau (Claudia) Lubert's
survival. I really appreciated the honesty here as well as in several other parts. This felt rare as there is so much content in which one side or another is dishonest resulting in a whole wave of other problems and I really appreciated it.
By the end of the book I have to say I was very sad for it's end, while the whole book was somewhat melancholy, it to me was all about many or finding their own forms of hope in such a desolute time and place. I loved all of the character's and appreciated each one's uniqueness. Even though I did enjoy the tender relationship between Lubert and Rachel, the ultimate end seemed to make the most sense for everything. I LOVED how the author chose to end with Lubert's burst of inspiration as he stands reimagining his city after being granted a persilshein! Such a lovely touch and great way to end it, but also leave it open ended giving way to the implied rest of all the character's lives and changes to come.
I don't rate many books a full 5 stars, but I chose to give one five because it will now forever hold a special place in my heart.
While there was definitely an affair between the two (main) characters Rachel Morgan and Stefan Lubert, I was surprised by how it played out in actuality.
1) Although a large part of the book was centered around this storyline, I really appreciated how the author also heavily drew out other characters, weaving a sort of web of secrets, wishes, and trepidations (if you will;). I really enjoyed Edmund and Colonel Morgan's stories, as well as even the somewhat rather heartbreaking one of Freda.
2) All the (character) choices throughout felt really natural and realistic. Often times in shows and movies, affairs are depicted being hot, heavy, mischievious, and even illicent (for lack of a better term). In this book however, I found comfort in the fact that a) none of descriptions were drawn out in a distateful way and b) both Rachel and Lubert constantly grappled with the fact they still had some love for their "former" spouses. Their relationship wasn't formed without prior thought, but rather as a means of coping almost for all they had both lost throughout the war, ultimately helping Rachel to get over her fear of Germans and see them for their own broken people as well. This definitely added a melancholy aspect to it, but this only added to the story for me as it wasn't a very jolly time and many people were greiving for their losses. I choose to view it as comfort in severely hard times.
Lastly, 3) I have to say I was initially shocked by Rachel's decision to so early on show Lubert the file she had discovered on Frau (Claudia) Lubert's
survival. I really appreciated the honesty here as well as in several other parts. This felt rare as there is so much content in which one side or another is dishonest resulting in a whole wave of other problems and I really appreciated it.
By the end of the book I have to say I was very sad for it's end, while the whole book was somewhat melancholy, it to me was all about many or finding their own forms of hope in such a desolute time and place. I loved all of the character's and appreciated each one's uniqueness. Even though I did enjoy the tender relationship between Lubert and Rachel, the ultimate end seemed to make the most sense for everything. I LOVED how the author chose to end with Lubert's burst of inspiration as he stands reimagining his city after being granted a persilshein! Such a lovely touch and great way to end it, but also leave it open ended giving way to the implied rest of all the character's lives and changes to come.
I don't rate many books a full 5 stars, but I chose to give one five because it will now forever hold a special place in my heart.
I reviewed this book for www.luxuryreading.com.
I am always intrigued to discover the inspirations that lead an author to write a book. It seems there are nearly unlimited sources to draw from – conversations, research, accidental occurrences – but my favorites happen to be personal experiences and family history. When I decided to read The Aftermath I had no idea the author drew on his grandfather’s experiences in war torn Germany after World War II or even the complicated dynamics men like his grandfather faced trying to rebuild this decimated land and its equally affected people while also trying to find justice for the crimes done to those countries tasked with the reconstruction. Amongst other acts of humanitarianism, the author’s grandfather, a British Colonel in charge of reconstructing part of Hamburg, Germany, decided to have the German family whose house was being requisitioned for the Colonel’s family stay and live with them. He refused to find fault with this family simply because they were Germans and this act of kindness opened up the door for the brilliant story that would become The Aftermath.
In 1946 Hamburg, Colonel Lewis Morgan is placed in charge of beginning the process of rebuilding the devastated city as well as the rehabilitation and training of its battered and displaced people. When a beautiful house on the River Elbe is requisitioned for Colonel Morgan and his family – his wife, Rachael, and their son, Edmund – the Colonel makes the radical decision to let the owners of the home – Herr Lubert, architect and widower, and his teenage daughter, Freda – stay and live with them. In the beginning this merging of two opposing worlds is anything but easy. Rachael is still mourning the loss of her eldest son, killed during bombings in England, and fights with her feelings of loss and her strained love for the husband who has become little more than a stranger to her. Herr Lubert is mourning his own loss, that of his wife, as well as the loss of control over most aspects of his life. Freda is angry against these intruders of her country and her home and seeks redemption in dangerous ways. Edmund, young and largely unaware of the hatred and fear of those around him, seeks his parents love and admiration in the wake of his brother lost too soon. And Colonel Morgan, fighting everyday with the ever tipping balance between justice and revenge, must now also find a way to balance his difficult and all consuming job with the needs and responsibilities of his family.
As the families continue to live and interact with each other they will be forced to look beyond their own feelings of prejudice, guilt and sorrow and seek some truce and solace in the new world remaining amongst the rubble. By the end of the bitterest winter on record, each person living at Villa Lubert will have faced their own demons, made mistakes and come out the other side bruised yet sure of the person they want to be and the world they want to live in.
The Aftermath is so beautifully written that at times I found myself reading passages over and over again just to enjoy the lyrical language. The majority of the story is stark and heartbreaking but underlying it all is a feeling of hope for a better future. I had personally never heard of the feral children left homeless and parent-less, just roaming around the city digging for scraps to eat or cigarettes to sell, but these damaged children really helped bring home the idea of the battered and innocent people forced to pay for the evil done by some of their German countrymen. This was a side of history I had never learned before and in the skilled hands of Rhidian Brook it is something I will never forget.
I am always intrigued to discover the inspirations that lead an author to write a book. It seems there are nearly unlimited sources to draw from – conversations, research, accidental occurrences – but my favorites happen to be personal experiences and family history. When I decided to read The Aftermath I had no idea the author drew on his grandfather’s experiences in war torn Germany after World War II or even the complicated dynamics men like his grandfather faced trying to rebuild this decimated land and its equally affected people while also trying to find justice for the crimes done to those countries tasked with the reconstruction. Amongst other acts of humanitarianism, the author’s grandfather, a British Colonel in charge of reconstructing part of Hamburg, Germany, decided to have the German family whose house was being requisitioned for the Colonel’s family stay and live with them. He refused to find fault with this family simply because they were Germans and this act of kindness opened up the door for the brilliant story that would become The Aftermath.
In 1946 Hamburg, Colonel Lewis Morgan is placed in charge of beginning the process of rebuilding the devastated city as well as the rehabilitation and training of its battered and displaced people. When a beautiful house on the River Elbe is requisitioned for Colonel Morgan and his family – his wife, Rachael, and their son, Edmund – the Colonel makes the radical decision to let the owners of the home – Herr Lubert, architect and widower, and his teenage daughter, Freda – stay and live with them. In the beginning this merging of two opposing worlds is anything but easy. Rachael is still mourning the loss of her eldest son, killed during bombings in England, and fights with her feelings of loss and her strained love for the husband who has become little more than a stranger to her. Herr Lubert is mourning his own loss, that of his wife, as well as the loss of control over most aspects of his life. Freda is angry against these intruders of her country and her home and seeks redemption in dangerous ways. Edmund, young and largely unaware of the hatred and fear of those around him, seeks his parents love and admiration in the wake of his brother lost too soon. And Colonel Morgan, fighting everyday with the ever tipping balance between justice and revenge, must now also find a way to balance his difficult and all consuming job with the needs and responsibilities of his family.
As the families continue to live and interact with each other they will be forced to look beyond their own feelings of prejudice, guilt and sorrow and seek some truce and solace in the new world remaining amongst the rubble. By the end of the bitterest winter on record, each person living at Villa Lubert will have faced their own demons, made mistakes and come out the other side bruised yet sure of the person they want to be and the world they want to live in.
The Aftermath is so beautifully written that at times I found myself reading passages over and over again just to enjoy the lyrical language. The majority of the story is stark and heartbreaking but underlying it all is a feeling of hope for a better future. I had personally never heard of the feral children left homeless and parent-less, just roaming around the city digging for scraps to eat or cigarettes to sell, but these damaged children really helped bring home the idea of the battered and innocent people forced to pay for the evil done by some of their German countrymen. This was a side of history I had never learned before and in the skilled hands of Rhidian Brook it is something I will never forget.