Scan barcode
gginnola's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
cat_book_lady's review
4.0
Round up to 4.5*
As Segovia quotes Rudyard Kipling, "If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten." And she definitely has this wholeheartedly correct since this historical fiction novel will stay with me much longer than a mere recitation of facts, simply because war is the story of living, breathing people who suffer, celebrate, sacrifice, and love each other amidst the horrific backdrop of human cruelty.
I love that she brings together the stories of two German/Prussian families joined by the fairytale stories relayed by Januz, a Polish Untermensch (subhuman) who, orphaned at a young age, is taken prisoner by the Germans as a forced laborer on the German farms. The tragic undercurrent of his story is the glue that binds the tears of amber between these families, exiled from Germany during their incomprehensible invasion of the Soviet army. Without giving too much away, the story of the amber - quite literally - will bring you to tears.
This story of German exile surprised me because I was not even aware of this hardship of human history. Of families escaping their own country in the dead of winter with only the pickled foods they squirreled away from the grips of the German army. Of near starvation and execution by their own countrymen. By the women and children forced to survive without the men who, as young as 14, were either conscripted or shot as deserters. Not all Germans were in favor of the war, and all Germans were lied to, especially about the success of the Nazi Regime, until there disillusionment was countered by the truth spread before them in the form of their rubbled, destroyed country, and of the crippled soldiers, if they returned, who were psychologically destroyed.
War, for some, never ends. But amidst the suffering was grit, perseverance, determination, and relentless fortitude as they clambered for survival. Children grew up fast, but the lost innocence was never mourned as it was a pointless, useless emotion that did not put food in their bellies. What kept them alive was family, their community, their love, and their hope in a distant future.
The book is long, and the story of two families' escape into exile is equally long, sometimes frustratingly so. There are a few times when I thought to myself, "Is this ever going to end?" But that - exactly - is the point, because you join their excruciating, seemingly endless journey of exile, and this was a long, brief moment in their lives as it will be in yours. Give them the honor of your time as you, in turn, learn a piece of forgotten history and the families that endured the unendurable.
As Segovia quotes Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (who makes a delightfully brief entrance in the novel), "Literature transmits an incontrovertible, condensed experience from generation to generation. This, literature becomes the living memory of a nation."
Well done, Segovia, well done indeed.
As Segovia quotes Rudyard Kipling, "If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten." And she definitely has this wholeheartedly correct since this historical fiction novel will stay with me much longer than a mere recitation of facts, simply because war is the story of living, breathing people who suffer, celebrate, sacrifice, and love each other amidst the horrific backdrop of human cruelty.
I love that she brings together the stories of two German/Prussian families joined by the fairytale stories relayed by Januz, a Polish Untermensch (subhuman) who, orphaned at a young age, is taken prisoner by the Germans as a forced laborer on the German farms. The tragic undercurrent of his story is the glue that binds the tears of amber between these families, exiled from Germany during their incomprehensible invasion of the Soviet army. Without giving too much away, the story of the amber - quite literally - will bring you to tears.
This story of German exile surprised me because I was not even aware of this hardship of human history. Of families escaping their own country in the dead of winter with only the pickled foods they squirreled away from the grips of the German army. Of near starvation and execution by their own countrymen. By the women and children forced to survive without the men who, as young as 14, were either conscripted or shot as deserters. Not all Germans were in favor of the war, and all Germans were lied to, especially about the success of the Nazi Regime, until there disillusionment was countered by the truth spread before them in the form of their rubbled, destroyed country, and of the crippled soldiers, if they returned, who were psychologically destroyed.
War, for some, never ends. But amidst the suffering was grit, perseverance, determination, and relentless fortitude as they clambered for survival. Children grew up fast, but the lost innocence was never mourned as it was a pointless, useless emotion that did not put food in their bellies. What kept them alive was family, their community, their love, and their hope in a distant future.
The book is long, and the story of two families' escape into exile is equally long, sometimes frustratingly so. There are a few times when I thought to myself, "Is this ever going to end?" But that - exactly - is the point, because you join their excruciating, seemingly endless journey of exile, and this was a long, brief moment in their lives as it will be in yours. Give them the honor of your time as you, in turn, learn a piece of forgotten history and the families that endured the unendurable.
As Segovia quotes Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (who makes a delightfully brief entrance in the novel), "Literature transmits an incontrovertible, condensed experience from generation to generation. This, literature becomes the living memory of a nation."
Well done, Segovia, well done indeed.
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition
5.0
No one in this story becomes a spy or joins the resistance. They do nothing overtly heroic. They're farmers, people who have lived in East Prussia for centuries and will soon become some of the million displaced persons following World War II.
Sofia Segovia follows two families, the Schippers and the Hahlbrochs, from 1935 through the end of the war. Karl Schipper takes his family to an early Hitler rally because he credits the National Socialists with improving his economic situation. Tiny Arno is hoisted on his father's shoulders for the event. It's that important.
The Hahlbrochs are less impressed with the Nazis, especially when they receive four Polish workers for the farm. They are paid a pittance (which is regulated and may not be a penny more) so the Party insists they are not slaves. Hartwig Hahlbroch is farm manager for a estate which means there's a lot of work that needs to be done, so at least he can treat them decently. Once of them is a teenager, Janusz, who will become an important part of their refugee story.
By 1940, they are all disillusioned by the Nazi party and their war. The brainwashing of the children in school, the forced meetings and rallies, seeing their kids parroting what both families see as nonsense. The Hahlbrochs take in a Polish neighbor's daughter as a servant so that she is not shipped far from home to do who knows what.
The war in the east comes to them first. The families, who do not know each other and whose paths will never cross during the war, load up carts and head west, hopefully toward safety, but maybe not.
It is a brutal journey, told frankly. Surviving every day is a miracle.
Segovia focuses on Arno Schipper and Ilse Hahlbroch, middle kids in the two families. The characters are well developed, ordinary, even when they show extraordinary resourcefulness. It's the kind of book you can't put down because there is true suspense, real risk, and high stakes.
Kudos to translator Simon Bruni for a masterful job. This is the second of Sofia Segovia's novels that I have enjoyed greatly.
~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader
Sofia Segovia follows two families, the Schippers and the Hahlbrochs, from 1935 through the end of the war. Karl Schipper takes his family to an early Hitler rally because he credits the National Socialists with improving his economic situation. Tiny Arno is hoisted on his father's shoulders for the event. It's that important.
The Hahlbrochs are less impressed with the Nazis, especially when they receive four Polish workers for the farm. They are paid a pittance (which is regulated and may not be a penny more) so the Party insists they are not slaves. Hartwig Hahlbroch is farm manager for a estate which means there's a lot of work that needs to be done, so at least he can treat them decently. Once of them is a teenager, Janusz, who will become an important part of their refugee story.
By 1940, they are all disillusioned by the Nazi party and their war. The brainwashing of the children in school, the forced meetings and rallies, seeing their kids parroting what both families see as nonsense. The Hahlbrochs take in a Polish neighbor's daughter as a servant so that she is not shipped far from home to do who knows what.
The war in the east comes to them first. The families, who do not know each other and whose paths will never cross during the war, load up carts and head west, hopefully toward safety, but maybe not.
It is a brutal journey, told frankly. Surviving every day is a miracle.
Segovia focuses on Arno Schipper and Ilse Hahlbroch, middle kids in the two families. The characters are well developed, ordinary, even when they show extraordinary resourcefulness. It's the kind of book you can't put down because there is true suspense, real risk, and high stakes.
Kudos to translator Simon Bruni for a masterful job. This is the second of Sofia Segovia's novels that I have enjoyed greatly.
~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader
shelznh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
singerofstories's review
sad
slow-paced
3.75
This is the story of the migration/exodus of two families during WWII. The author's note states that while this is a fictional work, these are based on real stories. What I loved most about this book was the immense amount of DETAILS. It was gut-wrenching to read exactly what the characters were eating (which wasn't much), to read how cold and bitter the weather was, what it was like to see other farms and homes abandoned or locked up, to feel what it was like to squat in barns for warmth, and to be in constant fear of bombs or soldiers on the road. This book seemed so real to me. It was a hard read but worth it. I rated it only 3.75 because while I will remember the emotions this book brought out in me, I don't feel that I will remember the characters much. Possibly if I had read the physical book rather than the audio my experience could be different but I didn't connect with the characters and had trouble keeping straight who was whom.
evspekkie's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
towering_tbr's review against another edition
4.0
A well told World War 2 story focused on two German families. Lots of trigger warnings.
meganhogle's review against another edition
5.0
I’m a wreck. I can’t even begin to articulate how moving her novels are.
maryalex622's review against another edition
1.75 hours in and I’m worried it’s gonna be another cursed cheesecake like Murmur of bees was. I don’t wanna get trapped so I’m getting out while I can.