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laurahastoomanywips's review against another edition
4.0
A very descriptive and atmospheric story about life for two identical twin sisters who were divided by the creation of the Berlin wall due to a twist of fate. Karin, took ill with appendicitis whilst visiting friends in East Berlin. This is the story of her sister Jutta and her attempts to get Karin back to West Berlin, whilst under constant threat of the Stasi.
Will Karin agree to follow her back to West Berlin or will Karin's love for Otto make her stay?
This was so well described, you felt for each sister in their individual agony and were rooting for them to succeed. It definitely evoked the fear that was felt for the Stasi.
Thanks to the Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read this thought provoking story.
Will Karin agree to follow her back to West Berlin or will Karin's love for Otto make her stay?
This was so well described, you felt for each sister in their individual agony and were rooting for them to succeed. It definitely evoked the fear that was felt for the Stasi.
Thanks to the Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read this thought provoking story.
danceranna96's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
3.0
claire1044's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lturbide's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.5
stacey_the_booknerd's review
1.0
Thank you Net Galley, Mandy Robotham, and Avon Publishing for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book for my honest review.
One of my favorite genres is historical fiction set during the 20th century, especially events around or during the time of All in all, The Girl Behind The Wall definitely failed to hit the mark for me, which is such a shame as I was really looking forward to finally read a book set during Cold War Berlin. I seem to be in the minority though, so who knows, this story might just work better for you.WWII. I was instantly drawn to this book because I've read the author before, and because I have never read a historical fiction with the setting during the Cold War and the rise of the Berlin Wall. Because of my excitement over being allowed the privilege to read this book, I was sadly disappointed when I didn't finish it due to the lack of storytelling. The story was very slow, it wasn't keeping my attention, and it bounced between the two sisters way too often for me to be truly invested in what was going on in each other's life. I think that staying with each sister for more than a couple of pages would have benefited this story greatly, because as it is you hardly get the time to start feeling invested in either point of view. The characters themselves felt rather flat and cliche and I was never able to warm up to them. I think part of the reason was also the constant repetition of their situation and surprisingly shallow feelings and thoughts. It felt as though the story was simply going in circles at times, repeating what was already said and done before over and over again.
I also struggled considerably with the pace, which was slow and didn't help at all.
All in all, The Girl Behind The Wall definitely failed to hit the mark for me, which is such a shame as I was really looking forward to finally read a book set during Cold War Berlin. I seem to be in the minority though, so who knows, this story might just work better for you.
One of my favorite genres is historical fiction set during the 20th century, especially events around or during the time of All in all, The Girl Behind The Wall definitely failed to hit the mark for me, which is such a shame as I was really looking forward to finally read a book set during Cold War Berlin. I seem to be in the minority though, so who knows, this story might just work better for you.WWII. I was instantly drawn to this book because I've read the author before, and because I have never read a historical fiction with the setting during the Cold War and the rise of the Berlin Wall. Because of my excitement over being allowed the privilege to read this book, I was sadly disappointed when I didn't finish it due to the lack of storytelling. The story was very slow, it wasn't keeping my attention, and it bounced between the two sisters way too often for me to be truly invested in what was going on in each other's life. I think that staying with each sister for more than a couple of pages would have benefited this story greatly, because as it is you hardly get the time to start feeling invested in either point of view. The characters themselves felt rather flat and cliche and I was never able to warm up to them. I think part of the reason was also the constant repetition of their situation and surprisingly shallow feelings and thoughts. It felt as though the story was simply going in circles at times, repeating what was already said and done before over and over again.
I also struggled considerably with the pace, which was slow and didn't help at all.
All in all, The Girl Behind The Wall definitely failed to hit the mark for me, which is such a shame as I was really looking forward to finally read a book set during Cold War Berlin. I seem to be in the minority though, so who knows, this story might just work better for you.
micasreads's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for providing me with this advanced copy in return for an honest review.
Karin and Jutta are twins separated by the building of the Berlin Wall. Karin on the East Germany side after being stuck there following emergency surgery and Jutta on the West Germany side with their family. Jutta does everything she can to get to her sister to no avail...until she discovers an odd hole in the Wall. Over the next few years, there are visits between the sisters and letters to their mother. Over time, their secret is discovered by those wanting Jutta to carry messages through the hole. The sisters are constantly looking over their shoulders in fear of the Stasi, the secret police of West Germany. A young man neither sister knows pops up wherever they are and they wonder if they have been discovered.
While I am usually a fan of World War II historical fiction, I have to say that this was a nice change of pace. I found the story to be well researched and well told. The short chapters made the story easier to read and I was constantly picking it back up because I could breeze through them and still enjoy the story. I will have to go back and read Robotham's other historical fictions as I know I will enjoy them.
Karin and Jutta are twins separated by the building of the Berlin Wall. Karin on the East Germany side after being stuck there following emergency surgery and Jutta on the West Germany side with their family. Jutta does everything she can to get to her sister to no avail...until she discovers an odd hole in the Wall. Over the next few years, there are visits between the sisters and letters to their mother. Over time, their secret is discovered by those wanting Jutta to carry messages through the hole. The sisters are constantly looking over their shoulders in fear of the Stasi, the secret police of West Germany. A young man neither sister knows pops up wherever they are and they wonder if they have been discovered.
While I am usually a fan of World War II historical fiction, I have to say that this was a nice change of pace. I found the story to be well researched and well told. The short chapters made the story easier to read and I was constantly picking it back up because I could breeze through them and still enjoy the story. I will have to go back and read Robotham's other historical fictions as I know I will enjoy them.
shabritton's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
c_finne's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
mareers's review against another edition
4.0
[Thanks NetGalley for providing me the ARC in return for an honest review.]
The wall, and its effect on a family. There are those few places around the world that have seen a homogeneous group of people getting separated by a gash in geography - wall, fence, newly drawn borders etc. Be it the Korean border, the Israel-Palestine border, the now infamous US-Mexico border / wall or even the India-Pakistan border closer home, borders and walls have had the tendency to crop up in a short notice, ending up separating families for a long time, or sometimes eternity.
The Berlin Wall is special in this context, given the intention behind the cropping up of the wall in the 60s as well as the way it was brought down in front of Live Media of the 90s. On the one hand, the fall of the wall was hailed as the promising restoration of democracy, on the other hand there would always be the story of the 'other side' - people who may not necessarily have had a bad life after all.
Personally, I found this book very interesting - as my first book set in the backdrop of Germany / Berlin from the 60s to 90s Era. More importantly, the handling of characters - the inseparable twins getting separated, each trying all possible ways to keep their binding thread strong, at the same time pursuing personal goals and ideals that may come in the way of their binding thread - the entire premise and narration was tight and gripping. I liked the fact that each chapter was small - it helped me move forward quicy with the story, covering a few or many chapters in a day depending on the time available for reading.
There were a few elements that could have been better - some of the characters could have been given more prominence and background - like that of the girs' uncle, who seemed to have a key role in shaping up the girls' lives. On the other hand, the need for an American to swoop down and save the girl, after all the courage she had shown seemed to be a little out of place (personally). Also, some of the sequences involved on either side of the wall seemed too easy to be realistic. I might need a further reading of the wall's history to say this with certainty though.
All of the above points take nothing away from the story, which was paced perfectly, and accelerates quickly towards the end for a feel good finish.
I am very happy to have taken up this book for reading.
The wall, and its effect on a family. There are those few places around the world that have seen a homogeneous group of people getting separated by a gash in geography - wall, fence, newly drawn borders etc. Be it the Korean border, the Israel-Palestine border, the now infamous US-Mexico border / wall or even the India-Pakistan border closer home, borders and walls have had the tendency to crop up in a short notice, ending up separating families for a long time, or sometimes eternity.
The Berlin Wall is special in this context, given the intention behind the cropping up of the wall in the 60s as well as the way it was brought down in front of Live Media of the 90s. On the one hand, the fall of the wall was hailed as the promising restoration of democracy, on the other hand there would always be the story of the 'other side' - people who may not necessarily have had a bad life after all.
Personally, I found this book very interesting - as my first book set in the backdrop of Germany / Berlin from the 60s to 90s Era. More importantly, the handling of characters - the inseparable twins getting separated, each trying all possible ways to keep their binding thread strong, at the same time pursuing personal goals and ideals that may come in the way of their binding thread - the entire premise and narration was tight and gripping. I liked the fact that each chapter was small - it helped me move forward quicy with the story, covering a few or many chapters in a day depending on the time available for reading.
There were a few elements that could have been better - some of the characters could have been given more prominence and background - like that of the girs' uncle, who seemed to have a key role in shaping up the girls' lives. On the other hand, the need for an American to swoop down and save the girl, after all the courage she had shown seemed to be a little out of place (personally). Also, some of the sequences involved on either side of the wall seemed too easy to be realistic. I might need a further reading of the wall's history to say this with certainty though.
All of the above points take nothing away from the story, which was paced perfectly, and accelerates quickly towards the end for a feel good finish.
I am very happy to have taken up this book for reading.