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musicalpopcorn's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
When the Nazis offer Aubrion and his friends a choice to help them or perish, they choose secret option number three and create a fake newspaper to lift the spirits of their fellow Belgians.
This was a long read, but a good one. The story was detailed and interesting, with a fantastic cast of characters. Ramzipoor didn’t shy away from the horrors of war and wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty, which made this story much more believable. Although it wasn’t necessarily an easy read or a short read, I did quite enjoy this book.
This was a long read, but a good one. The story was detailed and interesting, with a fantastic cast of characters. Ramzipoor didn’t shy away from the horrors of war and wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty, which made this story much more believable. Although it wasn’t necessarily an easy read or a short read, I did quite enjoy this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Torture, Racial slurs, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, War, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, Child death, Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Genocide
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review
4.0
One of those astonishing acts of courage (and humor) almost forgotten is brought to life in this novel about WWII Belgium. The Nazis had already taken over Le Soir, Brussel's most popular newspaper, turning it into a propaganda rag, but members of the Belgian Resistance decided to put out an alternative version of the paper on November 9, 1943, giving a nod to the 25th anniversary of the German defeat in World War 1. The idea of an anti-Nazi issue morphed into creating a satirical paper filled with typical Brussels humor--the Faux Soir.
To make this happen, an unlikely gang of Resistance members gather to create this bright moment in the lives of worn-out citizens. There are challenges with sourcing enough paper, ink, and setting up distribution. All of this the group takes on with audacity and, yes, humor, even though none of them expect to survive.
E.R. Ramzipoor gathers historical figures and creates new characters to step in for people whose names are not known. All are bright, well drawn figures who will win your loyalty. One especially, the man who is a "ventriloquist": someone who is able to recreate the writing style of absolutely anyone or thing. In this case, it's Nazi propaganda.
Not to spoil the outcome, but it is completely satisfying, even if the result of that outcome is heartbreaking. Ramzipoor has an engaging writing style and captures the character of exhausted Brussels after years of Nazi rule. There are almost too many details, but the bravado and poignancy of people literally risking their lives to make their sad nation laugh makes a wonderful read.
~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader
To make this happen, an unlikely gang of Resistance members gather to create this bright moment in the lives of worn-out citizens. There are challenges with sourcing enough paper, ink, and setting up distribution. All of this the group takes on with audacity and, yes, humor, even though none of them expect to survive.
E.R. Ramzipoor gathers historical figures and creates new characters to step in for people whose names are not known. All are bright, well drawn figures who will win your loyalty. One especially, the man who is a "ventriloquist": someone who is able to recreate the writing style of absolutely anyone or thing. In this case, it's Nazi propaganda.
Not to spoil the outcome, but it is completely satisfying, even if the result of that outcome is heartbreaking. Ramzipoor has an engaging writing style and captures the character of exhausted Brussels after years of Nazi rule. There are almost too many details, but the bravado and poignancy of people literally risking their lives to make their sad nation laugh makes a wonderful read.
~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader
musen_henning's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Need headspace to read it, but amazing
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Death, Suicide, War, and Violence
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, and Genocide
guylou's review
4.0
The Ventriloquists by E.R. Ramzipoor delivers an extraordinary story of courage and defaillance in a time of war. A German officer recruits a ring of resistance journalists to create the propaganda of all propaganda on behalf of the Nazis. Not having a choice, the journalists accept Gruppenführer Wolff’s offer to create a false “La Libre Belgique”, a popular resistance newspaper. Knowing that they will surely be executed as soon as they deliver this false newspaper, they secretly collaborate to create a special edition of “Le Soir”, a very popular newspaper controlled by the Nazis and have it available to the population just before the false “La Libre Belgique” is to be offered. The special edition of “Le Soir” would be a parody making fun of the Germans. The story is inspired by true events and provides the readers with a complete picture of this fantastic operation against the Nazis which took place in Belgium during WWII. This is a wonderful book for all historical novel lovers.
theamyleblanc's review
2.0
I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book had so much promise. The cover is intriguing, the title invites you to explore its pages, the summary is full of compelling tidbits. Now that I have finally finished it, I'm sorry to say it didn't live up to any of that promise.
I finished the book because I was at least a little interested in how the story would resolve. I loved that it was based on a true story and that Aubrion is a real person. It's great that these people have a voice now, that their story has been told. But it was a bit boring. I've read many a historical fiction set in Europe during World War II and they usually tug on my heartstrings a bit. This one did not elicit much emotion. I was happy at the end not because of how it ended but because it was over.
The biggest problem I had with it was the narrative. It didn't work for me. The parts in "present day" were uninteresting and seemed to only be there to further the telling of the Faux Soir storyline. And when Helene would break into the Faux Soir storyline to interject, it would throw me out of the little bit of atmosphere it had built up.
It's an inspiring bit of Belgian history told in an uninspiring way.
This book had so much promise. The cover is intriguing, the title invites you to explore its pages, the summary is full of compelling tidbits. Now that I have finally finished it, I'm sorry to say it didn't live up to any of that promise.
I finished the book because I was at least a little interested in how the story would resolve. I loved that it was based on a true story and that Aubrion is a real person. It's great that these people have a voice now, that their story has been told. But it was a bit boring. I've read many a historical fiction set in Europe during World War II and they usually tug on my heartstrings a bit. This one did not elicit much emotion. I was happy at the end not because of how it ended but because it was over.
The biggest problem I had with it was the narrative. It didn't work for me. The parts in "present day" were uninteresting and seemed to only be there to further the telling of the Faux Soir storyline. And when Helene would break into the Faux Soir storyline to interject, it would throw me out of the little bit of atmosphere it had built up.
It's an inspiring bit of Belgian history told in an uninspiring way.
emilyfrizz's review
4.0
This book is something else. Based on a true but almost forgotten story, it mixes the absurd with the seriousness of WW2. Full of interesting characters, it's got a tense plot that keeps winding and unfolding. Poignant but also refreshing to hear a new perspective and a new sort of story from this time period.
thegingerpageturner's review
4.0
Thank you to @harlequinaus for sending a copy for me to review. I don't usually read historical fiction, but I really enjoyed this one.
jennie_cole's review
4.0
The Ventriloquists is the story of Le Faux Soir, an anti-Nazi propaganda newspaper put out on one day in 1943 in Belgium. Le Soir was a really evening paper that the Nazi had taken over when they occupied Belgium. The story is that of the creation of the paper over 18 days. About half of the characters are real while the other half are fiction.
This is a WWII story that I have never heard of before and found fascinating. The big stories now a days are the resistance stories mainly set in France but what made this true story interesting is that it is a group of writers who chose to fight in a different manner. In 1943 the US has already joined the war and at this time they are making progress across France.
While this is a 500+ page novel I definitely recommend that you read it.
This is a WWII story that I have never heard of before and found fascinating. The big stories now a days are the resistance stories mainly set in France but what made this true story interesting is that it is a group of writers who chose to fight in a different manner. In 1943 the US has already joined the war and at this time they are making progress across France.
While this is a 500+ page novel I definitely recommend that you read it.
velichorofficial's review
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0