Scan barcode
cherrysoda9_9's review
4.0
I don't really know why I went into this thinking it was going to be some sort of Nazi "Beauty and the Beast" retelling - I mean, it kind of is if you try really hard, but not enough for me to frame it as such. EDIT: Okay, never mind. I'm an idiot. It's absolutely marketed as a retelling, but of the German version of the fairy tale, not the Disney version. Ignore me.
In any case, I really enjoyed this. I had (clearly) no real idea of what this book was about, so went into it fairly blind. It's a great historical fiction with multiple characters and timelines, but they don't bounce back and forth so much that you lose track. Ava is the main character and we see basically everyone else's journey through her. I thought it kept to history really well, and the romance was not too over-the-top for my liking (it is a tiny bit insta-lovey for my taste, but not that bad).
In any case, I really enjoyed this. I had (clearly) no real idea of what this book was about, so went into it fairly blind. It's a great historical fiction with multiple characters and timelines, but they don't bounce back and forth so much that you lose track. Ava is the main character and we see basically everyone else's journey through her. I thought it kept to history really well, and the romance was not too over-the-top for my liking (it is a tiny bit insta-lovey for my taste, but not that bad).
phoenixjaneee's review against another edition
4.0
Recipe for Phoenix's Perfect Story:
• Start with a healthy dose of redeemable characters
• Mix in some goals and challenges for said characters to overcome
• Add a dollop of romance
• A hint of loss and despair
• A dash of lyrical prose
• A measure of magical realism (can substitute with the supernatural or fantastical)
• Finally, combine with a familiar tale interwoven with historical truths and volia! Phoenix's perfect story is complete.
Kate Forsyth knows this recipe well and keeps conjuring up books perfectly to my taste. The amount of research Forsyth undertakes before starting to write her novels is inspiring and it shows in the robust world she creates. This one in particular as all the characters aside from the main ones were real people who lived and died throughout World War II; all real activists, real Nazi's, real rebels. This was heart braking to discover, the atrocities of war are even more difficult to swallow when you know the names and lives of the people prosecuted. It gave the story much more depth as it isn't just some fairy tale retelling but an acknowledgement of some very strong individuals who stood up against Hitler's tyrannical ruling. I was not aware of the conspiracies against Hitler coordinated by appointed SS officers. By involving the main character's in this arm of history, it built tension and drove the plot without just relying on the threat of war itself to do so. In my opinion, Forsyth did a great job of honouring those impacted by the war and acknowledging the pain and suffering caused by Hitler's Regime while still creating a story to be enjoyed.
Another standout element which increased my enjoyment of this story was the choice of narrator. I cannot speak German so my assessment of accuracy is based off no prior knowledge but to my untrained ear, Jennifer Vuletic's German pronunciation was great and really added to the immersion of the story. It was particularly impressive when portraying slimy SS officers and when impersonating Ava's singing.
The only thing that slightly let me down was the relationship between Leo and Ava. It was a little too cheesy at points for me. The concept of the relationship seemed plausible but some of the dialogue between them was a little too contrived in the Disney, love at first sight kind of way. Once they were married their relationship seemed more natural but the courting phase felt a bit rushed and not very realistic. Eyes were rolled when listening to some of their conversations. This is sad as the relationship in Forsyth's other book 'Wild Girl' felt so real and natural. Forsyth took a little more time to build up the connection between Wilem and Dorcus whereas Ava and Leo were a little too contrived. I think this aspect brings the rating down more to a 3.5 for me and would put me off recommending it to my friends as I think my tolerance for cheesiness is much higher than others. This is disappointing as the other aspects of the story are perfect and it is a really great story honouring life in Berlin during the war.
• Start with a healthy dose of redeemable characters
• Mix in some goals and challenges for said characters to overcome
• Add a dollop of romance
• A hint of loss and despair
• A dash of lyrical prose
• A measure of magical realism (can substitute with the supernatural or fantastical)
• Finally, combine with a familiar tale interwoven with historical truths and volia! Phoenix's perfect story is complete.
Kate Forsyth knows this recipe well and keeps conjuring up books perfectly to my taste. The amount of research Forsyth undertakes before starting to write her novels is inspiring and it shows in the robust world she creates. This one in particular as all the characters aside from the main ones were real people who lived and died throughout World War II; all real activists, real Nazi's, real rebels. This was heart braking to discover, the atrocities of war are even more difficult to swallow when you know the names and lives of the people prosecuted. It gave the story much more depth as it isn't just some fairy tale retelling but an acknowledgement of some very strong individuals who stood up against Hitler's tyrannical ruling. I was not aware of the conspiracies against Hitler coordinated by appointed SS officers. By involving the main character's in this arm of history, it built tension and drove the plot without just relying on the threat of war itself to do so. In my opinion, Forsyth did a great job of honouring those impacted by the war and acknowledging the pain and suffering caused by Hitler's Regime while still creating a story to be enjoyed.
Another standout element which increased my enjoyment of this story was the choice of narrator. I cannot speak German so my assessment of accuracy is based off no prior knowledge but to my untrained ear, Jennifer Vuletic's German pronunciation was great and really added to the immersion of the story. It was particularly impressive when portraying slimy SS officers and when impersonating Ava's singing.
The only thing that slightly let me down was the relationship between Leo and Ava. It was a little too cheesy at points for me. The concept of the relationship seemed plausible but some of the dialogue between them was a little too contrived in the Disney, love at first sight kind of way. Once they were married their relationship seemed more natural but the courting phase felt a bit rushed and not very realistic. Eyes were rolled when listening to some of their conversations. This is sad as the relationship in Forsyth's other book 'Wild Girl' felt so real and natural. Forsyth took a little more time to build up the connection between Wilem and Dorcus whereas Ava and Leo were a little too contrived. I think this aspect brings the rating down more to a 3.5 for me and would put me off recommending it to my friends as I think my tolerance for cheesiness is much higher than others. This is disappointing as the other aspects of the story are perfect and it is a really great story honouring life in Berlin during the war.
melstephens's review against another edition
5.0
I was visiting a friend in Brisbane and found myself with a few hours to kill and so, naturally, I went to the book store. Having read nearly all of Forsyth's novels, I'd been wanting to read this novel for a few months. I though I'd read the first chapter in store to see if I'd like it. Three hours later and nearly 200 pages in I was transfixed- and late for dinner.
Forsyth has endless talent in her ability to weave and grow a story. When I read her novels I find I'm torn between not wanting the story to end and simultaneously being impatient to know how the story is resolved. The level of historical detail and research is exemplary and creates a highly plausible world for love story of Leo and Ava to unfold. Forsyth masterfully treads the line between historical realism and factual overload, meaning her narrative remains faithful to its World War II context without becoming bogged in historical fact. Forsyth's recontextualising of the 'Beauty and the Beast' myth creates a fresh take on holocaust fiction.
Forsyth has endless talent in her ability to weave and grow a story. When I read her novels I find I'm torn between not wanting the story to end and simultaneously being impatient to know how the story is resolved. The level of historical detail and research is exemplary and creates a highly plausible world for love story of Leo and Ava to unfold. Forsyth masterfully treads the line between historical realism and factual overload, meaning her narrative remains faithful to its World War II context without becoming bogged in historical fact. Forsyth's recontextualising of the 'Beauty and the Beast' myth creates a fresh take on holocaust fiction.
kelsahud's review against another edition
2.0
Apparently the secret to getting through Nazi Germany was just to throw yourself at every available Nazi officer and use sex appeal as your secret weapon (eye roll).
This could have been so good, and I am so on board with the premise, but the writing was boring, Ava was annoying for 95% of the book, and the blurb on the back does not reflect what this book is actually about. It could have been such a great book, but overall, the characters were flat and the plot was contrived. What a disappointment.
This could have been so good, and I am so on board with the premise, but the writing was boring, Ava was annoying for 95% of the book, and the blurb on the back does not reflect what this book is actually about. It could have been such a great book, but overall, the characters were flat and the plot was contrived. What a disappointment.
taylam's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely LOVED this book, I devoured it in two days flat and am now experiencing a serious book hangover. It was very easy to follow, with a complicated plot line that I expected to be confused by. Fascinating, realistic characters. Amazing.
mwpotter5's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the combination of historical fiction and the Grimm version of Beauty and the Beast. The story is mostly told from Ava's point of view, but does switched to her Jewish friend in a concentration camp, and her husband, Leo, as he tries to plan the assassination of Hitler. The author did so much research for this book, and a good bit of the secondary characters were real people. I enjoy WWII books where the German people fight back against the Nazi regime. There were so many who did not like what Hitler was doing and did whatever they could to stop him.
The romance in the story might be a little ridiculous (love at first sight and all that), but the historical events that dominate the book make it bearable. This is a must read for anyone that loves WWII novels (with a touch of romance on the side).
The romance in the story might be a little ridiculous (love at first sight and all that), but the historical events that dominate the book make it bearable. This is a must read for anyone that loves WWII novels (with a touch of romance on the side).
tien's review
4.0
I loved [b:Beauty|41424|Beauty (Folktales, #1)|Robin McKinley|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1294192311s/41424.jpg|2321285] by [a:Robin McKinley|5339|Robin McKinley|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1314406026p2/5339.jpg] and I adore Kate Forsyth so I thought that The Beast’s Garden would be a wonderful magical retelling. Despite the horribleness of the setting (I meant the nasty gruesome war rather than the actual place), I thought that this would be an excellent foil for Beauty’s courage and generosity. In the end, whilst I have very much enjoyed the story, I’d say that The Beast’s Garden is inspired by (rather than a retelling of) ‘The Singing, Springing Lark', the Grimm Brothers’ version of Beauty and The Beast.
‘The Singing, Springing Lark' is quite a bit different than the well-known tale of Beauty and The Beast and if you know your literature, you’d know that Grimm Brothers’ version will be much darker. This means that our heroine must be very determined, intelligent, brave, and persistent in order to win a life with her love. Ava was young but bounteous in courage. Her courage carried her to Leo, sustained her through turbulent times, and brought her to her destined future.
It’s very clear that Kate Forsyth has done her research and I loved knowing that most characters are real historically (the exception being Ava & Leo and their family). The novel was just intricately woven together into a seamlessly stunning love story amidst destruction. It’s just like how that red rose on the cover stands out! My only grievance was the lack of magic. I’ve always associated Kate Forsyth with magic and I kept expecting something magical to pop up but aside from some hint of the gypsy, I drew a complete blank.
The Beast’s Garden has a lot to offer the readers. The friendships cultivated by Ava were true and lasting. Both Ava and Leo were bound by a force neither could fight off and by embracing love, they found a little safe haven in a dark world. As with all war fiction, you’d always wonder how you yourself will act and we are shown just how courageous some can be in fighting for humanity whilst others sought only to destroy. A smashing read and highly recommended to historical fiction fans.
Thanks to Random House Australia via NetGalley for eARC in exchange of honest review
‘The Singing, Springing Lark' is quite a bit different than the well-known tale of Beauty and The Beast and if you know your literature, you’d know that Grimm Brothers’ version will be much darker. This means that our heroine must be very determined, intelligent, brave, and persistent in order to win a life with her love. Ava was young but bounteous in courage. Her courage carried her to Leo, sustained her through turbulent times, and brought her to her destined future.
It’s very clear that Kate Forsyth has done her research and I loved knowing that most characters are real historically (the exception being Ava & Leo and their family). The novel was just intricately woven together into a seamlessly stunning love story amidst destruction. It’s just like how that red rose on the cover stands out! My only grievance was the lack of magic. I’ve always associated Kate Forsyth with magic and I kept expecting something magical to pop up but aside from some hint of the gypsy, I drew a complete blank.
The Beast’s Garden has a lot to offer the readers. The friendships cultivated by Ava were true and lasting. Both Ava and Leo were bound by a force neither could fight off and by embracing love, they found a little safe haven in a dark world. As with all war fiction, you’d always wonder how you yourself will act and we are shown just how courageous some can be in fighting for humanity whilst others sought only to destroy. A smashing read and highly recommended to historical fiction fans.
Thanks to Random House Australia via NetGalley for eARC in exchange of honest review
maree_k's review
4.0
Historical romance is not a genre I dip into often (I lack the romance gene) but The Beast's Garden is a well-researched, superbly written story that had me hooked from the first pages. There have been many novels written about Nazi Germany during the WWII period and each time I read one I find new aspects about this horrendous period in history. Reading this novel at this particular point in history, where in Australia our government (with the support of the main opposition party) is locking up thousands of asylum seekers - men, women and children - in offshore detention camps where they are subjected to daily humiliation and trauma is particularly distressing.
About three-quarters way through this novel, one of the characters says something that really hit home for me:
"We allowed this evil to take root in our soil, and we fed it the blood that allowed it to flourish. We shut our eyes to the dreadful flowering. We must take responsibility for that.'
Novels about the Nazi period take on an extra resonance in this period of world history. Things are shifting. Some frightening statements are being made by political figures both in Australia and other western nations. That's exactly why books like The Beast's Garden are so important because they show the light and shade, the human fears, frailties and hopes that make up so many of the small decisions we make, the things we choose to believe or ignore because they think it makes us safer. This is a book that helps open up the reasons why people make the choices they do, and in turn can help us see our world, as it is now, with clearer eyes.
A fantastic read. Highly recommended.
About three-quarters way through this novel, one of the characters says something that really hit home for me:
"We allowed this evil to take root in our soil, and we fed it the blood that allowed it to flourish. We shut our eyes to the dreadful flowering. We must take responsibility for that.'
Novels about the Nazi period take on an extra resonance in this period of world history. Things are shifting. Some frightening statements are being made by political figures both in Australia and other western nations. That's exactly why books like The Beast's Garden are so important because they show the light and shade, the human fears, frailties and hopes that make up so many of the small decisions we make, the things we choose to believe or ignore because they think it makes us safer. This is a book that helps open up the reasons why people make the choices they do, and in turn can help us see our world, as it is now, with clearer eyes.
A fantastic read. Highly recommended.
samstillreading's review
5.0
I know I can always rely on Kate Forsyth’s books for a fantastic story and a happy ending, plus The Beast’s Garden was on my list of books I’m looking forward to for the second half of 2015, so when Kate offered me a copy, it was an instant YES PLEASE! The Beast’s Garden is no exception to this – it has a cracking storyline, intrigue, romance and a finale that will blow your socks off. Oh, and there are some dreadfully sad moments too. But ultimately this book will leave you smiling at the power of love and friendship.
For those of you who like your fairy tales, The Beast’s Garden is a retelling of the Grimm brothers’ version of the Beauty and the Beast tale, The Singing, Springing Lark. Now, I’m not familiar with this tale but it was really, really difficult not to Google it during the course of The Beast’s Garden to see what happens! So for me, the majority of the storyline was a surprise (I can barely remember what happened in Beauty and the Beast, I think I’ve only seen the Disney film once…yes, sacrilege I know) but for those who are familiar with the tale, you will see some familiar motifs. The main difference is that this story is set in Nazi Germany in the lead up to and during World War II. I’ve read some great stories of WWII from the German point of view (The Undertaking by Audrey Magee is another one) and this book is no exception. It captures the spirit that there were a lot of innocent people caught up in a war that they didn’t really agree it.
The Beauty of this story is Ava, a talented singer who is good friends with a Jewish family. As the story opens on the Night of the Broken Glass, Ava runs to the aid of the Feidlers. She is stopped by a handsome young soldier but still goes to their aid. The Feidlers are like family to Ava, their son Rupert shares her birthday and they are both fans of jazz. But from this day on, life gets more difficult for the Feidlers. They are evicted from their home and Rupert is taken away to a camp called Buchenwald. Life in Berlin is getting dangerous and it’s only made worse when Ava’s father is arrested. To get him safely out of Germany, Ava must marry the handsome soldier – Leo von Lowenstein.
It’s not really a hardship for Ava at first – Leo is handsome and attentive and she’s fallen for him – but Ava desperately wants to help the resistance to thwart Hitler and ensure the Jewish people get to safety. She acts in a clandestine way, but it later turns out that Leo himself is a spy, part of a group trying to oust Hitler. It’s then that the pair fall even deeper in love with their shared goal. But as the war continues, things get worse for the main characters – can Ava save them all?
In the plot summary above, I’ve left out quite a bit of detail for two reasons – one, to coerce you into reading this fantastic story and two, because the story is crammed of excitement, plot twists and thriller-worthy action it would take a long time to describe (and ruin all the fun). Leo and Ava’s dangerous games are balanced with snippets of life of Rupert in Buchenwald where the suffering gives a sombre tone. It’s humbling and sorrowful to read about the kinds of things that happened to people simply because of their religion or political views. Jutta, Rupert’s sister, is part of a group of Jewish people trying to smuggle others out of the country and bring down Hitler. We also see the how Ava’s sister’s life is on the up and up in a relationship with a high ranking Nazi official – and then how it begins to unravel.
There are also many real life figures who appear on these pages, from Hitler himself to the Mitford sisters, Harro and Libertas Schulze-Boysen and Admiral Canaris. All the real life characters are treated with the respect (or distain in Hitler’s case) they deserve. Kate Forsyth’ excellent storytelling has made me research more into the role of the German resistance – it’s fascinating, and a little-told part of history for me. The fictional characters are brilliantly detailed and unforgettable. Ava and Leo’s romance is truly something out of a fairy tale – it’s a rush of passion, love and determination. The finale just demonstrates that even more – it’s wild and crazy but powered by love. I particularly enjoyed how each of the characters we had gotten to know through the course of the book got their own closure – so often you wonder what happened to a minor character but never find out, but it’s not the case here.
I read this book in great big batches – the storyline will carry you away and the characters are unforgettable. This is Kate Forsyth at her best – read it!
Thank you to Kate Forsyth and Random House for the eARC. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
For those of you who like your fairy tales, The Beast’s Garden is a retelling of the Grimm brothers’ version of the Beauty and the Beast tale, The Singing, Springing Lark. Now, I’m not familiar with this tale but it was really, really difficult not to Google it during the course of The Beast’s Garden to see what happens! So for me, the majority of the storyline was a surprise (I can barely remember what happened in Beauty and the Beast, I think I’ve only seen the Disney film once…yes, sacrilege I know) but for those who are familiar with the tale, you will see some familiar motifs. The main difference is that this story is set in Nazi Germany in the lead up to and during World War II. I’ve read some great stories of WWII from the German point of view (The Undertaking by Audrey Magee is another one) and this book is no exception. It captures the spirit that there were a lot of innocent people caught up in a war that they didn’t really agree it.
The Beauty of this story is Ava, a talented singer who is good friends with a Jewish family. As the story opens on the Night of the Broken Glass, Ava runs to the aid of the Feidlers. She is stopped by a handsome young soldier but still goes to their aid. The Feidlers are like family to Ava, their son Rupert shares her birthday and they are both fans of jazz. But from this day on, life gets more difficult for the Feidlers. They are evicted from their home and Rupert is taken away to a camp called Buchenwald. Life in Berlin is getting dangerous and it’s only made worse when Ava’s father is arrested. To get him safely out of Germany, Ava must marry the handsome soldier – Leo von Lowenstein.
It’s not really a hardship for Ava at first – Leo is handsome and attentive and she’s fallen for him – but Ava desperately wants to help the resistance to thwart Hitler and ensure the Jewish people get to safety. She acts in a clandestine way, but it later turns out that Leo himself is a spy, part of a group trying to oust Hitler. It’s then that the pair fall even deeper in love with their shared goal. But as the war continues, things get worse for the main characters – can Ava save them all?
In the plot summary above, I’ve left out quite a bit of detail for two reasons – one, to coerce you into reading this fantastic story and two, because the story is crammed of excitement, plot twists and thriller-worthy action it would take a long time to describe (and ruin all the fun). Leo and Ava’s dangerous games are balanced with snippets of life of Rupert in Buchenwald where the suffering gives a sombre tone. It’s humbling and sorrowful to read about the kinds of things that happened to people simply because of their religion or political views. Jutta, Rupert’s sister, is part of a group of Jewish people trying to smuggle others out of the country and bring down Hitler. We also see the how Ava’s sister’s life is on the up and up in a relationship with a high ranking Nazi official – and then how it begins to unravel.
There are also many real life figures who appear on these pages, from Hitler himself to the Mitford sisters, Harro and Libertas Schulze-Boysen and Admiral Canaris. All the real life characters are treated with the respect (or distain in Hitler’s case) they deserve. Kate Forsyth’ excellent storytelling has made me research more into the role of the German resistance – it’s fascinating, and a little-told part of history for me. The fictional characters are brilliantly detailed and unforgettable. Ava and Leo’s romance is truly something out of a fairy tale – it’s a rush of passion, love and determination. The finale just demonstrates that even more – it’s wild and crazy but powered by love. I particularly enjoyed how each of the characters we had gotten to know through the course of the book got their own closure – so often you wonder what happened to a minor character but never find out, but it’s not the case here.
I read this book in great big batches – the storyline will carry you away and the characters are unforgettable. This is Kate Forsyth at her best – read it!
Thank you to Kate Forsyth and Random House for the eARC. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
biblio_becca085's review
5.0
Such a beautiful, heart-wrenching book. It was utterly flawless. Once I started, I couldn't put it down - I think I read it in about 4 hours. The romance was a sweet note to the violent overtones that was Ava's life. I could hardly comprehend her bravery. I would hope that in the same situation, I'd be just as strong.
I did love how Ava's escape from what was happening around her was fairy tales and song. Reminding her of her humanity, that there were other people out there who felt as she did, who loved as she did. Would be very hard to remember that when all around you, people are callously murdering people.
Basically anything Kate Forsyth writes is a must read for me. You should make them must reads too.
I did love how Ava's escape from what was happening around her was fairy tales and song. Reminding her of her humanity, that there were other people out there who felt as she did, who loved as she did. Would be very hard to remember that when all around you, people are callously murdering people.
Basically anything Kate Forsyth writes is a must read for me. You should make them must reads too.