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book_concierge's review against another edition
5.0
Audiobook performed by Paul Michael
Roth is a young German army corporal, assigned to Gestapo headquarters in occupied Paris so that he can use his flawless French as an interpreter during interrogations. He’s disturbed by the torture he witnesses, but fulfills his duty as a soldier, accurately translating the words if not the emotions expressed. When not on duty, however, he slips away from his hotel billet, dons civilian clothes and walks the streets of Paris disguised as the Frenchman, Antoine. Being out of uniform, by itself, is a punishable offense, but he crosses the line when he falls for Chantal, the daughter of a bookseller. He does not reveal his true identity to her, and she hides her allegiance to the Resistance.
The reader knows that this star-crossed relationship is bound to end badly, but the way in which Wallner reveals the story kept me in a delirious state of suspense. Make no mistake; this is NOT a hearts-and-flowers romantic escapade, but a gritty and serious novel full of hardship and heartache. There are hints that they’ve been found out, but then they are free to meet. There are several close calls when I was sure that one or the other would be captured and/or killed. Because Roth works for the Gestapo he witnesses and knows the interrogation techniques employed, yet he seems not to remember those ploys when it’s most important. I found myself yelling at the CD player, “It’s a trick!” more than once … and sometimes I was right.
I love how Wallner develops Roth from a naïve, apolitical young man away from home, to a wily, cautious and determined man. He may be beaten but he is not down. On the other hand, I was disappointed in how little he developed the women in this story – Chantal and Anna Rieleck-Sostman (a German woman who runs the Gestapo captain’s office). Despite this, however, I think the book merits five stars; I was captivated from beginning to end and will be talking about it for weeks or months, I’m sure.
Paul Michael does a fine job narrating the audiobook. I don’t speak French but his French sounded pretty good to me. I was glad I had the text handy, however, because I needed to see the written words to puzzle out the French phrases. His pacing was good and he was able to differentiate the characters sufficiently.
Roth is a young German army corporal, assigned to Gestapo headquarters in occupied Paris so that he can use his flawless French as an interpreter during interrogations. He’s disturbed by the torture he witnesses, but fulfills his duty as a soldier, accurately translating the words if not the emotions expressed. When not on duty, however, he slips away from his hotel billet, dons civilian clothes and walks the streets of Paris disguised as the Frenchman, Antoine. Being out of uniform, by itself, is a punishable offense, but he crosses the line when he falls for Chantal, the daughter of a bookseller. He does not reveal his true identity to her, and she hides her allegiance to the Resistance.
The reader knows that this star-crossed relationship is bound to end badly, but the way in which Wallner reveals the story kept me in a delirious state of suspense. Make no mistake; this is NOT a hearts-and-flowers romantic escapade, but a gritty and serious novel full of hardship and heartache. There are hints that they’ve been found out, but then they are free to meet. There are several close calls when I was sure that one or the other would be captured and/or killed. Because Roth works for the Gestapo he witnesses and knows the interrogation techniques employed, yet he seems not to remember those ploys when it’s most important. I found myself yelling at the CD player, “It’s a trick!” more than once … and sometimes I was right.
I love how Wallner develops Roth from a naïve, apolitical young man away from home, to a wily, cautious and determined man. He may be beaten but he is not down. On the other hand, I was disappointed in how little he developed the women in this story – Chantal and Anna Rieleck-Sostman (a German woman who runs the Gestapo captain’s office). Despite this, however, I think the book merits five stars; I was captivated from beginning to end and will be talking about it for weeks or months, I’m sure.
Paul Michael does a fine job narrating the audiobook. I don’t speak French but his French sounded pretty good to me. I was glad I had the text handy, however, because I needed to see the written words to puzzle out the French phrases. His pacing was good and he was able to differentiate the characters sufficiently.
mylxa's review against another edition
3.0
I came to this book because the audio version was performed by an actor I'd really enjoyed listening to before. The elements I liked, I liked alot. The tone seemed right, the Paris scenes were exciting, and I'm on the road to learn more about the place in this period. But when it was done listening, I had the impression of the first time I tried to walk in high heels: several steps were smooth and graceful, but inevitably I stumbled, which hurt and and I felt like an idiot for pushing my luck. Wallner is a first-time novelist, although he's a screenwriter, and actor.
The story is set in German-occupied Paris during 1943. It centers on Roth, a young German solider who works as a French translator. At the beginning he is transferred from his army post to the local SS office, who want him to translate during their interrogations of French prisoners. He's not really engaged with the propaganda of the war; really Roth is just doing his time. But he is fascinated with Paris and decides to alleviate his boredom by going out into the city in civilian clothing, assuming a French name and history, and testing his unaccented French to absorb Paris life. He meets and falls in love with a French girl, who he learns through his work with the SS, is heavily involved with the French resistance. The drama of what Roth will do about all of this and the result of that decision is good stuff. He is easy to root for; he starts out as apathetic and then just turns into a guy trying to survive. In my opinion,the interrogations sequences in this short book were too long (but I knew they were coming of course). I suppose they were necessary. There are a couple of harrowing scenes where people are being chased by the SS. In the end, Roth finds himself in Normandy on June 6, 1944.
SPOILER ALERT:
When I say it reminded me of The English Patient (the film, I haven't read the book), you'll have a good sense of how it ends. I asked myself in the end why I loved the movie in spite of it's ending, but felt so disappointed by this one. Wars are sad and often, there are sad endings, I guess. The end of April in Paris felt appropriate, although I wanted a much different one. It just seemed like after all Roth had been through to find the woman he loved, there could have been a reunion of some kind.
The story is set in German-occupied Paris during 1943. It centers on Roth, a young German solider who works as a French translator. At the beginning he is transferred from his army post to the local SS office, who want him to translate during their interrogations of French prisoners. He's not really engaged with the propaganda of the war; really Roth is just doing his time. But he is fascinated with Paris and decides to alleviate his boredom by going out into the city in civilian clothing, assuming a French name and history, and testing his unaccented French to absorb Paris life. He meets and falls in love with a French girl, who he learns through his work with the SS, is heavily involved with the French resistance. The drama of what Roth will do about all of this and the result of that decision is good stuff. He is easy to root for; he starts out as apathetic and then just turns into a guy trying to survive. In my opinion,the interrogations sequences in this short book were too long (but I knew they were coming of course). I suppose they were necessary. There are a couple of harrowing scenes where people are being chased by the SS. In the end, Roth finds himself in Normandy on June 6, 1944.
SPOILER ALERT:
When I say it reminded me of The English Patient (the film, I haven't read the book), you'll have a good sense of how it ends. I asked myself in the end why I loved the movie in spite of it's ending, but felt so disappointed by this one. Wars are sad and often, there are sad endings, I guess. The end of April in Paris felt appropriate, although I wanted a much different one. It just seemed like after all Roth had been through to find the woman he loved, there could have been a reunion of some kind.
misfitmoxie's review against another edition
2.0
This started out as a really interesting read. I liked the way the author, a German man, is direct and to the point. He writes it in the present tense, so everything is very immediate. It's a good approach for his style. And I really liked the story very much until about 150 pages in... then the story took a turn that was very torpid in its plot. Not to say there wasn't action, it was just all so predictable and obvious, and therefore quite dull.
The one interesting thing that took place in those final pages was when he lost hope, in that moment he realized that he had merely been play-acting in his double life, while everyone else had been engaged in a struggle. And he realized that he was a coward for not taking a stand instead of fleeing reality. That was a really poignant moment. THAT would have been a good ending, a fitting and interesting finish. Instead, we get this trite, utterly absurd and completely calculable conclusion.
I wanted so much to say I really enjoyed this... and until that point partway through, indeed, I did. But after all, it's about a book as a whole, and I cannot recommend this.
*******
I wanted to add after glancing at a few other reviews that I agree that it is highly annoying when there are entire conversations and passages in another language without it being explained. Further, I agree that the character development was lacking, though to the degree that it lent to the immediacy of the writing, I didn't mind.
The one interesting thing that took place in those final pages was when he lost hope, in that moment he realized that he had merely been play-acting in his double life, while everyone else had been engaged in a struggle. And he realized that he was a coward for not taking a stand instead of fleeing reality. That was a really poignant moment. THAT would have been a good ending, a fitting and interesting finish. Instead, we get this trite, utterly absurd and completely calculable conclusion.
I wanted so much to say I really enjoyed this... and until that point partway through, indeed, I did. But after all, it's about a book as a whole, and I cannot recommend this.
*******
I wanted to add after glancing at a few other reviews that I agree that it is highly annoying when there are entire conversations and passages in another language without it being explained. Further, I agree that the character development was lacking, though to the degree that it lent to the immediacy of the writing, I didn't mind.
girl_in_glasses's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the first hand look at occupied Paris from a German solider's perspective. Quite a good love story between a French woman and German solider. However, a bit predictable at the end.
sarah_reading_party's review against another edition
4.0
excellent, especially as an audio book! i loved the concept of this novel: a nazi in paris, whose allegiances are a bit cloudy. i wish antoine's relationship with chantal had been somewhat more fleshed out. i also was surprised how predictable some aspects of his imprisonment/torture/recovery/etc. were. i kept thinking "that's a trap!" and he didn't see it coming. but i guess that's reality oftentimes... great novel. i was disappointed at the ending, but again... REALITY. sigh.
enelvee's review against another edition
3.0
Not bad. Lots of German and French in it, neither of which I speak or read.
ilka_02's review against another edition
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
juli1212's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
yuuminxoxo's review against another edition
3.0
Hated the ending, it was kinda unnecessary, it could have been easily a "happy" ending from all that pain he had to suffer. But nope his love had to die from the most stupid reason(i know it was self defense but why were they there q.q), and then he sees that he had a daughter with her and because the family doesn't want to give it to him he just chooses to run away from France(since he was on literal run from german nazis) and doesn't even try to "fight" for the rights to have his daughter with him. I thought because of that the ending was really crappy having him being alone after all that trouble. I would prefer for him to get to the house and it being empty and ending there. Atleast we wouldn't know what his future would be.
jfaye's review against another edition
1.0
No no absolutely no, I am fundamentally against romance books that take place during world war 2 with someone who taught for the Germans so no thank you