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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
Such a sweet sequel to such a powerful first book! This book was harder to read than the first because it was hard to remember the historical politics that were going on and keep the two stories straight.
Other than that, I completely loved this book. The story of life and love and redemption no matter how heartbreaking.
Other than that, I completely loved this book. The story of life and love and redemption no matter how heartbreaking.
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
hopeful
reflective
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
Author Anna Stuart examines separation and reunification in this installment of the Midwife series.
This time she whisks us back in time to Berlin and the aftermath of WW2. With regard to historical fiction, little focus has been given to the geopolitical turmoil Europe found itself in as boundaries were moved and history was rewritten. Stuart’s focus on this benchmark in history is a welcome shift. We catch up again with Auschwitz midwife, Ester Pasternak, and see how courage and determination allow her to deal with being separated from her new baby and give her a laser-sharp focus on reuniting with her one day.
After giving birth in Auschwitz, Ester knows that she can’t hide her little Pippa from the Nazis, so she does the only thing she can do … she tattoos her own number into Pippa’s armpit hoping that one day they’ll find their way back to each other.
Reuniting with the other half of 58031 brings Ester hope and is her driving purpose to stay alive.
Paralleling the above storyline is that of Kirsten, Olivia, Hans and Dieter in 1961. Some of them also experience the strength of family and work to overcome the negative forces that try to separate them from all they’ve ever known. For one, her drive to feel worthy and find her place almost pushes her further away from her ‘power’ and it takes one woman with courage and determination to give her a feeling of unity and belonging. For another, he risks his life as an instrument of reunification.
In scaffolding these two themes, Stuart reminds readers of the division within Berlin, within families and within the sports community. The resulting camps of the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ arose from drawing lines, physical or political, and affected the lives of those innocently ensnared. She works to uncover how each reacted to and lived with separation and how dreams of reunification gave each the strength to live another day.
While many struggled with the history lesson Stuart presented to aid us in our understanding of her characters and their outlooks, I reveled in a chance to learn more about Stalinstadt, Dynamo, Bernauerstrasse, Checkpoint Charlie, Operation Rose, The Tokyo Olympics, and The Berlin Wall.
This was another wonderful book by a trusted historical fiction author. If you love historical fiction, you must allow Ester, Olivia, Kirsten, Pippa, Hans and Dieter show you how separation and reunification shaped their life.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
This time she whisks us back in time to Berlin and the aftermath of WW2. With regard to historical fiction, little focus has been given to the geopolitical turmoil Europe found itself in as boundaries were moved and history was rewritten. Stuart’s focus on this benchmark in history is a welcome shift. We catch up again with Auschwitz midwife, Ester Pasternak, and see how courage and determination allow her to deal with being separated from her new baby and give her a laser-sharp focus on reuniting with her one day.
After giving birth in Auschwitz, Ester knows that she can’t hide her little Pippa from the Nazis, so she does the only thing she can do … she tattoos her own number into Pippa’s armpit hoping that one day they’ll find their way back to each other.
Reuniting with the other half of 58031 brings Ester hope and is her driving purpose to stay alive.
Paralleling the above storyline is that of Kirsten, Olivia, Hans and Dieter in 1961. Some of them also experience the strength of family and work to overcome the negative forces that try to separate them from all they’ve ever known. For one, her drive to feel worthy and find her place almost pushes her further away from her ‘power’ and it takes one woman with courage and determination to give her a feeling of unity and belonging. For another, he risks his life as an instrument of reunification.
In scaffolding these two themes, Stuart reminds readers of the division within Berlin, within families and within the sports community. The resulting camps of the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ arose from drawing lines, physical or political, and affected the lives of those innocently ensnared. She works to uncover how each reacted to and lived with separation and how dreams of reunification gave each the strength to live another day.
While many struggled with the history lesson Stuart presented to aid us in our understanding of her characters and their outlooks, I reveled in a chance to learn more about Stalinstadt, Dynamo, Bernauerstrasse, Checkpoint Charlie, Operation Rose, The Tokyo Olympics, and The Berlin Wall.
This was another wonderful book by a trusted historical fiction author. If you love historical fiction, you must allow Ester, Olivia, Kirsten, Pippa, Hans and Dieter show you how separation and reunification shaped their life.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
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:
No
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
informative
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes