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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
dark
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
In the Garden of Beasts reads more like a novel than a history book, which is exactly what makes it so engaging. Larson brings 1930s Berlin to life in all its eerie, glamorous, and terrifying detail, following U.S. Ambassador William Dodd and his daughter Martha as they navigate the rise of Nazi Germany.
Martha, in particular, is fascinating. She’s bold, curious, and sometimes reckless, drawn in by the excitement of Berlin and the powerful people around her. Her flirtations with high-ranking Nazis make for some of the book’s most compelling and unsettling moments. She’s not always likable, but she’s never boring, and through her, Larson shows just how easy it is to get swept up in something truly dangerous, and not recognize it until you’re in deeper than you expected.
What really stuck with me, though, was how familiar some of it felt. The way people downplayed the threat, made excuses, hoped it would all blow over… it’s hard not to see the parallels to what’s happening in parts of America right now. It’s a quiet kind of horror, realizing how history can repeat itself when no one takes the warning signs seriously.
If you’re into history that feels real and urgent, this is definitely worth a read.
Martha, in particular, is fascinating. She’s bold, curious, and sometimes reckless, drawn in by the excitement of Berlin and the powerful people around her. Her flirtations with high-ranking Nazis make for some of the book’s most compelling and unsettling moments. She’s not always likable, but she’s never boring, and through her, Larson shows just how easy it is to get swept up in something truly dangerous, and not recognize it until you’re in deeper than you expected.
What really stuck with me, though, was how familiar some of it felt. The way people downplayed the threat, made excuses, hoped it would all blow over… it’s hard not to see the parallels to what’s happening in parts of America right now. It’s a quiet kind of horror, realizing how history can repeat itself when no one takes the warning signs seriously.
If you’re into history that feels real and urgent, this is definitely worth a read.
An American family with conflicted feelings about Naziism and anti-Semitism is thrust into Berlin in 1933. William E. Dodd is pressured into becoming the American Ambassador to Germany, a job nobody seems to want. His daughter Martha gets caught up in the excitement of the Nazi rise to power, yet she gets caught up in an extended affair with a Russian communist.
Rumors spread around the world about the horrors of Nazi power, but the Dodds initially don't see evidence of the rumors in Berlin and remain in denial for some time. Not surprisingly, as political events play out in Germany, the Dodds come to realize how scary things are. When Dodd finally resolves to takes action, there is not much that he can do.
It is frightening how many people in Germany, the United States, and the rest of the world either supported, denied, or ignored the Nazi treatment of Jews and other minorities in Germany. Larson shows what it was like on the streets of Berlin. It shocks me how similar it is to the treatment of minorities in America, where people remain in denial about it to this day.
While In the Garden of Beasts is not among Larson's best works, nor among the best works about World War II, it is an interesting story and a reminder to keep your guard up about politicians who blame minorities for problems that are really the result of bad policy or natural economics. Even highly intelligent, good-natured people like the Dodds can easily fall into the trap of propaganda and fail to react before it is too late.
Rumors spread around the world about the horrors of Nazi power, but the Dodds initially don't see evidence of the rumors in Berlin and remain in denial for some time. Not surprisingly, as political events play out in Germany, the Dodds come to realize how scary things are. When Dodd finally resolves to takes action, there is not much that he can do.
It is frightening how many people in Germany, the United States, and the rest of the world either supported, denied, or ignored the Nazi treatment of Jews and other minorities in Germany. Larson shows what it was like on the streets of Berlin. It shocks me how similar it is to the treatment of minorities in America, where people remain in denial about it to this day.
While In the Garden of Beasts is not among Larson's best works, nor among the best works about World War II, it is an interesting story and a reminder to keep your guard up about politicians who blame minorities for problems that are really the result of bad policy or natural economics. Even highly intelligent, good-natured people like the Dodds can easily fall into the trap of propaganda and fail to react before it is too late.
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
An interesting look at Berlin in 1933-34, but I didn’t find Ambassador Dodd or his daughter Martha to be particularly compelling figures.
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Fascinating, revealing and told from a surprising angle, this is as good as The Devil in the White City or Dead Wake, my two favorite Larson books. I only wish the timeline of the story had been longer. I was very interested in what happened to remaining characters as the 30's and eventuality WWII progressed. Guess I'll have to read some more books.
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
This book is a slog. To really follow all of the people and sides, I would have had to map it out as I read it. So eventually I sort of gave up trying to keep track of people and just kept reading. I wish I could have gotten more out of it, but there are so many people and trying to figure out who is doing what can be a lot. I'm glad I read it...especially in light of our political climate now. And I won't be reading it again.
adventurous
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Great story. Especially if you’re interested in the period and the feeling of how craziness takes hold.
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced