Scan barcode
suvata's review against another edition
4.0
#OUABC Once Upon A Book Club Adult March 2018 selection
#TallahasseeSilentBookClub 11 Feb 2024
• 304 pages • first pub 2018 • fiction • historical • informative • tense • 4 Stars
Early 1943: Magda Ritter's parents send her to relatives in Bavaria, hoping to keep her safe from the Allied bombs strafing Berlin. Young German women are expected to do their duty-working for the Reich or marrying to produce strong, healthy children. After an interview with the civil service, Magda is assigned to the Berghof, Hitler's mountain retreat. Only after weeks of training does she learn her assignment: she will be one of several young women tasting the Fuhrer's food, offering herself in sacrifice to keep him from being poisoned.
#TheTaster #VSAlexander #Bookstagram
#TallahasseeSilentBookClub 11 Feb 2024
• 304 pages • first pub 2018 • fiction • historical • informative • tense • 4 Stars
Early 1943: Magda Ritter's parents send her to relatives in Bavaria, hoping to keep her safe from the Allied bombs strafing Berlin. Young German women are expected to do their duty-working for the Reich or marrying to produce strong, healthy children. After an interview with the civil service, Magda is assigned to the Berghof, Hitler's mountain retreat. Only after weeks of training does she learn her assignment: she will be one of several young women tasting the Fuhrer's food, offering herself in sacrifice to keep him from being poisoned.
#TheTaster #VSAlexander #Bookstagram
laurenkraigco's review
dark
emotional
tense
slow-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
4.5
bethaturner87's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book and read it very quickly, excited to find out what happens next. I don't want to spoil the end, but I found it to be a little to fantastical and a bit too much on the "fiction" side of historical fiction. The author did a wonderful job describing Germany during the war, from the optimism of the early years to the acknowledgment that the end was near. Couldn't give it 5 stars for the ending, but I definitely still recommend it.
diany's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
slow-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
4.0
melohpa's review
4.0
See my review at https://topplingbookpile.blogspot.com/2019/12/the-taster-by-v.html
jennagrace_m's review
2.0
I am admittedly not a fan of historical fiction, generally speaking. But my book club read this book this month, so here we are.
In terms of historical fiction it was not too bad, however, I just can't get on board with nazis as the protagonists and the frequent nazi apologism throughout this one. In my opinion, even if you wanted to kill Hitler, if you spent most of the book working for him and using your connection to him for your personal gain, you're a nazi, girlie, and I *will* be judging you harshly despite you asking me not to (twice!).
In terms of historical fiction it was not too bad, however, I just can't get on board with nazis as the protagonists and the frequent nazi apologism throughout this one. In my opinion, even if you wanted to kill Hitler, if you spent most of the book working for him and using your connection to him for your personal gain, you're a nazi, girlie, and I *will* be judging you harshly despite you asking me not to (twice!).
andreagraves5's review
4.0
This was an audio book. The narrator was okay, her German accent she used on certain characters made them hard to understand.
I really loved the book, the writing, the story - I’ve heard it’s a true story (for the most part). So interesting that Hitler had people taste his food to make sure he wasn’t poisoned. It was a very different point of view for a WWII book.
I really loved the book, the writing, the story - I’ve heard it’s a true story (for the most part). So interesting that Hitler had people taste his food to make sure he wasn’t poisoned. It was a very different point of view for a WWII book.
piratekitty's review
3.0
The story itself is compelling, and the characterizations of the bit players are well done. The middle of the plot feels unnecessarily lagging, while the important parts feel rushed. Overall, it's a good read, I understand the use of the first person narrative for the type of story. It certainly felt like Magda was talking to me as the reader, but unfortunately the downside to that is that it left some of the important characters feeling flat. Magda clearly changes from her experiences, but her voice is the narrator never really adapts to adequately show character growth.
This book left me feeling like I wanted to know more about the other characters. While I understand that would have been very difficult to do in a narrative story, it feels like a waste to have these great characters and never really explore their experience as well. Magda is simply not the most interesting character in this story and it almost feels like a robbery to be deprived of the other characters in service to her as the narrator.
This book left me feeling like I wanted to know more about the other characters. While I understand that would have been very difficult to do in a narrative story, it feels like a waste to have these great characters and never really explore their experience as well. Magda is simply not the most interesting character in this story and it almost feels like a robbery to be deprived of the other characters in service to her as the narrator.
winstonandbooks's review
4.0
I found the plot very interesting and intriguing, and it was paced very well. I am a history buff so I loved learning more about this time in history. There were some parts, however, that made it clear it was a man writing from a woman's perspective. The ending "twist" also was a bit unbelievable, rushed, unrealistic, and my biggest complaint of the book.
But all in all, I really enjoyed the story - it was engrossing and kept me interested. If you're interested in this time period, and can forgive a few cringey descriptions as the male author sometimes fails at accurately portraying the perspective of a woman, I do think this book is worth the read. Save for the historically questionable "twist" near the end of the book, I really liked the plot and the time period was well researched and immersing.
But all in all, I really enjoyed the story - it was engrossing and kept me interested. If you're interested in this time period, and can forgive a few cringey descriptions as the male author sometimes fails at accurately portraying the perspective of a woman, I do think this book is worth the read. Save for the historically questionable "twist" near the end of the book, I really liked the plot and the time period was well researched and immersing.