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What it did well:
- It's very well written, and done in a way that stands out and is memorable (which is really hard to do with WW2 novels, since so much has been written about it). It dives into the atrocities and emotions, which is what makes it memorable and haunting.
- There is discussion on a lot of WW2 that most authors are not brave enough to touch, like the Nazi medical experiments and trials.
- A good portion of the book takes place after the war has ended, and the recovery/life goes on/PTSD. That's not something I see often but needs to be talked about more.
But:
- I really only liked the characters on ONE of the three stories being told simultaneously.
- Herta's rape, and the rape she witnessed, were graphic. But they seemed more written to try to get the reader to have pitty for her than actually contributing to the story.....or as fan service as a pre-karma for her actions as a Nazi doctor, and it just felt really gross and unnecessary.
- Caroline seems like she was written just to break up the atrocities of war, and wasn't really motivating or interesting.
- The multiple story lines that rush to converge at the end and tie everything together felt really messy.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Medical trauma, Death of parent, War
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Self harm, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Deportation
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Antisemitism, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, War, Deportation
Graphic: Genocide
Moderate: Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Infertility, Rape, Self harm
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Deportation
Graphic: Hate crime, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, War
This is not an easy read but that is the point. Well done, and also while this is historical fiction, two of the main characters are based on real women, making this all the more powerful.
Graphic: Genocide, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent
Moderate: Mental illness, Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Sexual harassment
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Genocide, Torture, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Incest, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Antisemitism
I appreciate that the book is based on real women and history, but there were some liberties that were taken that, upon reflection run me the wrong way. The biggest and most conflicting one is the invented relationship with the fake, famous French actor. Like she couldn't care about the war and helping people in the concentration camps unless she had a guy to be in love with? I know the author says she thinks the real historical figure whom this women is based surely wouldn't mind, but I do.
I also in general think a lot of the resolution after the war happened way too quickly and cleanly. I don't buy that one conversation with the doctor
But again I did enjoy it in the moment, and that counts for a lot with me!
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, Deportation
Moderate: Rape
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Incest, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Slavery, Torture, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Child death, Infertility, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Torture, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, Deportation