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jayelpr's review against another edition
5.0
A deeply moving and tragic love story set in WWII Germany. I couldn't put it down.
stacey_stacey's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
hollowistheworld's review against another edition
I don't think I've ever given up on a book so fast. The audiobook narrator was awful, which didn't help, but the main character was TERRIBLE. Selfish and irresponsible, the worst sort of romantic teenager, and I'm supposed to buy it? It felt like the author was trying to be politically correct while also talking about why civilians didn't do more, but where she landed was a bunch of characters I couldn't take another second with.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content
lisastriker2024's review against another edition
2.0
Ehh, couldn't really get into this story. Slow moving and I couldn't finish. Only read to chapter 7 .
ndbeyer's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good story regarding the ordinary German family forced into serving Hitler and country. The author drew from experiences her mother and grandmother had during the war with shortages and Allied bombing.
ndbeyer's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good story regarding the ordinary German family forced into serving Hitler and country. The author drew from experiences her mother and grandmother had during the war with shortages and Allied bombing.
jflowers00's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
naturallysarahashley's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
This was exceptional! I have never read a WWII book set in Germany, so to have the war from such a different perspective was eye-opening! This is my 3rd of Ms. Wiseman's books and can't wait to read more!
mandiengen57's review against another edition
5.0
So good!
Ellen Wiseman is my favorite historical fiction author at the moment, and like usual this book did not disappoint. I’ve said it before, WW2/Holocaust books are typically my favorite genre but this one wasn’t just like the others. It was such a wonderful love story, both romantically and between family members. Each character so well written you fall in love with them or hate them as necessary. It still covered all the monstrosities that happened but in a respectful way, getting the true story out. 5/5
Ellen Wiseman is my favorite historical fiction author at the moment, and like usual this book did not disappoint. I’ve said it before, WW2/Holocaust books are typically my favorite genre but this one wasn’t just like the others. It was such a wonderful love story, both romantically and between family members. Each character so well written you fall in love with them or hate them as necessary. It still covered all the monstrosities that happened but in a respectful way, getting the true story out. 5/5
ifyouhappentoremember's review against another edition
2.0
I do feel mildly bad that I did not really enjoy this book considering that the author used her family’s experience in Germany during the war as the foundation for the plot. The book did not work for me and here is a list of reasons why.
1. To me, it felt like things happened to the characters because that was how the plot was going to go. Christine and Isaac are in love and willing to risk the dangers because their love is so strong, despite the limited time that is spent on their relationship and their lack of chemistry, because that’s what we need for the plot. I laughed out loud when Christine came face to face with Hitler and was repulsed by his evilness. I can’t believe that made it into the book.
2. I find it very nervig, annoying, that German words are randomly dropped into sentences and sofort, immediately, translated. It’s such a clunky way to build atmosphere. It bothered me so much, it detracted my enjoyment of the Geschichte, story.
3. Let’s have a discussion about the ‘Good Germans.’ It’s a phrase used to describe Germans who claimed after the war, not to support the Nazis but did not resist in any meaningful way. I realize what Wiseman is trying to do; she’s trying to make the reader aware of the suffering of the civilian population during the war, most of them having no direct involvement with the war crimes committed by the Nazi regime. However Wiseman chooses to walk this nuanced tightrope by making the ENTIRE FAMILY dislike the Nazi regime. She couldn’t make the Grandpa a Nazi sympathizer? Or have some members the family approve of some of the Nazi policies and brush aside the issue of Anti-Semitism? It just makes the entire family feel so fake and fictional if they all dislike the Nazis so much. It’s almost as if it’s alright for the reader to sympathize with the suffering and deprecation of the Bölz family, but not for the rest of neighborhood. The story could have used some nuance but everything about The Plum Tree is about as subtle as getting hit by a bus.
1. To me, it felt like things happened to the characters because that was how the plot was going to go. Christine and Isaac are in love and willing to risk the dangers because their love is so strong, despite the limited time that is spent on their relationship and their lack of chemistry, because that’s what we need for the plot. I laughed out loud when Christine came face to face with Hitler and was repulsed by his evilness. I can’t believe that made it into the book.
2. I find it very nervig, annoying, that German words are randomly dropped into sentences and sofort, immediately, translated. It’s such a clunky way to build atmosphere. It bothered me so much, it detracted my enjoyment of the Geschichte, story.
3. Let’s have a discussion about the ‘Good Germans.’ It’s a phrase used to describe Germans who claimed after the war, not to support the Nazis but did not resist in any meaningful way. I realize what Wiseman is trying to do; she’s trying to make the reader aware of the suffering of the civilian population during the war, most of them having no direct involvement with the war crimes committed by the Nazi regime. However Wiseman chooses to walk this nuanced tightrope by making the ENTIRE FAMILY dislike the Nazi regime. She couldn’t make the Grandpa a Nazi sympathizer? Or have some members the family approve of some of the Nazi policies and brush aside the issue of Anti-Semitism? It just makes the entire family feel so fake and fictional if they all dislike the Nazis so much. It’s almost as if it’s alright for the reader to sympathize with the suffering and deprecation of the Bölz family, but not for the rest of neighborhood. The story could have used some nuance but everything about The Plum Tree is about as subtle as getting hit by a bus.