Reviews with content warning for Cancer - Remote Sympathy

This novel is a lovely character study that follows three individuals—Greta Hahn, the wife of an SS officer at Buchenwald concentration camp; Dietrich Hahn, her husband and a high up officer at Buchenwald; and Leonard Weber, a doctor imprisoned at Buchenwald. The story is very well researched and each character's sections are told in unique ways—Greta's as an imaginary diary, Dietrich's as a recording of his confession/interview to someone after the trials at Dachau, and Leonard's as letters to his daughter.

Through these three characters, Chidgey explores complacency, and how community influences how people think. There are short sections written from the collective mind of the citizens of Weimar, the German town that sat below the concentration camp. These sections really highlighted the willful obliviousness and ignorance of the townspeople, who ignored rumors of the atrocities taking place up the hill from their homes. Chidgey has created a thoughtful explanation of how people can be blind to the evil happening on their doorstep, and what happens when that ignorance is exposed. A thoughtful, beautifully written and researched, and insightful story. It's not your average entry into World War II historical fiction, which is always refreshing!

Another great read from Europa Books.

Content Warnings

katewhite77's review against another edition

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informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I wasn't going to read this at first even though it had been longlisted for the for the Woman’s Prize and I wanted to read the lot. I thought I would find it far to much given what is going on in the world but strangely as I started reading I found it calming in an odd sort of way knowing that there is nothing worse in this book than I have already read in the newspaper over recent weeks.

To see World War Two from the German perspective was very interesting and how powerful propaganda can be.

Again this book is not for everyone it is a long harrowing read, but one I don't regret. We must not forget history next time and also remember there no winners in a war. Humanity only loses.

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rozereads's review

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challenging dark informative sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

To quote the blurb: It "compels us to question our continuing and willful ability to look the other way in a world that is once more in thrall to the idea that everything--even facts, truth and morals--is relative."

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serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I wasn’t going to pick this book up because I’m burnt out on Holocaust novels and also worried this had a “ nice German lady who was innocent of all that was going on down the road” storyline. However, once it was longlisted for the Women’s Prize I was compelled to give it a go.

Despite my wariness I was quickly drawn in. The writing was beautiful. I enjoyed the four different parts of the narrative (letters from a Mischling doctor written to his daughter after the end of the war, extracts from US interviews with a Sturmbannführer who held a key administrative role at Buchenwald, imaginary diary entries from his wife, and collective reflections from Weimar citizens) and the interweaving of many minor storylines to form a whole that was more than the sum of its parts.

One of the things I most appreciated was the nuanced depictions of the characters. We could certainly pity Frau Hahn her cancer diagnosis, yet the way she turned away or cut off conversation whenever it got close to topics she preferred not to know about was continually noted. Conversely her husband was cold and ruthless, more concerned with balancing books and portraying himself in a good light than the deaths of tens of thousands of people. Yet there was no denying his love for his son and wife, imperfect though that was. We should never forget that most of those complicit in the worst evil are a mix of good and bad. I felt like the citizens of Weimar were so representative of most of us. They were not directly complicit in Buchenwald’s atrocities, just more concerned with their own comfort and convenience, rather than recognising the truth let alone trying to stop it. Self-interest topped morality and ethics.

I also appreciate the fact that this book never glossed over the atrocities committed at concentration camps. Yet it did not dwell on them nor portray them in graphic gratuitous detail. This was not exploitative trauma porn. Rather it was a well-researched, haunting novel whose key message is as relevant today as it ever was. Wilful obliviousness must not be indulged in nor tolerated.

Content Warnings

kirstym25's review

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dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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