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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
**3.5 stars**
This book follows three widowed women in Germany who are reeling after WWII. The women are an unlikely bunch that band together in order to survive.
I really liked the idea of this book- how were ordinary people affected post-WWII? How did women cope after their husbands had been killed? Though the book attempted to answer these questions, I feel like it could’ve gone into more depth. I wish I knew more of Marianne and her relationship with Albrecht and how she helped with the resistance. Their isn’t much detail as to what happens with the assassination attempt and I feel like I don’t even know how Marianne felt about her own husband.
Marianne, Benita and Ania were all imperfect, which is exactly how the rest of us are. I thought the book did a good job at making all the characters seem very human. However, some things were hard to believe. Ania and Marianne called each other best friends but hardly knew a thing about each other despite all the years they spent together. Benita almost always seemed like a child instead of an adult, obviously loving her son but never doing much about it.
I was happy to read this book but it definitely didn’t impact me as much as other WWII historical fiction has. It certainly made me think about what it meant to live in post-war Germany and admire the people that did all they could to survive the war.
This book follows three widowed women in Germany who are reeling after WWII. The women are an unlikely bunch that band together in order to survive.
I really liked the idea of this book- how were ordinary people affected post-WWII? How did women cope after their husbands had been killed? Though the book attempted to answer these questions, I feel like it could’ve gone into more depth. I wish I knew more of Marianne and her relationship with Albrecht and how she helped with the resistance. Their isn’t much detail as to what happens with the assassination attempt and I feel like I don’t even know how Marianne felt about her own husband.
Marianne, Benita and Ania were all imperfect, which is exactly how the rest of us are. I thought the book did a good job at making all the characters seem very human. However, some things were hard to believe. Ania and Marianne called each other best friends but hardly knew a thing about each other despite all the years they spent together. Benita almost always seemed like a child instead of an adult, obviously loving her son but never doing much about it.
I was happy to read this book but it definitely didn’t impact me as much as other WWII historical fiction has. It certainly made me think about what it meant to live in post-war Germany and admire the people that did all they could to survive the war.
This is a very interesting story, and regardless of liberties that may have been taken with history, an excellent read. The story focuses on one main widow of the resistance, and two others who she seeks out and brings into her fold- children and all. Their lives, stories and means of surviving the war, and subsequent years is terrific. Well developed characters, vivid landscapes and a focus on women and how they endure and survive.
This book is haunting and it will stay with me for a long time. The characters are alive and you can smell and hear and see everything around them through The author's vivid descriptions. It basically follows 3 women in Germany during and after World War II. It challenges perceptions of the post war era and asks important questions. I found myself wondering what I would do if I were in these women's situations. It explores the gray areas of our lives both morally and literally since it deals with the starkness of Nazi and Russian occupation. The women are from very different backgrounds and somehow forge profound friendships both out of necessity and fondness. This is a very important book and it was tough to read at times. That is what makes it so great.
Custou a ler, há muito que não demorava tanto a ler um livro...
An excellent portrait of how a rag tag group of people survive the rise and fall of Nazi Germany. I was moved by the various stories ranging from the strong willed resistors to the ardent followers and every type in between. Plenty of surprises embedded in these pages. And I was especially intrigued by the ethical and moral conversation subtly entwined throughout the story. What is right or wrong when survival is at risk? What is the line between being deceived and willful ignorance? Is any good act entirely good? Should forgiveness be sought and received or must you always live with the sins of your past? A strong novel on an interesting time in history from a less common perspective.
Wow! Not just your ordinary WWII historical fiction novel teeming with brave heroines, defying the odds, battling evil, and saving the day. The women in this novel, their stories, their lives, seemed to be so much more realistic, so much more... human. This story was so captivating, and so real... more than five stars!
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I listened to the audio version of this book. The narration was so-so. I really wanted to like this book but found the female characters bland and the story somewhat boring. There were parts of the book that I enjoyed, but not enough to give it high marks. I also felt like I "missed" things at times, whether it was listening error or the story having missing pieces. Not my favorite historical fiction book.
Never thought about German women after the war before. interesting premise.