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4.33 AVERAGE
4.33 AVERAGE
Masterfully written, this book touches the soul in a powerful way.
It takes the reader down a path of the darkness during WWII -- which one thinks is so outrageously horrible that it will never happen again. Yet, while reading this story, one can only note similarities from the past that are once again used in the present with the strategies of war: starting with propaganda.
This story links together two different families before and after the war. Sofie and Jurgen live in Berlin with their children and beloved Jewish friend and her mother. Jurgen is a brilliant scientist working reluctantly on an important rocket program. And then in a tiny town of Texas, there is Lizzie, her brother Henry along with her parents. They work on a farm and the soil is too dry for the crops to grow with the lack of rain. They have considerable debt with a cow that must be sold and tractor that is next to go.
These well-defined characters come together in 1950 in Huntsville, Texas where Jurgen is now working on the American rocket program with Lizzie’s husband, Calvin. There is a division between the Americans and German families with a considerable amount of hatred. It’s easy to picture in one’s mind everything that is going on.
There has been a number of books written about WWII. This one has a story that makes you understand the hardships, prejudice, relationships and a totally different approach to what was happening before and after the war. There were times while reading I had to pause to think about the incredible suffering that took place. This was emotional, intense at times with the dangers and through everything, it had a complicated but proper conclusion. It makes one think about the psychological effects of the war from two different perspectives and it creates many questions of: why it continues to happen.
My thanks to Kelly Rimmer, Graydon House Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy with the expected release date of June 28, 2022.
It takes the reader down a path of the darkness during WWII -- which one thinks is so outrageously horrible that it will never happen again. Yet, while reading this story, one can only note similarities from the past that are once again used in the present with the strategies of war: starting with propaganda.
This story links together two different families before and after the war. Sofie and Jurgen live in Berlin with their children and beloved Jewish friend and her mother. Jurgen is a brilliant scientist working reluctantly on an important rocket program. And then in a tiny town of Texas, there is Lizzie, her brother Henry along with her parents. They work on a farm and the soil is too dry for the crops to grow with the lack of rain. They have considerable debt with a cow that must be sold and tractor that is next to go.
These well-defined characters come together in 1950 in Huntsville, Texas where Jurgen is now working on the American rocket program with Lizzie’s husband, Calvin. There is a division between the Americans and German families with a considerable amount of hatred. It’s easy to picture in one’s mind everything that is going on.
There has been a number of books written about WWII. This one has a story that makes you understand the hardships, prejudice, relationships and a totally different approach to what was happening before and after the war. There were times while reading I had to pause to think about the incredible suffering that took place. This was emotional, intense at times with the dangers and through everything, it had a complicated but proper conclusion. It makes one think about the psychological effects of the war from two different perspectives and it creates many questions of: why it continues to happen.
My thanks to Kelly Rimmer, Graydon House Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy with the expected release date of June 28, 2022.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
informative
medium-paced
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The story itself was great. However , the 2 main characters had dual story lines and it was confusing to bounce back and forth 4 different times. This was the main reason for my 3.75 rating.
So moving and elegant! I fell in and out of love with many of the characters. I’m far more sympathetic to Germans who were caught up in Nazi “invitations” which could only be refused with the threat of execution or imprisonment. The parallel story of the dust bowl and the choices farmers confronted was equally dire.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this book!
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved the books, interesting period of time and sD