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4.33 AVERAGE
4.33 AVERAGE
reflective
tense
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
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really well written…I was all over the place with emotions. I’m a fan of Kelly Rimmer’s books.
An interesting attempt at an exploration of the moral dilemmas of wartime and its aftermath, this novel compares and interweaves the lives of a German woman and an American woman before, during and following World War 2. The book's impact was lessened for me by predictability of characterisation and inauthentic conversation, as well as considerable anachronistic language.
I loved this book. WWII story line of a German family living life the best they can as a scientist, mixed with the story of an American woman who’s brother goes to war.
It makes me think of a few different thing:
-What am I blind to, in my generation that will seem so evident to future generations?
-As a society, do we have to foster hate, to get people to go to war? And if so, how do you foster hate for war, while teaching compassion for the same people after the war is over.
It makes me think of a few different thing:
-What am I blind to, in my generation that will seem so evident to future generations?
-As a society, do we have to foster hate, to get people to go to war? And if so, how do you foster hate for war, while teaching compassion for the same people after the war is over.
challenging
dark
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Medical trauma, War, Deportation
Content was great and Rimmer writes spectacular, three dimensional and flawed characters. She doesn’t shy away from messy endings and I appreciate her willingness to bring some perspective to the case of the individual Nazi Party member.
The down side to this one was that she shifted between 4 different view points and I felt like just as I was feeling the flow, we jumped to a different frame. I think I would have preferred two characters just straight through, rather than jumping back and forth.
The down side to this one was that she shifted between 4 different view points and I felt like just as I was feeling the flow, we jumped to a different frame. I think I would have preferred two characters just straight through, rather than jumping back and forth.
What a book. A fascinating reminder that we are all a product of our collective decisions and the German wife could be any one of us today. I’m not completely certain I understand Lizzie’s existence in the story, but a riveting tale nonetheless.
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not as good as The Things We Cannot Say, but still very good and thought provoking. It made me feel deeply. I wasn’t as interested in the Lizzie character storyline, hence the minus a star.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced