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4.33 AVERAGE
4.33 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
This book was really interesting. I enjoyed the nonlinear timeline and the perspective of 1930’s Germany at the same time 1930’s Texas (dust bowl). How 2 countries around the world from each other were affected differently but also the struggles.
I can’t imagine being someone like Jürgen and the ethical and moral positions he was put in as a scientist. I think something to be learned is it’s not always what it seems. There were a lot of casualties in WWII but not all of them were deaths or what we think of.
I had also never heard of Operation Paperclip. I can’t imagine how that must’ve felt on both sides. Germans coming to America to start over and the Americans receiving the very people who they were just fighting against. It is really hard to imagine what that might’ve been like.
Finally, I think I read this book at a very timely time. The election of Hitler and how that was portrayed feels very familiar. They aren’t the same. But history doesn’t repeat itself but it sure rhymes a lot.
I love Kelly Rimmer's writing, but to me, this book was disappointing. I was intrigued by the storyline: German scientists and other professionals who were brought, right after World War II, to the United States to share their expertise to help build things like our space and rocket program.
Settling in 1950s Alabama, one of the two main families in the book faced anti-German prejudice and harassment, even though, unbeknownst to their Alabama neighbors, the husband in the German family was coerced violently into joining the SS. They were among "the good ones," who did not believe in or support the Nazi party, but were helpless in opposing them because of violence perpetuated against them and threats against their children.
The second family, a husband/wife and the wife's brother, are born and raised and have always lived in Alabama. They survived the dust storms and have always lived in poverty. Rimmer doesn't say explicitly, but from my read, this family is white (this will be relevant in a moment). There are additional characters, both adults and children, who play various roles throughout the timeframe of the book.
The timeframe -- or timeframes -- is one of the criticisms I had. I've become accustomed to books that alternate between a story line from the past, and one from the present. This one, however, had two timeframes for each story line, which made it difficult to follow. I wasn't clear on why Rimmer spent as much time as she did describing the dust bowl years and experiences, if only to possibly set up life experiences that fed inherent prejudice and bias against others? Truly not sure, but it felt less relevant to the overall story.
There was also a huge opportunity that was missed. The German Wife of the title has an interaction with the woman from the other family in 1950s Alabama, where she confronts the woman's bias against Germans by asking her (not in this language of course), "Yes, Germany is anti-Semitic -- BTWs, how's that segregation thing going for you?" I thought this would be where the book went -- a confrontation between being horrified by one kind of bias, but absolutely fine with another. But that was the only mention of it, and the book never came back to it.
The book has a culminating event, like one does, and it's kind of like, "Huh. Okay. That's the big thing?" Don't get me wrong, it's tragic -- it's just that there is just so much more that could have been done with the daring, rarely discussed concept of describing what it was like for "regular" Germans after the war; how those who did not support the Nazis came to live with what they were complicit in, whether enthusiastically, reluctantly or forcibly. The concepts repeatedly pushed my buttons as I struggled, to be honest, to care -- I know that's a harsh response and some armchair quarterbacking from someone who wasn't there. Nothing is uncomplicated. But I found myself having very little empathy for almost everyone in this book, with the exception of the wives who were being controlled/abused by their husbands, the German wife's best friend, who was Jewish, and every child, including those who were being brainwashed from their earliest ages.
Settling in 1950s Alabama, one of the two main families in the book faced anti-German prejudice and harassment, even though, unbeknownst to their Alabama neighbors, the husband in the German family was coerced violently into joining the SS. They were among "the good ones," who did not believe in or support the Nazi party, but were helpless in opposing them because of violence perpetuated against them and threats against their children.
The second family, a husband/wife and the wife's brother, are born and raised and have always lived in Alabama. They survived the dust storms and have always lived in poverty. Rimmer doesn't say explicitly, but from my read, this family is white (this will be relevant in a moment). There are additional characters, both adults and children, who play various roles throughout the timeframe of the book.
The timeframe -- or timeframes -- is one of the criticisms I had. I've become accustomed to books that alternate between a story line from the past, and one from the present. This one, however, had two timeframes for each story line, which made it difficult to follow. I wasn't clear on why Rimmer spent as much time as she did describing the dust bowl years and experiences, if only to possibly set up life experiences that fed inherent prejudice and bias against others? Truly not sure, but it felt less relevant to the overall story.
There was also a huge opportunity that was missed. The German Wife of the title has an interaction with the woman from the other family in 1950s Alabama, where she confronts the woman's bias against Germans by asking her (not in this language of course), "Yes, Germany is anti-Semitic -- BTWs, how's that segregation thing going for you?" I thought this would be where the book went -- a confrontation between being horrified by one kind of bias, but absolutely fine with another. But that was the only mention of it, and the book never came back to it.
The book has a culminating event, like one does, and it's kind of like, "Huh. Okay. That's the big thing?" Don't get me wrong, it's tragic -- it's just that there is just so much more that could have been done with the daring, rarely discussed concept of describing what it was like for "regular" Germans after the war; how those who did not support the Nazis came to live with what they were complicit in, whether enthusiastically, reluctantly or forcibly. The concepts repeatedly pushed my buttons as I struggled, to be honest, to care -- I know that's a harsh response and some armchair quarterbacking from someone who wasn't there. Nothing is uncomplicated. But I found myself having very little empathy for almost everyone in this book, with the exception of the wives who were being controlled/abused by their husbands, the German wife's best friend, who was Jewish, and every child, including those who were being brainwashed from their earliest ages.
challenging
emotional
tense
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved learning g more about Operation Paperclip and the moral issues the scientists had. Really made you realize how complicated the war was for both sides.
This story is from a perspective of WW2 I had never read. It was eye opening and heart wrenching. It will not leave my heart.
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another great piece from Kelly. She does a great job researching her subject and prompting reflective thought on the characters. I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well written, but my one complaint is the ending felt forced.
Interesting view of a family that was involved in Operation Paperclip in the early 50's and their life before that in Germany when Hitler was coming to power and during the war.
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-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:
Complicated
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes