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4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
emotional
inspiring
sad
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
3.5 rounded up (it didn’t feel fair to give it a 3). This was definitely a strong read and clearly well-researched. It was really rooted in the history, events and environment of the time, which not all historical fiction does this well. A very thought-provoking plot about who deserves forgiveness and second chances.
Now, the things I didn’t love. At least 40% of the book centered around a character who isn’t “The German Wife”, and upon reflection, I don’t know why she was included. The story would’ve been *different* but not impossible without it. Sometimes the dialogue was far too unbelievable, in the sense that people just don’t talk like that. At some point, the pattern became repetitive: Nazi technology is advancing, that makes our characters feel even worse, they’re left without a choice, over and over. But I suppose that was the reality. I saw many reviews saying this was uplifting, but 90% of it was just, truly, sad and distressing.
A last note: I think the cover is terrible. Woman with hat and jacket is not inspiring me to read this.
Now, the things I didn’t love. At least 40% of the book centered around a character who isn’t “The German Wife”, and upon reflection, I don’t know why she was included. The story would’ve been *different* but not impossible without it. Sometimes the dialogue was far too unbelievable, in the sense that people just don’t talk like that. At some point, the pattern became repetitive: Nazi technology is advancing, that makes our characters feel even worse, they’re left without a choice, over and over. But I suppose that was the reality. I saw many reviews saying this was uplifting, but 90% of it was just, truly, sad and distressing.
A last note: I think the cover is terrible. Woman with hat and jacket is not inspiring me to read this.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
informative
reflective
medium-paced
dark
emotional
sad
slow-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:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
I loved this book for presenting opposing sides of an intense era.
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Infidelity, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Antisemitism, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, War, Deportation