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4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
emotional
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
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I didn't like it quite as much as the other two of the series, but historical fiction dealing with World War II era is a genre of book I didn't realize I would enjoy. This story alternates between a family living in Berlin, Germany in the 1940s and the challenges they face in Alabama in the 1950s. It highlights the challenges of standing up for what you believe in when it might cost you everything, including your children and when not standing up for that might cost you your children anyways.
This was an interesting perspective and one not covered in typical WWII fiction. The German wife moves to America after the war to be with her husband. Her husband was brought over by the Americans to help with our space program but he also fed the Nazi war machine by building rockets and bombs for Germany. The Americans so desperate to have their expertise erased their records with the Nazi's. This was also the story of an American wife whose husband works with the Germans and was instrumental in bringing them over. Told in the voices of both the German and American wife and the time periods are not linear but come together in the end. Definitely makes you think.
Another standout historical fiction book from one of my favorite authors! Her newest book follows the lives of two women as they intersect in shocking and heartbreaking ways.
Set in both the 1930s and 1950s, this dual timeline and dual perspective story follows American Lizzie and German Sofie as they deal with respective hardships in the 30s and later find themselves living in the same Alabama town as their husbands work together on "Operation Paperclip," an undercover part of the NASA space program that pardoned German scientists and former Nazis in exchange for their intelligence.
I really enjoyed both women's stories. Lizzie grows up in Texas during the Great Depression and Dustbowl years. She also knows from a young age that marriage and children are not something she dreams of for her future. When her parents die tragically, Lizzie is left alone with only her brother Henry for family. The two are very close and I was heartbroken reading about Henry's struggles with PTSD after serving in WWII.
In contrast, Sofie marries well and enjoys wealth and luxury as her scientist husband rises in the ranks during Nazi era Germany. But as antisemitism and hate crimes take over the country, Sofie and her husband start to fear for their lives and cannot stand to watch their friends and neighbors being killed and sent to concentration camps. They jump at the opportunity to move to America when the chance presents itself but find life there isn't without racism and danger too, especially when Lizzie discovers their ties to the Nazi party.
This story will make you feel all the feels as these women navigate incredible hardships and make difficult choices while still staying strong and fighting for the people they love. Great on audio narrated by Nancy Peterson and Ann Marie Gideon. Highly recommended for fans of Kristin Hannah's The four winds or Atomic city girls by Janet Beard. Much thanks to NetGalley and Librofm for my review copies!
Set in both the 1930s and 1950s, this dual timeline and dual perspective story follows American Lizzie and German Sofie as they deal with respective hardships in the 30s and later find themselves living in the same Alabama town as their husbands work together on "Operation Paperclip," an undercover part of the NASA space program that pardoned German scientists and former Nazis in exchange for their intelligence.
I really enjoyed both women's stories. Lizzie grows up in Texas during the Great Depression and Dustbowl years. She also knows from a young age that marriage and children are not something she dreams of for her future. When her parents die tragically, Lizzie is left alone with only her brother Henry for family. The two are very close and I was heartbroken reading about Henry's struggles with PTSD after serving in WWII.
In contrast, Sofie marries well and enjoys wealth and luxury as her scientist husband rises in the ranks during Nazi era Germany. But as antisemitism and hate crimes take over the country, Sofie and her husband start to fear for their lives and cannot stand to watch their friends and neighbors being killed and sent to concentration camps. They jump at the opportunity to move to America when the chance presents itself but find life there isn't without racism and danger too, especially when Lizzie discovers their ties to the Nazi party.
This story will make you feel all the feels as these women navigate incredible hardships and make difficult choices while still staying strong and fighting for the people they love. Great on audio narrated by Nancy Peterson and Ann Marie Gideon. Highly recommended for fans of Kristin Hannah's The four winds or Atomic city girls by Janet Beard. Much thanks to NetGalley and Librofm for my review copies!
adventurous
sad
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
Overall, I liked the German Wife but it felt like two completely different stories that didn’t come together well for me when being told in the 1950’s Huntsville setting.
Kelly Rimmer did a great job creating a vivid picture when building the backstory associated with both women, however, I admit I was more drawn to Sofie’s character and storyline than I was to Lizzie’s. It was the Huntsville portion of the book that felt forced/ random and the last few chapters felt rushed to wrap things up but it just didn’t come together in a compelling way for me.
In my opinion, these two stories could have been two standalone novels - Sofie and the Operation Paperclip, Lizzie and the dust bowl and both would have been better than intertwining the two. Overall, this was 3 stars for me, based on Sofie’s story.
Kelly Rimmer did a great job creating a vivid picture when building the backstory associated with both women, however, I admit I was more drawn to Sofie’s character and storyline than I was to Lizzie’s. It was the Huntsville portion of the book that felt forced/ random and the last few chapters felt rushed to wrap things up but it just didn’t come together in a compelling way for me.
In my opinion, these two stories could have been two standalone novels - Sofie and the Operation Paperclip, Lizzie and the dust bowl and both would have been better than intertwining the two. Overall, this was 3 stars for me, based on Sofie’s story.
challenging
emotional
informative
tense
medium-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
I lived this book I couldn't put it down. It was so sad and it was also happy. I enjoyed reading about the two different ways that people see each other from different countries and different circumstances. How people can be so wrong in the thinking of other people just based on where they come from and not get to to know them first. I would recommend this book - I will be reading it again I love this kind of story historical fiction and love.