Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
Excellent writing! This will be in my top 5 favorite books read this year.
After reading the last page and closing the book, I knew this was going to be in my top five historical fiction reads of all time. Rimmer is a master storyteller and from the first chapter you are pulled into a story that is powerful, emotional and will have you thinking about the characters long after.
Told through dual POV’s spanning over 20 years - from before the start of World War II until the 1950s – we meet Sophie, a German wife and mother who has moved with her family to United States after the war. We also meet Lizzie, an American who grew up during the Great Depression and whose family was affected by the war but in different ways. Lizzie and Sophie’s paths cross, and despite having two completely different lives, their journeys are quite similar.
Thoughts:
There has been a lot of books written about WWII. This one though takes a unique perspective as we see the hardships, prejudice and family dynamics leading up to, during and after the war. The character development was wonderful as I felt the emotional connection with the characters and the story itself. There were times while reading that I had to pause to think about the incredible suffering that took place and the heartbreaking decisions they had to be made for survival. There is so many historical facts woven into the story and I was fascinated to learn about Operation Paperclip and the Nazis that were brought over to the United States after the war.
I cannot recommend this book enough! It was truly a story of courage, loss, forgiveness and second chances. If you are a fan of historical fiction this needs to be a must read!
Told through dual POV’s spanning over 20 years - from before the start of World War II until the 1950s – we meet Sophie, a German wife and mother who has moved with her family to United States after the war. We also meet Lizzie, an American who grew up during the Great Depression and whose family was affected by the war but in different ways. Lizzie and Sophie’s paths cross, and despite having two completely different lives, their journeys are quite similar.
Thoughts:
There has been a lot of books written about WWII. This one though takes a unique perspective as we see the hardships, prejudice and family dynamics leading up to, during and after the war. The character development was wonderful as I felt the emotional connection with the characters and the story itself. There were times while reading that I had to pause to think about the incredible suffering that took place and the heartbreaking decisions they had to be made for survival. There is so many historical facts woven into the story and I was fascinated to learn about Operation Paperclip and the Nazis that were brought over to the United States after the war.
I cannot recommend this book enough! It was truly a story of courage, loss, forgiveness and second chances. If you are a fan of historical fiction this needs to be a must read!
The story is told by two female characters, and not many twists and turns.
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
I received an advanced copy of this book.
In 1930, Jurgen and his wife Sofie are in Germany, joyful about Jurgen's successful career with the new rocket program, but worried about the rise of Hitler and his polarizing views. Their conflict of beliefs becomes very real and clear as they struggle with how to move forward while maintaining appearances.
In 1950, Sofie and two children have joined Jurgen in Huntsville, Alabama, where Jurgen has been working for the past year in America's space program. The move to Huntsville appears to be a breath of fresh air, until rumors swirl and they find that they are greeted with more hate than open arms. The family finds themselves the topic of many rumors and the target of vandalism and violence.
This story is raw, real, and sometimes uncomfortable, but an overall powerful story of WW2 that is inspired by Operation Paperclip which is an interesting point of history to learn more about.
In 1930, Jurgen and his wife Sofie are in Germany, joyful about Jurgen's successful career with the new rocket program, but worried about the rise of Hitler and his polarizing views. Their conflict of beliefs becomes very real and clear as they struggle with how to move forward while maintaining appearances.
In 1950, Sofie and two children have joined Jurgen in Huntsville, Alabama, where Jurgen has been working for the past year in America's space program. The move to Huntsville appears to be a breath of fresh air, until rumors swirl and they find that they are greeted with more hate than open arms. The family finds themselves the topic of many rumors and the target of vandalism and violence.
This story is raw, real, and sometimes uncomfortable, but an overall powerful story of WW2 that is inspired by Operation Paperclip which is an interesting point of history to learn more about.
emotional
reflective
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I enjoy books that take place over more than one time period and I enjoy books told from more than one perspective/voice. And this was definitely a fascinating story. However, there were times it just dragged on a bit for me.
4 1/2 stars One of the best historical novels I’ve read this year. Compelling reading. Very interesting and the characters were great