Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
I rated this book a 3.5 stars. Although I love a story regarding WW2, the back and forth of the timeline and the content of both female characters weren’t that enjoyable to me.
The story follows Sofie, a German women who is married to a German scientist who was forced to joy the SS nazi party during WW2, and Lizzie, an American woman who married a wealthy American man who ends up being the boss of Sofie’s husband after the war.
I enjoyed Sofie’s chapters more. It showed you how her and her husband dealt with being forced to do and say and act in ways they don’t approve of. It shows how their children grew up doing the war and how they were taught to hate Jews at a young age because Sofie was unable to correct them in fear of being captured and sent to prison for going against the nazi party.
Lizzie’s story was less interesting in my opinion. She grew up on a farm with her parents and brother. The plot started during the dust bowl in the 1930’s and now difficult it was to keep and maintain a farm at that time. She ends up leaving her hometown with her brother after something happens and they struggle to find their footing. Eventually she meets her husband who takes care of her and helps her brother get in the military.
The two women’s lives connect after the war and they are both living in Huntsville, Alabama. German scientists were brought to America as prisoners during the war but were given pardon and were able to bring their families to live with them.
People find out about Sofie’s husband being in the SS and people shun their family. It shows how much hatred Americans have for what happens to the Jews and it leads to some devastating incidents.
Overall the book was fairly good, I just feel as though it was lacking in much of a plot. It was more of a retelling of two very different women and how they lived through difficult parts of their lives. They are both survivors, both having lost important people in their lives that was out of theirs control.
I will say if you have an interest in WW2 and what happened in Germany, this book is worth your time. The author did a good job in researching and I liked that it was told through a German couple who didn’t agree with what Hitler did, but had to make sure their family was safe, doing what they had to to survive.
I didn’t resonate with Lizzie’s character at all. I thought she was pretty unnecessary other than the twist that occurs, but you make your own opinion!
The story follows Sofie, a German women who is married to a German scientist who was forced to joy the SS nazi party during WW2, and Lizzie, an American woman who married a wealthy American man who ends up being the boss of Sofie’s husband after the war.
I enjoyed Sofie’s chapters more. It showed you how her and her husband dealt with being forced to do and say and act in ways they don’t approve of. It shows how their children grew up doing the war and how they were taught to hate Jews at a young age because Sofie was unable to correct them in fear of being captured and sent to prison for going against the nazi party.
Lizzie’s story was less interesting in my opinion. She grew up on a farm with her parents and brother. The plot started during the dust bowl in the 1930’s and now difficult it was to keep and maintain a farm at that time. She ends up leaving her hometown with her brother after something happens and they struggle to find their footing. Eventually she meets her husband who takes care of her and helps her brother get in the military.
The two women’s lives connect after the war and they are both living in Huntsville, Alabama. German scientists were brought to America as prisoners during the war but were given pardon and were able to bring their families to live with them.
People find out about Sofie’s husband being in the SS and people shun their family. It shows how much hatred Americans have for what happens to the Jews and it leads to some devastating incidents.
Overall the book was fairly good, I just feel as though it was lacking in much of a plot. It was more of a retelling of two very different women and how they lived through difficult parts of their lives. They are both survivors, both having lost important people in their lives that was out of theirs control.
I will say if you have an interest in WW2 and what happened in Germany, this book is worth your time. The author did a good job in researching and I liked that it was told through a German couple who didn’t agree with what Hitler did, but had to make sure their family was safe, doing what they had to to survive.
I didn’t resonate with Lizzie’s character at all. I thought she was pretty unnecessary other than the twist that occurs, but you make your own opinion!
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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
Powerful and thought provoking book. The story focuses on moral concepts and ideology. The story is told from women, who aren't really as different as they think in the choices and mistakes made in the name of love.
Another 5 star read by one of my favorite authors. I went into this story blind, and it was not at all what I expected it to be. Rimmer will make you think when reading this book and you will be captivated by the storyline from the very first chapter. She dives into the choices that people make in impossible situations, what one will do to keep their family together, and has you contemplate whether you can just "erase" parts of the past without repercussions.
This story alternates between the perspectives of two women before and after the war. First we have Sofie who is the wife of a German rocket scientist. She arrives in Alabama to a community who is hostile towards her presence and her husband's involvement with Nazi Germany. Then we have Lizzie, a farmer's daughter who grew up in the American depression and like many others, was struggling to get by. She marries a wealthy, older American scientist who helps her "lost" brother enlist in the American army. After the war, Lizzie remains shocked that her husband is willing to work with these German scientists and her brother, being a vet, feels the same. Lizzie and Sofie's paths cross, and despite having two completely different lives, we learn that the parallels of their journeys are quite similar.
All historical fiction fans should read this book and learn from it. If WWII books are not your primary interest, this is a great book to start with as many chapters take place in the US and it's not as heavily focused on the fighting itself. It's touching, intense and emotional and dives into the hardships and prejudices in life before the war. Also, I found it really interested that Rimmer brings up the segregated south and how that compares to the Holocaust.
Many thanks to HTP for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: 6/28/22
This story alternates between the perspectives of two women before and after the war. First we have Sofie who is the wife of a German rocket scientist. She arrives in Alabama to a community who is hostile towards her presence and her husband's involvement with Nazi Germany. Then we have Lizzie, a farmer's daughter who grew up in the American depression and like many others, was struggling to get by. She marries a wealthy, older American scientist who helps her "lost" brother enlist in the American army. After the war, Lizzie remains shocked that her husband is willing to work with these German scientists and her brother, being a vet, feels the same. Lizzie and Sofie's paths cross, and despite having two completely different lives, we learn that the parallels of their journeys are quite similar.
All historical fiction fans should read this book and learn from it. If WWII books are not your primary interest, this is a great book to start with as many chapters take place in the US and it's not as heavily focused on the fighting itself. It's touching, intense and emotional and dives into the hardships and prejudices in life before the war. Also, I found it really interested that Rimmer brings up the segregated south and how that compares to the Holocaust.
Many thanks to HTP for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: 6/28/22
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm conflicted about this book - I think that within it there are two spectacular potential novels. One about a family who are trying to survive in Nazi Germany, and one about a family ravaged in the dustbowl. I'm just not wholly sure they fit together, even though their plots do converge. In the context of the denouement, Lizzie probably would have been more interesting had she been a more mysterious character.
The book covers a lot of big, important historical issues from the period, but I don't think they get the attention they need - whether it is through lack of research or just trying to cover too much ground, I never really feel like the author understands the rocket programme, or the machinations of the SS or even some of the insidious pre-Nazi anti-Semitism.
But it is a readable novel, and the last 10% is very engaging.
The book covers a lot of big, important historical issues from the period, but I don't think they get the attention they need - whether it is through lack of research or just trying to cover too much ground, I never really feel like the author understands the rocket programme, or the machinations of the SS or even some of the insidious pre-Nazi anti-Semitism.
But it is a readable novel, and the last 10% is very engaging.
This is a great book, but has two flaws for me:
1. First half is super slow
2. Lizzie is an insufferable narcissist and enabler
Would recommend to historical fiction fans, especially WWII history.
1. First half is super slow
2. Lizzie is an insufferable narcissist and enabler
Would recommend to historical fiction fans, especially WWII history.
This was a good read once I got through the halfway mark. It was very difficult to get into this book and took me a while to finish this book. It was also very hard to keep up with the jumping back and forth between the German wife and American wife. Overall it was a good fiction book but I don’t think I would recommend it.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 It’s hard to imagine that someone can find a novel WW2 story to write at this point, but Rimmer managed to share a new perspective. The two different storylines offered insight into two very different experiences.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated