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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fatherland is a novel that has been compared to George Orwell's 1984 and very clearly shows its structure and beats are influenced by the older book. That said having read both I honestly prefer Fatherland to 1984. While both have strong writing and imagery, for me Fatherland is a much stronger book for grounding itself in an Alternate History setting where the Third Reich won World War 2. The deliberate parallels to the Cold War and grounding both the seeds of revolution and the roots of authoritarianism in real history creates a depth in a single novel that can feel farfetched in a fictional government with only one novel to explore the world. I noticed that some readers were vexed by the fact that the novel feels like an Englishman writing Germans (which is exactly what the book is), I found the rapidly globalising context of the novel a compelling reason for the evolution of German culture even as the victors of the Second World War.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Car accident
Moderate: Alcohol
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fatherland was the first Robert Harris book that I read, it was also the first book I read that told the alternate story of life if Germany had won WWII. I loved this book the first time I read it and that didn't change on the second reading.
I think what makes this such a good story is that so much of it was fact from the German high command which are still in power in 1964. It is these factual characters and their bogeymen personas that make everything so believable. Germany that massive power that it wanted to be has come to pass. Eugenics programs implemented, a surveilled state where you have to join the party if you want to be promoted. All the horrors of the Nazi regime have come to pass but as with every society there is a restlessness there are people that are curious, people that keep asking questions and there are people that once they have the bit between their teeth will do everything to get to the answers. Xavier March is such a person. This book is a thriller of old it begs to be put on the big screen and it was but with not a lot of fanfare. 50% splat on the tomato meter. Now they could do a great job but the difference is that the WWII survivors are almost all gone and with fascism on rise again the impact of this story would be lost in a generation that is doomed to let history repeat itself.
I think what makes this such a good story is that so much of it was fact from the German high command which are still in power in 1964. It is these factual characters and their bogeymen personas that make everything so believable. Germany that massive power that it wanted to be has come to pass. Eugenics programs implemented, a surveilled state where you have to join the party if you want to be promoted. All the horrors of the Nazi regime have come to pass but as with every society there is a restlessness there are people that are curious, people that keep asking questions and there are people that once they have the bit between their teeth will do everything to get to the answers. Xavier March is such a person. This book is a thriller of old it begs to be put on the big screen and it was but with not a lot of fanfare. 50% splat on the tomato meter. Now they could do a great job but the difference is that the WWII survivors are almost all gone and with fascism on rise again the impact of this story would be lost in a generation that is doomed to let history repeat itself.
I liked Fatherland, I did. And it being the first Robert Harris book I've read, it seemed apt that it was his first written, too. The kindle edition I bought was the 20th anniversary one, and it has a preface written by Mr Harris which goes someway to telling the story of how it came to be written. I deliberately skipped it until I'd finished the book in case their were spoilers (and take note, there are some!).
I went into the book completely blind. The premise of it being 'what if Germany won WWII' was enough to make me want to read it, but other than that I had no idea what form it would take. Initially I was a little disappointed at the way in which it was told, but upon reading the preface it became clear. I suppose I hadn't considered how an explanation of the world post-WWII would be conveyed, but not I'll just say that the genre chosen isn't my favourite.
And therein lies the slight issue I have. There's almost not enough fantasy about that alternate reality – not enough description. That's not the fault of the book, necessarily, more my expectations. That said, my interest was kept up, and I did enjoy it. Threads probably went on a little too long in places, but as a vehicle for looking at two specific elements of the Nazi political/war machine, it did pretty well.
I have an inkling to read Enigma due to liking the film adaptation, and I do have a couple of other Robert Harris books that I've bought when they've been on sale, though I'll leave it a while before I attempt one.
I went into the book completely blind. The premise of it being 'what if Germany won WWII' was enough to make me want to read it, but other than that I had no idea what form it would take. Initially I was a little disappointed at the way in which it was told, but upon reading the preface it became clear. I suppose I hadn't considered how an explanation of the world post-WWII would be conveyed, but not I'll just say that the genre chosen isn't my favourite.
And therein lies the slight issue I have. There's almost not enough fantasy about that alternate reality – not enough description. That's not the fault of the book, necessarily, more my expectations. That said, my interest was kept up, and I did enjoy it. Threads probably went on a little too long in places, but as a vehicle for looking at two specific elements of the Nazi political/war machine, it did pretty well.
I have an inkling to read Enigma due to liking the film adaptation, and I do have a couple of other Robert Harris books that I've bought when they've been on sale, though I'll leave it a while before I attempt one.
A solid crime thriller set in post WWII Nazi Europe. Expect this book to be an entertaining read (plot twists, a bit of romance, a dreary noir style) but not much beyond that.
mysterious
relaxing
tense
slow-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:
Complicated
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It's been years since I read this, but I came across it again today and remembered how much I enjoyed it. Perhaps it will go on my reread list for next year...
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes