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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
reflective
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:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wasn't a fan of the writing something about was too choppy. The characters seemed kinda stick and the situation did too
This book offers a thought-provoking exploration of World War II through the eyes of the long-time residents of an apartment building in Belgium. It begins before the war, capturing the growing menace of Naziism and the looming threat of invasion. The narrative delves into the hardships of rationing and loss, as well as the courageous acts—both small and significant—that individuals undertake in resistance. The diverse viewpoints provide a rich tapestry of life, from children growing up within a close-knit community of neighbors to adults engaged in discussions about philosophy, design, art, and the essence of beauty. The story reveals that not everything is black and white; there are countless shades of gray. I thoroughly enjoyed the different perspectives and the exploration of family and love in such a complex context.
Reminiscent of *The Diary of Anne Frank*, *33 Place Brugman* recounts the lives of families residing in an apartment building before and during the German occupation. It vividly portrays their daily struggles for survival amid the harsh realities of war. The narrative brings to light the resilience and determination of those facing the relentless challenges of their times, offering a poignant look at their endurance and courage.
Easy read and loving characters
Reminiscent of *The Diary of Anne Frank*, *33 Place Brugman* recounts the lives of families residing in an apartment building before and during the German occupation. It vividly portrays their daily struggles for survival amid the harsh realities of war. The narrative brings to light the resilience and determination of those facing the relentless challenges of their times, offering a poignant look at their endurance and courage.
Easy read and loving characters
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Hmmmm, this book was interesting to say the least. It starts choppy and slow but does pick up about halfway through.
Usually I enjoy when each chapter is told in a different POV, this time, by a different resident living in the building. For me, this time it was confusing. There is lots going on and it was hard to stay with it. I almost gave up a few times.
It's a story that feels real and takes us into the turmoil, fear and mess when times are chaotic and so scary. I don't regret reading it but I do wish I enjoyed it more and was not so confused.
You know what I always say ....read it for yourself, you may love it!
Look for 33 Brugmann Place in March 2025.
Thank you to Grove Press and Netgalley for providing the book. This is my voluntary, honest review.
Usually I enjoy when each chapter is told in a different POV, this time, by a different resident living in the building. For me, this time it was confusing. There is lots going on and it was hard to stay with it. I almost gave up a few times.
It's a story that feels real and takes us into the turmoil, fear and mess when times are chaotic and so scary. I don't regret reading it but I do wish I enjoyed it more and was not so confused.
You know what I always say ....read it for yourself, you may love it!
Look for 33 Brugmann Place in March 2025.
Thank you to Grove Press and Netgalley for providing the book. This is my voluntary, honest review.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
The only book I’ve read with the word quidnunc.
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is a gut punch of a book that kept me hooked from start to finish. Alice Austen has crafted an array of interesting characters who all bring something special to the apartment building of 33 Place Brugmann. I am not a usual reader of wartime historical fiction, but the premise of exploring Nazi-occupied Brussels through the eyes of neighbours in an apartment block drew me in. This really is a character-driven book that explores the human condition and how communities change as a result of the horrors of war. The characters can be seen to represent a microcosm of society - in the inhabitants of 33 Place Brugmann we can recognise the artist, the good samaritan, the spirited youth, and the cynic, just to name a few. The prose is written beautifully and those who enjoy thematic books that utilise a lot of metaphors and symbolism will be sure to enjoy this read.
emotional
reflective
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:
Complicated
Like many readers, even fans of historical fiction, I often feel that there is an oversupply of novels set in World War II. Yet there was something about 33 Place Brugmann that kept calling to me until I eventually gave in and read the book. That thing was setting - twice over. Not only is the book set in Belgium, much less read (by me at least) than say France, Germany or even Poland, but most of the action takes place in a small apartment building, the titular 33 Place Brugmann, and focuses on the experiences of its residents. There is something about apartment buildings, the way they bring sometimes very different people into close proximity and make it easy for them to know each other's business, that makes for interesting tension and storytelling. That was the case here. We've got a range of different characters, including an art student, a Jewish family, an architect, a lawyer, a retired army colonel, a seamstress, a busybody, and a housewife. Once the Nazi occupation begins, their lives begin to change, and soon all have choices to make. Some choose to submit and even collaborate, while others choose to resist. None of the individual story lines are particularly unique. I've certainly read similar plot points in other World War II novels, but there is something about the close proximity that heightens the risk to those who are resisting, and that adds a sense of claustrophobia for the reader, an extra frisson of excitement to the storytelling. I appreciate learning through my fiction reading and this book exposed me to some interesting aspects of Belgian history during the period including the ethnic divisions among the population and the role of the Flemish VNV in collaborating with the Nazis. This book got off to something of a slow start, a common occurrence for books with a large cast of characters. However, it soon got going, and the tension really ramped up by the end. It wasn't a perfect book for me - the philosophical musings and references to Wittgenstein became a little grating. However, the good outweighed the bad. Overall, a solid, very readable WWII novel whose setting provides it with a freshness and point of difference.
Many thanks to @netgalley and @groveatlantic for the eARC. 33 Place Brugmann releases on 11 March.
Many thanks to @netgalley and @groveatlantic for the eARC. 33 Place Brugmann releases on 11 March.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
33 Place Brugmann is told in the singular voices of the residents of a Beaux Arts apartment house in Belgium during World War II. Charlotte Sauvin, an art student raised by her beloved architect father in apartment 4L, knows everything about the building and the people who live there. Her grandmother lives upstairs. Across the hall from Charlotte is, Julian Raphaël, the son of an art dealer. The Raphaël family and their artwork disappear in the middle of the night.
What great debut novel! I found telling of the stories through the eyes of the residents of a singular building was unique and I loved it.
Thank you NetGalley and Grove Press for the ARC. #33PlaceBrugmann #NetGalley