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A review by hiimjaimee
City of Women by David R. Gillham
5.0
The City of Women was actually a better book that I could have possibly expected. I've had this book for a total of 3, dragged to many apartments and houses only to finally pick it up and read one day. So glad that I did. City of woman tells that side of the German people in WWII that isn't often written about in fiction; those who were willing to risk everything to help complete strangers escape the Hitler killing machine
The book tells the story of Sigrid, a woman living in 1943 Berlin, it starts with Sigrid's reflections on the months before her husband Kaspar was put into the Army and shipped to Russia and when she was having an affair with a Jewish man she met in a movie theater. Throughout the book Sigrid continues going to work at the patent office, flashing back to former times, and then befriending a young girl in her building named Ericha who is working through an informal underground (in that it never belies a connection to any of the named larger underground groups) that is protecting Jews and other "criminals" from deportation. Ultimately Sigrid becomes part of this group while also befriending the half-brother and half-sister of an SS soldier, entering bomb shelters during air force attacks, and facing increased scrutiny from friends and neighbors...many of whom have informed on other.
Already the story can be a hard one to read some parts, its tells the truth, giving us raw honestly about how it was to live during a time when everyone is living in fear. Whether it be from bombs dropping at night to neighbors ratting you out to the Gestapo.
What I really enjoyed about the book was enjoyed following Sigrid during her awakening of consciousness as she first forces herself to take notice of the horrors going on around her and then to take action to combat those horrors. I also found it interesting that Sigrid takes some not completely moral actions in her personal life that are stark contrasts to the actions she is taking to help others.
I would definitely recommend the book for those who, like me really enjoy reading books about WWII.
The book tells the story of Sigrid, a woman living in 1943 Berlin, it starts with Sigrid's reflections on the months before her husband Kaspar was put into the Army and shipped to Russia and when she was having an affair with a Jewish man she met in a movie theater. Throughout the book Sigrid continues going to work at the patent office, flashing back to former times, and then befriending a young girl in her building named Ericha who is working through an informal underground (in that it never belies a connection to any of the named larger underground groups) that is protecting Jews and other "criminals" from deportation. Ultimately Sigrid becomes part of this group while also befriending the half-brother and half-sister of an SS soldier, entering bomb shelters during air force attacks, and facing increased scrutiny from friends and neighbors...many of whom have informed on other.
Already the story can be a hard one to read some parts, its tells the truth, giving us raw honestly about how it was to live during a time when everyone is living in fear. Whether it be from bombs dropping at night to neighbors ratting you out to the Gestapo.
What I really enjoyed about the book was enjoyed following Sigrid during her awakening of consciousness as she first forces herself to take notice of the horrors going on around her and then to take action to combat those horrors. I also found it interesting that Sigrid takes some not completely moral actions in her personal life that are stark contrasts to the actions she is taking to help others.
I would definitely recommend the book for those who, like me really enjoy reading books about WWII.