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A review by mangoway
My Father's House by Joseph O'Connor
3.0
A WWII story based on true characters and events centering on an Irish priest stationed at the Vatican who helps escaped POWs get to safety, this book jumps back and forth from occupied Rome in 43-44' to survivors recollections in the 60s. It should be right in my wheelhouse. The writer has a lot of skill and story telling prowess. But there are 2 big reasons for my 3-star review. One is that it suffers from several over-the-top, utterly implausible scenes that were as unnecessary as they were hyperbolic. In one case, the Pope himself turns blue in the face screaming at Hugh about the danger of trying to save prisoners. Really hard to picture.
Also, the Nazi in charge, Hauptmann, is written like a bad Bond villain. Early in the book, Father Hugh insults him to his face multiple times, yet he not only lets the priest go but takes no action against him for months, just wrings his hands a lot. Hauptmann is heavily featured in the book, but only at the very end is he described as charming. Up until then, we see him only as a torturer.
There's a bigger problem with the writing.
The 'choir' of fellow resistors that Hugh turns to for help with the escapes is peopled by some very colorful, distinctly drawn characters. The British Ambassador is a delightful, closeted snob. His manservant, John May, possesses a lyrical Londoner's turn of phrase and a magical ability to scrounge whatever is needed. And Enzo, who has a newsstand in Rome and may or may not be a turncoat, is resourceful and eager. Pull any paragraph of dialogue out of the book and you'd know which one of the 5 it came from: Hugh, Hauptmann, the Ambassador, May or Enzo.
The problem is that the coterie of female characters who all played vitally important roles in the escape plots have no such definition. They all run together. Even on the very final pages, I found myself wondering what distinguished one from the other. And it's why I'm unlikely to seek out future books by this author.
Also, the Nazi in charge, Hauptmann, is written like a bad Bond villain. Early in the book, Father Hugh insults him to his face multiple times, yet he not only lets the priest go but takes no action against him for months, just wrings his hands a lot. Hauptmann is heavily featured in the book, but only at the very end is he described as charming. Up until then, we see him only as a torturer.
There's a bigger problem with the writing.
The 'choir' of fellow resistors that Hugh turns to for help with the escapes is peopled by some very colorful, distinctly drawn characters. The British Ambassador is a delightful, closeted snob. His manservant, John May, possesses a lyrical Londoner's turn of phrase and a magical ability to scrounge whatever is needed. And Enzo, who has a newsstand in Rome and may or may not be a turncoat, is resourceful and eager. Pull any paragraph of dialogue out of the book and you'd know which one of the 5 it came from: Hugh, Hauptmann, the Ambassador, May or Enzo.
The problem is that the coterie of female characters who all played vitally important roles in the escape plots have no such definition. They all run together. Even on the very final pages, I found myself wondering what distinguished one from the other. And it's why I'm unlikely to seek out future books by this author.