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A review by bags_and_bookz
The Ventriloquists by E.R. Ramzipoor
3.0
The Ventriloquists is a story about Resistance Group in Belgium. Marc Aubrion, the Jester, is a mastermind behind fake newspaper affair. Lada Tarcovich, the Smuggler, Aubrion’s true friend; David Spiegelman, the Gastromancer; Theo Miller, the Saboteur; Martin Victor, the Professor; Gamin, the Pyromaniac help him to make the newspaper happen. There are many obstacles they have to go through, many dangers to avoid, and they all know what if the fake newspaper operation succeeds, they all will die. They are ready to give hope to Belgians and make fun of Hitler and the Reich, even if it costs them their lives.
The plot is mind-blowing. There are not many books that show WWII from other European counties’ perspectives. Usually it is set in occupied France, or in concentration camps, may be in Germany, or Russia. I personally have never had a thought of what happened in Belgium during those dark years. The Ventriloquists is like a breath of fresh air with so many possibilities to learn. It made me do my own research and I am forever grateful for opening my eyes.
However, I did not enjoy the book, as much I wanted to. The structure of the narrative is hard to follow. There is a storyteller, Gamin (Helene), an old lady now, who remembers what happened in November 1943 as clear as it was yesterday. She is sharing the story with a young girl, who is seeking answers to her questions. Helene tries to grasp everyone at the same time and the narrative jumps from one character to another. There is little background given to protagonists, and it scattered through 500 pages. It was hard to connect to anyone with only bits and pieces of their personality provided. I would love to read more about Aubrion’s pre-war time, what made him who he was (especially, known that Marc Aubrion was a real person who managed to do just as he planned and create a fake newspaper to mock Nazis in Belgium in 1943).
Thank you Negalley and HARLEQUIN Publishing House for e-ARC The Ventriloquists by E.R. Ramzipoor in return of my honest review.
The plot is mind-blowing. There are not many books that show WWII from other European counties’ perspectives. Usually it is set in occupied France, or in concentration camps, may be in Germany, or Russia. I personally have never had a thought of what happened in Belgium during those dark years. The Ventriloquists is like a breath of fresh air with so many possibilities to learn. It made me do my own research and I am forever grateful for opening my eyes.
However, I did not enjoy the book, as much I wanted to. The structure of the narrative is hard to follow. There is a storyteller, Gamin (Helene), an old lady now, who remembers what happened in November 1943 as clear as it was yesterday. She is sharing the story with a young girl, who is seeking answers to her questions. Helene tries to grasp everyone at the same time and the narrative jumps from one character to another. There is little background given to protagonists, and it scattered through 500 pages. It was hard to connect to anyone with only bits and pieces of their personality provided. I would love to read more about Aubrion’s pre-war time, what made him who he was (especially, known that Marc Aubrion was a real person who managed to do just as he planned and create a fake newspaper to mock Nazis in Belgium in 1943).
Thank you Negalley and HARLEQUIN Publishing House for e-ARC The Ventriloquists by E.R. Ramzipoor in return of my honest review.