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A review by poischiche31
City of Women by David R. Gillham
4.75
I’m surprised that people think this book is just a male fantasy. I’m usually the first to critique how men depict women in media, but IMO the depiction of sex in this novel contributes a lot to Sigrid’s characterization and illustrates her passionate nature—which is exactly what leads her to become so committed to saving those in danger from the Nazi regime.
Not to mention - do we really think women without their husbands in wartime were celibate the entire time? Sex is natural and a part of being human. What good comes from simply acting like sex ceased to exist for civilians and soldiers during the war? I can imagine extramarital affairs were a way for women to distract themselves from the war and find a sliver of a good feeling. So the pearl-clutching over this book doesn’t make much sense to me.
Anyway, my little rant over. I was super immersed in this book and kept trying to find slivers of time to read more. It’s a fascinating POV, the women of Nazi Germany, and I think the author did a great job of writing a captivating story that imagines what life might’ve been like.
Not to mention - do we really think women without their husbands in wartime were celibate the entire time? Sex is natural and a part of being human. What good comes from simply acting like sex ceased to exist for civilians and soldiers during the war? I can imagine extramarital affairs were a way for women to distract themselves from the war and find a sliver of a good feeling. So the pearl-clutching over this book doesn’t make much sense to me.
Anyway, my little rant over. I was super immersed in this book and kept trying to find slivers of time to read more. It’s a fascinating POV, the women of Nazi Germany, and I think the author did a great job of writing a captivating story that imagines what life might’ve been like.