Tag: WWII

This was one of the more interesting historical fiction novels I have read lately, not necessarily because of a unique setting but more because of the story itself.

Let me see if I can explain without giving the plot away, but I will say that you can actually get a big chunk of it from the blurb itself.

At the very start of the book, Margarete is given a Hobson’s choice. I found her instantly relatable in this regard because I think many people would make a choice to live – even if it meant undertaking dangerous subterfuge.

What follows is a story focused on the role she must play and the things she must be aware of in order to survive. She soon realizes that the seemingly simple choice at the beginning was in fact only the beginning of her journey, not the pass to freedom that she might have initially thought it to be.

Interspersed with her chapters are those from the perspective of Wilhelm, a relation of those who suffered a terrible fate in the opening chapter – an event that Margarete has arguably taken advantage of for her own interests.

I’m not sure what else to write about, because the story itself relies on Wilhelm’s perspective of his family (not very favorable) and Margarete’s cunning to propel itself to the conclusion.

In some ways, Margarete’s choices validate Wilhelm’s opinion of “her kind.” But that’s too simplistic, because it really was a matter of life or death, especially as Margarete had found out what was to become of her had the tragic event not happened.

What I have not mentioned in this review is that Margarete is a Jew and Wilhelm is an SS officer, and the time is 1941 Europe. You can see where this is going.

I think what I found most strange was that the story itself could really have been set at any time and place. The identities of the two, and the situation, seemed to be more of a plot ploy instead of actually meaning something. I’m not quite sure why I feel that way.

I just kept thinking that everything was skimming along and seemed contrived in more than a few places, instead of having some actual depth to it. Characters came and went, some had one role to play and then disappeared.

A major plot twist occurred late in the book, which led to another twist. Neither of them seemed plausible to me. And in fact, almost derailed the story.

I realize this sounds like I didn’t like it, but I did. What kept me reading was that I was eager to see how Wilhelm and Margarete “ended” – if they would stay true to form or if they would buck tradition and expectations to forge a new path.

There was character growth from both of them, and that I enjoyed. And I seriously did NOT see the end coming – that was an interesting and bold choice by the author. I guess it ended up being about the sacrifices we are willing to make to protect the ones we love.

And that’s certainly enough to make a book worth the read.

Author Bio:

Marion Kummerow was born and raised in Germany, before she set out to “discover the world” and lived in various countries. In 1999 she returned to Germany and settled down in Munich where she’s now living with her family.

Inspired by the true story about her grandparents, who belonged to the German resistance and fought against the Nazi regime, she started writing historical fiction, set during World War II. Her books are filled with raw emotions, fierce loyalty, and resilience. She loves to put her characters through the mangle, making them reach deep within to find the strength to face moral dilemmas, take difficult decisions or fight for what is right. And she never forgets to include humor and undying love in her books, because ultimately love is what makes the world go round.

This book had easily one of the most thrilling openings I have ever read.

I think maybe because it is one of the first times that at least part of the historical events in the book took place in a time that I actually remember. The fall of the Berlin Wall is etched in my mind for many reasons.

One, the 80s were a pivotal time for me, and the fall of the Wall was a pinnacle of Western achievement and diplomacy. I have clear memories of Reagan’s impassioned speech, and of watching the coverage when it actually came down. The euphoria from the people of Berlin was palpable even through the television screen.

Secondly, I had visited Berlin with my parents only 5 years earlier, and we had taken a tour from West Berlin to East. Even as a young teen, I recognized the difference in the two cities. It was noticeable in everything from the architecture to the faces of the people.

So (back to the book) the opening involving Tiffany in West Berlin in November 1989 was something instantly relatable to me.

What was interesting, however, was that after that introduction, the reader is catapulted back to England in October 1946. And it takes a very long time to get around to what the two time periods have in common.

That’s no complaint because the storyline set in 1946 was absolutely fascinating. I’ve never made a secret of how much I enjoy learning new things from historical fiction, and this one certainly fits the bill.

I think the author did a phenomenal job of covering how English townspeople would have felt having a POW camp in their midst. There were sympathizers, people who were angry, and people who just wanted to move on. Every perspective that I could think of was covered by a townsperson in some way.

There was a lot going on in this town as well. For example, the person in charge of the camp was obviously suffering after-affects of the war. His wife had other interests. A young man who had been unable to fight realized the depths people would go to so that he remained safe. A woman struggles with her feelings about a prisoner in the camp.

I don’t want to say too much, but it all made for compelling reading. I never felt like the story jolted too much around and each plot thread seemed to take place accordingly and in the flow of the story.

I was especially taken by Fran. She is central to many other threads. There was something about her that I just liked. I could see myself making the same decisions she did and having the same thoughts and feelings. I also liked Martin for these same reasons.

I thought one scene set around Christmas time was especially poignant and illustrated the human side of war that is so often forgotten. Germans and townspeople alike were in a new world and were able to see each other for the humanity (at least most of them did).

In the course of this, the author also makes some stark points with perspectives that are thought-provoking (What makes a soldier? Were all Germans bad? Can individuals be held accountable for a whole country?). There was a lot of depth here, but it was never preachy or overdone.

Honestly, this was just a good solid story, with many threads, that gave the reader insight to the people in a small town in England in 1946/47. And it was very well done.

Oh, and we don’t get back to Tiffany until the end. Have the tissues ready. There’s a lot that happens in the end to wrap everything up, including a “blink-and-you’ll-miss-it” reference to an earlier event that was subtle and touching.

A thoroughly satisfying and excellent story.

Author Bio:

Sarah grew up in Norfolk and studied law at Cambridge University which led to a career as a barrister, working mainly in the field of human rights. After nearly twenty years she was tempted off-track by a creative writing course at the Open University and fell in love with making up stories instead of constructing arguments. Three years later she completed, with distinction, an MA in Creative Writing – Prose Fiction at the UEA.

Now she lives in Norfolk again, this time with her husband and three almost-grown-up children, where she combines writing with some legal work – and thanking her enormous number of lucky stars.

I’ve made no secret of my love for historical fiction, and I’m always excited to find a new author. However, there are a few who I am predisposed to love, and Kate Hewitt is one of them.

Don’t believe me? Look at this review for Into the Darkest Day.

Her characters are always fully formed, and their actions are natural and organic. I feel like I have been set down in the middle of their lives, rather than watching from afar (if that makes sense). This story continues that tradition.

After a brief prologue set in 1945, the rest of the story is set in Austria, late 1930s, and told in alternating points of view of three sisters, Johanna, Birgit, and Lotte. In the face of political and national events, each of the sisters chooses a different path.

I liked how the author made each sister unique, with her own set of worries and concerns. The chapters follow pretty much the same order of the sisters, but the time periods do jump forward by a few months most of the time.

If you know anything about history, you can see the storm brewing from the beginning. What makes this book much more interesting is that the reader knows what is coming, but the characters don’t.

The author does a great job of keeping them within the confines of their personal knowledge at the time. This lends authenticity to the story while also giving the reader insight into how everything was able to go so wrong so quickly.

I’m not going to go into details about the sisters or the family, because that makes up the brunt of the story, and I would hate to ruin anyone’s experience.

However, I will tell you a few things that I noticed about this novel.

I’m a huge fan of musicals. I grew up with the classics, and I have many a cast album memorized. Two of my favorites are “Fiddler on the Roof” and “The Sound of Music.”

I couldn’t help but think of the latter one, due to the setting and time period. I even predicted a moment in the early pages. So, kudos to the author for that dose of realism. What I enjoyed however is that the author kept that realism throughout.

No spoilers. Let’s just say that if you’re familiar with “The Sound of Music,” you’ll recognize quite a bit. Some of it is mentioned clearly, but other parts are more subtle.

(Side note: when I was around 11, my parents and I visited Germany and Austria. We took a “Sound of Music” tour that highlighted real and fictional places related to the Von Trapp story. Those came to mind as I read this book).

Also, I was reminded of “Fiddler on the Roof,” in that each of the daughters blazes her own path while their parents don’t always agree with their choices. It certainly was reminiscent of the three oldest daughters in Fiddler, and how each of them grows up with a different perspective and desire.

I would have liked this book anyway because it is well-written with memorable characters and a thoroughly researched and meticulously outlined story. But continuously finding bits that I could relate to the musicals gave me an added bonus. This is an excellent book and shouldn’t be missed.

Author Bio:
Kate Hewitt is the author of many romance and women’s fiction novels. A former New Yorker and now an American ex-pat, she lives in a small town on the Welsh border with her husband, five children, and their overly affectionate Golden Retriever. Whatever the genre, she enjoys telling stories that tackle real issues and touch people’s lives.