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835mphelps's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed reading this book - it presented a story from the other side of the war. So often we read about those affected by the Germans but this told what it was like to be German...I realize it's fiction but I thought it was a good representation of some non-fiction.
charlie_1983's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
kimreadz's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve really developed an interest in the WW II era in the past year, and this is another story about that period. There are really two stories here; one from the war years in Germany, and the other from current day El Paso. The story begins when Reba, a reporter, interviews Elsie, the owner of a German bakery in El Paso. Elsie grew up in Germany during the war years, and as a young woman, was engaged to an SS officer. Reba is engaged to Riki, a border crossing guard and US citizen born of Mexican parents, who came to America legally.
The story raises some interesting questions about how far one goes in supporting laws and government without compromising one’s ethics. It is very interesting to see how Elsie evolves from Hitler supporter, to questioning the Nazi beliefs, to actually hiding a Jewish child from the Nazis. The story appears to draw parallels between treatment of the Jews in Nazi Germany and treatment of the Mexican aliens in Texas. and the struggles Elsie and Riki have with these treatments.
There were some difficult circumstances in the novel, but I learned a lot about Nazi Germany and was inspired to do some reading, in particular about the Lebensborn program. (If you aren’t familiar with this term, google it.) I was intrigued by this book and think it will make for a great discussion for book clubs! I'd bump this 1/2 star if I could - 4-1/2 stars!
Why did you choose this book? I saw this book in the ‘coming soon’ section and thought the story sounded interesting
When did you read this book? March 2012
Who should read this book? readers of historical fiction, particularly WW II fiction
Source: ebook borrowed from my local library
The story raises some interesting questions about how far one goes in supporting laws and government without compromising one’s ethics. It is very interesting to see how Elsie evolves from Hitler supporter, to questioning the Nazi beliefs, to actually hiding a Jewish child from the Nazis. The story appears to draw parallels between treatment of the Jews in Nazi Germany and treatment of the Mexican aliens in Texas. and the struggles Elsie and Riki have with these treatments.
There were some difficult circumstances in the novel, but I learned a lot about Nazi Germany and was inspired to do some reading, in particular about the Lebensborn program. (If you aren’t familiar with this term, google it.) I was intrigued by this book and think it will make for a great discussion for book clubs! I'd bump this 1/2 star if I could - 4-1/2 stars!
Why did you choose this book? I saw this book in the ‘coming soon’ section and thought the story sounded interesting
When did you read this book? March 2012
Who should read this book? readers of historical fiction, particularly WW II fiction
Source: ebook borrowed from my local library
paigemorfitt's review against another edition
2.0
This book had a lot of potential. I really wanted to like it because I found Else and Tobias interesting. It told a different story than WWII stories’ I've read and I was glad. I had a hard time finishing it because everything seemed to wrap up 50 pages from when the actual ending was (not including the recipes at the end which was unique). Tobias was gone, Reba wanted to be with Riki, it could have ended there and I wish it had. Else and her mom die in the end, that was interesting, and we could have ended there, but the Day of the Dead stuff (which, though interesting) seemed to stretch the ending and didn’t have much of a point. I read this on my kindle and when I had about 15 minutes left in the book, I was more than ready to call it quits, went to bed, did other readings, then forced myself to pound out the ending the next day more out of obligation. The recipes in the back do nicely round out the baker theme, but I’m not sure if I liked that or not.
As for Reba and Riki specifically, it seemed like that was simply filler and took away from the real story. I saw, a little, how the two stories were paralleled, but it would have made more sense if it was from Riki’s point of view because he was the one, not Reba, that was feeling the same conflect to what Else was feeling. Reba was battling something completely unrelated and with her own demons about her father though an interesting feat, didn’t seem to be important to the story.
So to sum up, this REALLLY had potential to be quite good, but it fell short.
As for Reba and Riki specifically, it seemed like that was simply filler and took away from the real story. I saw, a little, how the two stories were paralleled, but it would have made more sense if it was from Riki’s point of view because he was the one, not Reba, that was feeling the same conflect to what Else was feeling. Reba was battling something completely unrelated and with her own demons about her father though an interesting feat, didn’t seem to be important to the story.
So to sum up, this REALLLY had potential to be quite good, but it fell short.
bookishwiles's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. I loved Elsie's story I thought it was really great reading about how her life turned out as she got older as well. I enjoyed that the book was written in two times with two main characters and I thought it was great how their paths crossed and they grew to be friends. I enjoyed that the author included Elsie's german recipes at the end. It was written very well. The german perspective was very interesting to read for me as well.
leeskipje's review against another edition
5.0
De bakkersdochter is een prachtig verhaal dat zich zowel in het heden als in het verleden afspeelt. Beetje bij beetje lees je het verhaal van Elsie Schmidt, de dochter van een bakker. Ze gaat samen met Josef naar een gala van de Nazi's maakt lebkuchen, krepels, brotchen en andere lekkere dingen en schrijft brieven aan haar zus Hazel die in het lebensborn programma zit.
Ik vind het heel fijn dat je het verhaal beetje bij beetje en niet perse in chronologische volgorde leest. Ik wilde weten hoe het verder af zou lopen. Even was ik bang dat het verhaal niet een einde zou krijgen, maar dat hij open zou blijven. Dat is gelukkig niet. Een prachtboek wat zeker de moeite waard is om te lezen.
Ik vind het heel fijn dat je het verhaal beetje bij beetje en niet perse in chronologische volgorde leest. Ik wilde weten hoe het verder af zou lopen. Even was ik bang dat het verhaal niet een einde zou krijgen, maar dat hij open zou blijven. Dat is gelukkig niet. Een prachtboek wat zeker de moeite waard is om te lezen.
_wmjb_'s review against another edition
I read 60 pages and had to quit. I didn't mind the jumping back and forth in time but I couldn't make myself read a detailed description of Kristallnacht from the point of view of the Nazis.
imldsquared's review against another edition
4.0
I don't know what it is about historical fiction that just sucks me in, but again I just could not put this one down.
For me, the only drawback was all the narrator changes. There were times when I did not want to leave the current story and nearly threw the book across the room out of frustration when the story switched yet again.
For me, the only drawback was all the narrator changes. There were times when I did not want to leave the current story and nearly threw the book across the room out of frustration when the story switched yet again.
tashaseegmiller's review against another edition
5.0
This book was more beautiful than I expected. I had heard about it, but I could never have imagined the heartfelt emotion, plot nuances, and stunning voice held in the pages of this book. Brilliant characterization for all the points of view. Simply fantastic read.
jen_jacob's review against another edition
5.0
Another supurb work of historical fiction set during the holocaust. What I enjoyed so much about this one was the perspective. Most are from the Jewish perspective, this was from the perspective of an everyday German family. The last few chapters made me cry as lives are made right.