Reviews

Amazing concept - alternate WW2- but holy moly the execution was terrible. The story makes no sense, you spend way too much time world building, for a world you already know about. Then the story seems to just end… like no resolution for the conflict, no sad or happy ending. Just “books over, bye”.

Terrible book - skip entirely

caitiebeth's review

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2.0

This is more of a reading diary than a review. Feel free to read, but you may not learn anything relevant. This particular review doesn't contain any spoilers for this book (it does for Pachinko, though).

Spoiler

I picked up this book after seeing it mentioned on a Canadian reading list somewhere, though I cannot recall where. I generally enjoy books set in places I know, and this book takes place in the fictional area of Port Elizabeth along the Burnt River (in the Kawarthas), and has many references to Hamilton. I also tend to like anything associated with World War II.

The gist of the story is: Hitler was assassinated, and instead of saving the world from the horrors of World War 2, things turned out perhaps worse for Jews in Europe and America and Germans in the Commonwealth. (Although, as I reflect on that statement, did things really turn out worse for the Jews in this story? While the anti-semetic resentment carried on until the end of the book and beyond, I'm not quite sure that what they suffered in America for decades even compared to the several years of tortures and murders in concentration camps.) Anyway, I never really got into this story. There's nothing for me to write/remember about this book that isn't already touched on by some of the thorough reviews here, except for perhaps a general sense that things could be even worse than what's actually happened. I did learn two things about myself, however.

1. Between this book and Dacey's Patent Automatic Nanny in Ted Chiang's [b:Exhalation|41160292|Exhalation Stories|Ted Chiang|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1534388394l/41160292._SX50_.jpg|64336454], I've decided that I'm not a fan of alternate history fiction. With historical fiction, I like wondering what parts are actually true and what parts are "artistic licence", and doing more research. With these alternate history books, complete fabrication is presented so well, it appears true. It is disconcerting to say the least, and with today's culture of incessant lies on social media (calling it a "scamdemic", for instance), I can't bear it.

2. I've never really read anything about the immediate aftermath of the nuclear bombs. We had a module on Japan in I think Grade 4, and in university I certainly learned some things about radiation poisoning in general, but I've never really read the specifics. [b:Pachinko|34051011|Pachinko|Min Jin Lee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1529845599l/34051011._SY75_.jpg|50384116] does touch on this a bit, and I remember being surprised that the character was actually burned from fire, having never realized there was actual heat and fire with a nuclear bomb, not just radiation. This has led me to [b:Hiroshima|27323|Hiroshima|John Hersey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1499717742l/27323._SY75_.jpg|1014091], which I'm hoping my library will pick up (I've "suggested" it), [b:Fallout: The Hiroshima Cover-up and the Reporter Who Revealed It to the World|52764193|Fallout The Hiroshima Cover-up and the Reporter Who Revealed It to the World|Lesley M.M. Blume|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1576421390l/52764193._SY75_.jpg|73727728] (I'm reluctant to read this without having read Hiroshima, though), and [b:Nagasaki: Life After Nuclear War|23399020|Nagasaki Life After Nuclear War|Susan Southard|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1414350630l/23399020._SY75_.jpg|42955511]. My quick search did not find much in the way of English-language historical fiction on the subject, though. If anyone has suggestions, I would appreciate them!

maegsreadsalot's review

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3.0

A good Canadian historical fiction set in Ontario. A great short read for anyone who needs something to enjoy.

armedwithabook's review

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4.0

Alternate histories allows readers to ponder what really happened as well as what could have happened. If you have watched the TV show or read the book, The Man in the High Castle is a look at World War II. The good German does something similar with equally haunting consequences and a world we do not know at all. Set in Canada, I loved how this book made me think about this country that I have called home for over 6 years now.

Reading experience: The Good German reading experience

I was excited to read this book because it offers a great opportunity to learn about the alliances in the Second World War as well as the key players. The book blurb above presents a number of independent what if scenarios:
– If Hitler had been successfully assassinated
– If Germany had built the bomb
– If Kennedy had not been assassinated
How would the world have played out?

Overall, the story was engaging and thought provoking. What I found fascinating (and sometimes hard to wrap my head around) is inspite of Germany winning WW2 in this story, the point of view is that of the oppressed Germans in Canada. Maybe that’s the beauty of speculative fiction – it doesn’t always have to be about the outcomes of the main event. It can be about the common people who are affected by them. And those effects are not always in the same vicinity as where the event happened.

Many thanks to the publisher, Harper Collins Canada, for providing me a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. You can read my full review on Armed with A Book.

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