kellyroberson's review against another edition
4.0
Just a really finely written piece of engaging fiction.
kittykornerlibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
Marianne the Moral, Benita the Romantic, Ania the Practical... all three German women end up at Burg Lingenfels in Germany in the final years of World War II and the years following. If you want an idea of how scary it is to survive AND bring up children in a war-torn country, then this is the book you should read. I'm not sure how ultimately successful this book is; the author gives us the inner thoughts of the protagonists, but somehow I don't feel a lot of insight into what happens to them. There are themes of moral clarity (resisting the rise of Hitler) versus making bad choices and being stuck trying to survive your own decisions (becoming an active Nazi and being complicit in what that turns out to mean). So it's another World War II novel, with a lot of characters and a lot of points of view about what is happening. Possibly too many? I kept losing track of who was related to whom. I wonder if this would have done better as a longer book with more space to develop the individual characters and reflect on their actions. Or fewer story lines. Or something. I liked that it was actually set in Germany and described the experience of German people during this time.
msvenner's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book. It is one of many that shifts time periods as it unfolds and is set in WWII. What sets it apart is that it tells the story of German women recovering from the war. One a resistance fighter, another the reluctant wife of a resister and a third who fell under Hitler's spell. This explores the war experience in a whole new perspective, at least to the majority of us in North America. I found myself fascinated by these women and the men they loved. The writing wasn't stellar and the story was choppy at times but these people and their lives were gripping. I want more like this.
con_bonus's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
brenaew's review against another edition
2.0
Made it 40% in and was done. This just isn’t the book for me.
noemielise's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good book, but not the type I’d read again. The characters, despite their many secrets, felt so unidimensional. Benita feels like her only worth is as a frivolous, romantic, child-like woman. Marianne is strong, and practical but cold. Ania is there as a foil to both women: conveniently, she can cook and sow when the other two can’t.
This book does have some rather interesting plot twists, however.
This book does have some rather interesting plot twists, however.
ruthemma's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
scostanzo42's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. The premise of the book is good...an interesting tale. I found Marianne annoying though.
readbooks_fightpatriarchy's review against another edition
5.0
Compelling story of three German war widows following WWII. However they are not typical widows but their husbands died in the failed plot to assassinate hitler. Very well researched but not dry at all. I especially liked the closure at the end of the story.