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brendap's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
Historical fiction at its best.
emilywlol's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
meggles's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
stuartbuchanan's review against another edition
4.0
I chose to read this off the back of excellent reviews, awards etc, as well as challenging myself with a book I would otherwise not have consciously gone towards. There's no doubt that Funder is a good writer - the second half in particular thunders along, as the soft grip of the emerging Nazi network closes around the characters.
However, I was left with a nagging feeling of doubt after reading Funder's 'Sources' chapter - she notes that the book is loosely based on skeleton elements of truth, on which she added her own "feathers". Most (but not all) of the characters are therefore based on real people, and most (but not all) of the key events are based on real events. Funder freely admits to taking liberties, however it's impossible to decipher what is truth, and what is fiction.
In some respects this robs the book of a small amount of its power - if Funder had changed all the character names, and told us it was based on real events, this might have worked better for me. As it stands, as some articles have already alluded, many readers and critics have mistaken Funder's fiction for facts - and thus the actual lives of those real characters is forever intertwined with this increasingly popular fictionalised account. Much like Ben Affleck's recent 'Argo', if this book ever gets made into film, the fiction may ultimately replace the truth as time goes by.
All that said, these are stories that clearly deserve to be heard, and perhaps without Funder's intervention, such stories may not have ever been told at all.
However, I was left with a nagging feeling of doubt after reading Funder's 'Sources' chapter - she notes that the book is loosely based on skeleton elements of truth, on which she added her own "feathers". Most (but not all) of the characters are therefore based on real people, and most (but not all) of the key events are based on real events. Funder freely admits to taking liberties, however it's impossible to decipher what is truth, and what is fiction.
In some respects this robs the book of a small amount of its power - if Funder had changed all the character names, and told us it was based on real events, this might have worked better for me. As it stands, as some articles have already alluded, many readers and critics have mistaken Funder's fiction for facts - and thus the actual lives of those real characters is forever intertwined with this increasingly popular fictionalised account. Much like Ben Affleck's recent 'Argo', if this book ever gets made into film, the fiction may ultimately replace the truth as time goes by.
All that said, these are stories that clearly deserve to be heard, and perhaps without Funder's intervention, such stories may not have ever been told at all.
lindzlovesreading's review against another edition
4.0
Generally when you read a novel set in early 1930's Europe with a heavy dollop of Germany, you know how it is going to end. You can't help but know, a short ambitious man, who likes ranting, uniforms and Charlie Chaplin's moustache, and does not like ethnic food, smoking or Jews decides to take over Germany. No matter how many times Neville Chamberlain holds up that piece of paper and declaring peace in our time, there will be a European map covered in a scary red colour. Of course with any map image from world war two there has to be accompanied by 'You've got to be kidding Mr Hitler' (Dad's Army) and for some reason, 'Yes, we have not bananas.'?
We all know it. The famous speeches, 'We shall fight them on the beaches, fight on the landing strip, we shall, never, surrenda'. The millions and millions of documentaries of tanks, spitfires, tanks, bulges, guns, and did mention tanks?
We have seen those grainy black and white images of people herded like cattle, of emaciated concentration camp victims. We have seen the multiple television shows, movies, read the countless books. We know how this story goes.
But back in 1933, could you actual comprehend what was about to happen. Even those brave men and women who dared to stand up to the Reich.
Thank Christ Funder wrote a bloody good novel! Read it it's really good.
We all know it. The famous speeches, 'We shall fight them on the beaches, fight on the landing strip, we shall, never, surrenda'. The millions and millions of documentaries of tanks, spitfires, tanks, bulges, guns, and did mention tanks?
We have seen those grainy black and white images of people herded like cattle, of emaciated concentration camp victims. We have seen the multiple television shows, movies, read the countless books. We know how this story goes.
But back in 1933, could you actual comprehend what was about to happen. Even those brave men and women who dared to stand up to the Reich.
Thank Christ Funder wrote a bloody good novel! Read it it's really good.
michelehoward's review against another edition
3.0
I had to read a third of the way into this book before I really found it interesting, and logical. Going between characters wasn't that bad as there were headings, but to then go back and forward in time made the story difficult to follow. In the end the story of these people's lives was inthralling.
jem_of_the_brew's review against another edition
5.0
You can also read this review on my blog at: http://oddfeather.co/2016/07/03/review-anna-funders-all-that-i-am/
Anna Funder’s All That I Am is a multi-person account of Hitler’s coming to power in Germany 1933. It is told from two perspectives; the first is that of Ruth Becker, a woman in her seventies living in Sydney and looking back on her life during the war in Berlin and then as a refugee in London. Alternate chapters are told from the point of view of the German playwright and activist Ernst Toller living in New York before the end of the war, as he recalls the life of his lover Dora, Ruth’s cousin, and their work together. Dora is at the heart of this story, her life, work and personality as remembered by Ruth and Ernst as they look back on the past. Both Ruth and Ernst loved her greatly and were involved in different aspects of her life, but they both the recall the same period of the war in relation to Dora and the work they all did together.
Ruth’s story covers her life in modern-day Sydney as a retired English professor with rapidly declining health. As her life winds down she remembers the decadent but terrifying days in Berlin leading up to Hitler’s rise of power, and she remembers the work that she, her husband Hans, Dora, Ernst and various other friends and relatives did to awaken Germany to Hitler’s true intentions and secret works. When Ruth, Hans and Dora escape to London as refugees they each deal with it in different ways: Ruth absorbs herself in photography and volunteering; Dora undertakes huge amounts of work advocating for other refugees and does everything in her power to alert the British to Hitler’s atrocities as they grow in number and boldness in Germany and Europe; and Hans finds it very difficult to adjust, eventually embroiling himself in something that he cannot escape from.
This work is immaculately written, the kind of book that a reader becomes so absorbed in they forget they are even reading it. The characters are vivid, intense and heartbreaking, the historical accuracy flawless, and the execution of the plot intricate and immaculate. Funder’s historical research to create this novel is incredible, and most of the characters are either real historical figures or based on real people who lived through these events.
In short, there is nothing about this novel that doesn’t work, and it is the perfect book to become completely absorbed in and renewed by.
Anna Funder’s All That I Am is a multi-person account of Hitler’s coming to power in Germany 1933. It is told from two perspectives; the first is that of Ruth Becker, a woman in her seventies living in Sydney and looking back on her life during the war in Berlin and then as a refugee in London. Alternate chapters are told from the point of view of the German playwright and activist Ernst Toller living in New York before the end of the war, as he recalls the life of his lover Dora, Ruth’s cousin, and their work together. Dora is at the heart of this story, her life, work and personality as remembered by Ruth and Ernst as they look back on the past. Both Ruth and Ernst loved her greatly and were involved in different aspects of her life, but they both the recall the same period of the war in relation to Dora and the work they all did together.
Ruth’s story covers her life in modern-day Sydney as a retired English professor with rapidly declining health. As her life winds down she remembers the decadent but terrifying days in Berlin leading up to Hitler’s rise of power, and she remembers the work that she, her husband Hans, Dora, Ernst and various other friends and relatives did to awaken Germany to Hitler’s true intentions and secret works. When Ruth, Hans and Dora escape to London as refugees they each deal with it in different ways: Ruth absorbs herself in photography and volunteering; Dora undertakes huge amounts of work advocating for other refugees and does everything in her power to alert the British to Hitler’s atrocities as they grow in number and boldness in Germany and Europe; and Hans finds it very difficult to adjust, eventually embroiling himself in something that he cannot escape from.
This work is immaculately written, the kind of book that a reader becomes so absorbed in they forget they are even reading it. The characters are vivid, intense and heartbreaking, the historical accuracy flawless, and the execution of the plot intricate and immaculate. Funder’s historical research to create this novel is incredible, and most of the characters are either real historical figures or based on real people who lived through these events.
In short, there is nothing about this novel that doesn’t work, and it is the perfect book to become completely absorbed in and renewed by.
booksadaisyes's review against another edition
5.0
Love the style of writing and want to now read Stasiland.
ljm57's review against another edition
4.0
It took me awhile to get into this book but I eventually became absorbed into the situation of the dual narrators, both of whom fought from within Germany & in exile as political refugees against the rise of Hitler & the Nazi party during the 1920s & 30s. Adding to the interest was the fact that most of these characters did exist & the novel is based on their heroism.