jennywithaz's review against another edition
5.0
YALSA #BFYA2019 nominee; read review here: http://www.yalsa.ala.org/thehub/2018/12/10/bfya2019-nominees-round-december-10-edition/
philomath_in_phila's review against another edition
4.0
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
Lena Altmann is a 17 year old girl who lives in East Berlin. After her parents were killed in an explosion, Lena was forced to move in with her aunt. Lena's only respite comes when she spends her Sundays with her uncle, her aunt's brother. One day he is erased. He along with all of his possessions,and his birth records are gone. His published books have disappeared from bookstore shelves. He is just gone, disappearing without a trace.
Lena frantically searches for him but knows government spies are everywhere and she feels alone. Her aunt is a hardcore member of the Communist party. Can she trust her? Can she trust her friends? Can she trust anyone?
Through her story, Michelle Barker shows what it was like to live in the "Better Berlin" in the 1980s. She shows the rigidness, fearfulness, suspicion, and oppression of life in East Berlin.
The House of One Thousand Eyes did not feel like fiction. You could feel and hear Berlin. You could believe Lena, her uncle, and her aunt were real people and this book just captured a portion of their lives.
Although the story wraps up nicely at the end, it ends abruptly.
Lena Altmann is a 17 year old girl who lives in East Berlin. After her parents were killed in an explosion, Lena was forced to move in with her aunt. Lena's only respite comes when she spends her Sundays with her uncle, her aunt's brother. One day he is erased. He along with all of his possessions,and his birth records are gone. His published books have disappeared from bookstore shelves. He is just gone, disappearing without a trace.
Lena frantically searches for him but knows government spies are everywhere and she feels alone. Her aunt is a hardcore member of the Communist party. Can she trust her? Can she trust her friends? Can she trust anyone?
Through her story, Michelle Barker shows what it was like to live in the "Better Berlin" in the 1980s. She shows the rigidness, fearfulness, suspicion, and oppression of life in East Berlin.
The House of One Thousand Eyes did not feel like fiction. You could feel and hear Berlin. You could believe Lena, her uncle, and her aunt were real people and this book just captured a portion of their lives.
Although the story wraps up nicely at the end, it ends abruptly.
disposableonion's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
chloeandherbooks's review against another edition
3.0
* I was sent an advanced readers copy via net galley however this doesn’t not affect my opinion *
3.5 stars
“They’re hunters , Lena. They know how to watch and wait , and they know big game when they see it. Don’t trust anyone. Don’t get caught.”
Trigger warning: This book contains scenes of sexual abuse.
This is a novel set in East Germany in the 1980’s. It follows Lena a young woman who is being raised by her Aunt after her parents died in an accident. She also spends time visiting her Uncle Erich who is an author however one day he disappears along with all traces of him. His books and even record of his birth are missing and every time she attempts to discuss her uncle she is told he does not exist. So she starts her own investigation. Lena works at night in the Stasi headquarters so the people in East Germany do not trust her as they believe she is a spy. In a heart-breaking twist in the end Lena was put back in the hospital and she was not able to escape however after the Berlin Wall fell her Aunt is then able to get her out from the hospital. This is a well written novel that had a tense and moving plot. However it took me a while to get into it and I felt the plot really slowed down in the middle but I became invested in the plot during the last 75% - I was completely gripped and I was hoping that Lena had the chance to escape. I also think that this is a well researched novel. Throughout the whole novel I felt bad for Lena for everything she was going through. I loved the character of Uncle Erich and I was devastated when it was revealed that he had died.
However there were a few comments throughout the book with regards to mental health and body image that were problematic and made me uncomfortable.
Overall this is a well-researched novel that I enjoyed but it took me a while to get into and the plot slowed down in the middle.
3.5 stars
“They’re hunters , Lena. They know how to watch and wait , and they know big game when they see it. Don’t trust anyone. Don’t get caught.”
Trigger warning: This book contains scenes of sexual abuse.
This is a novel set in East Germany in the 1980’s. It follows Lena a young woman who is being raised by her Aunt after her parents died in an accident. She also spends time visiting her Uncle Erich who is an author however one day he disappears along with all traces of him. His books and even record of his birth are missing and every time she attempts to discuss her uncle she is told he does not exist. So she starts her own investigation. Lena works at night in the Stasi headquarters so the people in East Germany do not trust her as they believe she is a spy. In a heart-breaking twist in the end Lena was put back in the hospital and she was not able to escape however after the Berlin Wall fell her Aunt is then able to get her out from the hospital. This is a well written novel that had a tense and moving plot. However it took me a while to get into it and I felt the plot really slowed down in the middle but I became invested in the plot during the last 75% - I was completely gripped and I was hoping that Lena had the chance to escape. I also think that this is a well researched novel. Throughout the whole novel I felt bad for Lena for everything she was going through. I loved the character of Uncle Erich and I was devastated when it was revealed that he had died.
However there were a few comments throughout the book with regards to mental health and body image that were problematic and made me uncomfortable.
Overall this is a well-researched novel that I enjoyed but it took me a while to get into and the plot slowed down in the middle.
martha_schwalbe's review against another edition
5.0
My first trip to Europe in 1980 included a week spent working on a farm in southern France. My companion spoke French but I spoke only German. The farmers spoke French. One other man spoke only French. One day he and I talked and he told me that he'd been a doctor in East German as well as a political prisoner. He'd been released and taken three times when he was issued an ultimatum, leave East Germany in the dead of night with on family contact or be executed.
Although Lena's story and experience were different from that German doctor, I thought of him frequently as I read this book. Did he get to unite with his family when the wall came down. Did his family survive without him.
I did have a difficult time keeping the time period straight because other than the doctor, my experience was very limited regarding East Germany. From reading this book, I can tell that my imagination didn't go to these places.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy historical fiction.
Although Lena's story and experience were different from that German doctor, I thought of him frequently as I read this book. Did he get to unite with his family when the wall came down. Did his family survive without him.
I did have a difficult time keeping the time period straight because other than the doctor, my experience was very limited regarding East Germany. From reading this book, I can tell that my imagination didn't go to these places.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy historical fiction.
jenbosen's review against another edition
4.0
CW: sexual assault/abuse (wish I'd known that going in)
So much to praise here. Brilliant depiction of a trauma survivor doing her best to navigate the gaslighting world of East Germany. And now I need to go read Stasiland and learn more.
So much to praise here. Brilliant depiction of a trauma survivor doing her best to navigate the gaslighting world of East Germany. And now I need to go read Stasiland and learn more.
heidichanel's review
5.0
Loved this one, I read 75% in one sitting last night.
Historical fiction is my favourite and I love reading stuff that takes place in Europe, especially Germany.
Historical fiction is my favourite and I love reading stuff that takes place in Europe, especially Germany.
sardonic_writer's review against another edition
2.0
It's a decent story that's elevated by its setting. It relies on your historical knowledge to do a lot of the lifting, and I think those with less knowledge of East Germany and the Cold War will find it lacking. The pacing is also an issue- it's a very quick read, with later events in the book moving too quickly. was frustrated by the ending, but it fits the 1984-esque vibe that the book seems to be going for.
stephaniegrissel's review against another edition
4.0
I was really surprised by this novel and I'm really glad I picked it up. To be honest I didn't know much about 1983 GDR. To me, the best thing about historical fiction is researching the history aspect of the novel and comparing facts with fiction. I love hearing the real stories and picking apart the novel to find out which parts were true and which were fiction. This story seems to be pretty accurate, which to me is very impressive.
The House of One Thousand Eyes tells the story of a young teen who lives in East Germany in 1983. One day, her uncle goes missing and no one seems to think he even existed in the first place. As Lena struggles to find out what happened, she realizes how much the government had actually been paying attention to her. And with them spying everywhere, if she's not careful, she could end up like her uncle.
At the beginning, the main character, Lena, seemed to me like she acted younger than her years. As the story went on though, I got a sense of who Lena was and what she was struggling with. I understood then, why she seemed a little too naïve at first. She started off "sleepwalking" through her life, but as she was forced to face the truth she began to wake up, she started to take action, and she seemed more her age. I really enjoyed reading about Lena and her journey. Her relationship with her uncle was incredibly sweet. Although her aunt was a little tough on her, you could tell she really cared about Lena and I found their relationship just as sweet.
Overall, I thought this book was really well written. It was very engaging and it's characters will stay with me for a long time.
The House of One Thousand Eyes tells the story of a young teen who lives in East Germany in 1983. One day, her uncle goes missing and no one seems to think he even existed in the first place. As Lena struggles to find out what happened, she realizes how much the government had actually been paying attention to her. And with them spying everywhere, if she's not careful, she could end up like her uncle.
At the beginning, the main character, Lena, seemed to me like she acted younger than her years. As the story went on though, I got a sense of who Lena was and what she was struggling with. I understood then, why she seemed a little too naïve at first. She started off "sleepwalking" through her life, but as she was forced to face the truth she began to wake up, she started to take action, and she seemed more her age. I really enjoyed reading about Lena and her journey. Her relationship with her uncle was incredibly sweet. Although her aunt was a little tough on her, you could tell she really cared about Lena and I found their relationship just as sweet.
Overall, I thought this book was really well written. It was very engaging and it's characters will stay with me for a long time.