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A review by booksnooksandcooks
Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon
5.0
While this definitely errs more on the fictional side, this book is a fantastic read. Every loose end tied up at the end and a few even caught me off guard. Nancy’s characterization is brilliant and I am so, so glad to see:
- a woman who is strong without compromising her femininity
- Nazis depicted as the true evil they were (in fact, it’s not often that historical fiction books surprise me with the war crimes/brutality depicted but there were times in this book that I had to take a moment to grimace.)
- a historical fiction with a woman as the main character and yet rape isn’t included in every. single. chapter. Sexual violence was mentioned but Lawhon didn’t feel the need to write a lengthy chapter of Nancy being assaulted which then fuels her. I get it. Sexual violence has been and continues to be a very real threat to women. Do you think, though, that in order for something to be “historical”, it must involve graphic and/or detailed assault?
- a woman who is strong without compromising her femininity
- Nazis depicted as the true evil they were (in fact, it’s not often that historical fiction books surprise me with the war crimes/brutality depicted but there were times in this book that I had to take a moment to grimace.)
- a historical fiction with a woman as the main character and yet rape isn’t included in every. single. chapter. Sexual violence was mentioned but Lawhon didn’t feel the need to write a lengthy chapter of Nancy being assaulted which then fuels her. I get it. Sexual violence has been and continues to be a very real threat to women. Do you think, though, that in order for something to be “historical”, it must involve graphic and/or detailed assault?