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A review by clothespin
Motherland by Maria Hummel
3.0
I have resisted reading historical fiction in the WWII era simply due to the obvious horrible things that occurred. It's not that I don't want to be educated about history or that I deny that any of this happened... rather, it's that I know that it did and that I spend my reading time generally as a form of escape from life's reality. Delving deeper into the darkest parts of human depravity is not what I'm after.
This book did deal with the Nazi era - but from a unique perspective, that of German citizens who weren't directly involved in the horrors, but neither were they actively resisting and trying to stop them either. This book was based loosely on a true story and it was interesting to learn of the struggles of everyday normal Germans living through the darkest hours of their country. It was well told and relatable and shows the suffering on all sides...
What is not told is where the book ends.... What happened to this family after? After they were forced to learn of the realities of the war that they so determinedly turned a blind eye to? How did they feel upon seeing the rescued Jews and others being brought out of the camps? How did they justify, or not, their actions in light of the reality?
Those questions and their lack of answers have resulted in my star rating. It is one thing to keep your head down and try as best you can to keep your family in tact through the horrors of a war... But what is the impact mentally and socially upon learning the truth? This lack results in a failure to show the impact of our everyday moral decisions... something which I think we all need to consider even now.
This book did deal with the Nazi era - but from a unique perspective, that of German citizens who weren't directly involved in the horrors, but neither were they actively resisting and trying to stop them either. This book was based loosely on a true story and it was interesting to learn of the struggles of everyday normal Germans living through the darkest hours of their country. It was well told and relatable and shows the suffering on all sides...
What is not told is where the book ends.... What happened to this family after? After they were forced to learn of the realities of the war that they so determinedly turned a blind eye to? How did they feel upon seeing the rescued Jews and others being brought out of the camps? How did they justify, or not, their actions in light of the reality?
Those questions and their lack of answers have resulted in my star rating. It is one thing to keep your head down and try as best you can to keep your family in tact through the horrors of a war... But what is the impact mentally and socially upon learning the truth? This lack results in a failure to show the impact of our everyday moral decisions... something which I think we all need to consider even now.