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A review by joypouros
The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
The book is WW2 historical fiction, but with an emphasis on the end of the war.
I felt the book didn't live up to its premise, in that Marianne only finds two other women, and they aren't at the castle all that long. While the focus of the book was the end of the war, I wish we knew more about the assassination attempt.
I also didn't love the format of the book, with it's constant back and forth flashbacks and changes in perspective. I understand why it was done that way for this story, but it just isn't my favorite.
What the book does well is focus on where the stories usually stop. What was it like in post-war Germany, where every new friend you meet you are unsure if they were a nazi or not, and how much does it matter to you?
The story ultimately follows three women who survived WW2. One is an avid resister, and assumes but is constantly disappointed when others don't share her convictions or don't match her intensity. It's about how they all choose to move on, to do what is best for their children and what they can live with.
I felt the book didn't live up to its premise, in that Marianne only finds two other women, and they aren't at the castle all that long. While the focus of the book was the end of the war, I wish we knew more about the assassination attempt.
I also didn't love the format of the book, with it's constant back and forth flashbacks and changes in perspective. I understand why it was done that way for this story, but it just isn't my favorite.
What the book does well is focus on where the stories usually stop. What was it like in post-war Germany, where every new friend you meet you are unsure if they were a nazi or not, and how much does it matter to you?
The story ultimately follows three women who survived WW2. One is an avid resister, and assumes but is constantly disappointed when others don't share her convictions or don't match her intensity. It's about how they all choose to move on, to do what is best for their children and what they can live with.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape