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As for Lizzie, I have zero sympathy for her, I’m pretty sure I would have tried to get Henry some help as coddling him did him no favors. Kelly Rimmer has this way of immediately enveloping you in a story, making you feel like you are right in Huntsville living alongside Sofie. I thoroughly enjoy the intimacy and emotional intelligence of her stories, and I am already eager for what’s next. Highly recommended for all hist fic fans. Wunder, Heide, and Thomas J. Dunlap, eds. He is the sun, she is the moon: women in early modern Germany (Harvard University Press, 1998). The story is told through four distinct time periods: past and present for both Sofie and Lizzie. It is interesting hearing about Sofie's time in Germany during World War Two; that was by far the most compelling timeframe presented. Unfortunately, Lizzie's chapters felt unnecessary. They didn't really add much to the story at all. The story could have been stronger and much less cluttered without her point of view. Sofie tried to explain what they really went through and that they didn’t agree but had to. Lizzie and others didn’t want to hear it.
One day Hans hires Alexander a Russian prisoner to work in the gardens at their home to make them nice for Annaleise to make her happier. Alexander tells her of the horrors of Dachau and the truth about the research being done there. Alexander and Annaleise fall in love with each other and when she becomes pregnant she must make a heartbreaking decision to save the life of Alexander and her child. I read this book all in one sitting even as some portions were emotionally difficult to read. It is an extremely well researched look into these families lives and circumstances. I have read many history books, factual and fictional on this time-period and this story, I felt was as unbiased as it could be for the subject matter. I knew about the government bringing over German scientists, but I never really considered the ramifications of their mixing into American communities where veterans and surviving families may live. When you are younger, you believe you would never do anything against your moral code, but as you get older you have family, friendships and ties that make you hope you will never be put in that type of situation to choose. This is an emotionally complex tale that shows how hate can grow, spread and destroy whether by choice, obligation or force. As the roundup of Jews begins Sofie hides her best friend Mayim (Jewish) for as long as they are able. I started writing novels after a long career in broadcasting and journalism. My first novel - The Girl with Emerald Eyes (originally published as 'Secrets of the Tower' in March 2015), is set in two time zones - the modern day and 12th century. It explores the extraordinary woman who left the money to build the Leaning Tower of Pisa. My second novel: Daughters of the Silk Road follows the journey of a family of merchant explorers who return to Venice from China with a Ming Vase. The book again straddles two time zones.You will feel all the emotions each character is feeling in both time periods through Ms. Rimmer’s marvelous writing style and learn the difficult times for those who lived in Germany and resisted or spoke out and learn about the Americans who lived here during the depression and through the dust bowl. Once they become aware of the atrocities to which they are party, do Sofie and Jurgen become two of those good people who allow evil to triumph by doing nothing? This story shows that perhaps it’s not always so simple. Should loyalty to country outweigh loyalty to family and friends? One of those American wives is Lizzie Miller, from a hardscrabble farming family which lost everything in a debt spiral during the prolonged drought of the 1930s. Her brother, Henry has seen first-hand what the Nazis did, resulting in mental distress termed combat fatigue. To the dismay of the hosts of the welcome party, Lizzie takes a stand and harsh words fly between her and Sofie.
I felt the whole book was really well written and the author must have worked for months doing the research. It kept a pretty good pace and I don’t usually enjoy multiple POV over 2 time frames but this worked very well for this book. I felt it gave the whole book a well rounded finish. I really liked following Anna's story and her strength to get through the horrible events she endured. From her complicated marriage with Hans, to her love affair with Alexander, and trying to do what was best for her son Sasha made her a Kelly Rimmer cemented herself as a favorite author of mine with her powerful and deeply emotional novel, Before I Let You Go, released in 2018. Since that time, I have eagerly anticipated each new book, and time and again, she delivers another deeply powerful emotional novel. The German Wife recently published this summer, and it is the story of Operation Paperclip, of which I was vaguely familiar.if you’re new to historical fiction, or enjoy WW2 HF without the really heaviness of the concentration camps and war content, this will be a good one for you. it focused much more on the aftermath of the war as well as the years leading up to WW2 and how Hitler slowly took over Germany. i appreciated that history… it seemed so fast but it was YEARS of subtle changes and slowly coming to power that ultimately when people realized what the Nazi’s were doing, it was really difficult to stop it. In 1977, the divorce law in West Germany underwent major changes, moving from a fault based divorce system to one that is primarily no fault. These new divorce regulations, which remain in force today throughout Germany, stipulate that a no-fault divorce can be obtained on the grounds of one year of de facto separation if both spouses consent, and three years of de facto separation if only one spouse consents. There is also provision for a "speedy divorce" which can be obtained on demand by either spouse, without the necessary separation period, if it is proved in court that the continuation of the marriage would constitute an unreasonable hardship for the petitioner for reasons related to the behavior of the other spouse; this exemption requires exceptional circumstances and is considered on a case-by-case basis. [10] [11] A certain incident happening at the 85% mark disappointed me. It was against character, made no sense, and was absolutely needless to the story as it is over within barely a few paragraphs. Germany, 1930s: Edith holds the letter in a trembling hand, her eyes fixed on the eagle carrying the terrifying symbol in its claws. The summons from the Gestapo is everything she has dreaded for months. She tells herself she has nothing to fear. She has done nothing wrong.... Reading The German Wife I was snatched from the real life for several hours and I never regretted it! This book is worth it! Amazing unforgettable story became one of my favourites!
We follow Annaliese before the war, during the war, after the war as her husband was hunted for his participation in the experiments at Dachau, and in America with her son as he asks about his father. He actually didn’t know his father because he was very young when his father disappeared a few days before the war ended. Things only go from bad to worse for this family as the war drags on. Their two eldest children are drawn into the Hitler youth and are properly indoctrinated.Lizzie’s story is also told. Her family’s Texas farm was ruined during the tragic years of the Dust Bowl and the Depression. She and her brother Henry did what they had to do to survive. Once Lizzie married Calvin, a wealthy and widowed older man, she moved to Alabama and after the war, Henry moved there too. Lizzie dealt with tremendous trauma from all her losses. Overall, despite the minor flaws, this is still one of the better historical fiction novels as it reveals a side that is not commonly depicted in WWII books. Much recommended for lovers of this genre. It doesn’t take long for Jürgen to realize Hitler’s real intentions and Sofie and Jürgen decide to flee but they are discovered before they even set one foot out of Berlin. There are few heroes in this book. Jürgen’s Aunt Adele is perhaps the only purely likable person as she was willing to act against the Nazis. This book shows how fragile the world was and still is as hate can rise up and spread at any time. This book is going to stay with me for a long time. This impressive read by Kelly Rimmer proves her exceptional talent, her incredible research, and how she managed to deliver a powerfully emotional story. Any historical fiction that brings a different perspective during that horrid time is certain to make any reader think. I was riveted to this book from the start to finish, and this story will be with me for a long time to come. This would be a perfect book club book and I beg the reader to please read the author’s note at the end of the book and to consider the discussion questions. This will allow for the serious thought as to this contemplative read.
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