This book gutted me …
As a historical fiction enthusiast, I have read many books about concentration camps, survivors, and living with the aftermath. The German House is the book I’ve been waiting for because it attempts to address the burning questions in the recesses of my mind: how did the Nazi officers and their families walk the earth among humankind when the war ended?
Set in 1963/1964 in Germany, the story centers around the young professional Eva, who’s family operated and lived above a lively pub. Inspired by both a divine force and the discouragement of her family and fiance, Eva accepts the role of a Polish interpreter during the first tribunal of Nazi war criminals. She has a front-row seat to countless witnesses’ stories and silently observes the 21 defendants and their spouses who attend the trial.
The first shock was that the defendants were “ordinary men.” These men served in various capacities in their community ranging from sales clerks, farmers, merchants, and laborers to a gynecologist, dentist, and pharmacist. From Eva’s perspective, “(Initially, they all) sounded like they were telling the truth. They seemed surprised. Incredulous, almost incensed that one could think them capable of …(unthinkable atrocities).”
As the lengthy trial evolves and horror upon horror emerge, Eva’s cultivated naivete lifts and her worldview shifts. She begins to regard the defendants’ demeanor with contempt. She grows more tender and compassionate with witnesses. Her family and romantic relations fracture as her spidey senses leads her on a journey to discover a personal connection to Auschwitz. It was quite literally impossible for me to stop turning pages from then on out. I don’t want to give up any spoilers, but there were all kinds of twists and weighty themes to digest.
While I give this an enthusiastic Five Star, the book will not be for everyone. It was translated from German and the language is a bit clunky and the story hard to follow as characters jump around at times. Those issues ironed out for me after the first 50-100 pages, so I would urge anyone having difficulty to press on. You won’t regret it.
Thank you to HarperVia and Bookish First the ARC of this unforgettable novel in exchange for an honest review.
As a historical fiction enthusiast, I have read many books about concentration camps, survivors, and living with the aftermath. The German House is the book I’ve been waiting for because it attempts to address the burning questions in the recesses of my mind: how did the Nazi officers and their families walk the earth among humankind when the war ended?
Set in 1963/1964 in Germany, the story centers around the young professional Eva, who’s family operated and lived above a lively pub. Inspired by both a divine force and the discouragement of her family and fiance, Eva accepts the role of a Polish interpreter during the first tribunal of Nazi war criminals. She has a front-row seat to countless witnesses’ stories and silently observes the 21 defendants and their spouses who attend the trial.
The first shock was that the defendants were “ordinary men.” These men served in various capacities in their community ranging from sales clerks, farmers, merchants, and laborers to a gynecologist, dentist, and pharmacist. From Eva’s perspective, “(Initially, they all) sounded like they were telling the truth. They seemed surprised. Incredulous, almost incensed that one could think them capable of …(unthinkable atrocities).”
As the lengthy trial evolves and horror upon horror emerge, Eva’s cultivated naivete lifts and her worldview shifts. She begins to regard the defendants’ demeanor with contempt. She grows more tender and compassionate with witnesses. Her family and romantic relations fracture as her spidey senses leads her on a journey to discover a personal connection to Auschwitz. It was quite literally impossible for me to stop turning pages from then on out. I don’t want to give up any spoilers, but there were all kinds of twists and weighty themes to digest.
While I give this an enthusiastic Five Star, the book will not be for everyone. It was translated from German and the language is a bit clunky and the story hard to follow as characters jump around at times. Those issues ironed out for me after the first 50-100 pages, so I would urge anyone having difficulty to press on. You won’t regret it.
Thank you to HarperVia and Bookish First the ARC of this unforgettable novel in exchange for an honest review.