- Hardcover: 482 pages
- Publisher: Harcourt; 1 edition (5 April 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0151010196
- ISBN-13: 978-0151010196
- Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 15.5 x 3.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,636,744 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
THE EVENING IS TYPICAL ENOUGH UNTIL THE DOG BEGINS to choke. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt
THE EVENING IS TYPICAL ENOUGH UNTIL THE DOG BEGINS to choke. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the story of Trudy and her mother Anna. Trudy is a University Professor of History at University where she teaches. Born in Germany she and her mother manage to start a new life in America after the war. The theme is one of search for identity, Trudy's identity and she realises who she is in a most unsuspecting way. Flitting back to her mother Anna's experience in the war and what she must do to "save" her daughter from starvation Anna must become involved with an SS Officer of high rank. There is, however, a secret which can never be divulged during these times and ultimately Anna will never admit to Trudy's birthright. We are transported between Nazi Germany and modern Minnesota as the story unfolds. Trudy decides to research the experience of Germans who lived during the time of Hitler and how they interacted with the Jews believing that she is the child of the liaison between her mother and the German Officer. Many of these older Germans did not admit to a culpability of Jew hatred or complicity in handing over the Jews to the Nazis. It is only in an interview with a German who lived in the same time that she becomes aware of the deep secret kept from her all her life. Jenna Blum does not point the finger of accusation but in a considered way allows us to look at the situation and formalise our own conclusions regarding her mother's war time behaviour and that of other Germans.
Jenna Blum's first novel is sensitively written and although one might consider that its initial appeal might be to female readers, I found myself reading the book whenever I could and my attention did not waiver. At first I was not convinced of the plausability of such a story line and looking through Jenna Blum's biographical notes she worked with Steven Spielbergs Shoah Foundation where she must have got some ideas for this book. Certain scenes of intimacy between Anna and her Officer lover could have been sensationalised. Blum avoids any smut and although the reader will understand the nature of these moments they are not thrust down our throat in a manner of speaking. I look forward to Jenna Blum's next book.
Jenna Blum's first novel is sensitively written and although one might consider that its initial appeal might be to female readers, I found myself reading the book whenever I could and my attention did not waiver. At first I was not convinced of the plausability of such a story line and looking through Jenna Blum's biographical notes she worked with Steven Spielbergs Shoah Foundation where she must have got some ideas for this book. Certain scenes of intimacy between Anna and her Officer lover could have been sensationalised. Blum avoids any smut and although the reader will understand the nature of these moments they are not thrust down our throat in a manner of speaking. I look forward to Jenna Blum's next book.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
An brilliantly written but devastating story about the victims of world war 2. The horrors that jewish people went through but also how the Germans suffered too which is a view point many of us, myself included, didn't entertain much before this book. An emotional story about how there are no winners in war. I felt like a time traveller, going from the character in the war, to almost present day and how two generations and such a massive event can have such a knock on effect. I loved this book, even with some of the cruel stories told, it needs to be understood and never forgotton how horrid it was. Truely gripping, a recommended read and definately will always stay a part of my soul.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A wonderful and remarkable novel which I have included in my list of favourite books.
I found the subject matter very harrowing in places and one particular character's recollections of Nazi Germany and it's treatment of the Jews ...well I found myself reading it over and over.
Just dazzling...a true masterpiece.
I found the subject matter very harrowing in places and one particular character's recollections of Nazi Germany and it's treatment of the Jews ...well I found myself reading it over and over.
Just dazzling...a true masterpiece.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Spans the Generations
My 16 year old daughter bought this book and passed it on to me with a very high recommendation. I loved it. Read more
Published 1 month ago by BeestonBob
Incredible...
What an incredible, thought-provoking, educational book. It made me see the war from a completely different angle and understand some of the complexities of the decisions people... Read more
Published 9 months ago by extremeski
Those who save us
A lovely book makes the reader think of the second world war from a different perspective. The Germans all too often thought of badly or the Jews misunderstood. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Chrissie
Provocative reading
I picked this up in a bookstore in the US and the sales clerk immediately said to me ' it is amazing'. She was completely right. Read more
Published 18 months ago by kmac
Excellent read
I thought this book was enlightening and extremely interesting. It told the story of those impacted by the holocaust from a different perspective - one you don't usually hear from. Read more
Published 24 months ago by Madeleine J. Lyell
Amazing
this is a real page turner. It will provoke every emotion going. A wonderful and well written first novel
Published on 14 Nov 2009 by Mrs. Amanda Grimshaw
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Fiction > Family Sagas
- Books > Fiction > Historical
- Books > Romance > Historical
- Books > Romance > Sagas
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
