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Book Review: City of Women by David Gillham

City of Women by David Gillham

  • Method of Obtaining: I obtained my copy via LibraryThing.
  • Published by: Putnam
  • Release Date:  8/7/2012
        

Whom do you trust, whom do you love, and who can be saved?

It is 1943—the height of the Second World War—and Berlin has essentially become a city of women.
Sigrid Schröder is, for all intents and purposes, the model German soldier’s wife: She goes to work every day, does as much with her rations as she can, and dutifully cares for her meddling mother-in-law, all the while ignoring the horrific immoralities of the regime. But behind this façade is an entirely different Sigrid, a woman who dreams of her former lover, now lost in the chaos of the war. Her lover is a Jew.

But Sigrid is not the only one with secrets.

A high ranking SS officer and his family move down the hall and Sigrid finds herself pulled into their orbit.  A young woman doing her duty-year is out of excuses before Sigrid can even ask her any questions.  And then there’s the blind man selling pencils on the corner, whose eyes Sigrid can feel following her from behind the darkness of his goggles.

Soon Sigrid is embroiled in a world she knew nothing about, and as her eyes open to the reality around her, the carefully constructed fortress of solitude she has built over the years begins to collapse. She must choose to act on what is right and what is wrong, and what falls somewhere in the shadows between the two.

Reason for Reading:
  • The cover caught my eye.

I also recommend:

My Review:

The City of Women by David Gillham follows the journey of Sigrid, a young, German woman whose husband is on the front line during WWII – fighting for Germany. The story this book addresses is not the story that tends to be in the forefront when picking up a book about WWII. Rather, the story here is the other side, how the German women lived while their husbands were away, how they adapted to being the “model Aryan wives,” how they handled subjects like infidelity, infertility, injustice, and how they fought back (passively and aggressively).

City of Women is remarkably well-written and well-paced. I always felt as if I needed to read just a few more pages because the story’s unfolding was so exquisitely painful. However, that said – there were times that I felt a little put off. Sigrid is an incredibly sexual woman and those appetites were described in depth throughout the course of the book. What this did to me was make me wonder what exactly was behind the story – was it that Sigrid got involved in illegal activities because her moral conscience begged her to, or was it because her sexual appetite drove her to do so?

And there’s where the book struggles for me. The description of City of Women talks about Sigrid having a Jewish lover, and I understand that is the whole catalyst for it all – but for a woman who will stop at nothing apparently to do the “right” thing, Sigrid’s version of abuse of her body is completely at odds with what Ericha does, for example.

It’s the complexity of that struggle and the differences between those women that will have me thinking about the story here in the days to come. The biggest question this book poses to the reader (and fails to give the answer to – but I believe that’s intended) is: Just what will you do to save the lives of those who are being treated unjustly? What will remain sacred to you? Your vows, your body, your mind, your soul?

This would be a very interesting book club read, a discussion to go over those very questions could lead to some enlightening and thought-provoking ideas.

Don’t just take my word for it! Check out what these bloggers say!

Joyfully Retired | S. Krishna’s Books | Rather Be Reading

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Lydia
15 December, 2012
Historical, Literary Fiction, reviews, War
0 comments
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The Baker’s Daughter by Sarah McCoy

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Reason for Reading:
  • WWII stories always snag me – must read them!

I also recommend:

Summary from GoodReads:

In 1945, Elsie Schmidt was a naïve teenager, as eager for her first sip of champagne as she was for her first kiss. But in the waning days of the Nazi empire, with food scarce and fears of sedition mounting, even the private yearnings of teenage girls were subject to suspicion and suppression. Elsie’s courtship by Josef Hub, a rising star in the Army of the Third Reich, has insulated her and her family from the terror and desperation overtaking her country. So when an escaped Jewish boy arrives on Elsie’s doorstep in the dead of night on Christmas Eve, Elsie understands that opening the door puts all she loves in danger.

(Cont. on GoodReads)

My Review:

When it comes to WWII novels, several sides really get highlighted in novels about the subject – but one side that doesn’t receive a whole lot of attention is that of the side of the innocently guilty – being those German’s who were somewhat aware, but not really aware, of what was going on – and even if they were aware, what could they do?

The answer to that question is explored through the story of a young German girl who takes one fateful step that transforms her life. Through her actions, the letters she receives, the portrait of her family life, the atrocities of Hitler’s reign are given new meaning.

But in spite of the subject matter, Sarah McCoy manages to infuse the story with new life – contrasting current day Texas and the struggles with illegal immigrants with the struggles in Germany. A parallel is found between old and young, and the best part – it happens in a bakery where the most mouth-watering goods are prepared. (And don’t worry, there’s detailed recipes at the back of the book!)

I thoroughly enjoyed this story by Sarah McCoy. I found it to be extremely well-written, the characters to be easy to sympathize with, and the ending was one that left me with a good feeling of satisfaction.


About the Author

For more reviews on The Baker’s Daughter by Sarah McCoy, please follow the book tour.

 

 

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Lydia
1 March, 2012
Coming of Age, Historical, reviews
3 comments
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Next to Love by Ellen Feldman

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Reason for Reading:
  • The synopsis on this one caught my attention.

I also  recommend:

Summary from GoodReads:

A story of love, war, loss, and the scars they leave, Next to Love follows the lives of three young women and their men during the years of World War II and its aftermath, beginning with the men going off to war and ending a generation later, when their children are on the cusp of their own adulthood.

Set in a small town in Massachusetts, the novel follows three childhood friends, Babe, Millie, and Grace, whose lives are unmoored when their men are called to duty. And yet the changes that are thrust upon them move them in directions they never dreamed possible—while their husbands and boyfriends are enduring their own transformations. In the decades that follow, the three friends lose their innocence, struggle to raise their children, and find meaning and love in unexpected places. And as they change, so does America—from a country in which people know their place in the social hierarchy to a world in which feminism, the Civil Rights movement, and technological innovations present new possibilities—and uncertainties. And yet Babe, Millie, and Grace remain bonded by their past, even as their children grow up and away and a new society rises from the ashes of the war.

My Review:

When I picked up a book last year about the post office and WWII, I found myself disappointed by the lack of character development.  So I was wary, but still interested when I chose to read Next to Love.

Everything I found lacking in that other book I found in abundance here.

In this WWII story, Feldman tells the story of three women, each with her own strengths and weaknesses, each with a powerful love and a vision.  There is no topic that’s out-of-bounds.  From feminism, to adoption, to barren couples – mental illness, death, platonic marriages.   Attacks on women, PTSD. secrets, lies and the list goes on and on and on.  You’d think, with this much action happening, that the book would be too short to handle it all adequately - but it works.

Each of the women in this novel is well-rounded, bursting with character and so full of life I developed a close attachment to them.  The setting, the events (specifically the events that inspired the story), had me in tears and my heart aching.  Most of the WWII stories I’ve read to this point deal with how things were on the other side of the ocean, so it was eye-opening to see how things fared closer to home.

This goes on my list as one of the top reads of 2011.  I highly recommend it – and after waiting a few weeks to write this review, I found that my opinion of it has only grown.

Check out these reviews!

Age 30+ … A Lifetime of Books

Rundpinne

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Lydia
1 December, 2011
Historical, reviews
1 comment
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Camp Nine by Vivienne Schiffer

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Reason for Reading:
  • The gorgeous cover – and also after reading another book with similar themes, I wanted to read more about the Japanese camps during WWII

I also recommend:

Summary from GoodReads:

“Camp Nine beautifully captures a sense of time and place that resonates with authenticity. It shows an intimate familiarity with the internment camp at Rohwer-how the camp came to be situated in such a remote part of Arkansas, life within the camp, and the feelings of the Japanese Americans held captive there, as well as what life was like in the 1940s for the locals outside. It is a perspective that has never been presented. I love this book and recommend it as a must-read.”

-Delphine Hirasuna, author of The Art of Gaman: Arts and Crafts from the Japanese American Internment Camps, 1942 – 1946

My Review:

For such a small book (151 pages), this one sure packs a punch.

I know very little about the camps created here in the states for the Japanese after Pearl Harbor.  But over the last year, I’ve been reading more fiction about the horrible treatment not only received by the Japanese, but other immigrants during that time period (Also, see Lost in Shangri La by Mitchell Zuckoff).

This book tells a fictional story of “Camp Nine”, based on a camp that was located in the authors hometown (name changed), and based on real life characters.  It’s heart-breaking, inspiring, and eye-opening – three things that make up a powerful book.  However, it’s such a quiet story that the full impact didn’t even hit me until I’d set it down and thought about it for a while, a fact that makes me shake my head in wonder.  I do love it when a story creeps up on you like that.

While I enjoyed reading about Chess and her mother, David and Henry Matsui and some of the other interesting characters in the book, my attention was very much captured by Cottonmouth Willie.  Schiffer does a beautiful job building up this quiet, background character and giving him a voice that sings as beautifully as his music appears to.  When describing his style of blues, I could hear it in my head – and as a musician, something like that is invaluable to me.

This would be a fantastic book to give any history buffs in your life.  It’s unusual, very unique, and enlightening, to be sure.

About the Author

For more reviews on Camp Nine by Vivienne Schiffer, please follow the book tour.

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Lydia
25 November, 2011
Historical, reviews
7 comments
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The Time in Between by María Dueñas

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Reason for Reading:
  • The cover.  It’s gorgeous!

I also recommend:

Summary from GoodReads:

This sweeping novel, which combines the storytelling power of The Shadow of the Wind with the irresistible romance of Casablanca, moves at an unstoppable pace. Suddenly left abandoned and penniless in Algiers by her lover, Sira Quiroga forges a new identity. Against all odds she becomes the most sought-after couture designer for the socialite wives of German Nazi officers. But she is soon embroiled in a dangerous political conspiracy as she passes information to the British Secret Service through a code stitched into the hems of her dresses.

My Review:

What is it about novels from Spain?  Even translated into English, there is something about the flowing descriptions, the intricately complex characters, and the rich descriptions that just hit me right in the gut with how amazing they are.

The Time in Between is the story of a young, headstrong woman who, despite enormous odds, overcomes them and makes a life for herself.  Filled with major historical descriptions of events, including the Spanish Civil War and the opening of WWII, this story still manages to keep a personal, human element while providing the reader with intriguing spy movements and facts about the time.

I will admit to harboring a moment of doubt at the beginning of the book, however.  I thought I knew where this story was going to lead – but it didn’t and instead I found myself thoroughly wrapped up in a story that was filled with surprises.

It’s easy to see why this book is a best seller and I’m very glad that the cover attracted me so strongly.  The insides were even more beautiful.

Check out these reviews!

The Blogging Mama

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Lydia
11 November, 2011
Historical, Literary Fiction, reviews
4 comments
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Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

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Reason for Reading:
  • This was my book club choice for September.

I also recommend:

Summary from GoodReads:

On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood. Then, on the ocean surface, a face appeared. It was that of a young lieutenant, the plane’s bombardier, who was struggling to a life raft and pulling himself aboard. So began one of the most extraordinary odysseys of the Second World War.
The lieutenant’s name was Louis Zamperini. In boyhood, he’d been a cunning and incorrigible delinquent, breaking into houses, brawling, and fleeing his home to ride the rails. As a teenager, he had channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics and within sight of the four-minute mile. But when war had come, the athlete had become an airman, embarking on a journey that led to his doomed flight, a tiny raft, and a drift into the unknown. 

Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, a foundering raft, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would answer desperation with ingenuity; suffering with hope, resolve, and humor; brutality with rebellion. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would be suspended on the fraying wire of his will.

My Review:

Unbroken is one of those books that is daunting to review.  I mean, this story is heartbreaking.  How do you review something that speaks of such strength and courage and willpower?

Do I talk about the writing?  Because frankly, it was magnificent.  I haven’t read Seabiscuit, but from reading Unbroken I have to say, I’m in awe of Hillenbrand’s ability to put together a story with so much information jam-packed into it, and still make it read like a fictional piece.  There was so much information.  My head is still spinning from it all.

And Zamperini?  What a guy.  Fantastic photos (he was a hottie, yall!), fantastic story and .. the sharks!  I keep coming back to them in my mind because, geez, I would have been totally worthless if placed int he same position.

I read a lot of World War II stories, both fictional and non-fiction, but I have to say that this is one of the most moving stories I’ve read and one of the most different.  Most WWII books I read deal with Germany and what is happening in Europe and it’s easy to forget at times that there was more happening – at least for non-history buffs like myself. This book does a fantastic job of kicking my un-knowledgeable self in the booty and forcing me to open my eyes and look at what else was happening.

Fantastic book – believe the hype, don’t let it scare you off like it did me at first.

 

Check out these reviews!

At Home with Books

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Lydia
1 October, 2011
Non-Fiction, reviews
6 comments
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The Linen Queen by Patricia Falway

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Reason for Reading:
  • Frank Delaney and Frank McCourt have made Irish-novel lovers out of me.  I couldn’t resist this one.

I also recommend:

Summary from GoodReads:

Abandoned by her father and neglected by her self-centered, unstable mother, Sheila McGee cannot wait to escape the drudgery of her mill village life in Northern Ireland. Her classic Irish beauty helps her win the 1941 Linen Queen competition, and the prize money that goes with it finally gives her the opportunity she’s been dreaming of. But Sheila does not count on the impact of the Belfast blitz which brings World War II to her doorstep. Now even her good looks are useless in the face of travel restrictions, and her earlier resolve is eroded by her ma’s fear of being left alone.


When American troops set up base in her village, some see them as occupiers but Sheila sees them as saviors—one of them may be her ticket out. Despite objections from her childhood friend, Gavin O’Rourke, she sets her sights on an attractive Jewish-American army officer named Joel Solomon, but her plans are interrupted by the arrival of a street-wise young evacuee from Belfast.


Frustrated, Sheila fights to hold on to her dream but slowly her priorities change as the people of Northern Ireland put old divisions aside and bond together in a common purpose to fight the Germans. Sheila’s affection for Joel grows as she and Gavin are driven farther apart. As the war moves steadily closer to those she has grown to love, Sheila confronts more abandonment and loss, and finds true strength, compassion, and a meaning for life outside of herself.

My Review:

It feels kind of strange, but this book reminded me quite a bit of two classics – Emma by Jane Austen and Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell.  So what do all these books have in common, you might ask?  Well… I don’t know about you, but Emma, Scarlett and Sheila are not very easy characters to like … at first.

In The Linen Queen, Sheila struggles with some pretty hard knocks.  Her dad is gone, her mom is crazy, her aunt super pious and her uncle a pervert.  She works hard, yet sees no real benefit to all the work and she really, really wants to leave Ireland.

But Sheila is living and working toward leaving Ireland in 1941, and war is on the horizon.  And, much like Scarlett in Gone with the Wind, war has a way of bringing out the grit in a pretty girl – and so it was with Sheila.

I really, really enjoyed The Linen Queen.  I found Sheila to be petty and self-centered, but as I read, as I really thought about the choices she was making and watched her growth I came to love her and wish her well.

In addition to getting to know Sheila, I also got to know a part of WWII geography I really hadn’t been familiar with.  Belfast and the northern part of Ireland was involved in the war at a time the southern area was not.  I think Patricia Falway did a fantastic job of capturing the tension not only between the two factions of the Irish people, but also by adding the “Yanks” into the mix, and even a Jewish one at that.

For WWII novel fans, this book is a must read.  Just.. be patient, give Sheila a little time and remember, all those that are young need time to grow.

Check out these review(s)!

Mrs. Q Book Addict

Beth’s Book Nook Blog

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Lydia
30 June, 2011
Historical, reviews
1 comment
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Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

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Reason for Reading:
  • I love quirky looking books.  The name, the cover and the premise of the story (plus the idea of pictures throughout the book) completely hooked me and had me chomping at the bit to get this book.

I  also recommend:

Summary from GoodReads:

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. And a strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children who once lived here—one of whom was his own grandfather—were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a desolate island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography,Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.


My Review:

I am admittedly a cover fanatic.  I cannot resist a good cover, unfortunately the story contained within the cover doesn’t always live up to that initial hook.

While I wasn’t displeased with Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, I do admit to having struggled a little bit with it.   Honestly, were it not for the inclusion of some of the most peculiar, fascinating photos I’ve ever seen, I don’t think the story would have had enough strength to stand on its own two feet.

However, because the pictures and the story were blended together so incredibly well (although it felt a bit stilted toward the beginning, at times feeling as if the story had been forced into fitting with the pictures, this improved through the book very quickly) the story takes on a more masterful life of its own and about 50 pages in or so I was hooked and couldn’t put the book down.  It was those initial 50 pages though that has me struggling with my opinion on the book overall.

Because, frankly, that first part was slow.  Even a death, pictures and strange things happening couldn’t keep my interest and I had to force myself to keep going knowing just how much I loved the cover and how much I’d been anticipating this book. I was rewarded though, so please don’t be put off by that part, I just felt it was necessary to give full disclosure regarding why I feel so torn.

The last half of the book was fascinating, filled with adventure, fun, spookiness and mystery.  I loved getting to know the “peculiars”, I loved every moment that I turned the page to see a new picture and I loved following Jacob’s journey as he found out about his history as well as his own special talents.  In some ways, I was almost reminded of the new X-Men movie which made me laugh and appreciate this WWII/Modern story even more.

This was dark, twisted, exhilarating fantasy – just push through those opening scenes if they don’t immediately grab you because you will be rewarded.  And the pictures make this one a great addition to anyone’s shelf.

And I’m not usually a book trailer person – but this is one you need to see.

 

 

Check out these review(s)!

The Well-Read Wife


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Lydia
20 June, 2011
Fantasy, reviews, Young Adult
4 comments
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Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II by Mitchell Zuckoff

Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of WWII by Mitchell Zuckoff
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Reason(s) for Reading:
  • I was interested in this book because my brother-in-law likes reading WWII stories, so I thought it might interest him as well.

Summary from Goodreads:

n May 13, 1945, twenty-four American servicemen and WACs boarded a transport plane for a sightseeing trip over Shangri-La, a beautiful and mysterious valley deep within the jungle-covered mountains of Dutch New Guinea. Unlike the peaceful Tibetan monks of James Hilton’s bestselling novel Lost Horizon, this Shangri-La was home to spear-carrying tribesmen, warriors rumored to be cannibals. But the pleasure tour became an unforgettable battle for survival when the plane crashed.Miraculously, three passengers pulled through. Margaret Hastings, barefoot and burned, had no choice but to wear her dead best friend’s shoes. John McCollom, grieving the death of his twin brother also aboard the plane, masked his grief with stoicism. Kenneth Decker, too, was severely burned and suffered a gaping head wound.

Emotionally devastated, badly injured, and vulnerable to the hidden dangers of the jungle, the trio faced certain death unless they left the crash site. Caught between man-eating headhunters and enemy Japanese, the wounded passengers endured a harrowing hike down the mountainside–a journey into the unknown that would lead them straight into a primitive tribe of superstitious natives who had never before seen a white man or woman.

Drawn from interviews, declassified U.S. Army documents, personal photos and mementos, a survivor’s diary, a rescuer’s journal, and original film footage, Lost in Shangri-La recounts this incredible true-life adventure for the first time. Mitchell Zuckoff reveals how the determined trio–dehydrated, sick, and in pain–traversed the dense jungle to find help; how a brave band of paratroopers risked their own lives to save the survivors; and how a cowboy colonel attempted a previously untested rescue mission to get them out.

By trekking into the New Guinea jungle, visiting remote villages, and rediscovering the crash site, Zuckoff also captures the contemporary natives; remembrances of the long-ago day when strange creatures fell from the sky. A riveting work of narrative nonfiction that vividly brings to life an odyssey at times terrifying, enlightening, and comic, Lost in Shangri-La is a thrill ride from beginning to end.

 

My Review:

I’m not usually a non-fiction, war story type of reader but when I saw this title listed on the TLC Tours as an available review option I didn’t have to think long.  I mean, the title alone is quite the eye-catcher and then, once the book was received, I read the first few pages and immediately was hooked.

One of the most compelling aspects of this book is Zuckoff’s desire to acquaint the reader with the individual history and events leading up to each “central” character in this story.  Rather than letting us read a bone-dry rehashing of the actual events, each survivor (and even those who didn’t survive) were talked about, introduced and made to feel real so that when the fateful moment occurred, I felt a sense of loss and grief.

Interspersed through the pages of the book are pictures, allowing the reader to not only learn about the people but to put a face to the name and that made it even more real to me.

The story itself is an incredible one.  Beyond incredible.  When you take into consideration all of the events leading up to the eventual rescue of Margaret Hastings, John McCollom and Kenneth Decker, it seems incredible that everything fell so neatly into place.  The bravery of those three individuals and their rescuers astounds me and made me feel a sense of pride and wonder at their strength and endurance through something that I cannot even imagine getting through myself.

If you have a reader fond of WWII stories, if you are fond of non-fiction or.. if you want to take a chance to read a story that needs to be told and talked about then this is a perfect, prime example of one.

 

About the Author

For more reviews on Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuckoff, please follow the book tour.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from TLC Book Tours. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Lydia
2 May, 2011
Adventure, Non-Fiction, reviews
11 comments
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The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

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Reason(s) for Reading:
  • I’m a Kate Morton fan-girl and am not ashamed to admit it.
I  also recommend:

Summary from GoodReads:

Summer 1924

On the eve of a glittering society party, by the lake of a grand English country house, a young poet takes his life. The only witnesses, sisters Hannah and Emmeline Hartford, will never speak to each other again.

Winter 1999

Grace Bradley, ninety-eight, one-time housemaid of Riverton Manor, is visited by a young director making a film about the poet’s suicide. Ghosts awaken and old memories – long consigned to the dark reaches of Grace’s mind – begin to sneak back through the cracks. A shocking secret threatens to emerge, something history has forgotten but Grace never could.

Set as the war-shattered Edwardian summer surrenders to the decadent twenties, The House at Riverton is a thrilling mystery and a compelling love story.

My Review:

I can’t tell you how sad I am now that I’ve finished this book.  I’m not sad because the story was bad or anything, oh no.. I’m sad because now I’ve come to the end of Kate Morton’s novels.  I started earlier this year with The Forgotten Garden and then got my hands on a copy of The Distant Hours and both books had me curled up on my sofa devouring the words and feeling that delicious thrill one gets when things are just right in the reading world.

I will admit to being a little worried that I wouldn’t like The House at Riverton as much as Morton’s later works, simply because it’s a first and surely she wouldn’t be as mature a writer right off the bat, right?  Nope. That’s not the case.  The House at Riverton is a masterful work – it weaves together a story so complex that, even though you have an inkling of what the great tragedies are, it really doesn’t matter because you’ll be shocked all the same.  I got those same thrills, the same goosebumps and walked around with my nose buried in this book all day until the last few, perfect pages.

Fantastic book, my only regret is that I waited so long to read it.

Check out these review(s):

Mostly Fiction

Linus’s Blanket

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Lydia
16 December, 2010
Gothic, Historical, reviews
0 comments
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