Those Who Save Us
Product Type: Book
Product Price: $14.00
Manufacturer: Mariner Books
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Description
Driven by the guilt of her heritage, Trudy, now a professor of German history, begins investigating the past and finally unearths the dramatic and heartbreaking truth of her mother's life.
Combining a passionate, doomed love story, a vivid evocation of life during the war, and a poignant mother/daughter drama, Those Who Save Us is a profound exploration of what we endure to survive and the legacy of shame.
Reviews
Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2010-09-07
Summary: "A Fresh Take on the German Citizen's Life During WWII"
A great historical fiction novel that is thought provoking, emotional, and paints a vivid picture of what life was like for German citizens during WWII. You are captivated from page one and will not want to put the book down as all the pieces of the puzzle start to come together. This is another of my favorite style of novel, where one story is being told about events in a character's life decades prior, while concurrently telling another story. It's a parallel story that brings questions to light that can only be answered by telling the story of the past. It is the story, unfortunately very common back in WWII, of what lengths a woman will go to in order to save her child and herself. Food was virtually non-existent, medicine was impossible to come by, and the fear of what the Nazis would do was barely pacified by the hopes that Allied troops would soon arrive to save the German Citizens. A definite must read about those who save us!
Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2010-09-06
Summary: "Unique Take on Fractured People"
Jenna Blum has a unique take on German people affected by WWII, whether they are civilian, military or Holocaust camp survivors. She presents us a German woman's private view of WWII, a story that we will not soon forget. Previously working for Speilberg on his collection of experiences from this era has given her a wealth of of knowledge to base this historial fiction book.
An annihilation of Jews, Poles, Catholics and any who did march in lock-step with the Nazi War Machine is a daunting subject matter. Ms. Blum delicately handles it through Anna and Trudies' memories and conflicts all the while relating the horrific personal survival tactics no matter how distasteful. Anna never reconciled what she had to endure to make young Trudie safe with the guilt she felt performing them. She set up a communication/emotional barrier about their personal history. Trudie was emotionally stunted by vague memories and her mother's inability to address their past.
An intimidating subject for a debut novel. Ms Blum uses great care to interweave yesterday's decisions with today's consequences and outcomes. She made me wonder how I would have dealt living in Germany during WWII as a single woman with a child. Could I show the bravery of a Resistance fighter or would I turn in my neighbor to the Gestapo?
An excellent book showing the true cost of war is not in the rubble of bombed buildings, but in carnage of the human spirit.
Excellent read!
Rating: 4 / 5
Date: 2010-08-28
Summary: "Choices"
Auggh...the review I meant for this book went to you under the title of another book I read, Leap Into Darkness. Such is the problem of typing too quickly.
Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2010-08-28
Summary: "LOVE, LOVE, LOVE"
I USUALLY DO NOT WRITE REVIEWS, BUT THIS BOOK WAS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS THAT I'VE READ IN A LONG TIME. I WASN'T SURE IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WOULD KEEP MY ATTENTION, BUT I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN!
Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2010-08-27
Summary: "Fascinating and innovative portrayal"
What drew me in and held me was Blum's unique treatment of a familiar theme. At first I got confused by the lack of quotation marks, but got used to it. Her use of present tense -- effective. Her structure -- brilliant. Not only the deft handovers between past and present, but the "holes" she left in the story. Between chapters she often lets you fill in the obvious or probable details. I kept talking back to her. But what about this or that, and why don't you tell us this or that, but then a few chapters later, she'd give us the answer, from a different angle.
We know how the story is going to end -- in finding out who her father is, but its the examination of her damaged characters that holds us. I never felt in their shoes, but looking at them from a distance. And just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore grimness, she gives us some refreshing humor before taking us to the final conclusion. In the end I felt I had a greater understanding of characters who find it difficult to reveal who they are because they don't want to face who they have become.
Masterfully written.