Powerful
The German Mother by Debbie Rix is a powerful historical novel that completely took over my life for a few hours.
The action is set from 1920 -1945 mainly in Germany but also in London. It is based on factual details. We follow the rise of Hitler and the Nazi party from its inception to the height of power and then witness its demise. Within the tale, Hitler has a cameo role whereas Joseph Goebbels is more of a main character.
The story is set around the friendship of two German girls – one Aryan and one Jewish. Both enter the business of journalism as we see the power of the press to influence minds. Both witness the same events but with differing reactions. One fears what is to come, the other dismisses it. “They were only words, after all, and words couldn’t really hurt people.” Despite their differences, their friendship remains.
We see the action alternating between the two lead characters, and we get to know them really well.
It is horrifying to witness the rise to power of Hitler and the Nazis. The silence, the indifference and dismissive attitude of the German people enabled the obnoxious little corporal to come to power – and once in, he was impossible to unseat as he ruled through terror.
There is the theme of mothers. We see that the bonds between a mother and her children are stronger than any fear. A mother holds her daughters daughter’s secret, to leak it would be disastrous.
We witness the power of the press and the silencing of the press.
There are some hard to read, extremely distressing scenes – but this is history. It should make us very uncomfortable because it happened and we need to know about it.
The German Mother was powerful, horrifying yet inspiring. Light cannot be extinguished by darkness. We need to read The German Mother in memory of the six million who perished and those who survived.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
JULIA WILSON
Book Description:
1941, Germany: There’s a man in uniform outside my door. They’ve come for her. My beautiful little girl is wrenched from our home and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. But I vow to find Clara… no matter what it takes.
Minki Sommer strokes the blonde curls away from her daughter’s face and her heart swells. Clara is the most precious thing to her and each day she whispers a promise to keep her safe…
Before the war began, Minki had everything – an attentive husband, three adorable children, and a successful career as journalist. But all that changed in an instant.
Her sweet Clara, with her blue eyes and porcelain features, started having fits. Since then, Minki hasn’t been able to sleep properly because she knows children with illnesses like Clara’s are being stolen away in the night.
Her husband’s connections high up in the Nazi Party make the situation even more dangerous. Minki tries to escape the city with her children, but finds she is unable to leave. And then the moment she’s feared arrives: her husband has betrayed her.
Minki is devastated as her darling girl is ripped from her arms. But she vows she will use every last breath in her body to find her missing child, no matter how dangerous it is to cross a country at war…
Inspired by true stories, this is a heart-wrenching and unputdownable novel about a mother’s fight for the survival of her child in World War Two Germany. Fans of Orphan Train, The Tattooist of Auschwitz and My Name is Eva will be utterly gripped by this beautiful, tragic historical novel.
Author Bio:
Debbie Rix has had a long career in journalism, including working as a presenter for the BBC. Her first novel, The Girl with Emerald Eyes was set around the building of the tower of Pisa and she has since released Daughters of the Silk Road and The Silk Weaver’s Wife. Debbie writes heartbreaking historical novels about love, tragedy and secrets.
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Buy Link:
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