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207th out of 423 books
—
611 voters
The End of War
Berlin, January 1945.
The war draws to a close, but the fight for a vanquished city -- and for history -- is just beginning.
In the final months of the war in Europe, the last act of a five-year conflagration is about to be played out. As Allied generals surround the mortally wounded Nazi military machine, strategies are being formed on a greater scale than even generals can...more
The war draws to a close, but the fight for a vanquished city -- and for history -- is just beginning.
In the final months of the war in Europe, the last act of a five-year conflagration is about to be played out. As Allied generals surround the mortally wounded Nazi military machine, strategies are being formed on a greater scale than even generals can...more
Paperback, 528 pages
Published
May 29th 2001
by Bantam
(first published July 24th 2000)
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One of the most enjoyable reads in the recent times. The author does right to the wrongs the German people in the annuls of history were put through for what was the fault of Hitler and his henchmen. That and how he shows that the so called Titans of war were just petty men at the breakfast table.
There is this scene where (one of) the female protagonists in the story realizes the price her mother was paying to bring home black market food for dinner every day that had me put the book down for s...more
There is this scene where (one of) the female protagonists in the story realizes the price her mother was paying to bring home black market food for dinner every day that had me put the book down for s...more
Gives great personal context to the events of the end of World War II. I enjoyed learning more about a few of the real people that participated. Gives a good feel of the emotions and opinions of several sides. I'm sure it will be more interesting for people that know a lot about World War II; I don't know enough of the history and got lost from time to time because the author doesn't often step back and give the larger context for the detailed stories. It's a little slow and I found it hard to g...more
This is easily one of the best WWII novels I've ever read. The research is fantastic, the characters are fascinating and the story is told from both sides. Two snipers, trying to kill each other, and their quest to survive the hell that is the Battle of and for Stalingrad. David Robbins has told an amazing tale here.
I actually heard this as an Audiobook after a friend recommended it. By the way ... the reader here was fantastic! His name escapes me, but if you find this audiobook in your library, check it out!
An awesome piece of WWII fiction that takes place in the final months of the war in Europe. Loved it.
An awesome piece of WWII fiction that takes place in the final months of the war in Europe. Loved it.
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I loved this book. This fictionalized accouint of the fall of Berlin looks at the months from the combined perspectives of a German female cello player whose mother is hiding a Jew, of two russian soldiers, of an American Life photographer, as well as Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt.
Feb 15, 2012
Jenny
added it
I think I read this after finishing War of the Rats, but I'm not sure.
I thought this was a great read. Use of different view points through out the book (German, Russian, American) helped tell a complete story.
Aug 14, 2012
Ahmed
added it
it makes you live with the second world war day by day ... second by second
this was not bad and i love books about world war II.
This was a great book. Robbins writing is a delight and the time he puts into research is clearly evident in the plot details. The End of War is basically a Greek Tragedy set in WWII, with the "Gods" -- Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin -- meddling into the lives of "mortals" by playing geopolitics as their armies race to take Berlin. I can't succinctly put into words the plot or the sophistication of Robbin's writing. Just trust me that this is a great read, with an amazing message.
Okay, here's the thing. This book is a tough read because of all the different stories going on. However, there is a mastery of subject here rarely matched and in the end you are more than glad you read it through. The stories are moving and informative and the writing is terrific. It's been years since I read this book and I think of it often.
It gets 3 stars for the read and the fourth star for the moving stories. It gets the final fifth star for affecting my life.
It gets 3 stars for the read and the fourth star for the moving stories. It gets the final fifth star for affecting my life.
Engrossing story of the final days of WWII in Europe. Told masterfully from different point of view. Five stars - -
Jun 26, 2010
MG
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone who likes Historical Fiction/ WWII
Recommended to MG by:
I read "War of the Rats"
This book is a fictional account of the last days of WWII.
You see the war through the eyes of a magazine photographer, two German women struggling to survive in a doomed Berlin, and two Soviet Soldiers assigned to a penal regiment.
You also see the war though the eyes of Chrchill, Stalin, and Roosevelt.
Sometimes, you can get a birds eye view of a subject. Sometimes, you can get aa ant's view.
This book does an excellent job of giving you both.
You see the war through the eyes of a magazine photographer, two German women struggling to survive in a doomed Berlin, and two Soviet Soldiers assigned to a penal regiment.
You also see the war though the eyes of Chrchill, Stalin, and Roosevelt.
Sometimes, you can get a birds eye view of a subject. Sometimes, you can get aa ant's view.
This book does an excellent job of giving you both.
Race for Berlin, perspective of Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin
It was like looking through a prism at a time in history which I thankfully didn't have to experience first hand.
I just couldn't get into this book. Right from the start I found it dry and uninteresting.
Great World War II novel...
May 08, 2013
Manasse
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The son of World War II veterans, David Lea Robbins was born on March 10, 1954, in Richmond, VA. He received his B.A. in Theater and Speech from the College of William and Mary in 1976, then his Juris Doctorate from the same school four years later.
He spent one year practicing environmental law in South Carolina to keep an agreement made with his father regarding the money spent on law school. Whe...more
More about David L. Robbins...
He spent one year practicing environmental law in South Carolina to keep an agreement made with his father regarding the money spent on law school. Whe...more
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