Smokinjbc's review
The Welsh Girl
by Peter Ho Davies
Smokinjbc's review
The Welsh Girl by Peter Ho Davies
Smokinjbc's review
rating:
bookshelves:
booksthatdontsuck
recommended for: people who are interested in how war affects lives
"The Welsh Girl" is a moving story about a young girl and a German POW in Wales during WWII. The main character, Esther, is date raped by her English soldier boyfriend and soon discovers she's pregnant to boot. I appreciated how her character didn't go through a dramatic "victim" process- instead the story reflected how this event affected her but without making it the sole focus of her life or story. The character of Karsten, the German POW was thought provoking as someone who goes from a respectable position in the Nazi army to a shamed POW. He hides the complete story of his surrender from his fellow prisoners and his mother but still takes action to retain his dignity, at least in his own mind. My only complaint is the side story of Hess and the interpreter- it was distracting.
