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A Bitter Rain
A former professor descends into darkness in this provocative story of a Nazi soldier torn between duty and conscience.
East Prussia, Nazi Germany, 1939. History professor Erik Mueller is a model citizen and a family man. He’s also a decorated sergeant in the Gestapo. Proving his courage on the battlefields of Poland and the Soviet Union, and proud of the German army’s victories across Europe, he embraces what he thinks is the righteousness of the Third Reich’s cause.
But his loyalties are soon tested when he crosses paths with his old university friend Trude Bensheim. Forced into unemployment for being Jewish, Trude and her husband start a secret organization to help Jews escape Germany. But when they are betrayed by someone they thought they could trust, their lives hang in the balance.
Erik feels responsible for Trude’s capture, and he knows he’s in a position to help them. But when everything he holds dear is at stake, will he save his friends…or himself?
394 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2017
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November 1, 2017
"Tell me", she whispered, bracing herself.
"Is he dead?"
"No."
"What then?"
"Perhaps worse."
"What can be worse than death?"
The conditions created by so many people during the World Wars is unimaginable. Each time I read a book based during this time period, I can't wrap my head around just how could someone even think like this. But they did. They thought people to be of a lower status or higher just on the basis of their faith.
The saddest thing is, so many still do.
A Bitter Rain is a heart-breaking story from the eyes of an SS soldier, who despite not believing the Nazi ideology, couldn't do much to change it. It's also a story from the eyes of a woman, who despite not being religious at all, would soon be thrown into a concentration camp for just being a Jew.
Since so many years, religion has been used against humanity rather than for it. What will it take for people to wake up?
A Bitter Rain touches upon different aspects that went hand in hand during the WWII and right after. What made me find this book different from the many that I've read, based during Nazi Germany, is that how it doesn't fail to emphasis on all those who were willingly ready to help innocent Jews at the cost of their own lives, as true Germans. I'm glad to have witnessed this side, the actual side, of the nation through this book. And also how our protagonist, the SS soldier, held on to true morals and values despite the dangers he had to face.
And then there were characters like Corlina, sadly the protagonist's wife, and Karl - the weakest and the most vain any human can be.
I'm one of those who didn't like how the book ended. But I understand the importance of it to keep the story as realistic as possible, as unfair as it was then.
It's a beautifully written book and as the author mentions after it ends - It wasn't just Hitler and his followers who were evil and heartless enough to do what they did, but those who just sat back and saw it all happened. It's so true for so many things even today. It's the goodness that needs to unify as much as and more than the evil does, in this world.
This book was definitely an emotional rollercoaster for me.
I highly recommend it to anyone who holds interest in history and historical-fiction.
I received this via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Find me elsewhere:
Instagram - Times of Gee
Blog: Times of Gee
Youtube: Times of Gee
"Is he dead?"
"No."
"What then?"
"Perhaps worse."
"What can be worse than death?"
The conditions created by so many people during the World Wars is unimaginable. Each time I read a book based during this time period, I can't wrap my head around just how could someone even think like this. But they did. They thought people to be of a lower status or higher just on the basis of their faith.
The saddest thing is, so many still do.
A Bitter Rain is a heart-breaking story from the eyes of an SS soldier, who despite not believing the Nazi ideology, couldn't do much to change it. It's also a story from the eyes of a woman, who despite not being religious at all, would soon be thrown into a concentration camp for just being a Jew.
Since so many years, religion has been used against humanity rather than for it. What will it take for people to wake up?
A Bitter Rain touches upon different aspects that went hand in hand during the WWII and right after. What made me find this book different from the many that I've read, based during Nazi Germany, is that how it doesn't fail to emphasis on all those who were willingly ready to help innocent Jews at the cost of their own lives, as true Germans. I'm glad to have witnessed this side, the actual side, of the nation through this book. And also how our protagonist, the SS soldier, held on to true morals and values despite the dangers he had to face.
And then there were characters like Corlina, sadly the protagonist's wife, and Karl - the weakest and the most vain any human can be.
I'm one of those who didn't like how the book ended. But I understand the importance of it to keep the story as realistic as possible, as unfair as it was then.
It's a beautifully written book and as the author mentions after it ends - It wasn't just Hitler and his followers who were evil and heartless enough to do what they did, but those who just sat back and saw it all happened. It's so true for so many things even today. It's the goodness that needs to unify as much as and more than the evil does, in this world.
This book was definitely an emotional rollercoaster for me.
I highly recommend it to anyone who holds interest in history and historical-fiction.
I received this via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Find me elsewhere:
Instagram - Times of Gee
Blog: Times of Gee
Youtube: Times of Gee
December 2, 2017
This book is timely.
One is placed at the beginning of the end of a well developed, sophisticated society as Germany was in the 1930's that had come under the heel of a horrible regime, constitutionally elected, but which quickly consolidated power to a totalitarian state. One can see in this work the leading edge of the present day America some suggest we have become; an intolerant society where scapegoats are identified and official policy is bent to punish for their mere presence.
We are not yet the police state where some classes of society are heavily discriminated against, then rounded up in a Final Solution. Nor are we literally to the place where one who might have fallen on the favored side of the government is made to chose between their deeply held values and being on the party bandwagon, as are the characters in this fine work.
A thrilling read, the name "Hitchcock" came to me during the later chapters. The end notes raise the same thoughts I had while enjoying the book; lets tell ourselves this cannot happen here.
One is placed at the beginning of the end of a well developed, sophisticated society as Germany was in the 1930's that had come under the heel of a horrible regime, constitutionally elected, but which quickly consolidated power to a totalitarian state. One can see in this work the leading edge of the present day America some suggest we have become; an intolerant society where scapegoats are identified and official policy is bent to punish for their mere presence.
We are not yet the police state where some classes of society are heavily discriminated against, then rounded up in a Final Solution. Nor are we literally to the place where one who might have fallen on the favored side of the government is made to chose between their deeply held values and being on the party bandwagon, as are the characters in this fine work.
A thrilling read, the name "Hitchcock" came to me during the later chapters. The end notes raise the same thoughts I had while enjoying the book; lets tell ourselves this cannot happen here.
June 22, 2018
There wasn't really anything WRONG with this book exactly. I think my timing in reading it was off. With the current political climate in the US and comparisons of Trump to Hitler, I found myself unable (actually unwilling) to empathize with a Nazi, even a supposedly "good" Nazi. The story of Trude, a Jewish mother forcibly separated from her daughter, was equally hard to take. I think maybe I need to stay away from these types of books for the time being. At least until the world stops burning.
November 17, 2017
Great read!
Though very sad, it was a great story!
I can't imagine going through what the Jews went through. Highly recommended!
Though very sad, it was a great story!
I can't imagine going through what the Jews went through. Highly recommended!
October 31, 2017
An intense and captivating account of WWII through the eyes of a Nazi soldier. I thoroughly enjoyed this highly moving story, and particularly liked the way the two plot lines were interwoven. Expect to be staying up late at night to find out the fates of heroic Eric and his old friend, Trude. I was fortunate enough to read an advance copy of this book and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys accurate historical novels with a good amount of war detail.
May 17, 2018
3.5 stars.
I was very skeptical of this book after reading the first few chapters, but as I got further in, the story pulled me in and overall I found this a moving, informative, and thought-provoking read.
Aspects I especially appreciated:
I love the way the message flows directly through the characters, their situations, and their choices. Though the message is clear, it isn't preachy. It's obvious that the author had a purpose in writing this novel, and he cares about how his audience reacts to the themes. In addition to what I perceived as the main takeaway, this book really made me think about what I would do in the characters' situations; what would I be willing to give up to preserve my integrity and hold to my convictions, and how far would I go to protect someone I love?
Though this story necessarily goes some dark places, I appreciate the author's sensitive handling of disturbing subject matter. Even though there are many combat scenes, the violence and descriptions of wounds are realistic without being overly gritty. I'm especially grateful for the way the lecherous villain is handled; though he abuses a female character, his despicable actions are usually referred to indirectly or are skipped over and obliquely mentioned after the fact. The author does a very good job choosing which details are best left out.
The plot is very well structured after the first several chapters (it took a little while before I really got the direction one of the two plots was going.) There are two alternating plots/perspectives - a technique which is difficult to pull off well - and both of them are based solidly on a specific conflict (though as I said, the one gets a lot stronger partway through.) Almost all of the events that take place during the story are driven by conflict and move the characters toward or away from the goals that they are striving for. The author's sense of conflict beats is excellent; the characters never win their victories easily - sometimes not at all - and as soon as it looks like their plans are going to succeed, another complication messes everything up. Some people call that Cruelty to Characters, but I call it Keeping Your Reader Hooked. :)
I liked that this story gave attention to historical situations that I haven't before seen as the focus of a novel. I came away from this book having learned about WWII from new perspectives.
Aspects I thought left room for improvement:
Though the writing does improve over the course of the book, I personally found it a bit distracting. Especially in the first few chapters, I found my attention pulled away from the narrative by vivid verbs, nouns, and comparisons that sounded cool, but didn't quite fit the tone or meaning and drew attention to themselves rather than enhancing my mental image. For example, rather than having a character simply show up, enter the room, or appear in someone's field of vision, the characters (almost without fail) "materialize." There are a number of moments where the narrative jumps outside the POV character and focuses on things the character would be incapable of perceiving from his viewpoint; for example describing a facial wound (which the character would not have been able to see) in visual terms. There are also a lot of adverbs and adjectives that are either unnecessary and obvious or convey meaning that could be better expressed through other means of description.
I didn't quite understand one major decision closer to the end of the book. It looked to me like there was an easier, safer, and more sure way to get out of the situation than the course of action the characters decided on.
While the characters are empathetic and easy to care about, I felt that almost all of them were a bit two-dimensional. They're mostly defined by their circumstances and their major reactions to those circumstances. While I believe that a character's choices should be the thing that defines him, I would have liked to get a better picture of the characters' behavior outside of life-and-death decisions. From the characterization in the story, I don't have a very good idea of who the characters would be apart from the war. I personally think that more attention to smaller choices would have given the characters more depth. I felt that the two child characters could have especially used more attention; if they had been more fleshed out and individual, I think their relationships with the protagonists would have been more moving and the danger they face would have given me a deeper fear for them. They seem quite young for their ages; at the beginning of the story I would have guessed they were about four and then found out they were closer to ten. They both came across as unrealistically willing to believe whatever any adult tells them. I would have been more endeared to them had they had been more interesting in their own right, but their meaning in the story is entirely relative to the protagonists.
The title. I don't remember any appearance of the phrase or concept "bitter rain" in the book. There's a possibility that the phrase did show up somewhere and I've just forgotten, but in any case, it wasn't memorable enough that it stood out.
There's unfortunately a small bit of language that would keep me from recommending this book to some people, but if that's not an issue for you and you're interested in learning more about WWII Germany, the SS, and the holocaust, you'll get something out of this.
I was very skeptical of this book after reading the first few chapters, but as I got further in, the story pulled me in and overall I found this a moving, informative, and thought-provoking read.
Aspects I especially appreciated:
I love the way the message flows directly through the characters, their situations, and their choices. Though the message is clear, it isn't preachy. It's obvious that the author had a purpose in writing this novel, and he cares about how his audience reacts to the themes. In addition to what I perceived as the main takeaway, this book really made me think about what I would do in the characters' situations; what would I be willing to give up to preserve my integrity and hold to my convictions, and how far would I go to protect someone I love?
Though this story necessarily goes some dark places, I appreciate the author's sensitive handling of disturbing subject matter. Even though there are many combat scenes, the violence and descriptions of wounds are realistic without being overly gritty. I'm especially grateful for the way the lecherous villain is handled; though he abuses a female character, his despicable actions are usually referred to indirectly or are skipped over and obliquely mentioned after the fact. The author does a very good job choosing which details are best left out.
The plot is very well structured after the first several chapters (it took a little while before I really got the direction one of the two plots was going.) There are two alternating plots/perspectives - a technique which is difficult to pull off well - and both of them are based solidly on a specific conflict (though as I said, the one gets a lot stronger partway through.) Almost all of the events that take place during the story are driven by conflict and move the characters toward or away from the goals that they are striving for. The author's sense of conflict beats is excellent; the characters never win their victories easily - sometimes not at all - and as soon as it looks like their plans are going to succeed, another complication messes everything up. Some people call that Cruelty to Characters, but I call it Keeping Your Reader Hooked. :)
I liked that this story gave attention to historical situations that I haven't before seen as the focus of a novel. I came away from this book having learned about WWII from new perspectives.
Aspects I thought left room for improvement:
Though the writing does improve over the course of the book, I personally found it a bit distracting. Especially in the first few chapters, I found my attention pulled away from the narrative by vivid verbs, nouns, and comparisons that sounded cool, but didn't quite fit the tone or meaning and drew attention to themselves rather than enhancing my mental image. For example, rather than having a character simply show up, enter the room, or appear in someone's field of vision, the characters (almost without fail) "materialize." There are a number of moments where the narrative jumps outside the POV character and focuses on things the character would be incapable of perceiving from his viewpoint; for example describing a facial wound (which the character would not have been able to see) in visual terms. There are also a lot of adverbs and adjectives that are either unnecessary and obvious or convey meaning that could be better expressed through other means of description.
I didn't quite understand one major decision closer to the end of the book. It looked to me like there was an easier, safer, and more sure way to get out of the situation than the course of action the characters decided on.
While the characters are empathetic and easy to care about, I felt that almost all of them were a bit two-dimensional. They're mostly defined by their circumstances and their major reactions to those circumstances. While I believe that a character's choices should be the thing that defines him, I would have liked to get a better picture of the characters' behavior outside of life-and-death decisions. From the characterization in the story, I don't have a very good idea of who the characters would be apart from the war. I personally think that more attention to smaller choices would have given the characters more depth. I felt that the two child characters could have especially used more attention; if they had been more fleshed out and individual, I think their relationships with the protagonists would have been more moving and the danger they face would have given me a deeper fear for them. They seem quite young for their ages; at the beginning of the story I would have guessed they were about four and then found out they were closer to ten. They both came across as unrealistically willing to believe whatever any adult tells them. I would have been more endeared to them had they had been more interesting in their own right, but their meaning in the story is entirely relative to the protagonists.
The title. I don't remember any appearance of the phrase or concept "bitter rain" in the book. There's a possibility that the phrase did show up somewhere and I've just forgotten, but in any case, it wasn't memorable enough that it stood out.
There's unfortunately a small bit of language that would keep me from recommending this book to some people, but if that's not an issue for you and you're interested in learning more about WWII Germany, the SS, and the holocaust, you'll get something out of this.
October 14, 2017
4 stars
Erik Mueller is an SS Sergeant in charge of a small unit as the Germans get ready to invade Poland in 1939. He faces fierce fire, boredom and the questionable actions of his superior. He is in line for a promotion until he voices his concerns to Lieutenant Sauer - the person who shot two unarmed Polish men. He is married to Corina and has a daughter named Greta. Corina is a social climber and a fanatical believer in the Nazi propaganda. His parents live with the family. A part of this book is told from his point of view on the frontlines of the war.
The other point of view is told from Trude Bensheim’s, a Jewish woman who is married to Johannes and has a daughter named Britta. Johannes was an activist who was obtaining visas for other Jewish persons but failed to get his own family out of Germany in time. They are hiding in their apartment, hoping against hope that the Gestapo doesn’t find them before they can think of a way out of the country.
After charging a machine gun nest almost singlehandedly and killing all five occupants, the Captain of the platoon promoted Erik to Lieutenant. They move through Belgium, France and head to Russia. All goes not too badly until they get just outside of Moscow.
Meanwhile Trude and her family are not faring well. In a last ditch attempt to escape and for an exorbitant sum of money, they are assured that a ship awaits them. When they arrive at the dock, Johannes is arrested. Trude and Britta manage to escape. Hiding in the house of a neighbor for several months, they make do. Trude keeps telling the elderly woman that they must move on; that the woman is putting her life in danger as well, but the woman won’t listen. One night when returning to the apartment, the Gestapo is at the house. Trude is dragged away as the Gestapo no doubt arrests her daughter and the elderly woman.
As the years roll by, Erik’s fortunes rise and Trude’s life is nearly destroyed. Then in one fell swoop, Erik falls.
This book is well written and plotted, but there is something about it that jars me. Perhaps it is a bit sappy, if one is allowed to say that about so serious a story. It was moving and sometimes difficult to read. I can’t put my finger on the reason I am left confused. The suspense starts out immediately and continues throughout the story. I enjoy WWII novels and this one is a winner for sure. I liked the characters: Erik with his sense of right and wrong, Captain Dutt, Mrs. Werner and Trude with her passion. I didn’t like Gunther the self-deluding monster, or Sauer the lying so-and-so or the social climbing Corina. Perhaps that’s it. There were so few characters to admire and so many to dislike. But then the topic is a horrific one and I’m sure the reader cannot like many people in so tragic a story.
I want to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Press for forwarding to me a copy of this interesting and engrossing book to read and enjoy.
Erik Mueller is an SS Sergeant in charge of a small unit as the Germans get ready to invade Poland in 1939. He faces fierce fire, boredom and the questionable actions of his superior. He is in line for a promotion until he voices his concerns to Lieutenant Sauer - the person who shot two unarmed Polish men. He is married to Corina and has a daughter named Greta. Corina is a social climber and a fanatical believer in the Nazi propaganda. His parents live with the family. A part of this book is told from his point of view on the frontlines of the war.
The other point of view is told from Trude Bensheim’s, a Jewish woman who is married to Johannes and has a daughter named Britta. Johannes was an activist who was obtaining visas for other Jewish persons but failed to get his own family out of Germany in time. They are hiding in their apartment, hoping against hope that the Gestapo doesn’t find them before they can think of a way out of the country.
After charging a machine gun nest almost singlehandedly and killing all five occupants, the Captain of the platoon promoted Erik to Lieutenant. They move through Belgium, France and head to Russia. All goes not too badly until they get just outside of Moscow.
Meanwhile Trude and her family are not faring well. In a last ditch attempt to escape and for an exorbitant sum of money, they are assured that a ship awaits them. When they arrive at the dock, Johannes is arrested. Trude and Britta manage to escape. Hiding in the house of a neighbor for several months, they make do. Trude keeps telling the elderly woman that they must move on; that the woman is putting her life in danger as well, but the woman won’t listen. One night when returning to the apartment, the Gestapo is at the house. Trude is dragged away as the Gestapo no doubt arrests her daughter and the elderly woman.
As the years roll by, Erik’s fortunes rise and Trude’s life is nearly destroyed. Then in one fell swoop, Erik falls.
This book is well written and plotted, but there is something about it that jars me. Perhaps it is a bit sappy, if one is allowed to say that about so serious a story. It was moving and sometimes difficult to read. I can’t put my finger on the reason I am left confused. The suspense starts out immediately and continues throughout the story. I enjoy WWII novels and this one is a winner for sure. I liked the characters: Erik with his sense of right and wrong, Captain Dutt, Mrs. Werner and Trude with her passion. I didn’t like Gunther the self-deluding monster, or Sauer the lying so-and-so or the social climbing Corina. Perhaps that’s it. There were so few characters to admire and so many to dislike. But then the topic is a horrific one and I’m sure the reader cannot like many people in so tragic a story.
I want to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Press for forwarding to me a copy of this interesting and engrossing book to read and enjoy.
June 19, 2018
Page turning story of greed, lust and humanity
***Goodreads give away win in exchange for an honest review***
This book is one of my favorite WWII books now. I thought it showed how war can bring out both the best and worst of people in war.
The story follows two people. Erik Mueller a guy with connections in the Nazi army and Trude. A Jewish lady who Erik knew back in college. The two had history.
Erik was a well connected German man with ties that helped him rise in the SS. He fought hard but still had a conscience. Always looking to fight with honor. Not ever truly buying into the Nazi cause. Events would unravel that would test his thin loyalty to the party and events that would test his view on humanity.
Trude and her husband did a ton to try to save fellow Jews. They put off their own safety to help many others. They waited till the last minute to leave their home. That caused issues. Caused the family to be broken apart and allow an unsavory Nazi soldier to step in and try to fill a void.
This story kept me glued from the beginning. I read it when ever the chance arrived.
***Goodreads give away win in exchange for an honest review***
This book is one of my favorite WWII books now. I thought it showed how war can bring out both the best and worst of people in war.
The story follows two people. Erik Mueller a guy with connections in the Nazi army and Trude. A Jewish lady who Erik knew back in college. The two had history.
Erik was a well connected German man with ties that helped him rise in the SS. He fought hard but still had a conscience. Always looking to fight with honor. Not ever truly buying into the Nazi cause. Events would unravel that would test his thin loyalty to the party and events that would test his view on humanity.
Trude and her husband did a ton to try to save fellow Jews. They put off their own safety to help many others. They waited till the last minute to leave their home. That caused issues. Caused the family to be broken apart and allow an unsavory Nazi soldier to step in and try to fill a void.
This story kept me glued from the beginning. I read it when ever the chance arrived.
December 30, 2017
Gripping
I was totally engaged with all the characters. Very real and authentic. We should pay close attention and remember. History can teach us many lessons.
I was totally engaged with all the characters. Very real and authentic. We should pay close attention and remember. History can teach us many lessons.
November 14, 2017
James D. Shipman gives us a powerful and memorable WWII novel in A Bitter Rain. It’s 1939 and Erik Mueller, an unemployed historian, is now a member of the SS thanks to his wife’s connections to Karl Schmidt, an up and coming officer stationed at SS headquarters in Konigsberg. While Erik is grateful for the job and income, he is less than enthusiastic about going to war. Corina, his wife, is hungry to move up in the world and constantly prods Erik to do whatever he can to make that happen.
While Corina is fully indoctrinated and in line with all of the Nazi propaganda, Erik is skeptical and leery of the misleading nature and brainwashing of his countrymen against the Jewish population. Never does their differences of opinion become clearer than when Erik runs into his former friend Trude Bensheim from his university days. Erik is surprised and happy to see Trude, but Corina is livid. She wants nothing to do with his former Jewish friend and denounces his former friendship with her. Trude has only one thing in mind, to advance Erik through the ranks and to live by all the Nazi’s proclamations.
As war is declared and Germany attempts to take over Europe, Erik is forced into battle. Afraid, but determined, Erik displays stoicism in leading his men onto the frontlines of battle. His fortitude and bravery does not go unnoticed. His remaining men show him respect and loyalty and his superiors advance him quickly through the ranks. At home, Corina is happy with her rising star and sees herself climbing the social ladder. Unfortunately, for Trude and her family, Konigsberg, the war and the political ramifications of the Nazi party have become a terrifying ordeal. Borders are closed and passports are denied. Food is scarce and deportation is now a reality for her Jewish friends and neighbors. Trude knows it’s only a matter of time till they are caught and thus begins their personal nightmare.
While Erik enjoys the camaraderie of his commanding officer and the men he leads, a battle in a small Russian town seals his fate. Although he leads his men to victory, he disobeys an order from his commanding officer to kill a group of unarmed Russian prisoners. Knowing he will lose everything he has gained, Erik refuses the command. He is immediately arrested and taken back to Germany. Awaiting trial, he is beaten and humiliated by the high officers and the Nazi guards. Karl, for the sake of Corina, comes to his rescue again and gives him another chance. If he fails this time, it will cost him his life and possibly that of his family. Now stripped of his rank with a wife who refuses to acknowledge him, Erik leaves for Soldau, a concentration camp for Jewish prisoners where the vast majority are starved or worked to death. Erik’s new job is to confiscate Jewish prisoners’ property and turn it over to the government. As time goes by, Erik settles in trying to ignore what goes on behind the prison walls until he sees Trude. Now Erik must decide once again to stand his moral ground and help Trude escape and risk losing everything, even his very life.
I had a hard time putting this book down. Beautifully written with characters you’ll either love or hate, A Bitter Rain is a winner, especially for those who love a great WWII novel. I loved Trude and the lengths she was willing to go to protect her daughter. I liked Erik and his ability to put aside his own safety to take the high ground no matter what it cost. I disliked Gunther and Corina. Both of these characters were self-serving, greedy and desperately in need of a conscience. My favorite characters however, were minor characters. Captain Dutt, Friedrich, Schaefer and Frau Werner. These four showed kindness and empathy at a time when doing so could get you killed or worse. They were beautiful souls that enriched the story-line and added so much to the book. As all good books do I was reluctant to let these characters go.
On a side note, I greatly appreciated the historical commentary the author gave us on Konigsberg, East Prussia, the SS, Soldau Concentration Camp and Germany and the Nazi’s at the close of the book. Even though the characters in the book were fictitious, it was a stark reminder that the events were not.
A Bitter Rain is a must read for those who like drama, historical fiction or a good WWII novel. Filled with strong characters and an equally strong story-line, A Bitter Rain is a winner that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.
I want to thank Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley for an advanced copy of A Bitter Rain for a fair and honest review.
While Corina is fully indoctrinated and in line with all of the Nazi propaganda, Erik is skeptical and leery of the misleading nature and brainwashing of his countrymen against the Jewish population. Never does their differences of opinion become clearer than when Erik runs into his former friend Trude Bensheim from his university days. Erik is surprised and happy to see Trude, but Corina is livid. She wants nothing to do with his former Jewish friend and denounces his former friendship with her. Trude has only one thing in mind, to advance Erik through the ranks and to live by all the Nazi’s proclamations.
As war is declared and Germany attempts to take over Europe, Erik is forced into battle. Afraid, but determined, Erik displays stoicism in leading his men onto the frontlines of battle. His fortitude and bravery does not go unnoticed. His remaining men show him respect and loyalty and his superiors advance him quickly through the ranks. At home, Corina is happy with her rising star and sees herself climbing the social ladder. Unfortunately, for Trude and her family, Konigsberg, the war and the political ramifications of the Nazi party have become a terrifying ordeal. Borders are closed and passports are denied. Food is scarce and deportation is now a reality for her Jewish friends and neighbors. Trude knows it’s only a matter of time till they are caught and thus begins their personal nightmare.
While Erik enjoys the camaraderie of his commanding officer and the men he leads, a battle in a small Russian town seals his fate. Although he leads his men to victory, he disobeys an order from his commanding officer to kill a group of unarmed Russian prisoners. Knowing he will lose everything he has gained, Erik refuses the command. He is immediately arrested and taken back to Germany. Awaiting trial, he is beaten and humiliated by the high officers and the Nazi guards. Karl, for the sake of Corina, comes to his rescue again and gives him another chance. If he fails this time, it will cost him his life and possibly that of his family. Now stripped of his rank with a wife who refuses to acknowledge him, Erik leaves for Soldau, a concentration camp for Jewish prisoners where the vast majority are starved or worked to death. Erik’s new job is to confiscate Jewish prisoners’ property and turn it over to the government. As time goes by, Erik settles in trying to ignore what goes on behind the prison walls until he sees Trude. Now Erik must decide once again to stand his moral ground and help Trude escape and risk losing everything, even his very life.
I had a hard time putting this book down. Beautifully written with characters you’ll either love or hate, A Bitter Rain is a winner, especially for those who love a great WWII novel. I loved Trude and the lengths she was willing to go to protect her daughter. I liked Erik and his ability to put aside his own safety to take the high ground no matter what it cost. I disliked Gunther and Corina. Both of these characters were self-serving, greedy and desperately in need of a conscience. My favorite characters however, were minor characters. Captain Dutt, Friedrich, Schaefer and Frau Werner. These four showed kindness and empathy at a time when doing so could get you killed or worse. They were beautiful souls that enriched the story-line and added so much to the book. As all good books do I was reluctant to let these characters go.
On a side note, I greatly appreciated the historical commentary the author gave us on Konigsberg, East Prussia, the SS, Soldau Concentration Camp and Germany and the Nazi’s at the close of the book. Even though the characters in the book were fictitious, it was a stark reminder that the events were not.
A Bitter Rain is a must read for those who like drama, historical fiction or a good WWII novel. Filled with strong characters and an equally strong story-line, A Bitter Rain is a winner that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.
I want to thank Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley for an advanced copy of A Bitter Rain for a fair and honest review.
January 4, 2018
Wonderful story of 2 sides of WWII
A Bitter Rain is a heartfelt story about a Jew and a AS soldier. Trude is a Jew, though not religious, during WWII. Her family is put at risk when her husband is found to be giving Jews take passports. Her husband is caught and imprisoned, leaving her wanted and alone to take care of her daughter. Trude does her best buy her daughter is found and imprisoned. Trude then reluctantly agrees to act as the wife of an important SS officer to keep her and her child safe. Erik is a German who does not believe in the Nazi propaganda but is drafted into the war. He works hard and is promoted quickly. However, when ordered to kill innocent civilians, Erik must disobey his commanding officer. Erik is imprisoned and sentenced to death. By a twist of events, Erik is saved and sent to work at the labour camp that Trude is at. Erik and Trude may be each other's only chance at escape. Great story. Easy read. Highly recommend to anyone who likes history.
A Bitter Rain is a heartfelt story about a Jew and a AS soldier. Trude is a Jew, though not religious, during WWII. Her family is put at risk when her husband is found to be giving Jews take passports. Her husband is caught and imprisoned, leaving her wanted and alone to take care of her daughter. Trude does her best buy her daughter is found and imprisoned. Trude then reluctantly agrees to act as the wife of an important SS officer to keep her and her child safe. Erik is a German who does not believe in the Nazi propaganda but is drafted into the war. He works hard and is promoted quickly. However, when ordered to kill innocent civilians, Erik must disobey his commanding officer. Erik is imprisoned and sentenced to death. By a twist of events, Erik is saved and sent to work at the labour camp that Trude is at. Erik and Trude may be each other's only chance at escape. Great story. Easy read. Highly recommend to anyone who likes history.
December 14, 2017
A Bitter Rain is an incredible read. The details and descriptions are so vivid, I felt like I was right there struggling with Trude, Britta and Erik. The action and suspense in the story were so great at times that I could not even guess what would happen next. I had no problem to continue turning the pages. The ending is one I would have ever imagined.
Awesome read.
100 stars.
Awesome read.
100 stars.
April 29, 2018
Very well done. I am a 5 to 7 book/week reader. I am a former English grammar editor for attorney's briefs and documents. I am heavy on the critique. I have never given a book 5 stars before. This book was unbelievable in story, characters and suspense. As well this book's research on the subject matter was sound. I lived through WWII and knew of the events first-hand. Kudos to Mr. Shipman.
February 24, 2020
At times I found A Bitter Rain to be a bitter read. Not because it wasn't well written or lacked a good storyline, but rather because of its candid depiction of the worst side of humanity. The characters were extremely relatable, the storyline interesting and fast paced, and the plot compelling. However, on more than one occasion the heavy content left knots in my stomach and a bitter taste on my tongue. Below I have written several thoughts and questions that came to mind as I thought about the different characters in this book.
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Note: My thoughts below may contain some spoilers.
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I found Erik to be a very relatable character. He is a good man who loves his family and makes a majority of his choices out of a desire to provide for and protect his wife, daughter, and parents. However, by putting his family first he becomes complicit in the cruelty committed by the Nazis. Although he refuses to participate in these atrocities directly (which eventually leads to his downfall), his inaction contributed to the collective turn of a blind eye that empowered the Nazis. However, despite the moral compromises he made, he eventually chose to sacrifice himself in order to free a couple of Jewish prisoners. Below are some thoughts I've had as I've contemplated his story:
At one point is it ok to sacrifice the wellbeing of others (particularly ones own family) in a moral fight? To sacrifice oneself is honorable and praiseworthy, but when your sacrifice will result in the direct harm of others, is it worth making? Had Erik refused to plea guilty to the false accusations against him, would he have been robbing his family's ability to choose for themselves whether his moral fight was worth sacrificing their own lives for?
What benefits did Erik receive by refusing to kill the Russian prisoners? His decision to refuse the order to kill them didn't save their lives. Did he maintain honor? Did he maintain control of his own moral compass?
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Erik's wife (Corina I believe) is a great example of the moral sacrifices one willingly and easily makes when status and comfort become the most desirable commodities. In an effort to boost herself, Corina willingly and shamelessly sacrifices others, including her own family members.
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Gunther is a disgusting human but a great example of how blind we can be to our own shortcomings. He somehow convinced himself that his cruel manipulations of Trude and Britta were manifestations of love. He crafted a narrative that he was their protector instead of their captor. Its incredible how quick we are to deceive ourselves in order to justify our actions. Serious self reflection is needed in order to uncover our blind spots.
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Captain Sauer is another fascinating character. At first, he seems like a sadistic tyrant who has completely bought into the Nazi propaganda and is willing to commit all manner of atrocities in the name of the Third Reich. However, as time passes, we realize he is an incredibly effective leader and even a loyal friend. Before the war he was a teacher and during the war continues to love and cherish his wife and children. How are these positive attributes he possesses reconcilable with his blatant disregard of the humanity of his enemies. He needlessly murders prisoners of war throughout the book (often in an extremely cruel manner) and seems to take great pleasure in the violence. More than anything I feel like his character is a terrible reminder of what happens when we view other human beings as 'other' or 'alien'. When dealing with an inferior species, what would be considered atrocities are simply a reality of life (think killing pests etc.). If one truly buys into the rhetoric that the enemy is vermin, than committing atrocities against seems trivial. May we all remember how important it is to view both friend and stranger as an equal being before God.
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Note: My thoughts below may contain some spoilers.
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I found Erik to be a very relatable character. He is a good man who loves his family and makes a majority of his choices out of a desire to provide for and protect his wife, daughter, and parents. However, by putting his family first he becomes complicit in the cruelty committed by the Nazis. Although he refuses to participate in these atrocities directly (which eventually leads to his downfall), his inaction contributed to the collective turn of a blind eye that empowered the Nazis. However, despite the moral compromises he made, he eventually chose to sacrifice himself in order to free a couple of Jewish prisoners. Below are some thoughts I've had as I've contemplated his story:
At one point is it ok to sacrifice the wellbeing of others (particularly ones own family) in a moral fight? To sacrifice oneself is honorable and praiseworthy, but when your sacrifice will result in the direct harm of others, is it worth making? Had Erik refused to plea guilty to the false accusations against him, would he have been robbing his family's ability to choose for themselves whether his moral fight was worth sacrificing their own lives for?
What benefits did Erik receive by refusing to kill the Russian prisoners? His decision to refuse the order to kill them didn't save their lives. Did he maintain honor? Did he maintain control of his own moral compass?
---
Erik's wife (Corina I believe) is a great example of the moral sacrifices one willingly and easily makes when status and comfort become the most desirable commodities. In an effort to boost herself, Corina willingly and shamelessly sacrifices others, including her own family members.
---
Gunther is a disgusting human but a great example of how blind we can be to our own shortcomings. He somehow convinced himself that his cruel manipulations of Trude and Britta were manifestations of love. He crafted a narrative that he was their protector instead of their captor. Its incredible how quick we are to deceive ourselves in order to justify our actions. Serious self reflection is needed in order to uncover our blind spots.
---
Captain Sauer is another fascinating character. At first, he seems like a sadistic tyrant who has completely bought into the Nazi propaganda and is willing to commit all manner of atrocities in the name of the Third Reich. However, as time passes, we realize he is an incredibly effective leader and even a loyal friend. Before the war he was a teacher and during the war continues to love and cherish his wife and children. How are these positive attributes he possesses reconcilable with his blatant disregard of the humanity of his enemies. He needlessly murders prisoners of war throughout the book (often in an extremely cruel manner) and seems to take great pleasure in the violence. More than anything I feel like his character is a terrible reminder of what happens when we view other human beings as 'other' or 'alien'. When dealing with an inferior species, what would be considered atrocities are simply a reality of life (think killing pests etc.). If one truly buys into the rhetoric that the enemy is vermin, than committing atrocities against seems trivial. May we all remember how important it is to view both friend and stranger as an equal being before God.
March 5, 2020
Thought provoking
This novel was definitely thought provoking - at its heart is the question of just how much you'd be willing to risk when your life or the lives of your loved ones are literally at stake. Would you stick to your sense of right and wrong, or succumb to self-preservation. The author gives us multiple perspectives of this question: from the Jews being persecuted just for being Jewish, to the German caught up in a war he doesn't fully believe in following leaders whose ideologies he does not share, to the German citizens who follow their conscience and those who begin to believe the ideology being spread because it provides them with both scapegoats for their previous bad situation and new-found prosperity, to the truly warped ideologues who relish in their power, hypocrisy, and sadistic tendencies. Ultimately we see that, except for the last group of characters, they all grapple with a much more complex set of moral decisions than a right/wrong dichotomy. At what point is "right" too difficult to adhere to? At what point do you keep quiet when something is wrong? And at what point is morality overcome by self-preservation - that most primal of human instincts? The novel really doesn't give us answers to these questions - no tidy little endings that allow us to say all is right with the world. NONE of the characters are truly all good or all bad, including the sadistic ones - and that's the point I think. Thought provoking!
However, as compelling as the subject matter is, I still give this only 4 stars because I found the writing style a bit distancing. I never really got to know these characters fully; I never connected with them emotionally. This was due, I think, to the way the story unfolded with a lot of "play-by-play" details rather than true character development. This is a subjective reaction, of course, and others may find the writing style appealing, but I didn't feel completely pulled INTO the story - more like I was watching things happen from the outside. This may have a lot to do with Shipman's historian background.
Overall, a story I won't soon forget.
This novel was definitely thought provoking - at its heart is the question of just how much you'd be willing to risk when your life or the lives of your loved ones are literally at stake. Would you stick to your sense of right and wrong, or succumb to self-preservation. The author gives us multiple perspectives of this question: from the Jews being persecuted just for being Jewish, to the German caught up in a war he doesn't fully believe in following leaders whose ideologies he does not share, to the German citizens who follow their conscience and those who begin to believe the ideology being spread because it provides them with both scapegoats for their previous bad situation and new-found prosperity, to the truly warped ideologues who relish in their power, hypocrisy, and sadistic tendencies. Ultimately we see that, except for the last group of characters, they all grapple with a much more complex set of moral decisions than a right/wrong dichotomy. At what point is "right" too difficult to adhere to? At what point do you keep quiet when something is wrong? And at what point is morality overcome by self-preservation - that most primal of human instincts? The novel really doesn't give us answers to these questions - no tidy little endings that allow us to say all is right with the world. NONE of the characters are truly all good or all bad, including the sadistic ones - and that's the point I think. Thought provoking!
However, as compelling as the subject matter is, I still give this only 4 stars because I found the writing style a bit distancing. I never really got to know these characters fully; I never connected with them emotionally. This was due, I think, to the way the story unfolded with a lot of "play-by-play" details rather than true character development. This is a subjective reaction, of course, and others may find the writing style appealing, but I didn't feel completely pulled INTO the story - more like I was watching things happen from the outside. This may have a lot to do with Shipman's historian background.
Overall, a story I won't soon forget.
June 9, 2018
Sometimes you hate the ending of the book.
Sometimes it's because you willingly suspended belief for the entire novel and thought it would just end happily, even during the most horrible circumstances imaginable.
It was redemptive. It was raw. And when the Audible reading wrapped up and went to the 'historical notes' part, I nearly lost my mind. What? That couldn't be the end! What the heck, James D. Shipman!
When I listened to the historical notes at 10:45 PM, tired but wanting to hear the ending, the narrator calmly explained that many people were likely to be unhappy with the ending - but it was the truth of the war, and many of those who were wealthy and high-ranking enough in Germany did escape. Yes, that is true. We know that many high-ranking officers in the Third Reich fled to Argentina, the U.S., and into other locales, sometimes leading a life of idolization from others in the German community there. Some of the collaborators have never faced justice. It is the cold harshness of a world where people want justice but must settle for the law and prosecuting those they do find.
The narrative is compelling, and it bounces between Erik and Truda at a good pace, often leaving you wanting to get on to the next chapter because Erik or Truda's last narrative left you in pieces. I listened to the 12 hour audiobook over two days. I had to finish it. I wanted to know what would happen.
It is a powerful story. It has the truly horrible, the truly beautiful, and the downright terrifying truths of Germany during WWII and the Holocaust. It is these inescapable truths that we as 21st century people must continue to grabble with, especially as the number of survivors, now 70+ years from the liberation of Auschwitz death camp, continues to grow ever less. Especially as the "Alt-Right" gains more notice and marches more brazenly.
The final question is - what are you willing to sacrifice in order to do what is right?
Sometimes it's because you willingly suspended belief for the entire novel and thought it would just end happily, even during the most horrible circumstances imaginable.
It was redemptive. It was raw. And when the Audible reading wrapped up and went to the 'historical notes' part, I nearly lost my mind. What? That couldn't be the end! What the heck, James D. Shipman!
When I listened to the historical notes at 10:45 PM, tired but wanting to hear the ending, the narrator calmly explained that many people were likely to be unhappy with the ending - but it was the truth of the war, and many of those who were wealthy and high-ranking enough in Germany did escape. Yes, that is true. We know that many high-ranking officers in the Third Reich fled to Argentina, the U.S., and into other locales, sometimes leading a life of idolization from others in the German community there. Some of the collaborators have never faced justice. It is the cold harshness of a world where people want justice but must settle for the law and prosecuting those they do find.
The narrative is compelling, and it bounces between Erik and Truda at a good pace, often leaving you wanting to get on to the next chapter because Erik or Truda's last narrative left you in pieces. I listened to the 12 hour audiobook over two days. I had to finish it. I wanted to know what would happen.
It is a powerful story. It has the truly horrible, the truly beautiful, and the downright terrifying truths of Germany during WWII and the Holocaust. It is these inescapable truths that we as 21st century people must continue to grabble with, especially as the number of survivors, now 70+ years from the liberation of Auschwitz death camp, continues to grow ever less. Especially as the "Alt-Right" gains more notice and marches more brazenly.
The final question is - what are you willing to sacrifice in order to do what is right?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2019
Make Germany Great Again!
This is a story from both perspectives of World War II, an SS soldier grappling with his moral compass and a Jewish woman trying to keep her family safe. "This is a new world, a new order. The party is the future. Germany will do whatever it takes to earn our rightful place in Europe. In this new world, there is no place for sentimentality and weakness." The SS soldier cannot believe the things people will do for the sake of the party. And lets his thoughts be know, but at what cost?
The Jewish woman was attempting to manipulate a semi-sympathetic SS officer at a concentration camp and came to a harsh reality, "She’d come to the land of demons and devils, mocking God above, destroying his creations with a wicked glee."
This book was hard to read and hard to put down all at the same time. The SS officer came to a profound conclusion, "If enough people stood up, they wouldn’t be able to continue all this. We’ve all been too afraid. We all stood by and let it happen. We let these monsters in the door. They promised to protect us. They named our enemies and drove us to destroy them, but in the process, we’ve destroyed ourselves as well.” It is hard to wrap my brain around that this might have been someone's story and not completely fiction.
This is a story from both perspectives of World War II, an SS soldier grappling with his moral compass and a Jewish woman trying to keep her family safe. "This is a new world, a new order. The party is the future. Germany will do whatever it takes to earn our rightful place in Europe. In this new world, there is no place for sentimentality and weakness." The SS soldier cannot believe the things people will do for the sake of the party. And lets his thoughts be know, but at what cost?
The Jewish woman was attempting to manipulate a semi-sympathetic SS officer at a concentration camp and came to a harsh reality, "She’d come to the land of demons and devils, mocking God above, destroying his creations with a wicked glee."
This book was hard to read and hard to put down all at the same time. The SS officer came to a profound conclusion, "If enough people stood up, they wouldn’t be able to continue all this. We’ve all been too afraid. We all stood by and let it happen. We let these monsters in the door. They promised to protect us. They named our enemies and drove us to destroy them, but in the process, we’ve destroyed ourselves as well.” It is hard to wrap my brain around that this might have been someone's story and not completely fiction.
August 27, 2025
This book is a hauntingly powerful exploration of the human condition during one of history's darkest times. The story of Erik Mueller, a Gestapo sergeant grappling with his conscience, is both heart-wrenching and thought-provoking. It masterfully delves into the utter anguish that war inflicts on everyone, regardless of their role, and the impossible decisions that force us to confront the very core of our character.
The author paints a vivid and chilling picture of Nazi Germany, immersing readers in the moral complexities of Erik's journey. His internal struggle between duty and humanity is portrayed with such raw intensity that it lingers long after the final page. The relationship between Erik and Trude Bensheim is particularly poignant, highlighting the devastating consequences of betrayal, loyalty, and courage in the face of unimaginable danger.
This is not just a story about war; it’s a story about the choices that define us. It challenges readers to consider what they would do when faced with the ultimate test of their values. A gripping, emotional, and deeply moving read that will stay with you forever. Highly recommended!
The author paints a vivid and chilling picture of Nazi Germany, immersing readers in the moral complexities of Erik's journey. His internal struggle between duty and humanity is portrayed with such raw intensity that it lingers long after the final page. The relationship between Erik and Trude Bensheim is particularly poignant, highlighting the devastating consequences of betrayal, loyalty, and courage in the face of unimaginable danger.
This is not just a story about war; it’s a story about the choices that define us. It challenges readers to consider what they would do when faced with the ultimate test of their values. A gripping, emotional, and deeply moving read that will stay with you forever. Highly recommended!
March 29, 2018
This story of a German military officer and a Jewish school friend presents the horrors of the Holocaust from the German viewpoint. Erik Muller, an unemployed history professor, joins the SS at the urging of his ambitious wife, Corina. Trude Bensheim is a wealthy Jew who is still trapped in Nazi Germany because her husband is too busy getting others out of the country. When Germany invades Poland in 1939, Erik's and Trude's worlds collide. The novel alternates chapters between Erik's and Trude's stories as they each follow a horrific path until one last incident in late 1944. I only gave the novel three stars because I felt many of the characters were too one-dimensional as the author tried to represent various German viewpoints throughout the story. I did like that several of the major characters reached realistic, although not always popular, fates at the end of the story. Shipman includes a historical information section at the end of the book to give the reader a deeper context for his novel.
October 27, 2017
I love reading interesting and well-written historical fiction, and A Bitter Rain definitely fits into that category. The book was captivating and held my interest until the very end. It's set in Germany during WWII and is a fascinating read.
The story is told from two very different points of view. Erik Mueller is a Nazi soldier in the SS. He's not a true believer, but he loves his country and his family. His wife is a social climber who believes that the higher Eric's rank rises, the better off their family will be. He goes through some truly horrible experiences.
Trude Bensheim is a Jewish woman whose life gets worse and worse as the war gets closer and closer. She has a husband and a daughter, but her husband is killed and she is sent to a camp. She's not sure what has happened to her daughter. She and her husband waited too long to leave Germany when they could have escaped. They put too much faith in another German who betrayed them.
I don't want to give away the plot, but it had twists and turns and the ending was satisfying. I highly recommend this book.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story is told from two very different points of view. Erik Mueller is a Nazi soldier in the SS. He's not a true believer, but he loves his country and his family. His wife is a social climber who believes that the higher Eric's rank rises, the better off their family will be. He goes through some truly horrible experiences.
Trude Bensheim is a Jewish woman whose life gets worse and worse as the war gets closer and closer. She has a husband and a daughter, but her husband is killed and she is sent to a camp. She's not sure what has happened to her daughter. She and her husband waited too long to leave Germany when they could have escaped. They put too much faith in another German who betrayed them.
I don't want to give away the plot, but it had twists and turns and the ending was satisfying. I highly recommend this book.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 4, 2019
A BITTER RAIN is a good, page-turning read set primarily in WWII Germany where it's true-believer Nazis vs. "good" Germans. The real focus of the novel, however, is on an SS officer with a conscience trying to survive, and help others survive, in a society given over to evil.
I would have liked to have seen a bit more character development of some of the nasty Nazis, who seemed a bit caricatured to me, and more robust descriptions of many of the settings, but overall those minor shortcomings don't detract from the overall flow of the drama.
The story rolls along nicely, told from two viewpoints, that of the "good" SS officer, and the other from a Jewish woman attempting to flee the Nazis with her daughter and husband. The previously noted shortcomings probably make the book 4.5 stars, but I'll round that up to 5! If you're interested in WWII historical fiction, don't miss A BITTER RAIN.
I would have liked to have seen a bit more character development of some of the nasty Nazis, who seemed a bit caricatured to me, and more robust descriptions of many of the settings, but overall those minor shortcomings don't detract from the overall flow of the drama.
The story rolls along nicely, told from two viewpoints, that of the "good" SS officer, and the other from a Jewish woman attempting to flee the Nazis with her daughter and husband. The previously noted shortcomings probably make the book 4.5 stars, but I'll round that up to 5! If you're interested in WWII historical fiction, don't miss A BITTER RAIN.
October 23, 2017
This book is told from the perspectives of two main people Eric mueller an German S.S officer ,who doesnt agree with the orders he is asked to carry out, and Trude who is a Jewish woman faced with unimaginable difficulties. The book links the two characters very well. It is very well written and has a nice balance of emotion and suspense.I found myself actively hating Eric's Wife Corinne and her social climbing ways and how determined she was to follow the German ideology. I have not read much fiction concerning this period of history before, tending to prefer the Tudor or Elizabethan periods. However I found this book gripped me all the way through and only put it down when real life came calling! Never come across the author before but I will be getting around to reading more of his books.
January 31, 2018
I found this to be a deeply affecting story about the melding of two individuals who met as college students, and casually crossed paths later in life with their respective families. It is at the beginning of Germany's uprising to make it a world dominant power, and we witness the beginning of the blatant hatred of Eric's ( a Nazi SS Officer) wife toward the Jewish Truda and her child.
It speaks to the maniacal and horrific obliteration of innocent lives during Germany's reign of terror throughout the world during WWII. All the while weaving Eric's rise to heroic accolades and fall to shame in the Nazi SS Army, and Truda's desperate fight to keep her family safe through tremendous grit and personal sacrifice. When they meet again in the Solvag Interment Camp, together, they each wage one last desperate bid, against savage odds, to claw their way to freedom.
It speaks to the maniacal and horrific obliteration of innocent lives during Germany's reign of terror throughout the world during WWII. All the while weaving Eric's rise to heroic accolades and fall to shame in the Nazi SS Army, and Truda's desperate fight to keep her family safe through tremendous grit and personal sacrifice. When they meet again in the Solvag Interment Camp, together, they each wage one last desperate bid, against savage odds, to claw their way to freedom.
February 25, 2024
"Perhaps the greatest crime of the German people was not committed by the leaders, the concentration camp guards, or others directly involved. The true atrocity was the responsibility of the millions who allowed it to happen, and who passively sat on the sidelines as the world burned. As nationalism begins to burn anew in the world and a new age of dictatorship appears on the rise, we must all be careful to not repeat the mistakes of the past." This is the story of a few of those who chose to not sit on the sidelines while their friends and neighbors where targeted for no other reason than their religion.
November 19, 2017
A historical fictional account of what life may have been in Germany during WWII in which readers become familiar not only with the writer's charactors but events and life during that period. The story also provides readers "food for thought" in relation to how the historical scenario came to be and what we as society have learned. Good story, recommended reading.
Note: I received a copy of the book's through a goodreads giveaway and thank those responsible for the opportunity to read this story.
Note: I received a copy of the book's through a goodreads giveaway and thank those responsible for the opportunity to read this story.
January 29, 2018
Won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Excellent historical fiction. There are two story lines in the book. One is the story of a German SS Officer and his family. The second is a Jewish family and what happens to them during World War II. Their paths cross in the book. I liked the ending because it is what can be expected during a war. Some live, some die, and some you never know what happened to them.
January 31, 2019
OK
This is a historical novel that is interesting in its premise but flawed in its execution. The book covers a short time period before the invasion of Poland and culminates with the impending collapse of the Third Reich. The depiction of the fighting in Russia is particularly good. The characters, however, are all fatally flawed, either due to their incredible naivety, self centered ness, or outright stupidity. Suspension of disbelief was required to finish the book.
This is a historical novel that is interesting in its premise but flawed in its execution. The book covers a short time period before the invasion of Poland and culminates with the impending collapse of the Third Reich. The depiction of the fighting in Russia is particularly good. The characters, however, are all fatally flawed, either due to their incredible naivety, self centered ness, or outright stupidity. Suspension of disbelief was required to finish the book.
July 9, 2019
History Lesson
Two separate tales converging into a climatic end. This is sad tale from every direction, even for those that survived. Hard for us to imagine losing everything, the few that escaped had to leave all behind and venture to an unknown future. The characters are all flawed, in a way, and it's hard to review without giving too much away. Suffice it to say your emotions are going to tested.
Two separate tales converging into a climatic end. This is sad tale from every direction, even for those that survived. Hard for us to imagine losing everything, the few that escaped had to leave all behind and venture to an unknown future. The characters are all flawed, in a way, and it's hard to review without giving too much away. Suffice it to say your emotions are going to tested.
January 26, 2025
I thought that "A Bitter Rain" by James D. Shipman, was absolutely excellent. A different angle of examining the people and victims of WWII in Germany. An SS man- a soldier, and a Jewish woman musician, both brave, standing up to their moral compass and survival in admirable ways. The strong impact of families and communities depicted wonderfully and their righteous stances. Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
December 9, 2017
I found this novel brilliant! I couldn’t help but grab this Kindle First title when the opportunity arose. A beautifully written piece of historical fiction, set during the backdrop of WWII. A fast paced book that captured my attention every time I sat down to read. Five stars, a must read for all fans of the genre.
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