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Letters from Berlin
From the bestselling author of The Girl from Munich and Suitcase of Dreams comes an unforgettable tale of love, courage and betrayal inspired by a true storyBerlin, 1943 As the Allied forces edge closer, the Third Reich tightens its grip on its people. For eighteen-year-old Susanna Göttmann, this means her adopted family including the man she loves, Leo, are at risk. Desperate to protect her loved ones any way she can, Susie accepts the help of an influential Nazi officer. But it comes at a terrible cost – she must abandon any hope of a future with Leo and enter the frightening world of the Nazi elite. Yet all is not lost as her newfound position offers more than she could have hoped for … With critical intelligence at her fingertips, Susie seizes a dangerous opportunity to help the Resistance.The decisions she makes could change the course of the war, but what will they mean for her family and her future? ‘An original and innovative take on the World War II genre that captures the hauntingly desperate essence of the war. Tania Blanchard has written yet another spectacular novel. Don’t miss this.’ Better Reading
435 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 7, 2020
152 people are currently reading
4540 people want to read
About the author
Tania Blanchard
10 books230 followersTania lives in Sydney with her husband and three children. Coming from a family with rich cultural heritage with a German mother and Italian father, stories have always been in her blood. Following a career in physiotherapy, it was only when she had her family that she decided to return to her passion of writing.
Her debut novel is The Girl from Munich, the story she has always wanted to write, inspired by the fascinating stories told by her German grandmother, and she is currently working on the sequel, set in Australia in the 1950s.
Tania is excited to have found her light bulb moment, her love for writing historical fiction. She looks forward to delving further into her interests of history and family stories to enrich and bring to life the many ideas inspired by the amazing tales she has gathered over the years.
Her debut novel is The Girl from Munich, the story she has always wanted to write, inspired by the fascinating stories told by her German grandmother, and she is currently working on the sequel, set in Australia in the 1950s.
Tania is excited to have found her light bulb moment, her love for writing historical fiction. She looks forward to delving further into her interests of history and family stories to enrich and bring to life the many ideas inspired by the amazing tales she has gathered over the years.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
October 8, 2020
Sydney 2019, Ingrid opens a letter from Germany knowing she will now need to explain to her daughter Natalie it’s from Ingrid’s biological mother and she’s adopted. This is the beginning of a dual timeline story, about a terrible world war, what happened to a couple who were desperately in love and at the worst possible time.
Germany 1943, Susanna Gottmann, lives with her godparents Georg and Elya Hecker at their beautiful estate in the German countryside. Her Aunt Elya is from Russian, she’s part Jewish and this means her son Leo is also considered a Jew by the Nazis. Georg has managed to keep his wife and son safe because the farm produces valuable food needed by the army, but slowly the people in the village attitudes are changing towards them, despite all Elya has done for them over the years and now they will no longer speak to her.
Julius Siebenborn is a trusted family friend, he’s promised to help the Hecker’s and keep Elya’s and Leo’s names of the lists for hard labor and being deported to a concentration camp. He has power, money and influence, Leo doesn’t trust him at all and despite knowing him since he was a little boy. Desperate to protect her family, Susie accepts help from Julius, he’s older than her, a longtime friend of Uncle Georg’s, being with him is perfectly safe, it’s all for show and he promises to continue to help the Hecker’s? Susanna decides to use information she’s over hears at the events she attends with Julius, to help the resistance and it’s very dangerous.
The allied army is getting closer and the dreaded Russian army; the people of Berlin are being bombed day and night. Germany is an absolute mess, the railway system has been damaged, people are living in bombed out houses or underground, they have no electricity, water and very little food. Hitler still wants them all to believe that they will win the war, Germany will not be defeated and he’s insane.
Tania Blanchard uses facts from her own family’s history to write a book about WW II it looks at the brutality of war from the German perspective; she portrays the desperation and hardship the German people had to endure for years and it continued after the war ended. I have read Tania’s previous books The Girl from Munich and Suitcase of Dreams and I liked them both. Letters from Berlin is absolutely brilliant, Tania Blanchard has gone to another level with this book and I highly recommend reading it. It’s a historical fiction saga about war, tragedy, personal sacrifice, survival, secrets, romance, love and five stars from me.
https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
Germany 1943, Susanna Gottmann, lives with her godparents Georg and Elya Hecker at their beautiful estate in the German countryside. Her Aunt Elya is from Russian, she’s part Jewish and this means her son Leo is also considered a Jew by the Nazis. Georg has managed to keep his wife and son safe because the farm produces valuable food needed by the army, but slowly the people in the village attitudes are changing towards them, despite all Elya has done for them over the years and now they will no longer speak to her.
Julius Siebenborn is a trusted family friend, he’s promised to help the Hecker’s and keep Elya’s and Leo’s names of the lists for hard labor and being deported to a concentration camp. He has power, money and influence, Leo doesn’t trust him at all and despite knowing him since he was a little boy. Desperate to protect her family, Susie accepts help from Julius, he’s older than her, a longtime friend of Uncle Georg’s, being with him is perfectly safe, it’s all for show and he promises to continue to help the Hecker’s? Susanna decides to use information she’s over hears at the events she attends with Julius, to help the resistance and it’s very dangerous.
The allied army is getting closer and the dreaded Russian army; the people of Berlin are being bombed day and night. Germany is an absolute mess, the railway system has been damaged, people are living in bombed out houses or underground, they have no electricity, water and very little food. Hitler still wants them all to believe that they will win the war, Germany will not be defeated and he’s insane.
Tania Blanchard uses facts from her own family’s history to write a book about WW II it looks at the brutality of war from the German perspective; she portrays the desperation and hardship the German people had to endure for years and it continued after the war ended. I have read Tania’s previous books The Girl from Munich and Suitcase of Dreams and I liked them both. Letters from Berlin is absolutely brilliant, Tania Blanchard has gone to another level with this book and I highly recommend reading it. It’s a historical fiction saga about war, tragedy, personal sacrifice, survival, secrets, romance, love and five stars from me.
https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
October 10, 2020
After Susanna Göttmann's parents and brother were killed in a terrible accident, she moved to her godparents home, Gut Birkenhof, outside of Berlin. As she grew, her grief subsided, but the memories were always there. Susie’s Onkel Georg and Tante Elya, and their son Leo, made life happier for her and she loved them dearly. In 1943 the Nazis were gaining ground and control and with Tante Elya being Jewish, she had to wear the Star of David. Onkel Georg was able to keep her safe, but no one knew for how long.
Susie was working as a nurse when she took a gamble. The Nazi officer was a friend of the family, and could keep Leo and Tante Elya safe as long as Susie pretended to court Julius. Her love for Leo would never fade, but until the war was over, she couldn’t be with him. Keeping her family safe was uppermost in Susie’s mind. Gradually, Susie, Leo and Onkel Georg became entrenched in the resistance. But danger was around them always. Would she manage to keep her family safe until the war was over? The atrocities the Nazis were involved in horrified them all – but they had to keep one step ahead...
Letters From Berlin is another brilliant, based on fact, historical novel from the pen of Australian author Tania Blanchard. This is the author’s third novel and I’ve read and loved them all. Starting from the current day, receiving letters written over the years; the majority of the story is set in and around Berlin during the war years. A wonderful, satisfying though heartbreaking and at times, traumatic novel, I loved Letters From Berlin deeply, and recommend it highly.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Susie was working as a nurse when she took a gamble. The Nazi officer was a friend of the family, and could keep Leo and Tante Elya safe as long as Susie pretended to court Julius. Her love for Leo would never fade, but until the war was over, she couldn’t be with him. Keeping her family safe was uppermost in Susie’s mind. Gradually, Susie, Leo and Onkel Georg became entrenched in the resistance. But danger was around them always. Would she manage to keep her family safe until the war was over? The atrocities the Nazis were involved in horrified them all – but they had to keep one step ahead...
Letters From Berlin is another brilliant, based on fact, historical novel from the pen of Australian author Tania Blanchard. This is the author’s third novel and I’ve read and loved them all. Starting from the current day, receiving letters written over the years; the majority of the story is set in and around Berlin during the war years. A wonderful, satisfying though heartbreaking and at times, traumatic novel, I loved Letters From Berlin deeply, and recommend it highly.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
October 2, 2020
*https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp...
Inspired by real events Letters From Berlin, set during the last two years of Nazi ruled Germany, is narrated by Susanna an Aryan German but living with her adoptive family of mixed Aryan and Jewish heritage. This mix gives a perspective I haven’t read before.
These mixed families were protected from persecution at the beginning of the war however as conditions worsened and hatred spread the children of mixed marriages were targeted.
Letters From Berlin is a story of love and desperation. Opening on Susanna’s 19th birthday her family own a large estate in the country that supplies food to the Nazi officers which in turn provides them with a level of protection. We see a Berlin that is flourishing as Susanna is taken under the wing of a family friend who introduces her to glamorous cocktail parties and stage shows. Thus highlighting the vast difference in lifestyle of the upper-class Germans and the villagers.
Tania Blanchard shows the slow demise of Nazi Germany and how through fear for their own lives friends turned against each other. And as the Nazis started to get desperate they even turned against their own citizens. It was a time when no one was safe and the only information received was rumour and propaganda. As the story is told from the perspective of a German citizen we don’t get to see the terrible atrocities that were performed, only the rumours that were passed around.
Letters From Berlin tells how many German citizens were against the Nazi rule and longed for Hitler’s downfall. Many endangering their own lives to help Jews escape and also hiding prisoners of war. Susanna was a marvellous heroine, strong and determined, standing up for what she believed in and willing to do all she could to save her family.
Set over a short period of two years I felt the first half of the book was a bit slow however the second half delivered with raw emotion and believable suffering.
Letters From Berlin shows how the events of the war have a ripple effect, still affecting families many years later.
*I received a copy from the publisher
Inspired by real events Letters From Berlin, set during the last two years of Nazi ruled Germany, is narrated by Susanna an Aryan German but living with her adoptive family of mixed Aryan and Jewish heritage. This mix gives a perspective I haven’t read before.
These mixed families were protected from persecution at the beginning of the war however as conditions worsened and hatred spread the children of mixed marriages were targeted.
Letters From Berlin is a story of love and desperation. Opening on Susanna’s 19th birthday her family own a large estate in the country that supplies food to the Nazi officers which in turn provides them with a level of protection. We see a Berlin that is flourishing as Susanna is taken under the wing of a family friend who introduces her to glamorous cocktail parties and stage shows. Thus highlighting the vast difference in lifestyle of the upper-class Germans and the villagers.
Tania Blanchard shows the slow demise of Nazi Germany and how through fear for their own lives friends turned against each other. And as the Nazis started to get desperate they even turned against their own citizens. It was a time when no one was safe and the only information received was rumour and propaganda. As the story is told from the perspective of a German citizen we don’t get to see the terrible atrocities that were performed, only the rumours that were passed around.
Letters From Berlin tells how many German citizens were against the Nazi rule and longed for Hitler’s downfall. Many endangering their own lives to help Jews escape and also hiding prisoners of war. Susanna was a marvellous heroine, strong and determined, standing up for what she believed in and willing to do all she could to save her family.
Set over a short period of two years I felt the first half of the book was a bit slow however the second half delivered with raw emotion and believable suffering.
Letters From Berlin shows how the events of the war have a ripple effect, still affecting families many years later.
*I received a copy from the publisher
September 12, 2020
⭐️4.5 Stars⭐️
This is an absolutely exceptional read about the struggle of an influential family to stay together during world war II in Germany.
Onkel Georg and Tanke Elya are Susanna Gottmann’s Godparents and have raised Susanna (Susie) since she was seven years old when her parents and brother were killed in a car accident in 1931. They also have a son, Leo.
1943 Berlin- As the allied forces close in, the Nazi regime tightens it’s grip on the German people. Onkel Georg’s connections, business dealings and status had kept Tante Elya's (a Russian Jew) name off the Reich Association of the Jews but they never knew if that was enough to keep her safe. There was also concern about their son Leo (a mischling) requiring protection for being half Jewish.
Leo can’t understand why Susie has chosen to keep company with Julius Siebenborn who has become an influential Nazi but she is desperate to protect her family in any way possible.
This story is told in the perspective of the German people who had to contend with losing their men and boys to fight the war, the constant bombings, food rations, poverty, the Nazi elite and general chaos during wartime.
This book was inspired by a true story, there are characters you will love and there are those you will despise! An unforgettable family saga of love, romance, deception and courage.
I wish to thank Better Reading & Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy of the book to read in exchange for an honest review
This is an absolutely exceptional read about the struggle of an influential family to stay together during world war II in Germany.
Onkel Georg and Tanke Elya are Susanna Gottmann’s Godparents and have raised Susanna (Susie) since she was seven years old when her parents and brother were killed in a car accident in 1931. They also have a son, Leo.
1943 Berlin- As the allied forces close in, the Nazi regime tightens it’s grip on the German people. Onkel Georg’s connections, business dealings and status had kept Tante Elya's (a Russian Jew) name off the Reich Association of the Jews but they never knew if that was enough to keep her safe. There was also concern about their son Leo (a mischling) requiring protection for being half Jewish.
Leo can’t understand why Susie has chosen to keep company with Julius Siebenborn who has become an influential Nazi but she is desperate to protect her family in any way possible.
This story is told in the perspective of the German people who had to contend with losing their men and boys to fight the war, the constant bombings, food rations, poverty, the Nazi elite and general chaos during wartime.
This book was inspired by a true story, there are characters you will love and there are those you will despise! An unforgettable family saga of love, romance, deception and courage.
I wish to thank Better Reading & Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy of the book to read in exchange for an honest review
April 25, 2021
I feel bad when I don’t like stories about serious subjects, as if the worthiness of the topic should compel me to overlook any flaws in the story-telling, but this is excruciating.
The inclusion of the current time period was pointless. Those sections were so brief that I didn’t develop any attachment to, or interest in, the present day characters. In fact, when we returned to them at the end of the book, I could barely remember who they were. For the shifting timeline to work, the body of the book should have been written in the form of letters. (After all, the book is called “Letters from Berlin”.) And that would have required a completely different writing style instead of the soulless, long-winded tedium we have here. Somebody wasn’t paying attention to the “show don’t tell” mantra in fiction writing class!
Despite the fact that the story is inspired by family history and research, much of the plot and characterisation seems completely implausible. Too frequently the characters expressed an awareness of their social, political and military context that would only have been possible with hindsight. It’s as if the author believes she can make realistic war-time characters by putting all of her WWII research into their heads.
The inclusion of the current time period was pointless. Those sections were so brief that I didn’t develop any attachment to, or interest in, the present day characters. In fact, when we returned to them at the end of the book, I could barely remember who they were. For the shifting timeline to work, the body of the book should have been written in the form of letters. (After all, the book is called “Letters from Berlin”.) And that would have required a completely different writing style instead of the soulless, long-winded tedium we have here. Somebody wasn’t paying attention to the “show don’t tell” mantra in fiction writing class!
Despite the fact that the story is inspired by family history and research, much of the plot and characterisation seems completely implausible. Too frequently the characters expressed an awareness of their social, political and military context that would only have been possible with hindsight. It’s as if the author believes she can make realistic war-time characters by putting all of her WWII research into their heads.
January 19, 2023
Beautifully written and hauntingly sad.
Such heartbreaking times living through wars.
Such heartbreaking times living through wars.
September 3, 2020
4.5★s
“I nodded, not sure that I wanted to be a part of the Nazi social elite. It meant that I was one of them, with the same warped values and attitudes. It felt wrong in all sorts of ways. I took a large swallow of the champagne. But I had to remember why I was doing this.”
Letters From Berlin is the third novel by Australian author, Tania Blanchard. The Hecker family are everything to her, all she has left. Onkel Georg and Tante Elya took in seven-year-old Susanna Göttmann when her family died; their son, Leo has become the love of her life. Susie knows that Leo will never understand why she has chosen to keep company with Julius Siebenborn, an elite Nazi, a man Leo says can’t be trusted.
Tante Elya is a Russian Jew; as a prosperous estate owner, Onkel Georg has managed to keep her and their “mischling” son safe by catering to the expensive tastes of those in power. But with the Fuhrer’s determination to rid Germany of all Jews, the rules change at the whim of Nazi executive, and only someone like Julius can create loopholes for the people Susie loves. She has to trust him.
In her third novel, Blanchard easily captures her setting and the era; her plot is credible and her characters are easy to love (or despise, as required); her extensive research is apparent on every page of this rather different look at Word War Two.
Stories about this war often present the perspective of those in Allied countries, but of course, the ordinary German people were at the receiving end of bombs too; they had rationing; their men were conscripted to fight in a war they didn’t necessarily believe in. And they had further disadvantages: they were being led by a madman; and the Third Reich propaganda machine kept them ignorant of much that was being done in their name.
Blanchard takes the many known facts pertaining to the wartime experiences of her own grandmother’s family and brings them to life, weaving into them aspects of self-sacrifice and betrayal, love and loss and loyalty. For, if war brings forth the worst of humanity, it also showcases the best of it; in extraordinary circumstances, ordinary people manage to achieve extraordinary things, and Blanchard’s novel emphatically demonstrates this. This is an utterly engrossing read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Australia
“I nodded, not sure that I wanted to be a part of the Nazi social elite. It meant that I was one of them, with the same warped values and attitudes. It felt wrong in all sorts of ways. I took a large swallow of the champagne. But I had to remember why I was doing this.”
Letters From Berlin is the third novel by Australian author, Tania Blanchard. The Hecker family are everything to her, all she has left. Onkel Georg and Tante Elya took in seven-year-old Susanna Göttmann when her family died; their son, Leo has become the love of her life. Susie knows that Leo will never understand why she has chosen to keep company with Julius Siebenborn, an elite Nazi, a man Leo says can’t be trusted.
Tante Elya is a Russian Jew; as a prosperous estate owner, Onkel Georg has managed to keep her and their “mischling” son safe by catering to the expensive tastes of those in power. But with the Fuhrer’s determination to rid Germany of all Jews, the rules change at the whim of Nazi executive, and only someone like Julius can create loopholes for the people Susie loves. She has to trust him.
In her third novel, Blanchard easily captures her setting and the era; her plot is credible and her characters are easy to love (or despise, as required); her extensive research is apparent on every page of this rather different look at Word War Two.
Stories about this war often present the perspective of those in Allied countries, but of course, the ordinary German people were at the receiving end of bombs too; they had rationing; their men were conscripted to fight in a war they didn’t necessarily believe in. And they had further disadvantages: they were being led by a madman; and the Third Reich propaganda machine kept them ignorant of much that was being done in their name.
Blanchard takes the many known facts pertaining to the wartime experiences of her own grandmother’s family and brings them to life, weaving into them aspects of self-sacrifice and betrayal, love and loss and loyalty. For, if war brings forth the worst of humanity, it also showcases the best of it; in extraordinary circumstances, ordinary people manage to achieve extraordinary things, and Blanchard’s novel emphatically demonstrates this. This is an utterly engrossing read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Australia
March 7, 2021
The best description I have for this is a Mills and Boon treatment of WWII. The writing was so uninspired that I am nor sure why I bothered reading past page 2. Totally lacking in any form of prose. If you really want the whole story summarised in a succinct and interesting way, read the bit at the back about what inspired the author and then leave it at the store.
October 22, 2020
Inspired by the author’s family history, Letters From Berlin by Tania Blanchard is a heartfelt story of love, courage, betrayal and survival during World War Two.
As the Third Reich escalates its purge of the Jewish people from Germany in 1943, eighteen-year-old Susanna Göttmann’s fears grow for the safety of her beloved godparents who have raised her since childhood. While both she and her Onkel Georg are Aryan, Tante Elya is a Russian Jew, and their son, Leo, is classified a ‘mischlinge’, a halfbreed. The ability of the family estate, Gut Birkenhof, on the outskirts of Berlin, to provide goods and materials for the Nazi’s has allowed Georg to keep his wife and son safe, but as the Party rhetoric intensifies, their situation grows increasingly precarious.
Letters From Berlin unfolds from Susanna’s perspective as a reasonably wealthy, educated Aryan in Berlin who loves her country but is appalled by the actions of the Nazi Party, and their treatment of the Jewish people. Her primary concern is naturally for her Aunt Elya, and Leo, with whom she has been in love since she was a child, and to help protect them she makes some naive, brave, and dangerous choices. I liked the character of Susanna, and felt for all she endured, especially when circumstances separated her from Leo, and resulted in the loss of her child.
The plot of Letters from Berlin doesn’t offer much in the way of surprises, but the story is nevertheless engaging. There are some tense and dramatic moments and the themes of war, prejudice, injustice, family and love are inherently emotive. That it’s loosely based on real experiences adds a layer of poignancy, and I was glad Blanchard offered an epilogue of sorts.
Blanchard’s portrayal of life in Berlin during the war is interesting. In mid 1943, when the story starts, there seems to be little change in the day to day life of the wealthier of Aryan citizens, but as the country’s enemies close in, and the activities of the resistance take their toll, the privations grow. Blanchard merges fact with fiction as she writes of the forced labor camps, the failed conspiracy to kill Hitler, the bombings that set zoo animals loose in the streets, and the chaos post ‘liberation’.
A touching historical fiction novel, Letters From Berlin is a satisfying read.
As the Third Reich escalates its purge of the Jewish people from Germany in 1943, eighteen-year-old Susanna Göttmann’s fears grow for the safety of her beloved godparents who have raised her since childhood. While both she and her Onkel Georg are Aryan, Tante Elya is a Russian Jew, and their son, Leo, is classified a ‘mischlinge’, a halfbreed. The ability of the family estate, Gut Birkenhof, on the outskirts of Berlin, to provide goods and materials for the Nazi’s has allowed Georg to keep his wife and son safe, but as the Party rhetoric intensifies, their situation grows increasingly precarious.
Letters From Berlin unfolds from Susanna’s perspective as a reasonably wealthy, educated Aryan in Berlin who loves her country but is appalled by the actions of the Nazi Party, and their treatment of the Jewish people. Her primary concern is naturally for her Aunt Elya, and Leo, with whom she has been in love since she was a child, and to help protect them she makes some naive, brave, and dangerous choices. I liked the character of Susanna, and felt for all she endured, especially when circumstances separated her from Leo, and resulted in the loss of her child.
The plot of Letters from Berlin doesn’t offer much in the way of surprises, but the story is nevertheless engaging. There are some tense and dramatic moments and the themes of war, prejudice, injustice, family and love are inherently emotive. That it’s loosely based on real experiences adds a layer of poignancy, and I was glad Blanchard offered an epilogue of sorts.
Blanchard’s portrayal of life in Berlin during the war is interesting. In mid 1943, when the story starts, there seems to be little change in the day to day life of the wealthier of Aryan citizens, but as the country’s enemies close in, and the activities of the resistance take their toll, the privations grow. Blanchard merges fact with fiction as she writes of the forced labor camps, the failed conspiracy to kill Hitler, the bombings that set zoo animals loose in the streets, and the chaos post ‘liberation’.
A touching historical fiction novel, Letters From Berlin is a satisfying read.
October 24, 2024
I was quite disappointed with this book. The potential of the plot was quickly overshadowed by what I thought was poor writing. Considering its contents of war and other adult themes, I would assume its target to be at least late teens, yet it read more like a children's novel with a superfluous amount of clichés and corny lines that felt more like an attempt to lecture the readers with the rather simple precept that family and love triumph all. The author failed to capture authentic emotions that should have accompanied rather traumatic moments, employing adjectives and verbs inappropriate to the scene, whilst over-exaggerating the intensity of other lesser moments. Additionally, I found the dialogue to be unrealistic as the characters themselves explained what was going on - despite the narrator having already done so - in order for the readers to comprehend their full plight and why they felt as they did, which on the contrary diminished the value and the significance of the scene. I believe a good novel should rely more on showing than telling and thus, if done successfully, the readers would not need additional information to understand the characters and the contents. Furthermore, there was little variation in the style of dialogue between different characters, resulting in them all reading awfully similar and robbing them of a distinct sense of individuality.
December 27, 2021
I love a good World War II book and Letters From Berlin did not disappoint. A wonderful story about love and courage 💕
January 25, 2022
The concept of this book was exciting, but in practice fell very flat. The story lacked a real overarching plot. Although I can see what the author was trying to do by exploring the predatory relationship between the main character and the older literal Nazi, it made the main character come off as very naive. This book also really leaned on a sort of benevolent capitalist trope. I’m not defending Soviet Russia but just because you have nice people in a manor house for a few generations doesn’t mean it will always be full of nice people.
And, a more minor complaint in comparison, if the word “letters” is in the title, I would have expected a more epistolary format. The framing made no sense for this novel. This 80 year old woman is really going to write some steamy memories between her and her husband to the daughter she never met?
And, a more minor complaint in comparison, if the word “letters” is in the title, I would have expected a more epistolary format. The framing made no sense for this novel. This 80 year old woman is really going to write some steamy memories between her and her husband to the daughter she never met?
January 2, 2024
It was a good storyline and from a different perspective which I enjoyed.
I will say though that the title of the book is misleading and there are no letters being written during the war.
Additionally the use of the one letter as a way of bringing the story into the current time period didn’t work and nor did it add to the story in anyway. I actually forgot what that letter was about when I got to the end of the book. 🤷♀️
This is my first book by this author and I will read more.
I will say though that the title of the book is misleading and there are no letters being written during the war.
Additionally the use of the one letter as a way of bringing the story into the current time period didn’t work and nor did it add to the story in anyway. I actually forgot what that letter was about when I got to the end of the book. 🤷♀️
This is my first book by this author and I will read more.
November 21, 2020
A bit long-winded.
October 11, 2020
Letters from Berlin is the third novel from Australian author, Tania Blanchard, but the first that I’ve read. The author has drawn on her own family history and the result is a deeply moving portrayal of life in Berlin and its surrounding communities during the final years of WWII and the tumultuous aftermath of occupation preceding the division of Berlin into East and West.
‘Nazi propaganda and the war had turned former friends and acquaintances into bitter, resentful and untrusting people afraid for their own survival.’
I really liked this inside view on Berlin during this volatile period. As the war drew closer to its end, Nazism took on an intensity that dipped into madness, and combined with the fear of the advancing Russian army, Berliners were trapped in a city that was being destroyed and betrayed in equal measure. This novel is a slow burn historical, taking its time to lay out the history, set the scene, and develop the characters. It’s a compelling read, many of the events playing out with a dreadful inevitability that you couldn’t help but foresee.
This novel intricately explores what it was like to be a German against Nazism. To mourn the losses of your country, to be horrified by the violence within, repelled by the actions of your neighbours and former friends. After all of the suffering throughout the years of the war, for Germany, the end was only a new beginning of a different kind of suffering. For some, this would prove to be too much and the loss too significant. For others, the dream of a unified Germany would sustain until it prevailed. Recommended reading.
Thanks is extended to Simon & Schuster Australia for providing me with a copy of Letters from Berlin for review and for inviting me onto the blog tour.
‘Nazi propaganda and the war had turned former friends and acquaintances into bitter, resentful and untrusting people afraid for their own survival.’
I really liked this inside view on Berlin during this volatile period. As the war drew closer to its end, Nazism took on an intensity that dipped into madness, and combined with the fear of the advancing Russian army, Berliners were trapped in a city that was being destroyed and betrayed in equal measure. This novel is a slow burn historical, taking its time to lay out the history, set the scene, and develop the characters. It’s a compelling read, many of the events playing out with a dreadful inevitability that you couldn’t help but foresee.
This novel intricately explores what it was like to be a German against Nazism. To mourn the losses of your country, to be horrified by the violence within, repelled by the actions of your neighbours and former friends. After all of the suffering throughout the years of the war, for Germany, the end was only a new beginning of a different kind of suffering. For some, this would prove to be too much and the loss too significant. For others, the dream of a unified Germany would sustain until it prevailed. Recommended reading.
Thanks is extended to Simon & Schuster Australia for providing me with a copy of Letters from Berlin for review and for inviting me onto the blog tour.
March 26, 2024
Best book I’ve read.
October 6, 2024
Wow! What a read. I was absolutely gripped from the beginning and on the edge of my seat the whole time. I actually was upset when it finished, being so invested in this family’s story. The heartbreak and betrayal was intense and would absolutely would recommend. I thought this book was not only a whirlwind of emotion but also educational.
January 6, 2022
5 stars
Beautiful love story told against the backdrop of a horrendous point in history 😭 The author manages to balance the two expertly. I was thoroughly captivated from start to finish.
Beautiful love story told against the backdrop of a horrendous point in history 😭 The author manages to balance the two expertly. I was thoroughly captivated from start to finish.
October 18, 2020
Novels about World War II from the German aspect have been increasing in recent years, offering the reader an opportunity to see the war from multiple viewpoints. I’ve read several over the years, but none have been so dramatic as Letters from Berlin. There is so much packed into the one novel, it’s amazing to think that one person could experience so much heartbreak over their lifetime.
The story is buttressed by a prologue and epilogue that are quite different to the blurb on the back. It is the story of a mother and daughter (Ingrid and Natalie) discovering the mother’s background. The plot then moves to the story of Susie, Ingrid’s mother, in wartime Germany. Susie’s own parents are dead and she had lived for many years with her godparents and their son. They are her family, but there is one problem – her godmother Elya is Jewish, making her son Leo half-Jewish. Elya has been protected up until now thanks to the family’s productive estate and fast talking to the Nazis. But as things become worse for the Nazis, things start to get more desperate. Susie, in love with Leo, knows she can’t be with him. But somehow she must protect her own family… She enters into a pact with a high ranking official in the government to ensure her family’s safety. Still feeling uncomfortable, Susie uses the information she discovers at Nazi functions to assist the German resistance. Will it be enough to save her family and their beloved estate? Will Susie be with Leo?
There is a lot going on in Letters from Berlin – the persecution of the Jewish people, the crumbling Nazi regime and people losing their families and homes. Yet there are a lot of positive things happening too, as Susie and her friend become nurses and help some of the child workers return home. Love is a strong theme in the novel, whether it be romantic love, family love or the love of home. Susie is a very determined character, who makes some rash decisions but seems to always evade trouble. She has quite a few near misses but uses her wits and beauty to get through it. Leo, her true love, is a stronger, quieter character in the novel. He adamantly disagrees with Susie’s choices, but has the wisdom to understand what she is doing. Susie’s godparents are wonderful, strong and willing to support their adopted daughter in any way possible. Even the villains in the novel are portrayed brilliantly. I quite liked the way the character Julius was portrayed as he was brilliantly unpredictable.
One thing that irritated me about Letters from Berlin at times is the way that Susie as the narrator feels the need to push certain points home to the reader. I think her love for her family and Leo shone through the narrative without her repeatedly saying how much she loved them. Likewise with her agreement to keep her family safe. I didn’t feel that the opening and closing of the book with Ingrid and Natalie added much to the story. I was a bit confused that the book was a sequel to another one initially. However, if you enjoy a dramatic story of war, family and love it’s likely that you will be swept away by Letters from Berlin.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the ARC. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
The story is buttressed by a prologue and epilogue that are quite different to the blurb on the back. It is the story of a mother and daughter (Ingrid and Natalie) discovering the mother’s background. The plot then moves to the story of Susie, Ingrid’s mother, in wartime Germany. Susie’s own parents are dead and she had lived for many years with her godparents and their son. They are her family, but there is one problem – her godmother Elya is Jewish, making her son Leo half-Jewish. Elya has been protected up until now thanks to the family’s productive estate and fast talking to the Nazis. But as things become worse for the Nazis, things start to get more desperate. Susie, in love with Leo, knows she can’t be with him. But somehow she must protect her own family… She enters into a pact with a high ranking official in the government to ensure her family’s safety. Still feeling uncomfortable, Susie uses the information she discovers at Nazi functions to assist the German resistance. Will it be enough to save her family and their beloved estate? Will Susie be with Leo?
There is a lot going on in Letters from Berlin – the persecution of the Jewish people, the crumbling Nazi regime and people losing their families and homes. Yet there are a lot of positive things happening too, as Susie and her friend become nurses and help some of the child workers return home. Love is a strong theme in the novel, whether it be romantic love, family love or the love of home. Susie is a very determined character, who makes some rash decisions but seems to always evade trouble. She has quite a few near misses but uses her wits and beauty to get through it. Leo, her true love, is a stronger, quieter character in the novel. He adamantly disagrees with Susie’s choices, but has the wisdom to understand what she is doing. Susie’s godparents are wonderful, strong and willing to support their adopted daughter in any way possible. Even the villains in the novel are portrayed brilliantly. I quite liked the way the character Julius was portrayed as he was brilliantly unpredictable.
One thing that irritated me about Letters from Berlin at times is the way that Susie as the narrator feels the need to push certain points home to the reader. I think her love for her family and Leo shone through the narrative without her repeatedly saying how much she loved them. Likewise with her agreement to keep her family safe. I didn’t feel that the opening and closing of the book with Ingrid and Natalie added much to the story. I was a bit confused that the book was a sequel to another one initially. However, if you enjoy a dramatic story of war, family and love it’s likely that you will be swept away by Letters from Berlin.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the ARC. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
March 22, 2024
An unfortunate successor to ‘All The Light We Cannot See’ in my historical fiction repertoire, Blanchard has crafted an okay novel that attempts to capture the plight of a young couple in WWII Germany. Looking past the tiresome cliche of a white, German girl being in love with a Jewish boy (who is also her adoptive-brother might I add!), I did find myself transiently becoming enveloped in the narrative and wanting a positive outcome for the characters. However, this was often subverted by absolutely unnecessary sex scenes that felt like the product of a Wattpad smut (“…he found the slippery wetness between my legs...”) and served only to detract from a potentially poignant story. The juxtaposition between these scenes and a historical setting of severe sensitivity felt extremely uncomfortable to read and so inappropriate. I hope to never read the words Hitler and “sensitive tissue” (yes, that apparently means vulva) within the same book again.
October 20, 2020
This book started out strong, the premise was interesting and the characters were good, writing also not bad. After a while it started feeling like it was running a bit too long, and the ending was quite disappointing.
One thing that really annoys me and I can’t get past is the trope of the main couple ‘losing’ each other only to be reunited many decades later.
I really enjoyed the author’s first book, The Girl from Munich, definitely her best. The second one was really flat, although I know why she was going for by continuing the story. This one falls somewhere in the middle.
Overall only okay, good to pass the time and had some good moments.
One thing that really annoys me and I can’t get past is the trope of the main couple ‘losing’ each other only to be reunited many decades later.
I really enjoyed the author’s first book, The Girl from Munich, definitely her best. The second one was really flat, although I know why she was going for by continuing the story. This one falls somewhere in the middle.
Overall only okay, good to pass the time and had some good moments.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2020
#lettersfromberlin, another new book from Tania Blanchard which will be published by October2020. As always, Tania wrote through her findings and research of her family's treasure. This story was written inspired by a letter from her German grandmother's cousin. A #historicalfiction of family, love and war. How far you would go to protect your family? How far you should trust someone during the course of war? It's an easy read, pretty stagnant and very predictable from the beginning.
December 10, 2022
Others have loved this book…… but I sure didn’t. I kept wanting to abandon it, but I don’t like to do that….so I persisted.
There was way too much literary license taken here…… Absolutely no need for the current day story line….. and the romance element wasn’t for me.
Its a Disney version of a WW2 holocaust book.
There was way too much literary license taken here…… Absolutely no need for the current day story line….. and the romance element wasn’t for me.
Its a Disney version of a WW2 holocaust book.
December 20, 2020
4.5*
Tania Blanchard continues to enthral her audiences with high quality wartime sagas. Inspired once more by facts from her own family’s history, she captures all the brutality of WWII but from the often over looked German perspective. I have read and reviewed all Tania’s books - The Girl from Munich and Suitcase of Dreams - and Letters from Berlin is equally engaging.
‘Take the moments of joy whenever you can get them. They’ll sustain you through the difficult times that are a part of life.’
What I enjoyed most about this story was the inside perspective of life in Berlin during this volatile time. Tania slowly lays out all the pieces on her story board - history, plot, characters - and then weaves her writer’s magic to present a compelling tale that will keep the reader engaged to the very end.
What you see here is the slow demise of the Nazis and how they all began to turn on one another with the Russians and Americans advancing on two fronts. Berlin and its people were trapped and betrayed with often madness ensuing in an effort to eliminate any and all evidence. No one could be trusted as desperation overtook the Nazis and their followers. So many German citizens longed for Hitler’s downfall and the characters Tania includes are strong and determined to stand up for all that is right and just.
‘We knew what the Nazi racial policy involved only too well. I felt ashamed to be German.’
My only concern (and loss of half a star) was the opening and closings of the book -it just did not sit comfortably for me. In some respects, I could have done without these short ‘bookends’, as I felt it detracted from a strong wartime saga. The modern day link did not add enough and the quick closure for the leads in the present day was not satisfying after all I had been through with them. However, do not let this distract you from a wonderful wartime read.
‘There wasn’t always a right and a wrong. Life was more complicated than that. It was about the shades that lay in between. I was beginning to learn what people were prepared to do for the right reasons.’
Letters from Berlin simmers with authenticity because of Tania's inside knowledge and you will appreciate this when you read her endnote. I congratulate Tania for providing us with German perspectives in such a time of uncertainty, with characters who are resilient and believable. I highly recommend this book for historical fiction lovers.
‘We each have a way of surviving, a way of keeping our soul intact. We need hope to live.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
Tania Blanchard continues to enthral her audiences with high quality wartime sagas. Inspired once more by facts from her own family’s history, she captures all the brutality of WWII but from the often over looked German perspective. I have read and reviewed all Tania’s books - The Girl from Munich and Suitcase of Dreams - and Letters from Berlin is equally engaging.
‘Take the moments of joy whenever you can get them. They’ll sustain you through the difficult times that are a part of life.’
What I enjoyed most about this story was the inside perspective of life in Berlin during this volatile time. Tania slowly lays out all the pieces on her story board - history, plot, characters - and then weaves her writer’s magic to present a compelling tale that will keep the reader engaged to the very end.
What you see here is the slow demise of the Nazis and how they all began to turn on one another with the Russians and Americans advancing on two fronts. Berlin and its people were trapped and betrayed with often madness ensuing in an effort to eliminate any and all evidence. No one could be trusted as desperation overtook the Nazis and their followers. So many German citizens longed for Hitler’s downfall and the characters Tania includes are strong and determined to stand up for all that is right and just.
‘We knew what the Nazi racial policy involved only too well. I felt ashamed to be German.’
My only concern (and loss of half a star) was the opening and closings of the book -it just did not sit comfortably for me. In some respects, I could have done without these short ‘bookends’, as I felt it detracted from a strong wartime saga. The modern day link did not add enough and the quick closure for the leads in the present day was not satisfying after all I had been through with them. However, do not let this distract you from a wonderful wartime read.
‘There wasn’t always a right and a wrong. Life was more complicated than that. It was about the shades that lay in between. I was beginning to learn what people were prepared to do for the right reasons.’
Letters from Berlin simmers with authenticity because of Tania's inside knowledge and you will appreciate this when you read her endnote. I congratulate Tania for providing us with German perspectives in such a time of uncertainty, with characters who are resilient and believable. I highly recommend this book for historical fiction lovers.
‘We each have a way of surviving, a way of keeping our soul intact. We need hope to live.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
October 12, 2020
Letters from Berlin – Tania Blanchard
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in order to give an honest review.
Tania Blanchard is an Australian author who takes inspiration for her stories from the rich cultural stories told by her family and stories told to her as a child about her German grandmother. Tania Blanchard has also written “The Girl from Munich” and “Suitcase of Dreams”.
Ingrid is now a grandmother, living in Australia with her daughter Natalie, who was awaiting the arrival of her first child. Yet Ingrid had a secret that she could no longer keep to herself, with her daughter’s impending arrival, she knows it’d finally time to tell her daughter the truth, especially seeing Ingrid has finally heard from her mother after all these years.
Natalie’s daughter is hurt when Ingrid tells her the secret that she has kept hidden for so long – Ingrid was adopted and she never knew her German parents. But her mother has finally found Ingrid, with letters from Berlin. Letters Ingrid’s mother, letters she wrote to Ingrid after she lost her.
As Ingrid and her daughter Natalie they read the tale of a brave and courageous young woman, Susanna Gottmann. The letters give details of Susanna’s story and the many trials she, Ingrid’s father and many of their family and friends faced during the war and under the governance of Adolf Hitler.
The merciless persecution of the Jewish people and those who loved them and were associated with them. The way many of the German soldiers took advantage of innocent people, innocent women who were just trying to do what they could to help protect their loved ones.
“Letters from Berlin” is an emotional work of fiction that completely tugs at all your heart strings. This story is such a rich story, especially given the period of history involved in the story. All the tragedy that came from that time, combined with the wonderful stories of her family history makes for such a superb tale of love, war and hope.
So, if you are after a fiction story that is a real gut wrenching tear jerker with a rich historical tapestry, then grab the tissues, curl up on the couch and start reading!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in order to give an honest review.
Tania Blanchard is an Australian author who takes inspiration for her stories from the rich cultural stories told by her family and stories told to her as a child about her German grandmother. Tania Blanchard has also written “The Girl from Munich” and “Suitcase of Dreams”.
Ingrid is now a grandmother, living in Australia with her daughter Natalie, who was awaiting the arrival of her first child. Yet Ingrid had a secret that she could no longer keep to herself, with her daughter’s impending arrival, she knows it’d finally time to tell her daughter the truth, especially seeing Ingrid has finally heard from her mother after all these years.
Natalie’s daughter is hurt when Ingrid tells her the secret that she has kept hidden for so long – Ingrid was adopted and she never knew her German parents. But her mother has finally found Ingrid, with letters from Berlin. Letters Ingrid’s mother, letters she wrote to Ingrid after she lost her.
As Ingrid and her daughter Natalie they read the tale of a brave and courageous young woman, Susanna Gottmann. The letters give details of Susanna’s story and the many trials she, Ingrid’s father and many of their family and friends faced during the war and under the governance of Adolf Hitler.
The merciless persecution of the Jewish people and those who loved them and were associated with them. The way many of the German soldiers took advantage of innocent people, innocent women who were just trying to do what they could to help protect their loved ones.
“Letters from Berlin” is an emotional work of fiction that completely tugs at all your heart strings. This story is such a rich story, especially given the period of history involved in the story. All the tragedy that came from that time, combined with the wonderful stories of her family history makes for such a superb tale of love, war and hope.
So, if you are after a fiction story that is a real gut wrenching tear jerker with a rich historical tapestry, then grab the tissues, curl up on the couch and start reading!
October 18, 2020
Inspired by the authors own family history this remarkable story of love, courage, passion, deception, survival, and the desperation of war is one that I highly recommended.
1943, Berlin and the world is at war and the Third Reich is causing chaos and destruction among the people.
Susanna Gottmann lost her family at a young age and has grown up with her adopted parents and their son, Leo.
He is the man she has adored for many years and will risk everything to protect them all.
With no other choice, Susie is forced to accept the help and the promises of a Nazi officer, hoping this will protect the family she loves.
But not all is what it seems and actions, decisions, disarray and toxic behaviour change everything and everyone involved.
A historical fiction saga of secrets, suspense and romance in a period of dark times set in Berlin during the war years.
A stunningly written plot that delivers raw emotion, tragedy and personal sacrifice amongst dangerous and violent times.
Woven through the heartache and brutal moments is a touching inspiring love story.
One that will warm the heart.
From the very first chapter to the final words of the last page, each sentence will draw out the feels and wet the eyes.
The characters are portrayed with realism, the dialogue is intelligently crafted and it’s meticulously researched and while this is my first Tania read, it definitely won’t be the last.
1943, Berlin and the world is at war and the Third Reich is causing chaos and destruction among the people.
Susanna Gottmann lost her family at a young age and has grown up with her adopted parents and their son, Leo.
He is the man she has adored for many years and will risk everything to protect them all.
With no other choice, Susie is forced to accept the help and the promises of a Nazi officer, hoping this will protect the family she loves.
But not all is what it seems and actions, decisions, disarray and toxic behaviour change everything and everyone involved.
A historical fiction saga of secrets, suspense and romance in a period of dark times set in Berlin during the war years.
A stunningly written plot that delivers raw emotion, tragedy and personal sacrifice amongst dangerous and violent times.
Woven through the heartache and brutal moments is a touching inspiring love story.
One that will warm the heart.
From the very first chapter to the final words of the last page, each sentence will draw out the feels and wet the eyes.
The characters are portrayed with realism, the dialogue is intelligently crafted and it’s meticulously researched and while this is my first Tania read, it definitely won’t be the last.
February 4, 2021
TW: war, holocaust, Nazi Germany, sexual abuse, physical abuse and torture.
This was my first book of 2021, and what a way to start!
This book starts with letters sent to Ingrid by her biological mother Susanna. She starts to read these letters from her life whilst she was Nazi Germany throughout WW2.
Susanna's parents and brother died in an accident and she was placed in the care of her godparents. Unfortuately Susanna's godmother is a Russian Jew, and is facing persecution and deportation. The sotry follows the struggles of Susanna and her apotive family as they attempt to navigate their different positions due to their ethnicity in war torn Germany.
This story is loosely based on real life events of Tania's family, and the journey of moving through Susanna's story was truly heartbreaking. I felt as though I was there, witnessing the atrocities right before my eyes, and that's when I knew this was an incredible book. I became so immersed in the story, I couldn't keep myself away from reading it.
Beautifully written and crafted, and I enjoyed seeing the different perspective of seeing how German citizens stood up to the uprisising of the Nazi party and didn't agree to their strong, barbaric and horrendeous views. I also listened to part of this on audiobook and I really appreciated then learning the correct pronunciations of the names in this story, which made me connect even more deeply.
This was my first book of 2021, and what a way to start!
This book starts with letters sent to Ingrid by her biological mother Susanna. She starts to read these letters from her life whilst she was Nazi Germany throughout WW2.
Susanna's parents and brother died in an accident and she was placed in the care of her godparents. Unfortuately Susanna's godmother is a Russian Jew, and is facing persecution and deportation. The sotry follows the struggles of Susanna and her apotive family as they attempt to navigate their different positions due to their ethnicity in war torn Germany.
This story is loosely based on real life events of Tania's family, and the journey of moving through Susanna's story was truly heartbreaking. I felt as though I was there, witnessing the atrocities right before my eyes, and that's when I knew this was an incredible book. I became so immersed in the story, I couldn't keep myself away from reading it.
Beautifully written and crafted, and I enjoyed seeing the different perspective of seeing how German citizens stood up to the uprisising of the Nazi party and didn't agree to their strong, barbaric and horrendeous views. I also listened to part of this on audiobook and I really appreciated then learning the correct pronunciations of the names in this story, which made me connect even more deeply.
July 24, 2022
I enjoyed this story. Very similar to other war time stories but the thread of adapting her own family trials and tribulations during that time period were perfect
So much trauma and devastating situations that peoples ancestors went through during the war were brought to the surface while reading this book
So much trauma and devastating situations that peoples ancestors went through during the war were brought to the surface while reading this book
January 5, 2022
Continuing my new love of historical novels, Tania Blanchard captured my imagination in her story about Susanna Gottmann. A story of sadness, trauma, intrigue, adventure and lost love all set during WWII in Berlin. I highly recommend this novel.
January 1, 2021
This book hade enthralled from page one. Based on a true story, I couldn’t put it down and finished it in a day! Well worth reading
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