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All Things That Deserve to Perish: A Novel of Wilhelmine Germany
The year is 1896, and Elisabeth ('Lisi') von Schwabacher, the gifted daughter of a Jewish banker, returns home to Berlin from three years of piano study in Vienna. Though her thoughts are far from matrimony, she is pursued by two noblemen impressed as much by her stunning wealth as by her prodigious intellect and musical talent. Awakened to sudden improvements in the opportunities open to women, Lisi balks at her mother's expectation that she will contract a brilliant marriage and settle down to a life as a wife and mother. In a bid to emancipate herself once and for all from that unwelcome fate, she resolves to have an affair with one of her aristocratic suitors -- an escapade that, given her rigid social milieu, has tragic consequences.All Things That Deserve to Perish is a novel that penetrates the constrained condition of women in Wilhelmine Germany, as well as the particular social challenges faced by German Jews, who suffered invidious discrimination long before Hitler's seizure of power. It is also a compassionate rumination on the distractions of sexual love, and the unbearable strains of a life devoted to art.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 25, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 22, 2021
All Things That Deserve to Perish
by Dana Mack was narrated by Megan Green. The narrator was excellent. This historical fiction had a bit of a different twist than I’m used to. It did have the charm of a regency but lacked the etiquette of it. The characters were likable enough but I thought this would be more of a romance. There really wasn’t any romance and very strange things happened in this story. I guess one could say it was a realistic fiction. The writing was very good. I forgot about the Germans and their prejudice against Jews. I found it most upsetting. The majority of this story is told in letter correspondence and I hoped for more.
Thanks Dana Mack Publishing via Netgalley.
by Dana Mack was narrated by Megan Green. The narrator was excellent. This historical fiction had a bit of a different twist than I’m used to. It did have the charm of a regency but lacked the etiquette of it. The characters were likable enough but I thought this would be more of a romance. There really wasn’t any romance and very strange things happened in this story. I guess one could say it was a realistic fiction. The writing was very good. I forgot about the Germans and their prejudice against Jews. I found it most upsetting. The majority of this story is told in letter correspondence and I hoped for more.
Thanks Dana Mack Publishing via Netgalley.
June 20, 2021
Thought provoking - Touching - Heartfelt
This is no ordinary historical romance - this book gives a remarkably accurate insight into life during Wilhelmine Germany, exploring challenging themes head on through the eyes of the heroine - a headstrong & extremely talented young pianist. The use of letters between her and the other characters add depth whilst keeping it fresh, as does the musical theme running throughout.
I read the entire book over a weekend and found myself completely immersed in it. Laughing, crying and thoroughly entertained whilst feeling educated at the same time!
This superbly crafted historical romance is one of those few books that I will definitely pick up and read again. Highly recommend.
This is no ordinary historical romance - this book gives a remarkably accurate insight into life during Wilhelmine Germany, exploring challenging themes head on through the eyes of the heroine - a headstrong & extremely talented young pianist. The use of letters between her and the other characters add depth whilst keeping it fresh, as does the musical theme running throughout.
I read the entire book over a weekend and found myself completely immersed in it. Laughing, crying and thoroughly entertained whilst feeling educated at the same time!
This superbly crafted historical romance is one of those few books that I will definitely pick up and read again. Highly recommend.
January 15, 2021
Rich with history. Wonderful characters. Interesting plot. Vivid descriptions. I felt every emotion. Simply a GREAT read!
#AllThingsThatDeserveToPerish #NetGalley
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
#AllThingsThatDeserveToPerish #NetGalley
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
August 1, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a free copy of this audiobook to review. First off, I loved how unique the story was and I loved the narrator of the audiobook. It was great to see that the author was so passionate about the subject of the book. However, that also came to negatively effect the book. The author wanted to let the reader know everything about the time period and what was happening in Germany during the time. However, by doing this the writing became very heavy and hard to read/listen to. There was a lot of information to take in at the start of the book and I found myself getting bored because of this. As my favourite genre is historical fiction, this was very hard for me to accept. However, the story really picked up in the second half of the book and I found myself getting to know the characters a lot better. The story was interesting and unique. Anyone with an interest in historical fiction books based in Germany should definitely give this a go. It just wasn’t for me due to the heavy information which ruined the narrative and the character development at the beginning of the book.
February 3, 2021
~ Thanks to NetGalley and the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review ~
I was so intrigued by the beautiful cover of "All Things that Deserve to Perish" that it only took a quick look over the blurb before I wanted to read it. Unfortunately, the actual reading of the book itself took a lot longer, and a large part of that was due to the fact that I had a really hard time getting into the story. The narration is written both in third person and first person (in letter form), and Mack's detached position as author reminded me somewhat of Jane Austen's approach to writing. However, unlike Austen's works, I found "All Things" to be lacking in warmth and likable characters. Our deuteragonist Wilhelm often acted in ways and said things that repelled me as a reader. Although is likely to be fairly historically correct in terms of how people spoke and thought back then, I just found some of it distasteful. Wilhelm made so many derogatory comments to Lisi about the Jewish people that it was hard to believe that he was actually one of the more tolerant Junkers! I also had trouble understanding the motivations behind the actions taken by some of the characters which made it hard to sympathise with them (RE: Lisi saying yes then no then yes then no rinse and repeat). The explicit sex scene halfway through the book felt out of place - not because I'm a prude, because I understand that sex scenes can be effective - but because it was just SO in detail that I thought that the book would employ eroticism consistently thereafter like a lot of modern romance novels. Yet it took nearly an additional third of the book before another, milder sex scene takes place. I'm not complaining about the frequency of sex scenes, or even the detail itself. More that it was at this point that the book pulled me out of the serious historical romance it had presented itself to be, then moved on with its former tone as if nothing had changed. By the final third of the book, I was engaged enough by the plot to be tearing through the pages, but I would be lying if I said that eagerness to finally finish didn't play a part.
Aside from the writing not being poor enough to deserve 2 stars in my opinion, Mack's obvious knack for history was what I found most pleasurable during my experience reading this novel. There is an attention to detail which I admire, and I loved the summary at the end that explained some of the historical context. I had never heard of the Junker class before, nor did I know of their role in aiding the Nazis which, ironically, led to their eventual downfall. Over the past couple of years, I've been consuming more books based around World War 2, and finding out what took place in Germany leading up to its events was very interesting.
I regret not being able to post a more positive review, because that really is a stunning cover and I understand that this was a passion project for Mack. However, the book does seem to be doing well with other readers, and I would encourage curious readers to pick it up to decide for themselves.
I was so intrigued by the beautiful cover of "All Things that Deserve to Perish" that it only took a quick look over the blurb before I wanted to read it. Unfortunately, the actual reading of the book itself took a lot longer, and a large part of that was due to the fact that I had a really hard time getting into the story. The narration is written both in third person and first person (in letter form), and Mack's detached position as author reminded me somewhat of Jane Austen's approach to writing. However, unlike Austen's works, I found "All Things" to be lacking in warmth and likable characters. Our deuteragonist Wilhelm often acted in ways and said things that repelled me as a reader. Although is likely to be fairly historically correct in terms of how people spoke and thought back then, I just found some of it distasteful. Wilhelm made so many derogatory comments to Lisi about the Jewish people that it was hard to believe that he was actually one of the more tolerant Junkers! I also had trouble understanding the motivations behind the actions taken by some of the characters which made it hard to sympathise with them (RE: Lisi saying yes then no then yes then no rinse and repeat). The explicit sex scene halfway through the book felt out of place - not because I'm a prude, because I understand that sex scenes can be effective - but because it was just SO in detail that I thought that the book would employ eroticism consistently thereafter like a lot of modern romance novels. Yet it took nearly an additional third of the book before another, milder sex scene takes place. I'm not complaining about the frequency of sex scenes, or even the detail itself. More that it was at this point that the book pulled me out of the serious historical romance it had presented itself to be, then moved on with its former tone as if nothing had changed. By the final third of the book, I was engaged enough by the plot to be tearing through the pages, but I would be lying if I said that eagerness to finally finish didn't play a part.
Aside from the writing not being poor enough to deserve 2 stars in my opinion, Mack's obvious knack for history was what I found most pleasurable during my experience reading this novel. There is an attention to detail which I admire, and I loved the summary at the end that explained some of the historical context. I had never heard of the Junker class before, nor did I know of their role in aiding the Nazis which, ironically, led to their eventual downfall. Over the past couple of years, I've been consuming more books based around World War 2, and finding out what took place in Germany leading up to its events was very interesting.
I regret not being able to post a more positive review, because that really is a stunning cover and I understand that this was a passion project for Mack. However, the book does seem to be doing well with other readers, and I would encourage curious readers to pick it up to decide for themselves.
August 14, 2021
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Books Forward PR, and Dana Mack for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.
Thank you again so much to Books Forward PR for sending me this audiobook! I love being able to support them and this is my second book – first audiobook – that I got to read and review for them.
Nothing was wrong with the story as a whole. For me, I just wasn’t invested in it as much as I could have been. To me, it felt like this was told just to be told, rather than having some sort of emotional impact on why it would be something I would want or need to read. I adore historical fiction, and I don’t know if I just like a certain trope but this didn’t give me the same feelings that other historical fiction novels usually do.
Let me try to explain.
This story was about the life of Lisi, who is Jewish in a well-off family who is more about the arts – her music – than dudes. Then there’s a dude that ends up seducing her and her father ends up finding out and then there’s that drama. Of course, this dude gets vindictive over Lisi but somehow, they end up being together later on in the novel. I didn’t like that, and I didn’t understand why Lisi was okay to accept his behavior and marry him when she really didn’t want to be married at all. It just didn’t make sense to me.
I know there’s technically two suitors vying for her attention, but with the way this read I didn’t really remember that there were two. I could have just confused them for each other and thought it was the same person, but to me there wasn’t much distinction between the two and the love triangle – or the two suitor thing – didn’t seem necessary. Was it a plot device to make her have premarital sex, which led to the consequences that her and her family had to deal with because of it? That’s kind of the vibe that I got, and it just didn’t seem like a compelling enough reason to be there.
There weren’t any characters that I truly cared for. I don’t have to connect specifically with a character or relate to them due to similar life experiences in order to care for a character while reading about them, so it wasn’t that. It’s just that nobody was compelling enough for me to want to root for, or to feel some sympathy for. Not even Lisi, which would have been the person I would feel sympathy for due to what she went through during the novel.
This doesn’t mean that the book is bad. The writing was done well, and maybe for someone else they would enjoy this novel. I thought that it was interesting that this took place well before WWI, and Mack showing that there were already issues with discrimination between Germans and Jews was great to see. Not great because of what happened, but it gave a bit more insight as to how long these feelings grew between the two before the war even started. This was at the end of the 1890s and there was clear animosity between them. There was a point where people were condemning Lisi’s husband (I honestly forgot his name already) for marrying her because she is a Jewish girl and apparently they don’t make good wives. That’s not the exact quote of course, but it was clear that the Germans felt superior to the Jews, but they were okay with him having access to her family’s money. So there’s that.
Narrators can make or break an audiobook for me, as I’m sure it’s similar with others. If I don’t like a book due to a narrator, I’ll try to read it physically before I give up on it. In this case, since I was due to review the audiobook specifically, I couldn’t switch formats. However, I think it was better for me to listen through this because it would not have held my attention if I tried to read it physically.
Nothing is wrong with this narrator – whose name I forget unfortunately – but for me, she wasn’t one of my favorites. Her voice was just too calming in this case, and I would be so close to falling asleep whenever I listened to the novel. That could also attribute to why I honestly don’t remember much about the novel or more specifics about the characters. They either just sounded too similar, or everything was blurring together. Again, that is what happened in my case, and not a judgement on this narrator at all. I’m sure that others may take better to her narration than I did. In fact, her voice was so calming and pleasing to hear that it would help me fall asleep if I’m ever having a hard time at it.
One of the things that didn’t work well for me in this case was the separation of in-person events and letters. If anything, the letters gave more action and made things seem more interesting than when things were happening in person. I don’t really know why, but even though there were a lot of letters scattered in between the regular commentary.
That’s all really on that. I kind of wish this could have been written more as a set of letters, but I do understand the need for the regular commentary. It would have been interesting hearing Lisi describe the first time she had sex in a letter to her cousin or something.
Again, while I personally didn’t enjoy this book, it is still well written, and clearly well researched. It described a time in Germany that I never knew about, and was very clear in expressing the kind of issues that women during that time were dealing with. Not only women, but Jewish women in particular. This was also a little different from the other historical fiction I have read before, and that could be why I wasn’t as used to it as I would be other novels. I believe you should give it a chance if you normally read historical fiction, if you want to read more about Wilhelmine Germany, or if you just want to try Dana Mack’s writing!
Thank you again so much to Books Forward PR for sending me this audiobook! I love being able to support them and this is my second book – first audiobook – that I got to read and review for them.
Nothing was wrong with the story as a whole. For me, I just wasn’t invested in it as much as I could have been. To me, it felt like this was told just to be told, rather than having some sort of emotional impact on why it would be something I would want or need to read. I adore historical fiction, and I don’t know if I just like a certain trope but this didn’t give me the same feelings that other historical fiction novels usually do.
Let me try to explain.
This story was about the life of Lisi, who is Jewish in a well-off family who is more about the arts – her music – than dudes. Then there’s a dude that ends up seducing her and her father ends up finding out and then there’s that drama. Of course, this dude gets vindictive over Lisi but somehow, they end up being together later on in the novel. I didn’t like that, and I didn’t understand why Lisi was okay to accept his behavior and marry him when she really didn’t want to be married at all. It just didn’t make sense to me.
I know there’s technically two suitors vying for her attention, but with the way this read I didn’t really remember that there were two. I could have just confused them for each other and thought it was the same person, but to me there wasn’t much distinction between the two and the love triangle – or the two suitor thing – didn’t seem necessary. Was it a plot device to make her have premarital sex, which led to the consequences that her and her family had to deal with because of it? That’s kind of the vibe that I got, and it just didn’t seem like a compelling enough reason to be there.
There weren’t any characters that I truly cared for. I don’t have to connect specifically with a character or relate to them due to similar life experiences in order to care for a character while reading about them, so it wasn’t that. It’s just that nobody was compelling enough for me to want to root for, or to feel some sympathy for. Not even Lisi, which would have been the person I would feel sympathy for due to what she went through during the novel.
This doesn’t mean that the book is bad. The writing was done well, and maybe for someone else they would enjoy this novel. I thought that it was interesting that this took place well before WWI, and Mack showing that there were already issues with discrimination between Germans and Jews was great to see. Not great because of what happened, but it gave a bit more insight as to how long these feelings grew between the two before the war even started. This was at the end of the 1890s and there was clear animosity between them. There was a point where people were condemning Lisi’s husband (I honestly forgot his name already) for marrying her because she is a Jewish girl and apparently they don’t make good wives. That’s not the exact quote of course, but it was clear that the Germans felt superior to the Jews, but they were okay with him having access to her family’s money. So there’s that.
Narrators can make or break an audiobook for me, as I’m sure it’s similar with others. If I don’t like a book due to a narrator, I’ll try to read it physically before I give up on it. In this case, since I was due to review the audiobook specifically, I couldn’t switch formats. However, I think it was better for me to listen through this because it would not have held my attention if I tried to read it physically.
Nothing is wrong with this narrator – whose name I forget unfortunately – but for me, she wasn’t one of my favorites. Her voice was just too calming in this case, and I would be so close to falling asleep whenever I listened to the novel. That could also attribute to why I honestly don’t remember much about the novel or more specifics about the characters. They either just sounded too similar, or everything was blurring together. Again, that is what happened in my case, and not a judgement on this narrator at all. I’m sure that others may take better to her narration than I did. In fact, her voice was so calming and pleasing to hear that it would help me fall asleep if I’m ever having a hard time at it.
One of the things that didn’t work well for me in this case was the separation of in-person events and letters. If anything, the letters gave more action and made things seem more interesting than when things were happening in person. I don’t really know why, but even though there were a lot of letters scattered in between the regular commentary.
That’s all really on that. I kind of wish this could have been written more as a set of letters, but I do understand the need for the regular commentary. It would have been interesting hearing Lisi describe the first time she had sex in a letter to her cousin or something.
Again, while I personally didn’t enjoy this book, it is still well written, and clearly well researched. It described a time in Germany that I never knew about, and was very clear in expressing the kind of issues that women during that time were dealing with. Not only women, but Jewish women in particular. This was also a little different from the other historical fiction I have read before, and that could be why I wasn’t as used to it as I would be other novels. I believe you should give it a chance if you normally read historical fiction, if you want to read more about Wilhelmine Germany, or if you just want to try Dana Mack’s writing!
December 16, 2020
'All Things That Deserve To Perish', by Dana Mack, is a romance novel attempting to be a roman de fin de siècle. Curiously, both the weakness and strength of 'All Things That Deserve To Perish' are the same: Ms Mack was passionate about this story because of all the back knowledge she had on it. As a result, she created a book that tries too hard, and in so doing, it condemns it to fail: the heroine is so special and perky, she’s obnoxious; the hero is either dumb as a bell, or surprisingly admirable; the historical events are too overpowering for the storyline; the attempt at recreating the literary style of the period, too formulaic.
Ms Mack had a great idea, the amazing vantage point of deep understanding of her subject matter, a different period and location to portray than most. More than that, she spent a long time building up her work. All of this translated in too much overthinking, so that like a Sauerkraut, the whole lot has soured. Unlike it, however, it is clearly not by device.
(Spoilers)
What we get is the story of a marriage of lust and convenience between a rich Jewish heiress with musical abilities, and an impoverished Junker heir, at the end of the 19th/beginning of the 20th Century. There are long epistolary episodes full of florid language and gossipy meanness (supposed to be witticism) on her part; exclamation marks to denote passion on his part. There are soirees, glittering jewels, outstanding musical, concerts, European tours, discussions of art, etcetera. Basically, we get the trappings of a period world.
We also get very current issues superimposed on historical ones. There is a constant reminder of the rise of antisemitism – Dreyfus gets mentioned; homosexuality – the Eulenburg case is part of the events; abortion – illegal but widespread among the higher classes; religious tensions; even literacy, sexuality, and female emancipation. It is laid thick, constantly, as though Ms Mack feared we might miss the hints, how much destruction these matters brought since.
Sadly, the characters seem to learn nothing from them, and remain undeveloped. The events fizz in the background. Even the end brings us back to social and family order.
'All Things That Deserve To Perish' is a good choice for those who enjoy the glitter or period dramas, love stories, and happy endings. It is also a good choice for those looking for alternatives to the usual British and American historical romance novels.
On the other hand, 'All Things That Deserve To Perish' is not a book for readers looking for solid structure or character development. Also, this is not a story for lovers of modern romance.
Ms Mack had a great idea, the amazing vantage point of deep understanding of her subject matter, a different period and location to portray than most. More than that, she spent a long time building up her work. All of this translated in too much overthinking, so that like a Sauerkraut, the whole lot has soured. Unlike it, however, it is clearly not by device.
(Spoilers)
What we get is the story of a marriage of lust and convenience between a rich Jewish heiress with musical abilities, and an impoverished Junker heir, at the end of the 19th/beginning of the 20th Century. There are long epistolary episodes full of florid language and gossipy meanness (supposed to be witticism) on her part; exclamation marks to denote passion on his part. There are soirees, glittering jewels, outstanding musical, concerts, European tours, discussions of art, etcetera. Basically, we get the trappings of a period world.
We also get very current issues superimposed on historical ones. There is a constant reminder of the rise of antisemitism – Dreyfus gets mentioned; homosexuality – the Eulenburg case is part of the events; abortion – illegal but widespread among the higher classes; religious tensions; even literacy, sexuality, and female emancipation. It is laid thick, constantly, as though Ms Mack feared we might miss the hints, how much destruction these matters brought since.
Sadly, the characters seem to learn nothing from them, and remain undeveloped. The events fizz in the background. Even the end brings us back to social and family order.
'All Things That Deserve To Perish' is a good choice for those who enjoy the glitter or period dramas, love stories, and happy endings. It is also a good choice for those looking for alternatives to the usual British and American historical romance novels.
On the other hand, 'All Things That Deserve To Perish' is not a book for readers looking for solid structure or character development. Also, this is not a story for lovers of modern romance.
June 19, 2021
A huge thank you to Books Forward PR for my copy of All Things That Deserve to Perish in exchange for my honest review.
All Things That Deserve to Perish offers a glimpse into the complexities of humanity in Wilhelmine, Germany towards the end of the 19th century.
Lisi, an extremely talented and intelligent pianist finds herself at the crossroads of how she intends to move forward with her life- as a learned, talented musician with a promising future or to follow the path of a wife and mother. Although Lisi is far from conventional and refreshingly strong-willed and outspoken, she is highly sought after for her incredible dowry as the daughter of a Jewish banker.
All Things That Deserves to Perish explores the ever-increasing challenges and prejudices towards Jews, in particular Jewesses, at this time long before Hitler’s reign. Lisi is a strong willed young woman who is not easily content to sit back and play the part of the doting wife and daughter. However, the aftermath of a passionate affair with a morally ambiguous suitor come into play and Lisi’s world is turned upside down.
This isn’t a time period I have explored before and wasn’t sure what to expect going into this novel in the least. I am so pleased to say that I throughly enjoyed this perspective into a world in which I’m not familiar. This story tackles a multitude of controversial subjects with a feminist narrative. I quickly fell in love with the protagonist of this story for her unabashed nature. Mack writes with a wealth of knowledge of this time and of the arts which greatly lends to the story.
I recommend this novel to any fellow lovers of WWII novels, looking for greater insight of the discriminations against Jews. This is an important read that sets the stage for Nazi Germany in the years to follow.
TW: abortion
All Things That Deserve to Perish offers a glimpse into the complexities of humanity in Wilhelmine, Germany towards the end of the 19th century.
Lisi, an extremely talented and intelligent pianist finds herself at the crossroads of how she intends to move forward with her life- as a learned, talented musician with a promising future or to follow the path of a wife and mother. Although Lisi is far from conventional and refreshingly strong-willed and outspoken, she is highly sought after for her incredible dowry as the daughter of a Jewish banker.
All Things That Deserves to Perish explores the ever-increasing challenges and prejudices towards Jews, in particular Jewesses, at this time long before Hitler’s reign. Lisi is a strong willed young woman who is not easily content to sit back and play the part of the doting wife and daughter. However, the aftermath of a passionate affair with a morally ambiguous suitor come into play and Lisi’s world is turned upside down.
This isn’t a time period I have explored before and wasn’t sure what to expect going into this novel in the least. I am so pleased to say that I throughly enjoyed this perspective into a world in which I’m not familiar. This story tackles a multitude of controversial subjects with a feminist narrative. I quickly fell in love with the protagonist of this story for her unabashed nature. Mack writes with a wealth of knowledge of this time and of the arts which greatly lends to the story.
I recommend this novel to any fellow lovers of WWII novels, looking for greater insight of the discriminations against Jews. This is an important read that sets the stage for Nazi Germany in the years to follow.
TW: abortion
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July 29, 2021*I received this book as a digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Thank you NetGalley, Dana Mack, and Dana Mack Publishing for the audiobook ARC of All Things That Deserve to Perish.
I find the style of the writing very lovely. It really reminds me of the old, sort of long winded-style. I really respect the author’s desire to discuss issues of women in society as well as the rampant anti-semitism. I don’t know that I have ever seen anti-semitism in a historical novel taking place before World War II, so I really respect what this book is aiming to do.
My only real nit-pick is how “not like other girls” our main character, Elisabeth, seems to be. It just seems kind of an odd choice for a novel that aims to look in part at the societal restrictions on women. Elisabeth, not always abiding by these restrictions, is then painted to be special because she doesn’t follow these restrictions and the other women as described seem to be boring, stupid, or vain, which leaves me with an icky feeling. It just sort of makes me think of tearing down one woman as a means of complimenting another, and I’m not the biggest fan. Because of this, I found it really difficult to get attached to any of the characters. I found them all sort of boring and couldn’t pinpoint even one that I wanted to route for.
I listened to this on audiobook, so I also feel the need to mention the narrator, Megan Green. Green’s voice is so smooth and calming, that I really found myself focusing on the tone of her voice as opposed to the plot. My only complaint was that I found her character voices very similar, which made it kind of difficult to follow who was speaking in dialogue heavy parts of the book, especially when everyone in the dialogue was of the same gender.
To summarize: loved the style and the wealth of historical info, wasn’t a fan of the characters. Narrator has a beautiful voice, but the characters are a bit hard to follow.
It’s gonna have to be a 3 star for me. Although I adored the writing style and learning about the history, I just did not like the plot or the characters, and I don’t think the style can carry a book when the reader can’t find themselves rooting for at least one of the characters. I felt no satisfaction at the end because there was nothing and no one I was really rooting for from the beginning.
Thank you NetGalley, Dana Mack, and Dana Mack Publishing for the audiobook ARC of All Things That Deserve to Perish.
I find the style of the writing very lovely. It really reminds me of the old, sort of long winded-style. I really respect the author’s desire to discuss issues of women in society as well as the rampant anti-semitism. I don’t know that I have ever seen anti-semitism in a historical novel taking place before World War II, so I really respect what this book is aiming to do.
My only real nit-pick is how “not like other girls” our main character, Elisabeth, seems to be. It just seems kind of an odd choice for a novel that aims to look in part at the societal restrictions on women. Elisabeth, not always abiding by these restrictions, is then painted to be special because she doesn’t follow these restrictions and the other women as described seem to be boring, stupid, or vain, which leaves me with an icky feeling. It just sort of makes me think of tearing down one woman as a means of complimenting another, and I’m not the biggest fan. Because of this, I found it really difficult to get attached to any of the characters. I found them all sort of boring and couldn’t pinpoint even one that I wanted to route for.
I listened to this on audiobook, so I also feel the need to mention the narrator, Megan Green. Green’s voice is so smooth and calming, that I really found myself focusing on the tone of her voice as opposed to the plot. My only complaint was that I found her character voices very similar, which made it kind of difficult to follow who was speaking in dialogue heavy parts of the book, especially when everyone in the dialogue was of the same gender.
To summarize: loved the style and the wealth of historical info, wasn’t a fan of the characters. Narrator has a beautiful voice, but the characters are a bit hard to follow.
It’s gonna have to be a 3 star for me. Although I adored the writing style and learning about the history, I just did not like the plot or the characters, and I don’t think the style can carry a book when the reader can’t find themselves rooting for at least one of the characters. I felt no satisfaction at the end because there was nothing and no one I was really rooting for from the beginning.
November 28, 2020
In reading “All Things That Deserve to Perish” I was swept up in Mack’s vivid portrayal of end-of-the-19th-century upper-class Germany, with its lush surroundings, lavish lifestyle and highly refined culture — and simmering anti-Semitism that portends the Holocaust, and telegraphs warnings about the never-ending cycle of age-old savage Jew hatred in Europe and beyond. The novel’s plucky and entrancing young Jewish heroine, Lisi von Schwabacher, becomes a messenger from the past and the future, warning us about the perils and folly of assimilation. But you don’t have to be Jewish to fall in love with this novel. Any woman who has struggled with the imperative of motherhood vs. the desire for a career will relate to — and root for — Lisi, who is faced with the impossible choice between following her musical talents and succumbing to the era’s suffocating norms about marriage and motherhood. And you don’t have to be a musician to understand and appreciate the high-level musical milieu that Lisi and her family move in, thanks to Mack’s artful way of decoding sonatas and the like without dumbing them down. But what really sets this novel apart is Mack’s engaging storytelling and clever use of letters to reveal the innermost thoughts of not only Lisi, but the cast of characters who swirl around her, including her devastatingly handsome but rigidly traditional, non-Jewish aristocratic suitor. Through her letters, Lisi reveals herself to be thoroughly modern in terms of her sexual appetites and longing for independence, and the desire to develop and express her talents — which makes her very relatable. By the last chapter — which consists entirely of letters back and forth — I felt as though I was an intimate friend of Lisi’s, and I didn’t want to lose her or the story to end. Note to Ms. Mack: A sequel, please!
May 19, 2022
Elisabeth von Schwabacher has just returned to her family home in Berlin from three years of music study in Vienna. She is an accomplished pianist and along with the fact that her father is extremely wealthy will be considered one of the catches of this year's matrimonial events. But in 1896, there are several things against her as well. Elisabeth's family is Jewish and there is open discrimination against them in society. She is also quite outspoken and has returned home with ideas of what women should be able to have outside of a marriage.
Two nobles court her. One is an old friend but she isn't interested in him romantically. The other is from an impoverished family although their standing in society remains high. Elisabeth is immediately attracted to him but isn't sure she wants to marry anyone. She decides that this close to the nineteenth century she should be able to do as she pleases and determines that she will take him as a lover. The noble is more than willing and she does so. Her family discovers this and are appalled. They send her away to relatives.
But love will out and the noble and Elisabeth eventually marry. She goes to his estate only to be shocked at how different it is from the heights of Berlin society. His family is open with their distaste for her Jewishness as are the other families in the area.
Dana Mack is a historian, musician and journalist. This is her debut novel but her articles on various subjects have appeared in publications including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Christian Science Monitor and the Washington Post. Her background has made her the perfect author to write this novel about women's changing roles in society and the fact that the Jewish population were being ostracized long before Hitler came to power. This book is recommended for historical fiction readers.
Two nobles court her. One is an old friend but she isn't interested in him romantically. The other is from an impoverished family although their standing in society remains high. Elisabeth is immediately attracted to him but isn't sure she wants to marry anyone. She decides that this close to the nineteenth century she should be able to do as she pleases and determines that she will take him as a lover. The noble is more than willing and she does so. Her family discovers this and are appalled. They send her away to relatives.
But love will out and the noble and Elisabeth eventually marry. She goes to his estate only to be shocked at how different it is from the heights of Berlin society. His family is open with their distaste for her Jewishness as are the other families in the area.
Dana Mack is a historian, musician and journalist. This is her debut novel but her articles on various subjects have appeared in publications including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Christian Science Monitor and the Washington Post. Her background has made her the perfect author to write this novel about women's changing roles in society and the fact that the Jewish population were being ostracized long before Hitler came to power. This book is recommended for historical fiction readers.
July 27, 2021
All Things That Deserve to Perish: A Novel of Wilhelmine Germany
By Dana Mack
Thanks Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and NetGalley for this ARC in audio format.
An 1896 novel about how Elisabeth ('Lisi') von Schwabacher, the gifted daughter of a Jewish banker, is pursued by two noblemen impressed as much by her stunning wealth as by her prodigious intellect and musical talent. In a bid to emancipate herself once and for all from that unwelcome fate, she resolves to have an affair with one of her aristocratic suitors -- an escapade that, given her rigid social milieu, has tragic consequences for both her and her family.
This novel, centered about the life of jewish people in old germany helps to ilústrate to someone like me, so far away from germany or judaism.
From the beginning it had me rolling. The witty from our protagonist completely charmed me.
I was extremely into this story until the end where i feel i got lost a little. It didn’t feel like the same novel anymore. It promised so much an i was left unsatisfied
The narrator is fenomenal and does a great job in representing each character by changing their tone. I will say it’s a little hard at the beginning with the names.
With all that it’s still an amazing book that i will not fail to recommend
3,5/5⭐️
Maria Lourdes
By Dana Mack
Thanks Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and NetGalley for this ARC in audio format.
An 1896 novel about how Elisabeth ('Lisi') von Schwabacher, the gifted daughter of a Jewish banker, is pursued by two noblemen impressed as much by her stunning wealth as by her prodigious intellect and musical talent. In a bid to emancipate herself once and for all from that unwelcome fate, she resolves to have an affair with one of her aristocratic suitors -- an escapade that, given her rigid social milieu, has tragic consequences for both her and her family.
This novel, centered about the life of jewish people in old germany helps to ilústrate to someone like me, so far away from germany or judaism.
From the beginning it had me rolling. The witty from our protagonist completely charmed me.
I was extremely into this story until the end where i feel i got lost a little. It didn’t feel like the same novel anymore. It promised so much an i was left unsatisfied
The narrator is fenomenal and does a great job in representing each character by changing their tone. I will say it’s a little hard at the beginning with the names.
With all that it’s still an amazing book that i will not fail to recommend
3,5/5⭐️
Maria Lourdes
January 16, 2021
Dana Mack brings all the flourishes and woe that encompassed 19th century Germany to life as her characters navigate their own turbulent lives. Focused on the social lives and perceptions of German Jews, Dana brings all the discrimination, fear and judgement to light in the young life of Elizabeth, who as a young woman coming to age faces these challenges through each of the characters that pressure her. And while this book is structured as a social critique, at least in my opinion, Elizabeth is in every way a modern feminist that rallies the reader beside her as she seeks to push back and carve her own path! There are frustrations, pain, exhilaration, grief and even desire as we follow her through each challenge that comes her way, but most of all, you live through her as Dana parallels our own contemporary lives. Yes there is romance, but in no way would I say this book is a Romance, as Elizabeth's life transcends the trivial need to match-make in such a time, and in more ways than one a fictional-biography of a determined Jewess. While the plot can become repetitive and worn, I view this book as a new 'must-read' for all young woman (and men!).
Congratulations Dana for such an amazing book!
Congratulations Dana for such an amazing book!
March 1, 2021
Know Dana Mack is a historian made this novel all the more intriguing to me. I've known academic writers who also write excellent fiction. All Things is just such a novel! History is there, explained through the lives of the Junker, or upper class in late 19th century Germany and the lower class, although wealthier, Jews who wished nothing more than to pursue their lives as Germans. With the long-lived bigotry finally taking a name - anti-semitism - whispers and portents of the horrors that will follow in another 40-50 years swirl around and imbue the plot with uncharitable, but real prejudices that poison anything good: The love between two people who are from different social classes, the love of parents for each other and their only daughter, and the desire to see a stratified way of life not only sustained but prolonged are sent into a three-way headlong crash that the reader almost immediately senses a participation or a direct witnessing at the very least. The characters are real and the reader is brought directly into their lives and troubles. If I were the type, I would weep at the ending and pray for those who will not survive the annihilation to come.
August 7, 2021
:: Thank you Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for a honest review ::
Historical fiction? Germany… or more specifically, Berlin? Yes, please! However that’s where my enthusiasm for this book ends.
Although I appreciate the authors apparent interest in her subject matter, it’s that same eagerness that weighs down the story with excessive exposition and backstory.
To add to this, were the chapters told in epistolary, which I’ve never been a fan of. I always thought if you have to tell a characters present in letters, you can probably cut it and do a quick ‘tell’ in a paragraph or two and get on with it.
Overall, “Perish” was not for me. I found the dialogue rather clunky (which probably has more to do with me reading more 20th century historical fiction and not being familiar 19th century speech), and the overall tone of the novel cold; the characters were stand-off-ish, like only giving half of themselves, and I couldn’t sympathize with anyone as each was so concentrated on their own goals that when there was a moment of thoughtfulness for others, I wasn’t sure they could be trusted.
Historical fiction? Germany… or more specifically, Berlin? Yes, please! However that’s where my enthusiasm for this book ends.
Although I appreciate the authors apparent interest in her subject matter, it’s that same eagerness that weighs down the story with excessive exposition and backstory.
To add to this, were the chapters told in epistolary, which I’ve never been a fan of. I always thought if you have to tell a characters present in letters, you can probably cut it and do a quick ‘tell’ in a paragraph or two and get on with it.
Overall, “Perish” was not for me. I found the dialogue rather clunky (which probably has more to do with me reading more 20th century historical fiction and not being familiar 19th century speech), and the overall tone of the novel cold; the characters were stand-off-ish, like only giving half of themselves, and I couldn’t sympathize with anyone as each was so concentrated on their own goals that when there was a moment of thoughtfulness for others, I wasn’t sure they could be trusted.
July 3, 2021
First off, let me start by stating that I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway, and I thank the author and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read it.
I found this book to be provocative and enlightening regarding the class system, racism, constraints, and societal demands placed upon the Jewish community in the late 1800s into the early 1900s- and the conditions under which they lived. Anti-semitism was alive and well in Germany far before Hitler came into the picture, and this novel reminded me of the systemic racism, suspicion, and derision under which the Jews lived for centuries. It saddens me that this group of people were so shabbily treated, and it’s the dialogue in this book surrounding the discrimination, bigotry, inequality, etc. that I found repugnant. My Jewish ancestors fled Spain during the Spanish Inquisition in order to find safety and to reinvent themselves, so this book was interesting to me. It definitely is thought-provoking. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the abrupt and unsatisfactory ending.
I found this book to be provocative and enlightening regarding the class system, racism, constraints, and societal demands placed upon the Jewish community in the late 1800s into the early 1900s- and the conditions under which they lived. Anti-semitism was alive and well in Germany far before Hitler came into the picture, and this novel reminded me of the systemic racism, suspicion, and derision under which the Jews lived for centuries. It saddens me that this group of people were so shabbily treated, and it’s the dialogue in this book surrounding the discrimination, bigotry, inequality, etc. that I found repugnant. My Jewish ancestors fled Spain during the Spanish Inquisition in order to find safety and to reinvent themselves, so this book was interesting to me. It definitely is thought-provoking. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the abrupt and unsatisfactory ending.
Read
August 31, 2021I found I had to kickstart myself a couple of times before I was able to actually enjoy listening to Dana Mack"s "All Things That Deserve to Perish" audiobook (narrated by Megan Green). in fact, this is my way of saying that Megan speaks exactly as you (may) expect, an educated, intellectual woman of late century nineteenth century Wilhelmine Germany would speak. It seems to me completely authentic. In addition, without a hard copy of the story, at times it was difficult to follow because of all the different (German) names (and which one was a prince and which one is the Baron, and is she speaking about the father or the son, etc).
Despite the technical difficulties, I persevered and really appreciated this glimpse into life (especially the life of a Jewish banker and his family), in Wilhemine Germany just before the turn of the nineteenth century. it was so interesting! Thank you #netgalley and @danamackpublishing for my complimentary copy of #allthingsthatdeservetoperish in return for my honest review.
Despite the technical difficulties, I persevered and really appreciated this glimpse into life (especially the life of a Jewish banker and his family), in Wilhemine Germany just before the turn of the nineteenth century. it was so interesting! Thank you #netgalley and @danamackpublishing for my complimentary copy of #allthingsthatdeservetoperish in return for my honest review.
August 6, 2021
I had some difficulty understanding the German names at first, but I stuck with it and it became easier and easier as I went along. I’m glad I had the audio version because if I had read it without listening to it, I would have made a mess of the names. The narrator had a beautiful voice that greatly added to the enjoyment of the story.
The story is centered around a very talented musician by the name of Lisi Von Schawbacher. Lisi is a headstrong, only daughter of a very wealthy banker father. They are also Jews. Even though it is 1898, Germany is already rife with antisemitism. There are two men interested in Lisi and she falls for the Protestant one. The relationship is met with obstacles from every angle and the antisemitism compounds all of the obstacles. I highly recommend this book and especially the audio version!
The story is centered around a very talented musician by the name of Lisi Von Schawbacher. Lisi is a headstrong, only daughter of a very wealthy banker father. They are also Jews. Even though it is 1898, Germany is already rife with antisemitism. There are two men interested in Lisi and she falls for the Protestant one. The relationship is met with obstacles from every angle and the antisemitism compounds all of the obstacles. I highly recommend this book and especially the audio version!
August 6, 2021
Thank you to the author and Books Forward PR for providing me with an audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
I have been enjoying more historical fiction than ever before this year and I liked that this one included a lot of history without it feeling like a textbook.
I’ve never read a story set in Germany during the late 1800s/early 1900s so it was interesting to learn about the rampant anti-semitism that was in Germany well before Hitler. This novel puts a spotlight on the racism, societal constraints and demands placed upon the Jewish community during that time.
Our MC, Lisi, is an incredibly relatable character. She is strong and independent during a time where that was not a woman’s place to be.
I did find the ending a little disappointing but overall this was an insightful and interesting read. I look forward to reading more from this author.
I have been enjoying more historical fiction than ever before this year and I liked that this one included a lot of history without it feeling like a textbook.
I’ve never read a story set in Germany during the late 1800s/early 1900s so it was interesting to learn about the rampant anti-semitism that was in Germany well before Hitler. This novel puts a spotlight on the racism, societal constraints and demands placed upon the Jewish community during that time.
Our MC, Lisi, is an incredibly relatable character. She is strong and independent during a time where that was not a woman’s place to be.
I did find the ending a little disappointing but overall this was an insightful and interesting read. I look forward to reading more from this author.
October 23, 2021
Thanks to my good fortune in winning Dana Mack's "All Things That Deserve to Perish" as a Goodreads Giveaway, I was introduced to this book. It was fabulous, to which I gave a rare (for me) five star rating. This was such a beautifully written, enlightening read. From the story line and historical content/context, to the writing style, to the intelligent and witty dialog, to the incorporation of correspondence, this was a thoroughly engrossing tale. My appreciation of this story was also enhanced by the personally resonating expressions of the love of classical music and musical performance. Additional interesting background and context were provided in the informative "Afterword". This is my first written book review here, which speaks to how highly I thought of this book and author, as well as to my appreciation for receiving this as a Giveaway gift.
August 16, 2021
Whew. I'm seriously wore out, and relieved that the book is over. This was not written for me. Late 1890s in Germany, women were treated childlike, and accepted their roles. The story is cold and like an 8 hour run-on sentence. I'm not certain the narrator would make a difference. The climate was that of social standing and climbing through marriage, and the female was Jewish in Germany. As if the book is not simple enough, the author insists on foul profanity. I didn't check any facts for this historical fiction. I will not remember anything about this.
#Netgalley
#BooksForward
#Goodreads
#DanaMack
#AllThingsThatDeserveToPerish
#Autdiobook
#WilhelmineGermany
#Netgalley
#BooksForward
#Goodreads
#DanaMack
#AllThingsThatDeserveToPerish
#Autdiobook
#WilhelmineGermany
July 21, 2025
Some people complained that this book had too much detail - and it certainly has a lot of it. However, as someone who listened to the audiobook, I actually enjoyed the detail as I took bike rides and long car journeys. Probably my favorite part of this book was all the letters, when done correctly that element can add so much to a book like this.
There were a lot of characters to keep track of, but I managed okay. I enjoyed the setting, a time and place I don't read a ton of, and I also thought the characters were fairly well-developed.
All that being said, it was enjoyable, but not a new favorite of mine.
There were a lot of characters to keep track of, but I managed okay. I enjoyed the setting, a time and place I don't read a ton of, and I also thought the characters were fairly well-developed.
All that being said, it was enjoyable, but not a new favorite of mine.
February 25, 2021
What a wonderful novel! So reminiscent of the fiction of Theodore Fontane. The story of a woman navigating the upper echelons of the stuffy Prussian society at the end of the 19th century. Marriage, woman emancipation & woman conditions in the aristocratic society of Wilhelmine German. An engrossing plot with finally drawn characters & the ever growing menace of antisemitism within German society. This novel will definitely haunt me for a while!
Many thanks to Netgalley & the author for the opportunity to read this wonderful novel
Many thanks to Netgalley & the author for the opportunity to read this wonderful novel
September 19, 2021
I listened to this book thanks to NetGalley
Although it has a slow beginning, this book is interesting. It portrays an epoch that may seem really faraway, but carries a familiar tone: antisemitism. The author makes a great deal effort to create an atmosphere, to describe the panoramic and the feelings.
The plot is well built, a bit troubled love story with a non obvious happy ending, an even an open ending. And a woman trapped between her wishes of emancipation and motherhood which resonates to most women today.
Although it has a slow beginning, this book is interesting. It portrays an epoch that may seem really faraway, but carries a familiar tone: antisemitism. The author makes a great deal effort to create an atmosphere, to describe the panoramic and the feelings.
The plot is well built, a bit troubled love story with a non obvious happy ending, an even an open ending. And a woman trapped between her wishes of emancipation and motherhood which resonates to most women today.
September 22, 2021
I don't remember why I chose to read this novel. I loved it.
Lisi stole my heart and I can fully understand why many men would want her for her fortune and some would want her out of desire. Not beautiful, pretty with reddish curly hair, but a true smile and lively in a time when drudgery seemed to prevail.
Difficult to read at times as it was written as if in a time long past; the language, and the royal titles (confusing, but necessary), and the anti-Semitism and treatment of the serfs troubling. However, I am a believer in telling it how it was.
Some explicit sex. Drags in spots, but a worthwhile read that I am sure portrays the era very well.
Lisi stole my heart and I can fully understand why many men would want her for her fortune and some would want her out of desire. Not beautiful, pretty with reddish curly hair, but a true smile and lively in a time when drudgery seemed to prevail.
Difficult to read at times as it was written as if in a time long past; the language, and the royal titles (confusing, but necessary), and the anti-Semitism and treatment of the serfs troubling. However, I am a believer in telling it how it was.
Some explicit sex. Drags in spots, but a worthwhile read that I am sure portrays the era very well.
August 3, 2021
I am a huge fan of historical fiction so I was anxious to read this book.
I loved the historical aspect of this book. The writing was done well, it was just hard for me to get absorbed in. It was in the first and 3rd person, which got confusing while reading. I think that because of this mixed writing format, I had a hard time forming any connection to the characters.
I loved the historical aspect of this book. The writing was done well, it was just hard for me to get absorbed in. It was in the first and 3rd person, which got confusing while reading. I think that because of this mixed writing format, I had a hard time forming any connection to the characters.
May 19, 2021
A heartfelt, riveting read following a Jewish woman coming to terms with who she is in Wilhelmine, Germany. A realistic look at the choices women have to make as they shape who they become. Fans of The Nightingale will fall in love with the characters in this book as well!
June 2, 2021
Beautiful book with a stunning cover. It was pleasure to read it and I liked how it was written. I also adored that there were foreign words, German. There was a lot of history which is good.
I recommend! :)
I recommend! :)
July 17, 2021
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed reading this story about two people I try to make love work against all odds. The description of the characters and the time the story takes place was what initially drew me in. The author immersed the reader in the time and place of the characters with amazing detail. I wouldn't describe this book so much as a romance as much as just historical fiction. Since the author utilizes letters back and forth to convey information, you feel very much like a reader and less of the story unfolding before you through diolague or actions. This story wasn't a roller coaster ride, but more of a slow but steady jog to the finish. At first, was a little difficult to keep track of who was who due to the long names, but after a bit you catch on. A pleasant read that feels accurately to depict attitudes of the people of that time and place. Thank you to the author and publisher for the giveaway!
I enjoyed reading this story about two people I try to make love work against all odds. The description of the characters and the time the story takes place was what initially drew me in. The author immersed the reader in the time and place of the characters with amazing detail. I wouldn't describe this book so much as a romance as much as just historical fiction. Since the author utilizes letters back and forth to convey information, you feel very much like a reader and less of the story unfolding before you through diolague or actions. This story wasn't a roller coaster ride, but more of a slow but steady jog to the finish. At first, was a little difficult to keep track of who was who due to the long names, but after a bit you catch on. A pleasant read that feels accurately to depict attitudes of the people of that time and place. Thank you to the author and publisher for the giveaway!
November 12, 2023
This novel flows powerfully, and these pages are full of hard truth. It's a novel that makes me ask questions about the limits that were placed on women throughout history. Any readers like me will still be interested in this historical tragedy.
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