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The Mist Before Our Eyes
This is how it happened...
Berlin, 1933. 14-year-old Felix Stoltenberg is desperate to be friends with Klaus Beck to the point he defies his anti-Nazi father and joins the Hitler Youth. As the years pass and Hitler's grip on the nation tightens, Felix and Klaus' boyhood pranks take a sinister turn.
When Felix is forced to choose between political faith and family, he knows what to do - whatever the price.
1942. Now, a young, idealistic man, still devoted to the Nazi cause, Felix's life and sense of identity fall apart when he falls in love with Stella, a Bohemian artist.
Stella is beautiful, a woman of mystery and ideas, and she is Jewish.
Berlin, 1933. 14-year-old Felix Stoltenberg is desperate to be friends with Klaus Beck to the point he defies his anti-Nazi father and joins the Hitler Youth. As the years pass and Hitler's grip on the nation tightens, Felix and Klaus' boyhood pranks take a sinister turn.
When Felix is forced to choose between political faith and family, he knows what to do - whatever the price.
1942. Now, a young, idealistic man, still devoted to the Nazi cause, Felix's life and sense of identity fall apart when he falls in love with Stella, a Bohemian artist.
Stella is beautiful, a woman of mystery and ideas, and she is Jewish.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
344 pages, Paperback
Published April 30, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 1, 2024
This book is a very dark and troubling read, and I found myself having to put it down at times to collect my thoughts. It deals with a young man growing up in Nazi Germany from his early teens in the Hitler's Youth, and the pressure to conform, progressing to Hitler's election and WWII, and the Laws/mandates to conform. It leans itself to a lot of self-reflection, and also to taking a good look around at what is happening now here and around the world with undue influence and pressures to conform to certain ways of thinking. As the author himself said, he switched after to "a trilogy of humorous, coming of age books".
The writing style was good, and I look forward to trying out his other works as well.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
The writing style was good, and I look forward to trying out his other works as well.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
August 23, 2024
This is a phenomenal World War II book that encompasses so much of the conflict, confusion, and courage happening in a village during the war. It looks at the blurring of lines between the German and the Jews, coming of age and childhood friends, mother and son relationships, political alliances, and values and honor. The characters are believable and empathic. In addition, this novel includes “the Night of the Broken Glass”, Kristalnacht.
The author, R.P.G. Colley draws the reader into the time of the Holocaust and World War II in a way that I have yet to experience with other books. In his novels, you live the time, you feel the angst and the decisiveness of the time. You laugh and cry with the characters.
Reading these books touch my heart and help me to understand the many emotions of the time.
The author, R.P.G. Colley draws the reader into the time of the Holocaust and World War II in a way that I have yet to experience with other books. In his novels, you live the time, you feel the angst and the decisiveness of the time. You laugh and cry with the characters.
Reading these books touch my heart and help me to understand the many emotions of the time.
April 12, 2024
Wow, this was an intense read. Right from the beginning, it kept on the edge of my seat and there were moments where I had to put the book and just process what was happening. Felix was a solid main character and it kind of broke my heart to see how he was constantly fighting himself. At times, his naivety was frustrating, but the depth of his character more than made up for it. A thought-provoking and heart-wrenching read, I am looking forward to seeing more from this author!
Thank you Voracious Readers and RPG Colley for my copy! I received and ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All above thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you Voracious Readers and RPG Colley for my copy! I received and ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All above thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 13, 2024
Another great historical fiction from R.P.G. Colley!
Ays enjoy this particular author's way of spinning a Tail.
A great read about a young man caught up in Hitler's Germany.
Saw the war from a different perspective while enjoying a well written easy to follow story.
Can't wait for the next one!
Ays enjoy this particular author's way of spinning a Tail.
A great read about a young man caught up in Hitler's Germany.
Saw the war from a different perspective while enjoying a well written easy to follow story.
Can't wait for the next one!
February 27, 2024
This book was amazing and truly showed the struggles many faced as they were forced to feel a certain way that contradicted how a majority of their country felt. I loved Felix’s story and the writing was done so well that you really felt like you were going through the same struggles and feelings.
March 4, 2024
Fantastic read, kept me gripped the whole time, the internal struggle to be accepted by his peers and yet still loyal to his conscience, his love for someone who it turned out was only using him, well written and very thought provoking
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews