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In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin

Erik Larson

Start date: June 1, 2023

Finish date: June 30, 2023

Discussion: Non-Fiction Classics

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What Members Thought

Apr 11, 2012 Melissa (ladybug) rated it liked it

Shelves: yearly-challenge

This was an interesting book, but it lacked something more. The book was more about Dodd's daughter Martha and her various love affairs than the political arena of Germany during the early years of Hitler. I had really wanted more about the history during this period then about how Martha couldn't keep her hands (so to speak) to herself. I also found some frighting parts that sort of remind me of how America is going today. Situations where we give up our Constitutional freedoms for something ne ...more

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May 21, 2011 Janice rated it it was amazing

Excellent book about the rise of the Third Reich the year following Hitler's appointment as Chancellor to his becoming Fuhrer and dictator.
Telling this narrative nonfiction story through the eyes of U.S. Ambassador William Dodd and his daughter Martha Dodd allows an insight to the reasons the United States and its European Allies were reluctant to take on Hitler and his maniacal underlings. As a fan of Erik Larson since his fascinating "The Devil in the White City" I found this book equally bril ...more

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