In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin in Around the World in 80 Books

Jul 18, 2011 Carol rated it really liked it

This was a book selected by the Chautauqua Literary Society and since the author was speaking while I was at Chautauqua, I decided to give it a go. I found interesting the two different perspectives of early Nazi Germany given by Ambassador Dodd and his daughter Martha. The book gave me insight into the sudden rise of Hitler during the 1930's. I didn't realize mass murders ordered by Hitler which occured on June 30, 1934 were overlooked by the rest of the world.
I enjoyed hearing the author. He ...more

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Oct 08, 2012 Rebecca rated it it was ok · review of another edition

This is normally the kind of book that I would love but I found it difficult to relate to the ambassador's family and couldn't really get into this book. ...more

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Feb 23, 2012 Tanya rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, 2011, op-book-club-reads-2010-2014, abandoned

I wasn't all that interested in the Dodd family and tried to read this book in 2011; giving it another go since it is our book club pick.

I tried again and just couldn't bear with it - this book is not going to be something I complete, even on my walks when have no other audiobook uploaded to my MP3 player. I really don't like the Dodd characters and can't spend any more time dealing with their inadequacies when my wish list for reading has much more interesting titles awaiting my time and atten ...more

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Aug 04, 2011 Ginger rated it liked it

While I love Erik Larson books and appreciate his copious research and talented storytelling, this book was ultimately unsatisfying. I thought that ambassador Dodd was rather uninteresting and tragic. His daughter Martha shallow and annoying. Mrs Dodd and the son were not developed characters at all within the saga of thus family. Descriptions of the socio political climate in which hitler was able to assume power were compelling, including how and why the rest of the world looked away. Too ofte ...more

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Jun 15, 2011 Lisa of Hopewell rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2011, audio-books, wa-book-award

While not William L. Shirers class Rise and Fall of 3rd Reich, this still adds yet another perspective. The Ambassador's daughter is interesting in her shallow, vapid approach to life. Listening to this one on my travels this week. The reader isn't that great however...... ...more

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