All That I Am in Aussie Readers

Sep 05, 2011 Velvetink rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: history, war, fiction, biography, german-germany, historical-fiction

Would give it 6 stars if I could.

1 of 20 for $10 20/1014

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Jan 23, 2013 Tracey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, historical, politics, literature, australian, 2013

I have not read any of Anne Funder’s work before and though this book has won stacks of awards, the only thing I knew about the book was written on the blurb.
This book is written in alternate chapters by Ruth Becker and Ernst Toller reflects on their involvement as German political activists in the 1930s. Well kind of, for me this novel is about two people reminiscing about Dora Fabian.
Dora is what binds everyone and everything together in this story and she is for me the central character in I have not read any of Anne Funder’s work before and though this book has won stacks of awards, the only thing I knew about the book was written on the blurb.
This book is written in alternate chapters by Ruth Becker and Ernst Toller reflects on their involvement as German political activists in the 1930s. Well kind of, for me this novel is about two people reminiscing about Dora Fabian.
Dora is what binds everyone and everything together in this story and she is for me the central character in the novel. While Funder paints this marvellous picture of a group of people trying to prevent the rise of Hitler’s Germany, at the heart of the novel is Dora. We come to understand Dora as she built by the memories of Toller and Becker. You come to understand why they loved her so much and why her demise had so much impact on the two of them.
I should admit that I did not know that the book was based on real people. I did suspect that the characters were not wholly fictional but it was only when I read the author’s notes at the end of the book that it was confirmed. I am glad I did not read this book with any notion of what the book was about. That would have taken out the magic of trying to ascertain what was going on.
My only criticism of this book and it is very slight, is that sometimes the voice of Toller and Becker become blurred. If you did not have the chapter heading and sexual references, at times it seemed to be the same person talking. At one point I wondered if that was going to be twist to the novel.
I loved the way Funder has constructed the story of these people and making them lift off the page. They are human because they are less than perfect and it helps you to understand the choices they make and the lack of perception about some of the events that happens around them. It was sad to see a group of people struggle to alert the world that the atrocities have commenced in Germany while the political leaders stuck their heads in the sand.
When I was not reading the book I thought about the characters, I thought about their situations and their decisions that is how drawn into the story I had become. Yet I was never in the story. I am always an outsider, seeing from the recollections of Toller and Becker, never really gaining any insight into how either of these two characters feel. For example Toller tells me of Ruth Becker’s distress in the court room, Becker tells me of Ernst Toller’s removal from the court room and I never really understand what either truly feels about the situation. You are always looking backwards at what has been and perhaps that is why I feel a bit disconnected with story at the end.
...more

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Jul 11, 2014 Joanie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: aus, historical, politics

The 30s were a dreadful time for German activists who opposed the Nazis - even as refugees living abroad they were not safe from their brutality and vindictiveness.

The main characters were interesting people I knew nothing about. The book was written from the viewpoint of two of these characters, but unfortunately Dora (who I found to be the most intriguing)was not one of them.

Although a fascinating slice of history I was never emotionally involved in this book.

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Jun 29, 2012 Tango rated it liked it · review of another edition

This should have been a very intense and emotional read, given the subject matter, however Funder keeps the reader at arm's length and never really allows you to get emotionally involved in the lives of the characters. This may be due to her style and also the structure. I found the two alternating voices had very little variation and I kept having to turn back to see who was telling that chapter.
That said, the history of the period was fascinating and it was interesting to learn about a story t ...more

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Jul 19, 2019 Lauredhel rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: australian-women-writers-challenge, historical, australian, aww2019

On paper, I should have loved this book. In reality, it was somehow both turgid and flat, the dual narration failed dismally to create any contrast between the voices, and I was bored to tears throughout. I only finished because I was reading it to tick a challenge box. I have no idea why this received all of the praise it did, but à chacun son goût I suppose. Onwards.

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Oct 02, 2012 Nettie rated it liked it · review of another edition

The complexity of this book requires some dedicated reading. Picking it up occasionally and trying to work out the voice and the time didn't quite work for me. I'll admit to not quite finishing this book - but only because I didn't read it in the way it should be read. Possibly I'll pick it up again one day and give it another go. I have huge admiration for Anna Funder as a writer, but Stasiland was just as complex but in a different way. ...more

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Jun 16, 2013 Nancy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction, favorites

This book was a beautifully written mix of fact and fiction, the story of which has stayed with me, and indeed influenced my own writing, to this day.

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