Elizabeth

Couldn’t listen—author insensitive to apartheid

Revisado: 12-03-24

I usually love Dick Francis but his evasion of the political situation in South Africa is repugnant.

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Not this author’s best

Revisado: 04-11-24

I plowed through this and The Searcher hoping to find the brilliance of Tana French’s Dublin novels. To no avail.

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Fun story embedded in great historical detail

Revisado: 03-18-24

Very good WW2 historical context, colorful characters, suspenseful plot. The dual manuscript not so mysterious but it works. Narration awkward at first—German than Irish—but one gets used to it.

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Adds a lot

Revisado: 01-30-24

While I learned a lot about the Nazi dictatorship from Kershaw’s biography, it couldn’t explain Hitler’s personal power. This study rectifies, by giving Hitler more credit both as an actor and for intellect (memory). However, both are so eager to avoid psychohistory they are incapable of addressing their subject’s megalomania, paranoia, obsessiveness and criminality (antisocial), even as they use these terms loosely as they go. At least this study explains better why Hitler was politically potent. Both books teach a lot about the Third Reich generally, with Ullrich having access to latest sources but Kershaw more interpretive, theoretical.

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Atmospheric, subtle work of WW2 fiction

Revisado: 10-21-23

The author, narrator and characters took awhile to grab me, but I appreciated the pace and subtlety of what was being orchestrated and am happy I stuck with it. Beautiful historical detail and believable human dilemmas and suspense. More for those who seek time travel to this dramatic enough historical period than for those looking for action and mayhem.

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Poor outing by great author

Revisado: 09-11-23

I usually treasure a Belinda Bauer read but this fell way short. Humor and plotting just didn’t work. Recommend Rubbernecker, Exit or Snap as better outings.

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Well crafted characters, contexts in WW2 story

Revisado: 06-03-23

Another humane, compelling story by this author who defies stereotypes of what a WW2 “spy novel” should be. The narrator does a good job, never interfering and capturing mood well. The story seems to sag in the middle but the end was worth staying for. I really enjoyed the Polish context for this novel.

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Helpful and engaging

Revisado: 05-20-23

I’m not usually attracted to self-help audios but I was very pleased with this. Author presents latest research of SAD in an easily digestible friendly but authoritative format. Offers tips and practices easy to implement and broader ideas that were mind opening and food for thought.

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Incredible, valuable memoir

Revisado: 02-17-23

This searching recollection of growing into adulthood in Nazi Germany not only helps the reader understand this horrific historical moment, but also uncomfortably makes the reader reflect on how she or he would do in such circumstances…now.

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Engaging and educational

Revisado: 02-06-23

A tremendous amount of material is covered with confidence and clarity. My only gripe is that he didn’t adequately explain the success and collapse of the Left, especially Spain and Germany, due to apparent disdain for socialism.

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