by: Nabila Rhapsodios
PRODUCT INFO
Title: Daughter of the Reich
Author(s): Louise Fein
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Language: English
Year Published: 2020
Page(s) Number: 560
PROLOGUE
Louise Fein
In my previous The London Bookshop Affair review post, I mentioned another Louise Fein book in the queue. This Daughter of the Reich was the book implied in that post. For your information, in the UK & Australia, this novel is known under the title 'People Like Us'.
Daughter of the Reich tells the story of a girl named Herta (also known as Hetty) Heinrich, who falls in love with her childhood friend, Walter Keller. She knows she must stop falling for him because Walter is Jewish, and she is the daughter of a high-ranking Nazi official who devoutly follows the glorious new Thousand Year Reich. However, she is conflicted about her situation, which is exacerbated by her family, maid, and friends, who seem quite distrustful of how Hetty handles her plight. Not to mention, someone watches her movements closely and spies on her; likely, this person might disapprove of Hetty's relationship with Walter, which will pose a significant challenge for her, her family, and Walter. Will the dark forces' grip catch up to Hetty to successfully destroy her universe, or can love win? Hetty must take a considerable risk to reach a satisfactory conclusion.
(+)
a. Propulsive. This book evokes a range of emotions in me, from anger and tears to tears of joy, nervousness, and frustration, because the story is sharply intense, reflecting the reality of the time in which it is set. What is more compelling is that it doesn't shy away from the brutality of World War II. The tragedy that many suffered during the war.
b. This novel is set from a German's point of view, and I loved it. Hetty's growth is beautifully portrayed from one time to another. It greatly helped me understand the time and culture. Additionally, if you have ever wondered how Hitler charmed so many people with his principles and vision, this book might be right for you.
c. Hetty and Walter's romance is utterly devastating and engaging. The author does not sugarcoat things, but instead provides a realistic portrayal of what was truly happening at that time. They had to make unimaginable decisions to save their futures.
(-)
This debut novel is one of a kind. Absolutely eye-opening with ties to current events. How a nation can be brainwashed into fanatical thinking, and there are some excellent lessons to learn from. However, many descriptions and dialogues are overkill. Better editing could have made this book more succinct and clear.
Closing Statement:
This historical fiction raises a complicated subject, which has led me to intentionally delay finishing it, as I am not always ready to read it due to its intensity. I proudly state that I have finished it. So, it's 8.8 out of 10.
Daughter of the Reich/People Like Us, and The London Bookshop Affair truly have enough suspense to keep one turning the pages to get to the end. I highly recommend these novels. I congratulate Louise Fein on her triumphant novel debut and look forward to any future stories she may share with us.
-END-
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