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A book that is SO good but SO hard to get others to read! Strangers Peter and Katerina marry in Berlin during WWII. Their union gives him leave and her the promise of his pension should he be killed. Neither expects the connection they feel as they spend days planning their future together in a victorious Germany. After they separate things change quickly for them and their country making them question everything they thought they knew and wanted.

#WeeklyForecast 12/23

Finished the tagged book without eve forecasting it! Now another one about WWII. It‘s very good: Days in the history of silence. Next will be the Dutch one, followed by Kevin Wilson! Hopefully Lennon too!

Such a tough read, this debut by the author of The Colony. It‘s WWII and Peter and Katherine‘s get married while hardly knowing each other. Both are German and believing in their Führer. Which makes this such a hard read. After their 10 day honeymoon he returns to the Russian front, she stays in Berlin, in an apartment left by a Jewish family. Will they ever see each other again? In a better world?

(Pic: Fes, Morocco)

#BirthdayPixieReadathon

This was a tough read, but *so* good. I really wanted to read this after loving The Colony by the same author. This is just as good, although very different.

It looks at WWII from the German (Nazi supporters)point of view. Peter and Katharina marry, despite never having met, so he can get home leave and she will get his pension should he be killed. We then follow their separate lives as they struggle with the deprivations of war.

Couple surviving separate trauma, kept alive by faith in each other. In this case, the lovers are Germans in East Berlin: Peter sent to the Battle of Stalingrad, Katharina sliding from luxury to poverty as Nazi forces fall. Writing detached, unflinching, good tone for sympathy w/ monsters. Family. Loyalty. Perseverance. Cruelty. “The Colony” stronger, but solid debut. P 250 “Everything had only to be tolerated. But it was all intolerable.” 2014

First #24in48 book done. This book wrung me out. (It actually kept me awake through the 😷.) Ms. Magee is a sparse writer. She lets you fill in the blanks yourself. Like in a good movie, when one look can say more than a paragraph of dialogue or narration. A simply amazing book unlike any I‘ve read.

Starting my first #24in48. Not sure how I‘ll do since yesterday I came down with the winter crud. 😩🤧😷 Seriously? THIS weekend? Thanks for nothing, virus. 😆

Finishing these up for my first #24in48. I‘m a #litsynewbie & wouldn‘t have known about the challenge without this great group! Pelé is pictured in my favorite reading chair. He loves reading days. ?? #dogsoflitsy

All giddy about next weekend! Just learned that this is a thing. So many TBRs. Choosing is going to take some thought. #24in48

5/5⭐️. WWII from the point of view of the Germans. Katharina marries Peter so he can come home on marriage leave and he can have his pension if she were to die at war. It is heartbreaking to watch as both of them struggle with the conditions that they are reduced to. I don't cry often while reading but I did with this book. Add to your stacks. Amazing 😍

I can't believe I am the first one to post about this book. 75 pages in and I am invested in the characters and the writing style is smooth even over the more shocking parts.