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Author Archives: estelle1948
Savage Continent – Keith Lowe
A must read for those who want to understand what life was like when WWII ended in 1945 and the dancing in the streets was over. A powerful, graphic and disturbing account of life in post-war Europe where life was hell for a further ten years.
Painstakingly researched and quoting from the world’s most respected war correspondents, political and military figures of that time Lowe has produced a book that will live in the mind of the reader long after the last page has been turned.
The work explores the physical and moral destruction of civilisation after the war; not only would infrastructure be destroyed and people reduced to living as animals but the human psyche would be so damaged men and women would lose sight of any decency toward each other; committing acts of murder, violence, looting and rape shaking their heads in bewilderment at themselves. These were the very people who had those same acts perpetrated against them during the war.
Lowe explores the disbelief of both British and the American politicians who had early knowledge of the German internment camps but would not release the information to the news media/general public feeling the information incredible. It was not until allied troops entered the camps the full horror was comprehended and filmed. Some allied troops allowed 24 hours retributions, Russian troops allowed longer against German troops and German citizens. Unfortunately, it became an indiscriminate bloodbath.
Considering the subject matter it is a surprisingly easy book to read; flows well and chapter headings for subject matter. I was engrossed in the book and discovered I had read as many chapters as I would when reading a good novel.
Keith Lowe is a British author and historian. Lowe’s works have been translated into more than a dozen languages. “Savage Continent” is an innovative history of the chaos and lawlessness that gripped Europe at the end of WWII. The book took five years to research in eight languages. “Savage Continent” was shortlisted for the 2013 Longman/History Today Prize and for English PEN’s Hessell-Tiltman Prize for History
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FOR ALL THOSE REVIEWS POSTED ON BOOK COASTERS…A BIG THANK YOU!!
“Don’t judge a book by it’s cover! Posted on 18 March 2013by Bibliophile You know the old adage “Don’t judge a book by its cover”? Well this is the perfect example of it. The novel The Colour of Milk by … Continue reading
Posted in Distractions
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The Storyteller- Jodi Picoult
This is Jodi Picoult at the top of her game; I predict a movie of The Storyteller. I thought it was great, a real page turner! In New Hampshire there lives a young woman Sage Singer; superb baker and recluse … Continue reading
Posted in Book reviews, Distractions
Tagged concentration camps, historical fiction, Jews, Jodi Picoult, Nazi Germany, The Storyteller
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Two Brothers – Ben Elton
Inspired by the author’s family history, a fast paced, page turning holocaust based story! A great read that kept me reading far into the night. Berlin 1920, a German Jew doctor is rushed to hospital by her husband (a Jazz … Continue reading
Posted in Book reviews, Distractions
Tagged Ben Elton, historical fiction, holocaust, Jews, Nazis, Two Brothers, WW2 fiction
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Miss Me When I’M Gone – Emily Arsenault
For those who like country and western trivia mixed with their mystery you may enjoy this story very much but for me it was confusing. I found the mix made the story hard to follow; jumping back and forward. The … Continue reading
Landscape of Farewell – Alex Miller
A haunting, spiritual story of friendship in the later years of life! Beautifully written!
In Hamburg, an elderly German Professor Max Otto meets an Australian Professor Vita McLelland at the lowest point in his life. Vita and Max become friends and Max promises to visit her in Australia in the future.
When Max does visit Australia Vita coerces him into visiting and staying on the edge of an abandoned township Mount Nebo in Queensland Central Highland ranges with Vita’s indigenous uncle, Dougald Gnapun.
Max and Dougald carry the weight of the ‘sins of their fathers’ upon their shoulders and it isn’t until they meet they come to believe fate has drawn them together for a very special reason.
Alex Miller is one of Australia’s best-loved writers. In 2007 Landscape of Farewell was published to wide critical acclaim and in 2008 won the Chinese Annual Foreign Novels 21st Century Award for Best Novel and the Manning Clark Medal for an outstanding contribution to Australian cultural life. It was also short-listed for the Miles Franklin Award, the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction, the ALS Gold Medal and the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. Alex is published internationally and widely in translation. Alex Miller won The Miles Franklin Literary Award for “The Ancestor Game” and for “Journey to the Stone Country”. “The Ancestor Game” won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize in 1993. “Conditions of Faith” won the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction in the New South Wales Premier’s Awards as did “Lovesong” in 2011. “Lovesong” won the People’s Choice Award, The Age Book of the Year Award and the Age Fiction Prize for 2011.
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Posted in Book reviews
Tagged alex miller, Chines Annual Foreign Novels 21st Centuary Award for Best Novel, Christina Stead Prize for Fiction, Commonwealth Writers' Prize, landscape of farewell, Manning Clark Medal, miles franklin award, New South Wales Premier's Awards, People's Choice Award, The age Book of the Year Award, The Age Fiction Prize for 2011
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How to be a good wife – Emma Chapman
Haunting, thrilling and a beautifully written psychological debut novel! Marta and Hector have been married for many years. Marta was given a copy of a book “Make your home a place of peace and order” by her mother-in-law on her … Continue reading
En Eye for Eternity: The life of Manning Clark – Mark McKenna
An impressive biography! Beautifully written! Seven years in research and writing! A story you want to keep reading because it is so interesting and is about the life of a man who was complicated, imperfect and a remarkable intellectual; the … Continue reading
A Hundred Flowers – Gail Tsukiyama
Simply written, beautifully descriptive, a reading delight! “Let a hundred flowers bloom; let a hundred schools of thought contend. -Mao Tse-Tung, 1956” Mao’s words…..supposedly to encourage openness but scholars and other intellectuals feared a trap! Tsukiyama’s novel is set … Continue reading
