The German Woman, by Paul Griner is a book that begins during World War I and ends during World War II. The book begins with a doctor and his nurse trying to care for patients that were injured during the horrific period of WWI, when Jews were killed, Slavs were killed, and extreme chaos, hunger and deprivation reigned the lands of Europe. Their endeavors were difficult, as there was not enough medicine and equipment to care for the injured.
Horst Zeig, is a German doctor married to Kate, an English woman. Their story is told through the first portion of the book. Their devotion to each other is quite strong and Griner makes it apparent to the reader. The pages are slow going. From there we skip to 1944 WWI, when the rest of the story line unfolds. At this point in time, the allies are involved in the Normandy invasion. Spies surround the second phase of the book, which is set mainly in London.
The V-2 bombs are constantly threatening the city of London. The residents are being spied upon, amidst the overwhelming fear and anxiety they encounter. Londoners live in the Underground, spending nights there for shelter from the bombs. City blocks have wardens. Food and clothes are scarce, and housing is in danger of destruction from the bombs.
Enter Claus Murphy, who is a volunteer block warden in London. He runs into Kate, and there begins a romance, a romance that is not filled with trust on Claus’s part, because he thinks that Kate just might be a spy, due to the fact she was married to a German. Claus has dual nationalities, as he is the son of a Bavarian mother and American father. As his history unfolds we learn he was in prison for treason due to a documentary film he wrote, a film that was negative towards the English.
Griner’s message is quite clear in my opinion He concisely and sharply portrays what it is like to be a person of dual nationalities, especially under extreme duress as during wartime. He emphasizes how both the American and the British government tend to regard and deal with individuals such as Kate and Claus, individuals with dual nationalities. They are not really considered people of substance, people who are trustworthy, and are treated as such. Their roles in the framework of the whole are replaceable. They are not considered reliable, and in fact, often feel the stigma thrust upon them by the government and military authorities. Kate and Claus are often aware of the negative attitudes within their lives and their relationship, yet at times are blind to them.
Although the story line of The German Woman is strongly written by Paul Griner, and it is extremely vivid in its depictions of war, I was disappointed in the novel. The book, for me, was not a page-turner (but that isn’t necessarily a negative thing). It is historic in content, yet there was something about the story that left me a bit unsatisfied. I can’t define why, it is what it is. Which is not to say I didn’t like the book. Overall I did like The German Woman, but I wasn’t completely thrilled with this book of espionage and romance. It didn’t entirely intrigue me.
~~~~~~
© Copyright 2007 – All Rights Reserved – No permission is given or allowed to reuse my photography, book reviews, writings, or my poetry in any form/format without my express written consent/permission.
Monday August 31, 2009 – 11th of Elul, 5769
No comments:
Post a Comment