The German Wife
Kelly Rimmer
Reviewed by Helen
This is another brilliant story from a master story teller, I fell into this one from page one and I was pulled into a story that is heartbreaking, moving and poignant, Kelly Rimmer has researched so well into the past and created a story that will make the reader really feel the emotions that were so strong with so many people during Hitler’s reign in Germany from the 1930’s, a must read for any reader who loves a visit back in time.
Berlin 1934 Sofi is married to rocket scientist Jürgen they are comfortable and living in a big house, things are changing in Germany and Sofi and Jürgen are not keen on what is happening they have different views to many of their friends and Jürgen is now made to work on Hitler’s rocket program and there will be decisions to be made that neither will be happy with.
Texas 1934 Lizzie is living on the family farm with her parents and older brother Henry, times are very hard at the moment with the depression and the terrible drought they are going through, Lizzie only ever wants to be a farmer that is her one goal in life but life turns the tables on her and she finds herself living in the city. She marries Calvin and he works with the space program and becomes a housewife but is she happy?
Huntsville Alabama 1949, the war is over and Jürgen is taken from his homeland and bought to America along with other German scientists to help America start their space program here he has his past in Germany wiped and although he is missing Sofi and the children he does again what is needed to live a life. Finally he can bring his beloved Sofi and their children to be with him but life again doesn’t run smoothly, it seems that the Germans are not always welcome here in Huntsville.
This is a fabulously written story it really will pull at your heartstrings and have you thinking about how you would have coped during these terrible times, I really felt for Sofi and Jürgen and what they went through and I wonder what more could they have done and I know that there will always be questions about the atrocities that happened, but my heart went out to them. Lizzie for me was a very different character a little harder for me to like but she really did have a hard time as well, will what happens in Huntsville change people’s thinking and in what way.
I loved this story so much and highly recommend it, there are lots of issues raised in this book and I am sure that book clubs will have many a late night talking about it, thank you for another keeper.
My thanks to Hachette AU for my copy to read and review
Berlin 1934 Sofi is married to rocket scientist Jürgen they are comfortable and living in a big house, things are changing in Germany and Sofi and Jürgen are not keen on what is happening they have different views to many of their friends and Jürgen is now made to work on Hitler’s rocket program and there will be decisions to be made that neither will be happy with.
Texas 1934 Lizzie is living on the family farm with her parents and older brother Henry, times are very hard at the moment with the depression and the terrible drought they are going through, Lizzie only ever wants to be a farmer that is her one goal in life but life turns the tables on her and she finds herself living in the city. She marries Calvin and he works with the space program and becomes a housewife but is she happy?
Huntsville Alabama 1949, the war is over and Jürgen is taken from his homeland and bought to America along with other German scientists to help America start their space program here he has his past in Germany wiped and although he is missing Sofi and the children he does again what is needed to live a life. Finally he can bring his beloved Sofi and their children to be with him but life again doesn’t run smoothly, it seems that the Germans are not always welcome here in Huntsville.
This is a fabulously written story it really will pull at your heartstrings and have you thinking about how you would have coped during these terrible times, I really felt for Sofi and Jürgen and what they went through and I wonder what more could they have done and I know that there will always be questions about the atrocities that happened, but my heart went out to them. Lizzie for me was a very different character a little harder for me to like but she really did have a hard time as well, will what happens in Huntsville change people’s thinking and in what way.
I loved this story so much and highly recommend it, there are lots of issues raised in this book and I am sure that book clubs will have many a late night talking about it, thank you for another keeper.
My thanks to Hachette AU for my copy to read and review
5 stars
Published April 27th 2022 by Hachette Australia
