So often in Britain we read stories based during WW2 from the perspective of the British or Americans. This story is told from the opposing side and it really is food for thought. I become completely absorbed by the relationship between the two central characters and their different attitudes to race during this period. It was a perfect juxtaposition between the home front and the front line and then almost complete lack of awareness from both sides on what the other was going through. This book isn't for the faint hearted but neither is the true history either.

I whizzed through this book as it's very easy to read and written in a 'simple' style, made up mainly of dialogue between the characters. The book deals with WWII from the German viewpoint and in particular with their relationship with Russia and the Nazi programme in Berlin. It is also about the relationship between a man on the front line and his wife back in Berlin and the differences between their lives at this time. Audrey Magee evokes a wide range of emotions including sympathy and horror. She also writes about the issues of personal loyalties, families and how the soldiers deal with their time on the battlefield in Russia's winter. The book gives a fascinating portrayal of what is must have been like to be a German soldier in WWII and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing that time from a different perspective. It felt like an emotional journey that leaves you thinking of the characters and this time in history even after you've stopped reading. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in this period of history and to anyone wanting a change from historical epics!

I whizzed through this book as it's very easy to read and written in a 'simple' style, made up mainly of dialogue between the characters. The book deals with WWII from the German viewpoint and in particular with their relationship with Russia and the Nazi programme in Berlin. It is also about the relationship between a man on the front line and his wife back in Berlin and the differences between their lives at this time. Audrey Magee evokes a wide range of emotions including sympathy and horror. She also writes about the issues of personal loyalties, families and how the soldiers deal with their time on the battlefield in Russia's winter. The book gives a fascinating portrayal of what is must have been like to be a German soldier in WWII and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing that time from a different perspective. It felt like an emotional journey that leaves you thinking of the characters and this time in history even after you've stopped reading. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in this period of history and to anyone wanting a change from historical epics!