I had a really hard time rating this book. As I read it, a little voice in the back of my head kept saying "why do you keep reading this?" and "hmmm, I'm really not enjoying this" and "I don't really understand this". However, as the story went on, I did find myself becoming somewhat compelled by it.But, when I rate a book, I think "would I recommend this to others?" and, honestly, I'm not sure that I would. First, the style of writing (at least how it appeared on the kindle - I wonder if it's different in print) was somewhat annoying to read. Second, I didn't really find any of the characters to be likeable. I don't think the author painted a deep enough picture of any of them to truly like them. And, third, I found the whole story to be just a little too far fetched for my liking. It's attempt to humanize people who I don't feel deserve the title human by somewhat justifying their horrific acts by saying they were committed because they were destined through seances and the like was just a little too much for me to take. I found this book fascinating. I don't know if there really were scribes writing letters to and from the dead on behalf of the Nazi government but the premise sounds plausible. And I appreciated that there were German soldiers appalled by the camps. Although I admire and symphathize with Lodenstein, my favorite character was Ele, her back story slowly unfolds and it is heartbreakingly familiar to all those she desperately tries to save. The writing is tight, so many nuances in a single sentence. This is not a book I read quickly, many times I needed to reread and consider what was being presented. Regardless, the extra time spent was well worth it. I still think about many of the characters and wonder what happened to them. Highly recommend this book.
Do You like book Gli Occhiali Di Heidegger (2010)?
Great Read. Weird, ethereal world. Taut, with interesting characters. Highly recommend this.
—julia
Interesting premise...maybe too many sexual references, action, and innuendo for some readers.
—AJMurphy
Interesting just because it is set in the Holocaust but not great on storyline. Swearing.
—moda2121
I liked the premise behind this book but just did not enjoy the overall story.
—mal
Kind of dull and a very unsatisfactory ending.
—Ambs
