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| ISBN: 9781414368405 Tyndale |
About the book: When Marshall Becker arrives in Lamorlaye, France, to begin the massive renovation of a Renaissance-era castle, he unearths a dark World War II history few in the village remember. The project that was meant to provide an escape for Becker instead becomes a gripping glimpse into the human drama that unfolded during the Nazi occupation and seems to live on in midnight disturbances and bizarre acts of vandalism.
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My thoughts: This was a book a bit slow to get interested in. However, as the story progressed I became aware of the tangled plot that was taking place with the characters.
The story centers on a castle being renovated under the skillful guidance of Becker from the United States. The family who has hired Becker and his company consists of very expectant mother, father, and twins (a boy and a girl), and the nanny. Becker obviously has a problem communicating and interacting with people. But it is not until well into the story that we see just what is causing this issue with him. The nanny is not without problems as well. There is definitely some boy meets girl tension at hand, but it is not acted upon primarily because each has their own problems that preclude their interaction.
On the grounds of the castle is a "squatter" which the French allow as having squatters rights. He is old, reclusive, non-talkative, and an unknown quantity.
Running through the book's contemporary story of Becker, et al, is that of the German - Nazi - occupancy of the castle in 1943 when they used it as a "hospital" for the breeding of an Aryan nation. (Lebensborn) You wonder throughout the book why this would be such an integral part of the contemporary story unless it is because of the setting in the castle. Ah, just wait and see.
There is a light at the end of the book. There is hope. But it doesn't end with a "happily ever after" lovely wrap-up ending. There are lots of tangles and just like a head of hair that is tangled, it is hard to straighten it all out.
A very interesting read. I just wonder, will be a sequel?
Background on the story from the author.
Begins October 19 - ENDS November 3 @ 12:01 a.m. - USA only
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DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy of Tangled Ashes via publicist Handlebar Marketing on behalf of the author and publisher in order to facilitate this review of my honest opinion. No compensation was given. I was under no obligation to render a positive review.
I remember hearing of all the killing of the Jews in Germany. My Dad was in World War II but not in the fighting. He was sent to Japan after the bombing and saw all the devestation.
ReplyDeleteRuby - I had 2 uncles that fought in Europe during WWII but they never discussed anything about it. That period of history is really dark and I am so glad it is over.
DeleteI just noticed you went to Wheaton College. We hope my grand daughter will pick this school next year. I would love to read this book.
ReplyDeletegodblessamerica.jan(at)gmail(dot)com
Jan - Michele's bio is very interesting. Growing up in such an interesting area and that exposure to historical locales is fantastic.
DeleteThis sounds fascinating; I love books that center on WWII. I read the Heartmender and learned that there were German U-boats in our waters and some of the men even came on shore! I had a lot of great-uncles in WWII.
ReplyDeleteI was a young child during WWII, but I remember growing up later hearing family speak of issues of the war and how it impacted our coastal North Carolina town, Wilmington. Yes, there were U-boats off the eastern seaboard and we had good citizens on shore patrol and sky patrol watching for just such.
DeleteAnne Frank was one of many Jewish people who went into hiding during World War II.
ReplyDeleteMy father was a member of the U.S. military during WW II.
Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Nancy, I had 3 uncles in the Army during WWII. One was lost. 2 were in the European campaign. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom is a great book to read. The movie is good, too, but the book is a must read.
DeleteThe first German serviceman was killed by the Japanese. I did not have any family members who fought in the war. Corrie Ten Boom is one of my heros. ml_mcafee@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteMichelle M. this is interesting. Who would have thought that about the German being killed by the Japanese. I Googled that statement and came up with an interesting question/answer page of trivia information.
DeleteI don't have any relatives that fought that I know of. I don't know much beyond Anne Frank and the general gist of the war.
ReplyDeleteIn 1939 Germany invaded Poland.
ReplyDeleteMy husband's great grandfather was in WWII, although I'm not sure what all he did.
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather was on Utah beach on D+6 (six days after D-Day invasion). He never wanted to talk about it. Now, as a teacher in Europe, I have had opportunity to visit the beaches and other war sites on school field trips & during holidays. What an unbelievable event ~ so full of both hate and heroism, sorrow and sacrifice.
ReplyDeleteIt was a fantastic era - terror, achievement, sorrow, evil, goodness, turmoil, etc. Man at his worst and man at his best.
DeleteI knew of all the Jews that were killed during the War. I remember my dad telling me stories about it as a child and I was just in disbelief. I felt so sad for these people as my ancestry is German, but I had an uncle that fought in WWII but for America.
ReplyDeleteMy uncles were in WW2 and my grandfather WW1. They never really shared anything. My sons biological father is Jewish and I didnt fully understand much of the war until I helped him research his linneage and found his great grandfather was German but a sympathizer
ReplyDeleteThat is certainly an interesting heritage. I knew that some Jews went underground, hid, etc. and some because of their coloration (blond, blue-eyed) were able to pass as Germans of NON-Jewish lineage. Are you saying his great grandfather was "for" the Germans as a sympathizer for their cause? That would be an interesting twist.
DeleteI don't know if I had any family members that fought in the war (I don't believe so).
ReplyDeleteAnne Frank started her diary at 13.
Marysa {at} marysa {dot} com
i went to the holocaust museum in DC and it is crazy what happened. My grandfather was in WWII but not in germany.
ReplyDeleteSarah - It was absolutely unbelievable to us today to think that such could happen. However, if we do not learn from history we are doomed to repeat it. There are probably forces at work at any time in human history that would allow such a terrible travesty to come about.
DeleteMy father was a young boy in Eisenstadt, Austria at the start of WW2. His father had died during WW1 and the family had no money and were starving. The restaurant that they owned was not successful because no one else in town had money either. This Lebensborn program would have been an option for them, but my grandmother was Jewish (although they were able to hide that fact from the Nazis). Really this program was only workable for the Nazis because everyone was starving and looking for a way to survive, otherwise, it would have been as unacceptable then as it is to us to hear about it now.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to comprehend the horrors that were sweeping the world during and after WWI and leading up to and during WWII - deprivation, oppression, hunger. Remember, they had the news in print and on radio, but it was not viral as we have today. That can be good and it can be bad. Sometimes there is so much "hype" from the media, but on the other hand, it can be a force for good to keep people informed so that they can make rational decisions and be aware of forces for good and evil across the world. Hopefully, history will not repeat itself and we will not see such horror as WWII again.
Deleteunfortunately, I don't know much about my german family around that time....except that there is at least one ancestor that the travel to the us (immigration) ship records don't add up. I am not sure if said ancestor was a soldier or not. I do know I have a great grandfather that was a german sharpshooter.....but my father is fairly certain that he came over before the war started. Good thing some of my family wasn't alive then. We are all german but not all blond.
ReplyDeleteCassie - thank you for sharing. Sounds like your family has a "story" if you can dig it all out. Your great grandfather may have actually been a sharp shooter in WWI. Or just a really good "shot." Anyway, glad they were on the American's side.
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ReplyDeletethe war was about the holocaust I don't think I have any family that was involved
ReplyDeleteMy father served in the US Army during World War II in Germany. He was wounded during the war. He did not like to talk about the war. :)Jeanne B.T.
ReplyDelete