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The Aftermath
1946, post-World War II Hamburg. While thousands wander the rubble, lost and homeless, Colonel Lewis Morgan, charged with overseeing the rebuilding of this devastated city and the denazification of its defeated people, is stationed in a grand house on the River Elbe. He is awaiting the arrival of his wife, Rachael—still grieving for their eldest son—and their only surviving son, Edmund. But rather than force the owners of the house, a German widower and his rebellious daughter, out onto the streets, Lewis insists that the two families live together. In this charged atmosphere, both parents and children will be forced to confront their true selves as enmity and grief give way to passion and betrayal, to their deepest desires, their fiercest loyalties, and the transforming power of forgiveness.
This courageous new novel from award-winning author Rhidian Brook tells an emotionally riveting story of two families, one house, and love grown from hate.
This courageous new novel from award-winning author Rhidian Brook tells an emotionally riveting story of two families, one house, and love grown from hate.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 2, 2013
830 people are currently reading
15225 people want to read
About the author
Rhidian Brook
12 books127 followersRhidian Brook (born 1964) is a novelist, screenwriter and broadcaster.
His first novel, The Testimony Of Taliesin Jones (Harper Collins) won three prizes, including the 1997 Somerset Maugham Award, and was made into a film starring Jonathan Pryce. His second novel, Jesus And The Adman (Harper Collins) was published in 1999. His third novel, The Aftermath, was published in April 2013 by Penguin UK, Knopf US and a further 18 publishers around the world. His short stories have been published by The Paris Review, Punch, The New Statesman, Time Out and others; and several were broadcast on BBC Radio 4’s Short Story.
His first commission for television - Mr Harvey Lights A Candle - was broadcast in 2005 on BBC1 and starred Timothy Spall. He wrote for the BBC series Silent Witness between 2005-7, and the factual drama Atlantis for BBC1 in 2008. Africa United, his first feature film (Pathe), went on general release in the UK in October 2010. He is adapting The Aftermath as a feature for Scott Free and BBC Film.
He has written articles for papers, including The Observer, The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph. In 2005, he presented Nailing The Cross, a documentary for BBC1. In 2006 he broadcast a series In The Blood for BBC World Service, recording his family’s journey through the AIDS pandemic. His book about that journey - More Than Eyes Can See - was published by Marion Boyars in 2007.
He has been a regular contributor to Radio 4’s "Thought For The Day" for more than twelve years.
He lives with his wife and two children in London.
His first novel, The Testimony Of Taliesin Jones (Harper Collins) won three prizes, including the 1997 Somerset Maugham Award, and was made into a film starring Jonathan Pryce. His second novel, Jesus And The Adman (Harper Collins) was published in 1999. His third novel, The Aftermath, was published in April 2013 by Penguin UK, Knopf US and a further 18 publishers around the world. His short stories have been published by The Paris Review, Punch, The New Statesman, Time Out and others; and several were broadcast on BBC Radio 4’s Short Story.
His first commission for television - Mr Harvey Lights A Candle - was broadcast in 2005 on BBC1 and starred Timothy Spall. He wrote for the BBC series Silent Witness between 2005-7, and the factual drama Atlantis for BBC1 in 2008. Africa United, his first feature film (Pathe), went on general release in the UK in October 2010. He is adapting The Aftermath as a feature for Scott Free and BBC Film.
He has written articles for papers, including The Observer, The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph. In 2005, he presented Nailing The Cross, a documentary for BBC1. In 2006 he broadcast a series In The Blood for BBC World Service, recording his family’s journey through the AIDS pandemic. His book about that journey - More Than Eyes Can See - was published by Marion Boyars in 2007.
He has been a regular contributor to Radio 4’s "Thought For The Day" for more than twelve years.
He lives with his wife and two children in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,138 reviews
January 21, 2019
Great novel indeed!
IN WAR, NOBODY TRULY WINS
I have history with this book...
...since I knew about it since almost it was published and even I bought it...
...but as many of us, readers, happens, we put the book in a box...
...and later you forgets that you have to read it!
When I found out that this book was adapted into a film (soon to be released), I ran to look out for the book...
...and finally read it!
Yep, it was a great reading indeed!
Hamburg, 1946. The Allied forces (USA, England and Russia) have got each a part of Germany, and while some are reconstructing, some just are enjoying the spoils of war, and even enforcing strict laws agains the surviving Germans.
Yes, Nazi party was truly evil, but if you beat them, and later you are treating unfair to the defeat ones...
...how noble and honorable, the victors truly were?
The vicious circle of evil shoud stop at some point and instead of doing circles, you have to go forward. Since after all, almost any major power in history have done unspeakable actions in war against other nation, the ally of a time it's the enemy of another.
You can't live in the past, yes, never forget to avoid falling into the same errors, but at some point you have to start the process of forgiving.
A British Colonel is in charge of Hamburg, and he's assigned a house to live with his family, a house that was still occupied by their rightful owners, and the usual action would be to take them out to go to some temporary shelter, and even the wife of the British Colonel would be just happy with that, since she lost one of her two underage sons due a Nazi bomb...
...but the British Colonel can't do that, and he offered a discreet deal with the owner of the house to remain in the upper section of the mannor along with his underage daughter, who is pissed of having to share her home with invaders...
...so tension of both sides will make not easy to live all together under the same roof...
...for not saying an eager British Intelligence Officer like a hawk looking out for anyone, not matter if ally or foe, whom may be not following the new rules of occupation.
Not only the losers in a war must learn from their wartime actions, but also the victors should learn too from the experience.
If we really ending wars, the hate must end along with them.
IN WAR, NOBODY TRULY WINS
I have history with this book...
...since I knew about it since almost it was published and even I bought it...
...but as many of us, readers, happens, we put the book in a box...
...and later you forgets that you have to read it!
When I found out that this book was adapted into a film (soon to be released), I ran to look out for the book...
...and finally read it!
Yep, it was a great reading indeed!
Hamburg, 1946. The Allied forces (USA, England and Russia) have got each a part of Germany, and while some are reconstructing, some just are enjoying the spoils of war, and even enforcing strict laws agains the surviving Germans.
Yes, Nazi party was truly evil, but if you beat them, and later you are treating unfair to the defeat ones...
...how noble and honorable, the victors truly were?
The vicious circle of evil shoud stop at some point and instead of doing circles, you have to go forward. Since after all, almost any major power in history have done unspeakable actions in war against other nation, the ally of a time it's the enemy of another.
You can't live in the past, yes, never forget to avoid falling into the same errors, but at some point you have to start the process of forgiving.
A British Colonel is in charge of Hamburg, and he's assigned a house to live with his family, a house that was still occupied by their rightful owners, and the usual action would be to take them out to go to some temporary shelter, and even the wife of the British Colonel would be just happy with that, since she lost one of her two underage sons due a Nazi bomb...
...but the British Colonel can't do that, and he offered a discreet deal with the owner of the house to remain in the upper section of the mannor along with his underage daughter, who is pissed of having to share her home with invaders...
...so tension of both sides will make not easy to live all together under the same roof...
...for not saying an eager British Intelligence Officer like a hawk looking out for anyone, not matter if ally or foe, whom may be not following the new rules of occupation.
Not only the losers in a war must learn from their wartime actions, but also the victors should learn too from the experience.
If we really ending wars, the hate must end along with them.
February 28, 2013
As a fan of historical fiction, I knew this book wouldn’t have to work hard to win me over. However, I didn’t know how easily the characters would draw me into their lives--into a world of motherless children and childless mothers, a world trying to live again amongst the rubble of broken buildings, bodies, and spirits. Brook gets every nuance of grief just right, without sentimentality, but with hard truths. He shows us how life is born from death, and how the broken seek and ultimately find a way to rise again.
April 9, 2019
¿Alguna vez habéis visto el tráiler de una película y sentido la necesidad de leer el libro? Yo no. Lo reconozco, no soy mucho de películas. Pero siempre hay un primera vez y me alegro que haya sido con este libro. La pluma del autor es embriagadora, como si de alguna manera pudieras beber un té y un vaso de whisky, al mismo tiempo. La historia sensual, dura, realista, hermosa.
April 7, 2019
From the blurb:
My recent enjoyment of Last Letter from Istandbul by Lucy Foley, led me to this novel. The difference was the unimaginable horror of the aftermath of the war on German citizens.
I was interested in this novel since reading the German history in the era between WWI, the Bolsjewik Revolution of 1917, and WWII. What millions of people don't realize, is how the Treaty of Versailles, which brought WWI to an end, also brought famine and horror to the already devastated inhabitants of Germany. Twenty four million Germans died as a result and brought Hitler to power.
The Aftermath is a gripping tale of adjustment, of unlikely friendships and the magic of forgiveness on all the people involved. It is an uplifting, inspirational novel, despite the gruesome details of the aftermath of war on Europe and its people. An atmospheric, detailed, gripping experience.
This book is equal to the stunning novel All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.
I am delighted to discover the novels of the multiple-award-winning author, Rhidian Brook. I just love his style, approach, open-mindedness and knack for detail.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Hamburg, 1946. Thousands remain displaced in what is now the British Occupied Zone. Charged with overseeing the rebuilding of this devastated city and the de-Nazification of its defeated people, Colonel Lewis Morgan is requisitioned a fine house on the banks of the Elbe, where he will be joined by his grieving wife, Rachael, and only remaining son, Edmund.This is certainly one of the best WWII books I have read in a very long time.
But rather than force its owners, a German widower and his traumatized daughter, to leave their home, Lewis insists that the two families live together. In this charged and claustrophobic atmosphere all must confront their true selves as enmity and grief give way to passion and betrayal.
My recent enjoyment of Last Letter from Istandbul by Lucy Foley, led me to this novel. The difference was the unimaginable horror of the aftermath of the war on German citizens.
I was interested in this novel since reading the German history in the era between WWI, the Bolsjewik Revolution of 1917, and WWII. What millions of people don't realize, is how the Treaty of Versailles, which brought WWI to an end, also brought famine and horror to the already devastated inhabitants of Germany. Twenty four million Germans died as a result and brought Hitler to power.
...And, with this, Lewis delivered the first of his killer statistics: 'Do you know that we dropped more bombs on Hamburg in a weekend than the Germans dropped on London in the entire war?’ He said it to Edmund, but he wanted Rachael to hear it, wanted her to take in its full force; to eliminate the prejudice and self-pity. Almost on cue, the ruination of Hamburg opened up around them, and if, at first, it looked no different to the mental pictures they had of London, Coventry, Bristol, the scale of it accumulated with every yard. There were no standing structures ahead of them, behind them or on either side, only rubble, and rivers of people moving at the side of the road. ‘They started it, though, didn’t they, Father?’In The Aftermath Germany is once again paying the price of war, and the circumstances in the country was just as terrible as other countries, or even worse.
Lewis nodded. Of course. They started it. They started it when their grievances were stirred in a pot by a conjurer; they started it with every arm raised and armband worn, with every rally attended and road built, with every utterance applauded; they started it with every shop smashed, every plane launched and bomb dropped. They started it. But where were they? Where was the master race that swallowed continents now? Surely it wasn’t these pathetically clad, feeble-limbed troglodytes plodding along at the side of the shattered road?
-0-
'At least they're less trouble when they're hungry,' Burnham said, offering a mirthless smile.
-0-
' Have you seen the people at the gates? Do you look at those waifs and strays, those skeletal, yellow, stinking, homeless people bowing and fawning and scraping for food and shelter and think: By God, yes, I must remind these people that they have been defeated?'
The Aftermath is a gripping tale of adjustment, of unlikely friendships and the magic of forgiveness on all the people involved. It is an uplifting, inspirational novel, despite the gruesome details of the aftermath of war on Europe and its people. An atmospheric, detailed, gripping experience.
This book is equal to the stunning novel All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.
I am delighted to discover the novels of the multiple-award-winning author, Rhidian Brook. I just love his style, approach, open-mindedness and knack for detail.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
February 13, 2014
It is not good when you start a book and don't believe in the feasibility of the characters' first actions. These actions didn't fit the characters' personalities. Once this feeling was lodged in my head I could never throw it off. The characters, their relationships and their actions were not credible.
This is a book of historical fiction that depicts the first years after WW2 in Germany. The setting is Hamburg and the year is 1946. What saved me from giving the book only one star is the accurate and interesting description of the situation in Germany at this time. It was split into four zones, controlled by the English, the Americans, the French and the Russians respectively. The political tensions between the nations are emerging.
The dramatic ending is cinematic in tone. It was NOT to my taste. Talk about unbelievable! Talk about cute! Talk about tying up all the strings into a neat little bow!
I don't mind sex in a book, but every darn relationship was propelled by sex. This too was not believable. Did the author do this to attract contemporary readers?
I liked the historical but not the fictional content of this book.
(The narration by Leighton Pugh was fine.)
This is a book of historical fiction that depicts the first years after WW2 in Germany. The setting is Hamburg and the year is 1946. What saved me from giving the book only one star is the accurate and interesting description of the situation in Germany at this time. It was split into four zones, controlled by the English, the Americans, the French and the Russians respectively. The political tensions between the nations are emerging.
The dramatic ending is cinematic in tone. It was NOT to my taste. Talk about unbelievable! Talk about cute! Talk about tying up all the strings into a neat little bow!
I don't mind sex in a book, but every darn relationship was propelled by sex. This too was not believable. Did the author do this to attract contemporary readers?
I liked the historical but not the fictional content of this book.
(The narration by Leighton Pugh was fine.)
August 1, 2019
“Rachel could find no solace in other people’s tales of woe. Pain was uniquely one’s own, and undiminished by a democracy of suffering”
Meticulous writing, language wise. The story? Not so much.
It would have been so much better, in my opinion, if the focus was on the two main families. When it started to petter out to other sub-plots, the book lost me.
August 26, 2014
Warning - contains mild spoilers!
I ummed and aahed about what rating to give this. I settled on 2.5 stars, then remembered you can't do half stars, so ummed and aahed a bit more and opted to round up to three stars.
This book was a bit odd for me. I love history, particularly World War Two and after. I also love historical fiction. This book seemed to tick both those boxes for me, so I was sure I'd really like it.
And that is the strange thing. I did like lots of things about it. He's a good writer, it's an interesting story in an interesting setting. I found the book made me want to continue reading, and I finished it pretty quickly, at least by my usual standards (I don't have the huge commute or sleep disorder which enable some people to read anything at a rate of knots).
The story wasn't in any way unbelievable, there was no credibility-stretching stuff in there. I also felt like it did a very good job conveying the horrific mess of Hamburg in 1945 (or, more accurately, Hamburg post the terrible bombing which killed so many people).
So, despite all of that, why only 3 (well, 2.5) stars?
It just felt a little superficial to me. It was as if the author had painstakingly plotted out the environment his characters would inhabit, and the relationships they would have, yet had paid not enough attention to developing these relationships over time.
So, for example, we go from a situation where *and there's a spoiler here* the main female character in the book goes from a frosty resentment of the German in whose house they are living, to having an affair with him in what seems like a matter of a day or two.
We go from mistrust and animosity to passion in one jump without passing through any intermediate stages. Not only that, but the affair could be spotted pretty much from the start, it was that predictable.
I also felt that some of the characters were pretty cartoonish. The creepy intelligence major and his social climber wife felt particularly cliched to me. The scene with the Russian, American and French military representatives felt to me like it was straight out of the Big Book of National Stereotypes, 1945 edition. I didn't really see the point of Lewis's interpreter at all. The character really went nowhere.
The ending of the book felt somewhat like a case of "I've got nothing more to write here, so I'll knock it on the head", as if a convenient way to wrap matters up had been found, and even then, it didn't really seem like a particularly good or conclusive ending. It just felt like the book had run out of steam.
A shame, really, I had really wanted to like this book, and although I have read far worse books than this so far this year, this was pretty disappointing stuff.
I ummed and aahed about what rating to give this. I settled on 2.5 stars, then remembered you can't do half stars, so ummed and aahed a bit more and opted to round up to three stars.
This book was a bit odd for me. I love history, particularly World War Two and after. I also love historical fiction. This book seemed to tick both those boxes for me, so I was sure I'd really like it.
And that is the strange thing. I did like lots of things about it. He's a good writer, it's an interesting story in an interesting setting. I found the book made me want to continue reading, and I finished it pretty quickly, at least by my usual standards (I don't have the huge commute or sleep disorder which enable some people to read anything at a rate of knots).
The story wasn't in any way unbelievable, there was no credibility-stretching stuff in there. I also felt like it did a very good job conveying the horrific mess of Hamburg in 1945 (or, more accurately, Hamburg post the terrible bombing which killed so many people).
So, despite all of that, why only 3 (well, 2.5) stars?
It just felt a little superficial to me. It was as if the author had painstakingly plotted out the environment his characters would inhabit, and the relationships they would have, yet had paid not enough attention to developing these relationships over time.
So, for example, we go from a situation where *and there's a spoiler here* the main female character in the book goes from a frosty resentment of the German in whose house they are living, to having an affair with him in what seems like a matter of a day or two.
We go from mistrust and animosity to passion in one jump without passing through any intermediate stages. Not only that, but the affair could be spotted pretty much from the start, it was that predictable.
I also felt that some of the characters were pretty cartoonish. The creepy intelligence major and his social climber wife felt particularly cliched to me. The scene with the Russian, American and French military representatives felt to me like it was straight out of the Big Book of National Stereotypes, 1945 edition. I didn't really see the point of Lewis's interpreter at all. The character really went nowhere.
The ending of the book felt somewhat like a case of "I've got nothing more to write here, so I'll knock it on the head", as if a convenient way to wrap matters up had been found, and even then, it didn't really seem like a particularly good or conclusive ending. It just felt like the book had run out of steam.
A shame, really, I had really wanted to like this book, and although I have read far worse books than this so far this year, this was pretty disappointing stuff.
May 8, 2013
Rating 2.5 stars.
The Aftermath is set after WW2 in Germany. Captain Lewis from the UK is overseeing the rebuilding of a war-torn, bomb-shocked Hamburg. He resides in a manor house on the city outskirts with his wife Rachel and son Edmund. However he makes the unusual decision not to dehouse the German family who currently live there and both families must somehow find a way to put aside their personal feelings and old grievances and live together.
If I were to break up with this book, I would say ‘It’s not you, it’s me’. And in someways, I think it is me, the other reviews are very positive so maybe this book was just not for me or maybe I read it at the wrong time. However we all know the ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ is only a line and so I do have my reasons for not liking the book.
On the positive side, there was great detail, impressive research and it feels very authentic. It was interesting to read about a period of history that I don’t see covered very often. You really get a feel for how devastated Hamburg was after the war, the sense of confusion in the air and how emotionally charged everyone was.
I had never considered just how displaced people were in Germany after the war and it was horrific to read about. Especially the feral children who had been orphaned and who are trying to survive and adapt as best they can. The begging from the US/UK soldiers for cigarettes which they can then use to barter for other essential items was heart wrenching. And the sense of confusion and mayhem and desperation from the people to distance themselves from any Nazi links to survive in the new Germany is well portrayed.
However, The Aftermath is told from multiple points of view which I found confusing at times. We jumped from one to another with no warning which felt jarring and stopped me connecting fully with the various characters. Quite often I had to stop and reread a few sentences to decide which character we were now following. For the first few pages of the book, I had no idea what was happening and I went back to read the synopsis again to try and get a handle on what the book was about. After finishing the book, those first few pages make more sense but are still very jumbled.
As I didn’t engage with the characters, I found the book hard work and I had no sense of urgency to keep reading. There are multiple stories going on but none of them over engaged me. How much I want to pick a book up and continue reading is my book-likability-barometer and the arrow was hovering at low for The Aftermath . It is a book, I’m glad I read as I did get an appreciation for what life after the war was like but I can’t say I enjoyed it.
Recommended : Only if you like historical novels and want to find out more about this period.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
The Aftermath is set after WW2 in Germany. Captain Lewis from the UK is overseeing the rebuilding of a war-torn, bomb-shocked Hamburg. He resides in a manor house on the city outskirts with his wife Rachel and son Edmund. However he makes the unusual decision not to dehouse the German family who currently live there and both families must somehow find a way to put aside their personal feelings and old grievances and live together.
If I were to break up with this book, I would say ‘It’s not you, it’s me’. And in someways, I think it is me, the other reviews are very positive so maybe this book was just not for me or maybe I read it at the wrong time. However we all know the ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ is only a line and so I do have my reasons for not liking the book.
On the positive side, there was great detail, impressive research and it feels very authentic. It was interesting to read about a period of history that I don’t see covered very often. You really get a feel for how devastated Hamburg was after the war, the sense of confusion in the air and how emotionally charged everyone was.
I had never considered just how displaced people were in Germany after the war and it was horrific to read about. Especially the feral children who had been orphaned and who are trying to survive and adapt as best they can. The begging from the US/UK soldiers for cigarettes which they can then use to barter for other essential items was heart wrenching. And the sense of confusion and mayhem and desperation from the people to distance themselves from any Nazi links to survive in the new Germany is well portrayed.
However, The Aftermath is told from multiple points of view which I found confusing at times. We jumped from one to another with no warning which felt jarring and stopped me connecting fully with the various characters. Quite often I had to stop and reread a few sentences to decide which character we were now following. For the first few pages of the book, I had no idea what was happening and I went back to read the synopsis again to try and get a handle on what the book was about. After finishing the book, those first few pages make more sense but are still very jumbled.
As I didn’t engage with the characters, I found the book hard work and I had no sense of urgency to keep reading. There are multiple stories going on but none of them over engaged me. How much I want to pick a book up and continue reading is my book-likability-barometer and the arrow was hovering at low for The Aftermath . It is a book, I’m glad I read as I did get an appreciation for what life after the war was like but I can’t say I enjoyed it.
Recommended : Only if you like historical novels and want to find out more about this period.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
July 11, 2016
Soon to be a Major Motion Picture
"Soon to be a major motion picture" proudly proclaims the book jacket. And I am not surprised. Rhidian Brook's novel has well-developed characters, ample romance and danger, an important historical context, and significant moral issues. The only major movie challenge would be to capture the devastation of Hamburg in 1946, the city still shattered by the 1943 fire bombings. Brook writes well, easily shifting between different settings and points of view. A bit too easily, perhaps. There is a particularly British style of storytelling that I have noted before, especially in war stories (Kate Atkinson's Life After Life is a recent example), rooted almost in domestic social comedy, that makes for highly enjoyable reading and would translate easily to film. But although this does not have the artificial sheen of a Hollywood screenplay, it just misses the jagged edge that the subject ideally demands, that would have distinguished the true novelist from the able screenwriter.
Colonel Lewis Morgan arrives in Hamburg in 1946 to take up the post of Regional Governor under the British occupation. An exquisite house is requisitioned for him on the banks of the Elbe, but rather that sending the former owners to a billet elsewhere, he asks the family to stay on, using the upper floor as their apartment. This unique offer is only one of many ways that show him to be an altogether more humane administrator than his doctrinaire colleagues, for whom fraternization is a deadly sin. So the Morgans move in with the Luberts: Lewis with his wife Rachel and 11-year-old son Edmund, Stefan with his slightly older daughter Freda, a former Hitlermädel who refuses to accept defeat. Both families have suffered losses: Stefan Lubert's wife was killed in the firestorm; Rachel Morgan lost her eldest son to a stray bomb dropped in an apparently safe area. She has become bitter and withdrawn, unreasonably casting blame on her husband, and resenting the living arrangements that have been forced upon her.
Brook says that his inspiration was the unusual decision of his grandfather to share his requisitioned house in a similar situation to Colonel Morgan's. One assumes that most of this is imagination, because I don't think I would want my grandchildren to know the sordid details of that fraught year of cohabitation. But it is all believable, and all the major characters ultimately show a strong moral sense, no matter what missteps they may have made in getting there. Lewis is perhaps a little too good to be true, but his humane bonhomie also has its limitations; there are still very real dangers out there. Rhidian Brook is best in his domestic scenes, but almost as good in the office, presenting Lewis' successes and occasional failures with colleagues, visiting politicians, and his superior general. The author is also to be commended for including a subplot focusing on a group of feral children, the so-called Trümmerkinder, made homeless by the war. This is not as successful as the elements he can imagine at first hand, though he is certainly trying to get beyond the domestic, to reach the degradation and horror. I especially commend him for not sugar-coating the civilian slaughter caused by the Allied devastation, and some of the British attitudes early in the book made me cringe. This is not a perfect novel; I was at 3.5 stars most of the time I was reading. But its moral center is in the right place, and that encourages me to round up.
"Soon to be a major motion picture" proudly proclaims the book jacket. And I am not surprised. Rhidian Brook's novel has well-developed characters, ample romance and danger, an important historical context, and significant moral issues. The only major movie challenge would be to capture the devastation of Hamburg in 1946, the city still shattered by the 1943 fire bombings. Brook writes well, easily shifting between different settings and points of view. A bit too easily, perhaps. There is a particularly British style of storytelling that I have noted before, especially in war stories (Kate Atkinson's Life After Life is a recent example), rooted almost in domestic social comedy, that makes for highly enjoyable reading and would translate easily to film. But although this does not have the artificial sheen of a Hollywood screenplay, it just misses the jagged edge that the subject ideally demands, that would have distinguished the true novelist from the able screenwriter.
Colonel Lewis Morgan arrives in Hamburg in 1946 to take up the post of Regional Governor under the British occupation. An exquisite house is requisitioned for him on the banks of the Elbe, but rather that sending the former owners to a billet elsewhere, he asks the family to stay on, using the upper floor as their apartment. This unique offer is only one of many ways that show him to be an altogether more humane administrator than his doctrinaire colleagues, for whom fraternization is a deadly sin. So the Morgans move in with the Luberts: Lewis with his wife Rachel and 11-year-old son Edmund, Stefan with his slightly older daughter Freda, a former Hitlermädel who refuses to accept defeat. Both families have suffered losses: Stefan Lubert's wife was killed in the firestorm; Rachel Morgan lost her eldest son to a stray bomb dropped in an apparently safe area. She has become bitter and withdrawn, unreasonably casting blame on her husband, and resenting the living arrangements that have been forced upon her.
Brook says that his inspiration was the unusual decision of his grandfather to share his requisitioned house in a similar situation to Colonel Morgan's. One assumes that most of this is imagination, because I don't think I would want my grandchildren to know the sordid details of that fraught year of cohabitation. But it is all believable, and all the major characters ultimately show a strong moral sense, no matter what missteps they may have made in getting there. Lewis is perhaps a little too good to be true, but his humane bonhomie also has its limitations; there are still very real dangers out there. Rhidian Brook is best in his domestic scenes, but almost as good in the office, presenting Lewis' successes and occasional failures with colleagues, visiting politicians, and his superior general. The author is also to be commended for including a subplot focusing on a group of feral children, the so-called Trümmerkinder, made homeless by the war. This is not as successful as the elements he can imagine at first hand, though he is certainly trying to get beyond the domestic, to reach the degradation and horror. I especially commend him for not sugar-coating the civilian slaughter caused by the Allied devastation, and some of the British attitudes early in the book made me cringe. This is not a perfect novel; I was at 3.5 stars most of the time I was reading. But its moral center is in the right place, and that encourages me to round up.
April 30, 2016
At first I really did not think I could write a review. The topic of this book just hit too close to home. And even now, after the silver lining at the end, there is a certain heaviness on my chest.
This book is about a British Colonel, his wife and son who go to live in Hamburg, Germany, because the Colonel is in charge of rebuilding the city after WWII.
Colonel Lewis Morgan is a kind man. Not really good at expressing his emotions (which nearly drove me up the walls) but he believes in humanity and forgiveness. That, of course, does not sit well with other officers, his superiors and even his wife.
Rachel has not been herself ever since the night her son Michael was killed in front of her in a night bombing.
Edmund, the youngest son, is alive but definitely neglected by both parents, and tries to navigate an alien world.
In addition to that, Colonal Morgan has offered the German family in whose house the Morgans are scheduled to live to stay with them (the house is a villa so there is more than enough room). Again, noble, but not very well thought through.
The owner of the house, Herr Luber, has lost his wife in the war and needs to raise his daughter, Frieda, alone - no easy task since the girl definitely is disturbed if you ask me (and not just because of the loss of her mother either, judging by some revelations later on in the book).
So we have this host of characters plus some others from the British military. A very potent mix.
What was so difficult for me were the (accurate) descriptions of Hamburg after the war. The people there; the cold; the starvation; the hopelessness; all the silly prejudice against Germans (I nearly broke down on the train when Edmund, at the beginning of the book, reads the pamphlet they got as instructions for living in Germany); the hate (on both sides); the fear.
The narrator is doing a pretty good job even with the German words and phrases so this was a very nice audiobook and the author had a very intricate and wonderful way of first creating and then interweaving all the different POVs. I just think that I might have enjoyed the often beautiful writing style more had my mind not wandered off to what I remembered from history lessons and my grandparents' accounts.
This book is about a British Colonel, his wife and son who go to live in Hamburg, Germany, because the Colonel is in charge of rebuilding the city after WWII.
Colonel Lewis Morgan is a kind man. Not really good at expressing his emotions (which nearly drove me up the walls) but he believes in humanity and forgiveness. That, of course, does not sit well with other officers, his superiors and even his wife.
Rachel has not been herself ever since the night her son Michael was killed in front of her in a night bombing.
Edmund, the youngest son, is alive but definitely neglected by both parents, and tries to navigate an alien world.
In addition to that, Colonal Morgan has offered the German family in whose house the Morgans are scheduled to live to stay with them (the house is a villa so there is more than enough room). Again, noble, but not very well thought through.
The owner of the house, Herr Luber, has lost his wife in the war and needs to raise his daughter, Frieda, alone - no easy task since the girl definitely is disturbed if you ask me (and not just because of the loss of her mother either, judging by some revelations later on in the book).
So we have this host of characters plus some others from the British military. A very potent mix.
What was so difficult for me were the (accurate) descriptions of Hamburg after the war. The people there; the cold; the starvation; the hopelessness; all the silly prejudice against Germans (I nearly broke down on the train when Edmund, at the beginning of the book, reads the pamphlet they got as instructions for living in Germany); the hate (on both sides); the fear.
The narrator is doing a pretty good job even with the German words and phrases so this was a very nice audiobook and the author had a very intricate and wonderful way of first creating and then interweaving all the different POVs. I just think that I might have enjoyed the often beautiful writing style more had my mind not wandered off to what I remembered from history lessons and my grandparents' accounts.
September 27, 2019
This book was a bitter disappointment. I expected this to be so much better than it was, and now I'm sitting here happy that I've finished it, so I can move the hell on!
The plot is weak. I knew what was going to happen, before I got halfway through, and for me, that is never a good thing. Nothing remotely exciting happens, there is a distinct dreary tone, and I was wondering, what is the point of this book? What was it trying to achieve? Apparently, not much.
The characters were so thinly described, and I cannot say that I had any particular love for any of them. They all seemed so driven by sex, they had lost their way. Sex is fine, but when the characters sole intent is to purely get their legs over, the reader does begin to wonder what is going on.
This book was tedious, and I'm shocked that this has been made into a film! I'm yawning already!
The plot is weak. I knew what was going to happen, before I got halfway through, and for me, that is never a good thing. Nothing remotely exciting happens, there is a distinct dreary tone, and I was wondering, what is the point of this book? What was it trying to achieve? Apparently, not much.
The characters were so thinly described, and I cannot say that I had any particular love for any of them. They all seemed so driven by sex, they had lost their way. Sex is fine, but when the characters sole intent is to purely get their legs over, the reader does begin to wonder what is going on.
This book was tedious, and I'm shocked that this has been made into a film! I'm yawning already!
November 10, 2018
I want to watch The Aftermath the movie, so of course, I started by reading the book. And, I must say that I quite enjoyed this story about a British family moving into a house with a German widower and his daughter after WW2. Both families have lost much during the war and now they have to live under the same roof. The ending felt a bit abrupt, but I quite enjoyed the writing and the story. Now I'm ready for the movie!
October 16, 2013
With the horrors of WWII, the Holocaust, and concentration camps; little attention is given to the reconstruction of Germany (the country and its civilians) after the war. This is precisely the focus of Rhidian Brook’s novel, “The Aftermath”.
“The Aftermath” tells the story of Colonel Lewis Morgan, his wife Rachel and son Edmund, who are requisitioned into the home of German father Stefan Lubert and his daughter, Freda. Instead of displacing the family, the kindly Colonel decides the house is big enough for both families to call a home. Amazingly enough, “The Aftermath” is inspired by the true story of the author’s grandfather.
Clearly, such a description signifies the implication of an emotional novel. Told in third-person narrative from each character’s perspective (even the children); the novel illuminates the various ups, downs, pains, struggles, and adjustments involved in such a living situation. Although following so many characters can sometimes be distracting; Brook successfully delineates between each one with distinctive personalities and quirks, allowing the reader to truly get to know them and even pick-and-choose a favorite.
The pace of “The Aftermath” is somewhat slow but not because it is ‘boring’ but because Brook focuses on a character and emotional study versus a traditional arc with a buildup and climatic events. Yet, there is enough dialogue and accessibility for the average reader, as well. For those seeking strong history, “The Aftermath” feels real, alive, and is clearly well-researched flowing naturally with its historical imagery. Brook’s language style is beautiful and eloquent, yet with easy-to-read prose. Again, each character has a personal style but “The Aftermath” is cohesive and overall well-written.
“The Aftermath” features a satisfying enough ratio of material which stereotypically both genders will enjoy: military and governmental policy for men and emotional relationships for the women. However, Brook doesn’t overly romanticize either topic which adds to the rounded essence of the novel. Despite this even focus, there are some overly predictable romantic elements which disappoint the reader, as one comes to expect more from Brook.
On a negative end, there are moments which feel skimmed, as though Brook held back, and the texture could of included deeper resonating literary experiences. However, the tale is vivid in a way that one can imagine it as a movie (Note: it is already a screenplay and rumored to be a major motion picture release in the future).
Some further annoyances throughout “The Aftermath” include editing errors (missing end quotation marks, for instance), German phrases with no translations and British-spelled words which are distracting/frustrating, and pages numbered only on every other page. Also weak is the storyline of the orphaned children whose plot is not necessary and underdeveloped. However, these complaints are minor and not extremely taxing on the story, overall.
The climax of “The Aftermath” is somewhat subdued while the ending feels rushed and doesn’t answer all questions. This is remedied by a memorable epilogue, however. Unfortunately, Brook doesn’t include notes regarding the historical merits in the story which is a let down for those readers encouraged to learn more about the topic.
Overall, “The Aftermath” is well written, entertaining, and is a strong look at post-WWII Germany in a way not many novel attempt. The novel encourages debate and discussions regarding collective guilt. I would read another historical fiction work from Brook and recommend “The Aftermath” for HF lovers (not just those interested in WWII).
“The Aftermath” tells the story of Colonel Lewis Morgan, his wife Rachel and son Edmund, who are requisitioned into the home of German father Stefan Lubert and his daughter, Freda. Instead of displacing the family, the kindly Colonel decides the house is big enough for both families to call a home. Amazingly enough, “The Aftermath” is inspired by the true story of the author’s grandfather.
Clearly, such a description signifies the implication of an emotional novel. Told in third-person narrative from each character’s perspective (even the children); the novel illuminates the various ups, downs, pains, struggles, and adjustments involved in such a living situation. Although following so many characters can sometimes be distracting; Brook successfully delineates between each one with distinctive personalities and quirks, allowing the reader to truly get to know them and even pick-and-choose a favorite.
The pace of “The Aftermath” is somewhat slow but not because it is ‘boring’ but because Brook focuses on a character and emotional study versus a traditional arc with a buildup and climatic events. Yet, there is enough dialogue and accessibility for the average reader, as well. For those seeking strong history, “The Aftermath” feels real, alive, and is clearly well-researched flowing naturally with its historical imagery. Brook’s language style is beautiful and eloquent, yet with easy-to-read prose. Again, each character has a personal style but “The Aftermath” is cohesive and overall well-written.
“The Aftermath” features a satisfying enough ratio of material which stereotypically both genders will enjoy: military and governmental policy for men and emotional relationships for the women. However, Brook doesn’t overly romanticize either topic which adds to the rounded essence of the novel. Despite this even focus, there are some overly predictable romantic elements which disappoint the reader, as one comes to expect more from Brook.
On a negative end, there are moments which feel skimmed, as though Brook held back, and the texture could of included deeper resonating literary experiences. However, the tale is vivid in a way that one can imagine it as a movie (Note: it is already a screenplay and rumored to be a major motion picture release in the future).
Some further annoyances throughout “The Aftermath” include editing errors (missing end quotation marks, for instance), German phrases with no translations and British-spelled words which are distracting/frustrating, and pages numbered only on every other page. Also weak is the storyline of the orphaned children whose plot is not necessary and underdeveloped. However, these complaints are minor and not extremely taxing on the story, overall.
The climax of “The Aftermath” is somewhat subdued while the ending feels rushed and doesn’t answer all questions. This is remedied by a memorable epilogue, however. Unfortunately, Brook doesn’t include notes regarding the historical merits in the story which is a let down for those readers encouraged to learn more about the topic.
Overall, “The Aftermath” is well written, entertaining, and is a strong look at post-WWII Germany in a way not many novel attempt. The novel encourages debate and discussions regarding collective guilt. I would read another historical fiction work from Brook and recommend “The Aftermath” for HF lovers (not just those interested in WWII).
December 31, 2022
The Aftermath (2019 film) was excellent also!
September 10, 2013
World War II, which historian Max Hastings called "the greatest and most terrible event in human history," will never fail to be a subject that fascinates historians, novelists and readers. Lately, though, it seems that the immediate aftermath of the war has caught writers' interest. Just off the top of my head, I can think of these books: Tony Judt's Postwar, William I. Hitchcock's The Bitter Road to Freedom: A New History of the Liberation of Europe, Ian Buruma's Year Zero: A History of 1945, and, on the fiction side, John Lawton's wonderful Then We Take Berlin.
Rhidian Brook joins this group with his new novel, Aftermath, set in Hamburg. Hamburg, once a vital port city, in 1946 is another wrecked city in the German landscape, with bodies still buried under mounds of bombed-out husks of buildings, defeated Germans devoting all of their waning energy to finding food and cigarettes whatever way they can, and the conqueror Allies trying to figure out how to build a foundation for a new country on this blasted wasteland with these fragile people.
British officer Colonel Lewis Morgan is assigned a large, palatial house, but he is still enough of an idealist that he doesn't want to have its current residents turned out. And so, when his wife Rachael arrives, with their son Edmund, she finds that they are sharing living quarters with Stefan Lubert, an architect, and his daughter, 15-year-old Freda. For Rachael, this is discomfiting. The Morgans' oldest son was killed in her presence by a stray bomb and she is less kindly disposed toward Germans. Still, she is emotionally affected by seeing that so many Germans also lost their lives in bombing and she accepts the presence of the Luberts in the house––so long as they stick to their quarters.
There are parallels between the Morgans and the Luberts. Frau Lubert was killed in a British bombing raid, which leaves Stefan Lubert mourning and Freda filled with hostility. It seems that Rachael and Stefan almost need each other, and that Freda and Edmund's need to coexist in the house also plays out as a parallel to the rocky road to reconciliation between the Germans and Allies.
While Brook paints an evocative picture of war-ruined Hamburg, he is less successful with his characters. Maybe it's that famous British reserve, but I never got much of a feel for Lewis, Rachael or Stefan. That improved as the book neared its end, but by then it was too little, too late.
Brook's writing is often beautiful, but there are also some awfully clunky moments, such as when he uses the language of today, not the 1940s. The dialog used for the street kids is just plain bizarre; it sounds like what Ring Lardner might have used for the characters in Guys and Dolls if he'd been German.
There is also a film of this story in the works, and I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up working better than the book. The scenery should be striking, acting skills may make up for some of the character deficiencies on the page, and we can hope that the awkward places in the novel's writing will be absent in the film's script. In the meantime, though, if you're interested in a crackerjack story of postwar Germany, I recommend John Lawton's new Then We Take Berlin.
Rhidian Brook joins this group with his new novel, Aftermath, set in Hamburg. Hamburg, once a vital port city, in 1946 is another wrecked city in the German landscape, with bodies still buried under mounds of bombed-out husks of buildings, defeated Germans devoting all of their waning energy to finding food and cigarettes whatever way they can, and the conqueror Allies trying to figure out how to build a foundation for a new country on this blasted wasteland with these fragile people.
British officer Colonel Lewis Morgan is assigned a large, palatial house, but he is still enough of an idealist that he doesn't want to have its current residents turned out. And so, when his wife Rachael arrives, with their son Edmund, she finds that they are sharing living quarters with Stefan Lubert, an architect, and his daughter, 15-year-old Freda. For Rachael, this is discomfiting. The Morgans' oldest son was killed in her presence by a stray bomb and she is less kindly disposed toward Germans. Still, she is emotionally affected by seeing that so many Germans also lost their lives in bombing and she accepts the presence of the Luberts in the house––so long as they stick to their quarters.
There are parallels between the Morgans and the Luberts. Frau Lubert was killed in a British bombing raid, which leaves Stefan Lubert mourning and Freda filled with hostility. It seems that Rachael and Stefan almost need each other, and that Freda and Edmund's need to coexist in the house also plays out as a parallel to the rocky road to reconciliation between the Germans and Allies.
While Brook paints an evocative picture of war-ruined Hamburg, he is less successful with his characters. Maybe it's that famous British reserve, but I never got much of a feel for Lewis, Rachael or Stefan. That improved as the book neared its end, but by then it was too little, too late.
Brook's writing is often beautiful, but there are also some awfully clunky moments, such as when he uses the language of today, not the 1940s. The dialog used for the street kids is just plain bizarre; it sounds like what Ring Lardner might have used for the characters in Guys and Dolls if he'd been German.
There is also a film of this story in the works, and I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up working better than the book. The scenery should be striking, acting skills may make up for some of the character deficiencies on the page, and we can hope that the awkward places in the novel's writing will be absent in the film's script. In the meantime, though, if you're interested in a crackerjack story of postwar Germany, I recommend John Lawton's new Then We Take Berlin.
January 5, 2020
Колкото и книги за втората световна война да се напишат и филми да се направят , няма да е достатъчно , за да се разкажат всички случили се трагедии. Имам чувството , че обръгнах от всичко прочетено и изгледано, и ги разглеждам като още зверски факти , трупащи се в обезверялата ми душа. Много различна е тази книга. Едновременно тъжна, без да те подтиска, в същото време много трогателна и човешка. Ще ми трябва време да осмисля всичко разказано.
July 11, 2015
I haven't read a book set during the reconstruction after WWII, it was an interesting period and this novel has an equally interesting set up. Colonel Lewis Morgan, stationed in Hamburg in 1946, has opted to share his requisitioned housing with the actual owners of the property rather than needlessly forcing the German family into a Displace Persons Camp.
The highly unusual situation makes a great spring board for Rhidian Brook's story, I love that the inspiration for this novel was Brook's grandfather who did just what Colonel Morgan did, sharing the property where he was stationed for five years.
The main characters were dynamic and realistic, the Morgans; compassionate Colonel Morgan who seems almost too much of an idealist to be a Colonel, his wife Rachel unsure of what to make of this new chapter in her life, still devastated by the loss of her oldest son. Edmund their, now, only child is quick to adapt to new situations and learn the language of his temporary home. The Luberts; homeowner Stefan, wealthy architect now widower is working in a factory, struggling to deal with the anger and loss his daughter feels over the death of her mother. Freda, fifteen, feels sharing her home is a betrayal and she doesn't welcome the unusual arrangement.
I wish the book blurb had given away less about the story and I wish I hadn't been expecting the story to unfold in a particular way so I could have enjoyed the progression of events more. I also wish I had been able to devote more undivided time to this book, it seemed like I was only able to read it in snatches here and there. I would have liked to have been able to read it in one or two sittings.
There wasn't anything I didn't like about this book, but if I had one criticism to make it would be it wasn't long enough, another hundred pages with these characters would have been nice. I especially loved the resolution Brooks offers for the personal conflicts. I read 'The Aftermath' is being developed as a feature film by Ridley Scott's production company Scott Free and BBC Films. I think it will make a great movie.
I would recommend this to fans of historical fiction and I think it would make for some interesting discussion for a book club.
The highly unusual situation makes a great spring board for Rhidian Brook's story, I love that the inspiration for this novel was Brook's grandfather who did just what Colonel Morgan did, sharing the property where he was stationed for five years.
The main characters were dynamic and realistic, the Morgans; compassionate Colonel Morgan who seems almost too much of an idealist to be a Colonel, his wife Rachel unsure of what to make of this new chapter in her life, still devastated by the loss of her oldest son. Edmund their, now, only child is quick to adapt to new situations and learn the language of his temporary home. The Luberts; homeowner Stefan, wealthy architect now widower is working in a factory, struggling to deal with the anger and loss his daughter feels over the death of her mother. Freda, fifteen, feels sharing her home is a betrayal and she doesn't welcome the unusual arrangement.
I wish the book blurb had given away less about the story and I wish I hadn't been expecting the story to unfold in a particular way so I could have enjoyed the progression of events more. I also wish I had been able to devote more undivided time to this book, it seemed like I was only able to read it in snatches here and there. I would have liked to have been able to read it in one or two sittings.
There wasn't anything I didn't like about this book, but if I had one criticism to make it would be it wasn't long enough, another hundred pages with these characters would have been nice. I especially loved the resolution Brooks offers for the personal conflicts. I read 'The Aftermath' is being developed as a feature film by Ridley Scott's production company Scott Free and BBC Films. I think it will make a great movie.
I would recommend this to fans of historical fiction and I think it would make for some interesting discussion for a book club.
April 24, 2018
Είναι αρκετά καλό, περιγράφει τη ζωή στη Γερμανία μετά τη λήξη του Δευτέρου Παγκοσμίου πολέμου, τόσο από την πλευρά των ηττημένων Γερμανών όσο και από την πλευρά των Άγγλων (μιας εκ των νικητριών χωρών).
Είναι λίγο επίπεδο, χωρίς ιδιαίτερες εντάσεις αλλά γενικά μου άρεσε.
Είναι λίγο επίπεδο, χωρίς ιδιαίτερες εντάσεις αλλά γενικά μου άρεσε.
February 3, 2016
Set immediately after the end of World War II, ‘The Aftermath’ by Rhidian Brook tells the story of a Welsh Colonel, Lewis Morgan, who brings his family to Hamburg while he works on the nigh on impossible task of providing humanitarian aid to the Germans while clearing and repairing the damage caused to their country. Allocated a large house by the military, Brook makes the unprecedented decision to allow the family whose house it is to continue living there alongside his own, rather than sending them to the refugee camps. This, inevitably, leads to a great deal of tension and more than a few problems.
Morgan is a good man. He takes his job seriously and is passionate about recreating a strong Germany. He is desperately trying to get his comrades and their families to stop thinking of all Germans as the enemy but rather as people, just like them, who are desperately in need of aid. He sees the need to do this as vital to retaining everybody’s basic humanity and also understands the necessity of a strong Germany in the global political sphere. This is even more admirable in the light of the fact that he lost his own son in a Nazi bombing raid on his home town; an event that could understandably make someone extremely reluctant to assist with the humanitarian work in the country that was the starting point of said bombing raid.
While Morgan is an idealist who practices what he preaches, he isn’t a cardboard cut-out, barrel-chested Hero with a capital H. He is flawed in a number of ways. His idealism and goodness do, on occasion, turn around and bit him in the arse. He is so caught up in his work that he is blind to some of the problems of his own family. Brook writes him as a believable character, just as he writes a very authentic-feeling post-war Germany. The novel is life-affirming, whilst also reminding us of some of humanity’s darker nature. It is inspirational yet absolutely heart-breaking.
The book isn’t perfect; some of the dialogue feels a little too modern to be period accurate and I occasionally felt that it got a bit too bogged down in the specific sexual relationships of some of the characters, running the risk of drifting away from the more important bigger picture. These minor quibbles aside, I really liked this novel.
This novel is a poignant yet unsentimental portrait of Germany in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War and the people who lived there, desperately trying to repair the damage the war wrought. I recommend it to anybody with an interest in this period of history.
P.S. – The audiobook version is read by Leighton Pugh, an actor I’d never heard of before but who does an absolutely fantastic job. He changes accents, from English to German to Welsh, with a deftness I can only be impressed by. He captures the tone of the book perfectly.
Morgan is a good man. He takes his job seriously and is passionate about recreating a strong Germany. He is desperately trying to get his comrades and their families to stop thinking of all Germans as the enemy but rather as people, just like them, who are desperately in need of aid. He sees the need to do this as vital to retaining everybody’s basic humanity and also understands the necessity of a strong Germany in the global political sphere. This is even more admirable in the light of the fact that he lost his own son in a Nazi bombing raid on his home town; an event that could understandably make someone extremely reluctant to assist with the humanitarian work in the country that was the starting point of said bombing raid.
While Morgan is an idealist who practices what he preaches, he isn’t a cardboard cut-out, barrel-chested Hero with a capital H. He is flawed in a number of ways. His idealism and goodness do, on occasion, turn around and bit him in the arse. He is so caught up in his work that he is blind to some of the problems of his own family. Brook writes him as a believable character, just as he writes a very authentic-feeling post-war Germany. The novel is life-affirming, whilst also reminding us of some of humanity’s darker nature. It is inspirational yet absolutely heart-breaking.
The book isn’t perfect; some of the dialogue feels a little too modern to be period accurate and I occasionally felt that it got a bit too bogged down in the specific sexual relationships of some of the characters, running the risk of drifting away from the more important bigger picture. These minor quibbles aside, I really liked this novel.
This novel is a poignant yet unsentimental portrait of Germany in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War and the people who lived there, desperately trying to repair the damage the war wrought. I recommend it to anybody with an interest in this period of history.
P.S. – The audiobook version is read by Leighton Pugh, an actor I’d never heard of before but who does an absolutely fantastic job. He changes accents, from English to German to Welsh, with a deftness I can only be impressed by. He captures the tone of the book perfectly.
December 13, 2013
After WW I the Allies punished the Germans and did not help them rebuild. Some historians believe this led to WW II, specially Churchill. This book deals with an English Colonel and his family sent to Hamburg to assist in the reconstruction of a defeated Germany after WW II. The Colonel, Lewis Morgan, truly believes that it his duty to do the best he can in assisting the locals rebuild. He encounters opposition from within the military, his spouse and some Germans. This book deals with those struggles which are both professional and personal. The book is loosely based on the author's father experience during WW II.
The book is hard to put down as the author does a wonderful job of weaving a very realistic and compassionate story of post war Germany. It also dwells with the struggle that the Allies had with Russia and gives some insight into the reasons for the partition of Germany during the Cold War. The characters are very vivid, this is specially true of Mrs. Morgan and Freda, who have to deal with their own internal struggles. You will find the story captivating and educational and come to realize, like the author states, that peace is a better tool in the military arsenal.
The book is hard to put down as the author does a wonderful job of weaving a very realistic and compassionate story of post war Germany. It also dwells with the struggle that the Allies had with Russia and gives some insight into the reasons for the partition of Germany during the Cold War. The characters are very vivid, this is specially true of Mrs. Morgan and Freda, who have to deal with their own internal struggles. You will find the story captivating and educational and come to realize, like the author states, that peace is a better tool in the military arsenal.
April 28, 2013
I was fortunate to win this book from GoodReads. I really enjoyed reading it. The time and setting -- Germany immediately after WWII -- were very interesting. I also really enjoyed the writing, which at times was quirky -- rather than pretentious -- in the use of occasional rarely used words. Mostly, I liked how the author easily conveyed the nuanced internal lives of the disparate but interconnected characters.
October 6, 2013
This made my top 5 reads in all genres for 2013.
We are in Hamburg, Germany in the year 1946- turning to 1947. A British contingent of officers are being put into German homes that are still standing on the River Elbe and having their wives join them. Some for the first time in many years. And this particular couple will share a large manor with the German owner and his daughter.
The writing is basically full boat outstanding. The plot mesmerizing and the attractions and dynamics mind searing. After reading Potsdam Station and the other post war David Downing books- I thought that it could not get "better" in the sense of connecting this reality of perceptions and changes in this so human situation of love/hate within times of vast changes. But this one does it. I have very special interest in this period as my Father was a born German (moved to the USA at 13 years of age)who fought in WWII and then was head of a very similar program in Trieste and Northern Italy with German language and mfg background abilities. His task was repatriating and sorting German prisoners of war and refugees. Not too different than this "clearing" process of THE AFTERMATH. This officer's was more in logistics and reorganization for stability, but the elements- all across the boards- very similar. Especially down to the servants, the foodstuffs, and the hierarchy of influence in black market and proving "identity" influences. These wives' stories alone are worth the read. A different side of the world but "Tenko" and "Town like Alice" came to mind. Women bonding and then not.
So many books written about during (WWII)- this is a look at just one town in the AFTER. I highly recommend this book. Quite a look into the nature of human emotional attachment and grief. BOTH!
We are in Hamburg, Germany in the year 1946- turning to 1947. A British contingent of officers are being put into German homes that are still standing on the River Elbe and having their wives join them. Some for the first time in many years. And this particular couple will share a large manor with the German owner and his daughter.
The writing is basically full boat outstanding. The plot mesmerizing and the attractions and dynamics mind searing. After reading Potsdam Station and the other post war David Downing books- I thought that it could not get "better" in the sense of connecting this reality of perceptions and changes in this so human situation of love/hate within times of vast changes. But this one does it. I have very special interest in this period as my Father was a born German (moved to the USA at 13 years of age)who fought in WWII and then was head of a very similar program in Trieste and Northern Italy with German language and mfg background abilities. His task was repatriating and sorting German prisoners of war and refugees. Not too different than this "clearing" process of THE AFTERMATH. This officer's was more in logistics and reorganization for stability, but the elements- all across the boards- very similar. Especially down to the servants, the foodstuffs, and the hierarchy of influence in black market and proving "identity" influences. These wives' stories alone are worth the read. A different side of the world but "Tenko" and "Town like Alice" came to mind. Women bonding and then not.
So many books written about during (WWII)- this is a look at just one town in the AFTER. I highly recommend this book. Quite a look into the nature of human emotional attachment and grief. BOTH!
March 22, 2019
5 stars
I really "loved" this book. I’ve read some books on WWII but never about the years right after the war ended. It’s sad to realize that all the misery and hate just continued on and on, just in a "different" way. Psychological experiments have been conducted on the effects of power on human behaviour. But do we need these experiments when we have real life based experiences like these.
Reading this book evoked a wide array of emotions, its characters, their pasts, their presents, their actions, their experiences. I also liked the "happy" ending. Though I know a lot of people didn't have a happy ending, I still felt it suited this story.
I really "loved" this book. I’ve read some books on WWII but never about the years right after the war ended. It’s sad to realize that all the misery and hate just continued on and on, just in a "different" way. Psychological experiments have been conducted on the effects of power on human behaviour. But do we need these experiments when we have real life based experiences like these.
Reading this book evoked a wide array of emotions, its characters, their pasts, their presents, their actions, their experiences. I also liked the "happy" ending. Though I know a lot of people didn't have a happy ending, I still felt it suited this story.
June 29, 2013
The year is 1946, and the setting is a country that has been destroyed, where we are taken to a city that lies in ruins, and introduced to a people, many of whom have been displaced and are hungry. This is Hamburg, Germany and this is the scene of this remarkable novel. Colonel Lewis Morgan is entrusted with the role of overseeing the rebuilding of Hamburg in the British Occupied Zone of the newly carved up post World War II Germany, and with the de-Nazification of the people. His wife Rachael and son Edmund come over from England to join him. They lost their other son in the war and Rachael is still grieving very deeply. Lewis requisitions an elegant house on the banks of the river Elbe, but unlike others who force out the owners, he allows the resident German family, consisting of widower Lubert and his unhappy daughter Freda to remain in their home, living in the top floor apartment, whilst his family lives below. This unconventional arrangement forms the intriguing backdrop of the story.
We learn of brief moments in the lives of each of them, Lewis and Rachael, and the children Edmund and Freda. For all of them, for all of Germany too, it is the aftermath of something enormous. Also we meet some children reduced to living off whatever they can find, steal and barter with, the main character amongst these being the charismatic but vulnerable Ozi. The chapters move between all of them throughout the story, allowing the author to depict many sides to the situation, and give an adult's and a child's perspective. But the narrator didn't feel intrusive; rather the characters were allowed to speak for themselves. I think there were times when I wanted to be back with the scene or characters we had just left, which tells me that I was involved with the story.
Lewis is a kind man, showing understanding towards the Germans and comprehension of the realities of the situation the people are now facing; whatever they have done, whatever has gone before, he is trying to be practical in dealing with the present. His differing stance and approach is one of the main aspects of the story that stood out for me. Others are much more severe, perhaps understandably so. The contrasts in behaviour certainly challenge our preconceptions. Lewis is a fascinating man, professional in his work and a compassionate character, who has very much separated his home and working lives, his mind mirroring Germany itself, with its new occupiers. Rachael observes that her husband's thoughts are divided into different areas:
'She could see he was preoccupied. Preoccupied with the occupied. His mind was divided into two zones, the larger, and by far more interesting, being the zone of work, with its needy subdivisions. He was fine as long as the other zone - the domestic zone inhabited by her and Edmund, the Luberts, the staff - was able to take care of itself with minimal input from him...but just for now she wanted him to engage with her realm, however small.'
Indeed it is his working life that is the sphere he feels more at ease in; comprehending how to renew his relationship with his wife and surviving son after the war seems much more of a battle than the other one he faces; after one all too brief intimate moment 'his mind had already returned to the zone where he felt safest and more effective: to the less complicated needs of a thousand faceless Germans and the rehabilitation of a country.' The fact that this mammoth task facing him seems less difficult than rebuilding his familial relationships shows just how hard this latter task feels for him. He is out of practice with regard to this side of life, and now, being back on intimate terms together 'suddenly required an ability to interpret and understand the nuances of a dialect Lewis had not spoken for over a year.'
Rhidian Brook tackles the subject of guilt and innocence, as the British assess Germans to try and determine the extent of their wartime activities and involvement with the Nazis. People were assessed using a Fragebogen - a questionnaire - 'to determine the degree of a German citizen's collaboration with the regime.' He demonstrates how easy it is to view the situation as black and white, but suggests that we need to look deeper. When he himself is questioned, Lubert realises that, despite his explanations, the man questioning him sees elements of his past as all being part of, or linked to, the Nazi regime. 'How simple this mathematics was: an equation that always ended 'equals guilty'. The numbers and fractions that got you there were unimportant.'
Music is important to Rachael, and it is a connection between her and Herr Lubert. She is determined at first to keep herself distant from him and Freda, or as much as possible given that they are, after all, still under the same roof, but it doesn't take long before 'the careful lines she had planned to lay down - had started to lay down - were already being crossed.' We wonder if this is a sign of things to come. Meanwhile Edmund forms his own bonds amongst the displaced children scavenging and hiding in nearby properties, and demonstrates his own kindness, as well as a touching innocence at times. He has missed his father and has 'a whole war's worth' of questions for him.
There are some well-observed moments even of the minutiae of life in those strange times; witness the 'three officer's wives, comparing household inventories', about which Brook wittily writes that 'it was testament to the miracle of British bureaucracy that even in these bankrupt times it could find within its broken and bust self the wherewithal to decide that a captain's wife did not need a four-place tea set, that a major's needed a full dinner service, and that only the commanding officers' wives should have a port decanter.'
There is some stunning imagery and poetry to the prose that I loved and which made this novel a joy to read for me; Rhidian Brook has a lovely way with words. This description of the weather struck me: 'pregnant grey-black snowclouds loomed, ready to dress the village in fairy-tale clothes.'
And I loved this striking and very poignant image of a ruined church: 'The facade of a church stood on one side of the road, with only sky for stained glass and the wind for a congregation.'
Later, there is a suggestion that the house itself is judging Rachael; 'It looked to Rachael as if the house were narrowing its eyes at her. The dusk made a grimacing smile of the slats on the balcony.'
I thought this description of a fire was wonderful, too; 'A fire was a theatre in its own right and this one was loud and lively, full of intriguing plots and sub-plots.'
I really, really liked this book. It was surprising, shocking and thrilling at times, and engaging throughout. It deals with some big themes; love, passion and separation, loss, lies and a nation's guilt, and asks difficult questions that can make you feel uneasy or make you reconsider how you had viewed people; it certainly makes you think. I am always interested in fiction that deals with Germany in this period and I think this is a very readable, compelling new novel to add to that field. After hearing about this story I was excited about reading it and I wasn't disappointed. I feel like I could write and write about it, both in terms of language and storylines, so I think it would be a fabulous novel for bookgroups as there are so many fascinating issues arising that could be discussed and debated. It is also going to be made into a film I believe. One of my favourite reads so far in 2013.
We learn of brief moments in the lives of each of them, Lewis and Rachael, and the children Edmund and Freda. For all of them, for all of Germany too, it is the aftermath of something enormous. Also we meet some children reduced to living off whatever they can find, steal and barter with, the main character amongst these being the charismatic but vulnerable Ozi. The chapters move between all of them throughout the story, allowing the author to depict many sides to the situation, and give an adult's and a child's perspective. But the narrator didn't feel intrusive; rather the characters were allowed to speak for themselves. I think there were times when I wanted to be back with the scene or characters we had just left, which tells me that I was involved with the story.
Lewis is a kind man, showing understanding towards the Germans and comprehension of the realities of the situation the people are now facing; whatever they have done, whatever has gone before, he is trying to be practical in dealing with the present. His differing stance and approach is one of the main aspects of the story that stood out for me. Others are much more severe, perhaps understandably so. The contrasts in behaviour certainly challenge our preconceptions. Lewis is a fascinating man, professional in his work and a compassionate character, who has very much separated his home and working lives, his mind mirroring Germany itself, with its new occupiers. Rachael observes that her husband's thoughts are divided into different areas:
'She could see he was preoccupied. Preoccupied with the occupied. His mind was divided into two zones, the larger, and by far more interesting, being the zone of work, with its needy subdivisions. He was fine as long as the other zone - the domestic zone inhabited by her and Edmund, the Luberts, the staff - was able to take care of itself with minimal input from him...but just for now she wanted him to engage with her realm, however small.'
Indeed it is his working life that is the sphere he feels more at ease in; comprehending how to renew his relationship with his wife and surviving son after the war seems much more of a battle than the other one he faces; after one all too brief intimate moment 'his mind had already returned to the zone where he felt safest and more effective: to the less complicated needs of a thousand faceless Germans and the rehabilitation of a country.' The fact that this mammoth task facing him seems less difficult than rebuilding his familial relationships shows just how hard this latter task feels for him. He is out of practice with regard to this side of life, and now, being back on intimate terms together 'suddenly required an ability to interpret and understand the nuances of a dialect Lewis had not spoken for over a year.'
Rhidian Brook tackles the subject of guilt and innocence, as the British assess Germans to try and determine the extent of their wartime activities and involvement with the Nazis. People were assessed using a Fragebogen - a questionnaire - 'to determine the degree of a German citizen's collaboration with the regime.' He demonstrates how easy it is to view the situation as black and white, but suggests that we need to look deeper. When he himself is questioned, Lubert realises that, despite his explanations, the man questioning him sees elements of his past as all being part of, or linked to, the Nazi regime. 'How simple this mathematics was: an equation that always ended 'equals guilty'. The numbers and fractions that got you there were unimportant.'
Music is important to Rachael, and it is a connection between her and Herr Lubert. She is determined at first to keep herself distant from him and Freda, or as much as possible given that they are, after all, still under the same roof, but it doesn't take long before 'the careful lines she had planned to lay down - had started to lay down - were already being crossed.' We wonder if this is a sign of things to come. Meanwhile Edmund forms his own bonds amongst the displaced children scavenging and hiding in nearby properties, and demonstrates his own kindness, as well as a touching innocence at times. He has missed his father and has 'a whole war's worth' of questions for him.
There are some well-observed moments even of the minutiae of life in those strange times; witness the 'three officer's wives, comparing household inventories', about which Brook wittily writes that 'it was testament to the miracle of British bureaucracy that even in these bankrupt times it could find within its broken and bust self the wherewithal to decide that a captain's wife did not need a four-place tea set, that a major's needed a full dinner service, and that only the commanding officers' wives should have a port decanter.'
There is some stunning imagery and poetry to the prose that I loved and which made this novel a joy to read for me; Rhidian Brook has a lovely way with words. This description of the weather struck me: 'pregnant grey-black snowclouds loomed, ready to dress the village in fairy-tale clothes.'
And I loved this striking and very poignant image of a ruined church: 'The facade of a church stood on one side of the road, with only sky for stained glass and the wind for a congregation.'
Later, there is a suggestion that the house itself is judging Rachael; 'It looked to Rachael as if the house were narrowing its eyes at her. The dusk made a grimacing smile of the slats on the balcony.'
I thought this description of a fire was wonderful, too; 'A fire was a theatre in its own right and this one was loud and lively, full of intriguing plots and sub-plots.'
I really, really liked this book. It was surprising, shocking and thrilling at times, and engaging throughout. It deals with some big themes; love, passion and separation, loss, lies and a nation's guilt, and asks difficult questions that can make you feel uneasy or make you reconsider how you had viewed people; it certainly makes you think. I am always interested in fiction that deals with Germany in this period and I think this is a very readable, compelling new novel to add to that field. After hearing about this story I was excited about reading it and I wasn't disappointed. I feel like I could write and write about it, both in terms of language and storylines, so I think it would be a fabulous novel for bookgroups as there are so many fascinating issues arising that could be discussed and debated. It is also going to be made into a film I believe. One of my favourite reads so far in 2013.
October 4, 2017
Τα μυθιστορήματα ιστορικού περιεχομένου, ειδικά αυτά που πολύ εύκολα μπορούν να καταλήξουν να έχουν προπαγανδιστική ταυτότητα, δεν είναι και πολύ του γούστου μου, ειδικά αν νιώσω πως ο συγγραφέας προσπαθεί να γίνει χειριστικός. Διαβάζοντας την περίληψη της "Συμβίωσης", η αλήθεια είναι πως είχα μια εσωτερική αγωνία για το τι θ' αντιμετωπίσω, καθώς η χρονική περίοδος στην οποία διαδραματίζονται τα γεγονότα της, αλλά και η ταυτότητα των προσώπων που εμπλέκονται σε αυτήν, εύκολα θα μπορούσαν να έχουν πέσει θύματα λανθασμένης διαχείρισης από μέρους του συγγραφέα, πηγαίνοντάς μας εκεί που δεν θα έπρεπε. Όχι, τουλάχιστον, αν ήθελε να είναι αντικειμενικός! Και όμως, ο Brook κατάφερε να διώξει όλες μου τις ανησυχίες και να μου προσφέρει ένα ανάγνωσμα βαθιά συγκινητικό και, κυρίως, βαθιά ανθρώπινο.
Βρισκόμαστε περί τα μέσα της δεκαετίας του '40, στη μεταπολεμική Γερμανία. Η Ρέιτσελ, μαζί με τον γιο της, Έντμουντ, φτάνει στο ρημαγμένο από τον πόλεμο Αμβούργο, προκειμένου να συναντήσει τον σύζυγό της Λιούις, Βρετανό συνταγματάρχη που έχει αναλάβει να συμμετέχει στην ομάδα ανοικοδόμησης της πόλης. Όμως, η Ρέιτσελ, βρίσκεται αντιμέτωπη με μια κατάσταση πολύ πιο περίπλοκη και ιδιαίτερη απ' αυτήν που περίμενε, αφού ο σύζυγός της έχει πάρει την τολμηρή απόφαση να ζήσουν σε ένα σπίτι το οποίο και θα μοιράζονται μαζί με τους προηγούμενους ιδιοκτήτες του. Ο Γερμανός χήρος και η κακότροπη κόρη του αναγκάζονται να συμφωνήσουν στη νέα αυτή συνθήκη, χωρίς αυτό να σημαίνει πως την αποδέχονται, ενώ η Ρέιτσελ και η οικογένειά της παλεύουν με τον δικό τους τρόπο να βρουν την ισορροπία σ' αυτή τη νέα τους καθημερινότητα.
Η ιστορία αυτή είναι εμπνευσμένη από την αληθινή ιστορία του παππού του συγγραφέα, γεγονός που εξηγεί σε μεγάλο βαθμό τον συναισθηματικό και τρυφερό τρόπο που ο ίδιος την έχει προσεγγίσει. Η πλοκή, όπως και η εξέλιξή της, δεν έχει μεγάλες ανατροπές και εκπλήξεις, ούτε καταιγιστική δράση ώστε να σε παρασύρει σε ένα περιπετειώδες ταξίδι καθηλωτικών εξελίξεων. Επίσης, δεν διαθέτει μεγάλη δυναμική ή ένταση, αλλά όσο η πλοκή στερείται αυτών, τόσο αυτά αποτελούν βασικά στοιχεία της σύνθεσης των κεντρικών χαρακτήρων, της προσωπικότητας και της ταυτότητάς τους, έτσι όπως αυτές μας συστήνονται, μα και έτσι όπως αυτές εξελίσσονται μέσα στο πέρασμα του χρόνου, με την αλληλεπίδρασή τους να παίζει σημαντικό ρόλο στη διαμόρφωση των συνειδήσεών τους, μα κυρίως της συναισθηματικής και ανθρωπιστικής τους ταυτότητας.
Αν κάτι ακόμα είναι εμφανές, διαβάζοντας το βιβλίο αυτό, είναι η ιστορική έρευνα που ΄χει πραγματοποιήσει ο Brook. Μπορεί το εν λόγω βιβλίο να μην το προτείνει κανείς ως δοκίμιο προς μελέτη, όμως, είτε είσαι μυημένος στην τότε Ιστορία είτε όχι, θα βρεις πληθώρα ενδιαφέρων πληροφοριών και στοιχείων της εποχής, τα οποία συμβάλλουν στην ζωντανή δημιουργία εικόνων και αναπαραστάσεων μέσω της αφήγησης που, ευτυχώς, δεν αναλώνεται με μακροσκελή κείμενα και αναλύσεις, αλλά εμπεριέχει και μεγάλα ποσοστά διαλόγων που το καθιστούν, στο σύνολό του, πολύ πιο ιδιαίτερο από βιβλία ανάλογου ύφους και αισθητικής. Παράλληλα, ο Brook έχει φροντίσει να μοιράσει το βιβλίο του στα δύο, ικανοποιώντας στο μέγιστο βαθμό όλα τα κοινά. Τόσο το αντρικό, που αρέσκεται σε κοινωνικοπολιτικές λεπτομέρειες και αναλύσεις μα και σε λεπτομερείς αναφορές στον πόλεμο και σε ό,τι τον συνοδεύει, όσο και το γυναικείο που είναι πιο ρομαντικό από τη φύση του, χωρίς, ωστόσο, να επιτρέπει στο ρομάντζο να υπερβεί τα όρια και να γίνει μελόδραμα.
Όπως είναι αναμενόμενο, μια τέτοια συμβίωση, όπως αυτή στην οποία εμπλέκονται οι ήρωές μας, φέρει στα σπλάχνα της πάρα πολλά, ακραία, αντικρουόμενα και έντονα συναισθήματα. Οργή, μίσος, θυμός, αγωνία, είναι μόνο ορισμένα απ' αυτά που συνοδεύουν ένα μεγάλο κατηγορώ που πλανάται ανάμεσα στις δύο τόσο διαφορετικές οικογένειες. Και το να θρηνείς γι' αυτά που έχασε είναι αποδεκτό, γιατί ακόμα κι αν οι πληγές δεν κλείσουν ποτέ, ο πόνος θα μετριάσει. Τι γίνεται, όμως, όταν κανείς θρηνεί για τα θέλω εκείνα που δεν μπορεί να έχει; Πώς μπορεί ένας άνθρωπος, που παλεύει να βγει μέσα απ' τα συντρίμμια ενός πολέμου, να πορευτεί μέσα στη δυστυχία μιας ανολοκλήρωτης ζωής; Και, άραγε, ποιο είναι το τίμημα που καλείται να πληρώσει κανείς απέναντι στη μοίρα του;
Βρισκόμαστε περί τα μέσα της δεκαετίας του '40, στη μεταπολεμική Γερμανία. Η Ρέιτσελ, μαζί με τον γιο της, Έντμουντ, φτάνει στο ρημαγμένο από τον πόλεμο Αμβούργο, προκειμένου να συναντήσει τον σύζυγό της Λιούις, Βρετανό συνταγματάρχη που έχει αναλάβει να συμμετέχει στην ομάδα ανοικοδόμησης της πόλης. Όμως, η Ρέιτσελ, βρίσκεται αντιμέτωπη με μια κατάσταση πολύ πιο περίπλοκη και ιδιαίτερη απ' αυτήν που περίμενε, αφού ο σύζυγός της έχει πάρει την τολμηρή απόφαση να ζήσουν σε ένα σπίτι το οποίο και θα μοιράζονται μαζί με τους προηγούμενους ιδιοκτήτες του. Ο Γερμανός χήρος και η κακότροπη κόρη του αναγκάζονται να συμφωνήσουν στη νέα αυτή συνθήκη, χωρίς αυτό να σημαίνει πως την αποδέχονται, ενώ η Ρέιτσελ και η οικογένειά της παλεύουν με τον δικό τους τρόπο να βρουν την ισορροπία σ' αυτή τη νέα τους καθημερινότητα.
Η ιστορία αυτή είναι εμπνευσμένη από την αληθινή ιστορία του παππού του συγγραφέα, γεγονός που εξηγεί σε μεγάλο βαθμό τον συναισθηματικό και τρυφερό τρόπο που ο ίδιος την έχει προσεγγίσει. Η πλοκή, όπως και η εξέλιξή της, δεν έχει μεγάλες ανατροπές και εκπλήξεις, ούτε καταιγιστική δράση ώστε να σε παρασύρει σε ένα περιπετειώδες ταξίδι καθηλωτικών εξελίξεων. Επίσης, δεν διαθέτει μεγάλη δυναμική ή ένταση, αλλά όσο η πλοκή στερείται αυτών, τόσο αυτά αποτελούν βασικά στοιχεία της σύνθεσης των κεντρικών χαρακτήρων, της προσωπικότητας και της ταυτότητάς τους, έτσι όπως αυτές μας συστήνονται, μα και έτσι όπως αυτές εξελίσσονται μέσα στο πέρασμα του χρόνου, με την αλληλεπίδρασή τους να παίζει σημαντικό ρόλο στη διαμόρφωση των συνειδήσεών τους, μα κυρίως της συναισθηματικής και ανθρωπιστικής τους ταυτότητας.
Αν κάτι ακόμα είναι εμφανές, διαβάζοντας το βιβλίο αυτό, είναι η ιστορική έρευνα που ΄χει πραγματοποιήσει ο Brook. Μπορεί το εν λόγω βιβλίο να μην το προτείνει κανείς ως δοκίμιο προς μελέτη, όμως, είτε είσαι μυημένος στην τότε Ιστορία είτε όχι, θα βρεις πληθώρα ενδιαφέρων πληροφοριών και στοιχείων της εποχής, τα οποία συμβάλλουν στην ζωντανή δημιουργία εικόνων και αναπαραστάσεων μέσω της αφήγησης που, ευτυχώς, δεν αναλώνεται με μακροσκελή κείμενα και αναλύσεις, αλλά εμπεριέχει και μεγάλα ποσοστά διαλόγων που το καθιστούν, στο σύνολό του, πολύ πιο ιδιαίτερο από βιβλία ανάλογου ύφους και αισθητικής. Παράλληλα, ο Brook έχει φροντίσει να μοιράσει το βιβλίο του στα δύο, ικανοποιώντας στο μέγιστο βαθμό όλα τα κοινά. Τόσο το αντρικό, που αρέσκεται σε κοινωνικοπολιτικές λεπτομέρειες και αναλύσεις μα και σε λεπτομερείς αναφορές στον πόλεμο και σε ό,τι τον συνοδεύει, όσο και το γυναικείο που είναι πιο ρομαντικό από τη φύση του, χωρίς, ωστόσο, να επιτρέπει στο ρομάντζο να υπερβεί τα όρια και να γίνει μελόδραμα.
Όπως είναι αναμενόμενο, μια τέτοια συμβίωση, όπως αυτή στην οποία εμπλέκονται οι ήρωές μας, φέρει στα σπλάχνα της πάρα πολλά, ακραία, αντικρουόμενα και έντονα συναισθήματα. Οργή, μίσος, θυμός, αγωνία, είναι μόνο ορισμένα απ' αυτά που συνοδεύουν ένα μεγάλο κατηγορώ που πλανάται ανάμεσα στις δύο τόσο διαφορετικές οικογένειες. Και το να θρηνείς γι' αυτά που έχασε είναι αποδεκτό, γιατί ακόμα κι αν οι πληγές δεν κλείσουν ποτέ, ο πόνος θα μετριάσει. Τι γίνεται, όμως, όταν κανείς θρηνεί για τα θέλω εκείνα που δεν μπορεί να έχει; Πώς μπορεί ένας άνθρωπος, που παλεύει να βγει μέσα απ' τα συντρίμμια ενός πολέμου, να πορευτεί μέσα στη δυστυχία μιας ανολοκλήρωτης ζωής; Και, άραγε, ποιο είναι το τίμημα που καλείται να πληρώσει κανείς απέναντι στη μοίρα του;
February 28, 2018
Συμβίωση.
Κάποιοι το χαρακτήρισαν βαρύ, άλλοι βαρετο. Εγω θα έλεγα οτι είναι αληθινό, ζωντανό, πραγματικό. Αν και το σημειωμα του συγγραφέα αναφέρει οτι είναι ενα βιβλίο βασισμενο σε μυθοπλασια, εγω θα ελεγα οτι η φαντασία στο συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο δε διαφέρει απο τις αληθιες της ιστορίας.
Γερμανία.
Μια λεξη, πολλά συναισθηματα.
Κατοχή. Πόνος σε καθε ψυχή ανθρώπων που έζησαν και ακόμη και σε αυτούς που εμαθαν την αλήθεια της μεσα απο γενιές προγόνων μα και μέσα απο βιβλία.
Η εποχή που διαδραματίζεται η ιστορία δείχνει μια διαφορετική Γερμανία. Μια Γερμανία χωρίς τον Φιρερ και τον Χίτλερ. Μια Γερμανία ηττημένη, εξαθλιωμενη. Μια Γερμανία που είναι πλέον υπό το Καθεστώς της βρετανικής αρχης.
Οι άνθρωποι - ήρωες είναι χωρισμένοι σε δυο στρατόπεδα. Απο την μια πλευρά είναι οι Γερμανοί φασίστες που ψάχνουν ακόμη την ελπίδα στα ξεχασμένα ερείπια τη�� ζωής τους. Και απο την άλλη οι ανακουφισμενοι, τρομοκρατημενοι άνθρωποι της χώρας που φοβούνται για το μέλλον τους.
Συμβίωση λοιπόν. Ποσό αληθινός είναι ο τίτλος και ποσό απόλυτα ταιριαστός με το βιβλίο.
Ποσό δυσκολη είναι η συμβίωση των ανθρώπων που δε γνωρίζονται μεταξτ τούς;
Ποσο εύκολο είναι να αποδεχτείς και να κατανόησεις τους χαρακτήρες τους, τους φόβους και τις αλήθειες τους;
Ο συγγραφέας επέλεξε να στήσει ένα σπιτικό με 5 διαφορετικούς ανθρώπους.
Δύο γερμανούς που ανήκουν σε διαφορετικά στρατόπεδα και τρεις βρετανούς που ψά��νουν ακόμη τα κομμάτια τους που χάθηκαν απο τα χέρια των εχθρών τους.
Μια Βρετανιδα γυναίκα που προσπαθεί να ενώσει ξανά τα κομμάτια της για να μπορέσει να αρχίσει μια ζωη απο την αρχή. Εναν αντρα Γερμανο που νιωθει ανακούφιση και προσπαθει να δείξει οτι και αυτός υπήρξε θύμα των καταστασεων χωρίς επιλογες.
Ενα κορίτσι που ψάχνει να βρει τις χαμένες ελπιδες της ανάμεσα σε άλλους ανθρώπους και γίνεται πειραματοζωο ανθρώπων που πιστεύουν οτι ακόμη τίποτα δε έχει χαθεί.
Ενας συνταγματαρχης Βρετανός που η ψυχή του ειναι γεμάτη καλοσύνη. Και η καλοσυνη του θα Γίνει η αρχή του εφιάλτη του.
Και ένα παιδί πλασμένο απο αγάπη, συμπόνια, φόβο. Ενα παιδί που δε ξέρει να ξεχωρίζει μέσα του το κακό και το άσχημο γιατί η ψυχή του δε σκοτεινιάζει αλλά ενηλικιώνεται βάζοντας τα δικα του θεμέλια για να χτίσει τις πράξεις του και την ζωη του.
Ενα σμάρι διαφορετικων ανθρώπων που μεσα απο γεγονότα, πράξεις ποτέ σωστές, ποτέ λανθασμένες. Βιώματα, σχέσεις παράξενες και παράδοξες χτίζεται η ζωη τους και η συμβίωση τους.
Ενα βιβλίο που μας δείχνει μια άλλη πλευρά των θαυματων. Γιατί γίνονται και θαύματα ανάμεσα στα χαλάσματα. Ενα βιβλίο που κρύβει την σκληρή αλήθεια της ζωής. Ενα βιβλίο τροφή για σκέψη. Δε μπορώ να το ξεχάσω εύκολα. Θυμάμαι ακόμη και γύρο φέρνω στο μυαλό μού αυτά που διάβασα και έζησα μέσα απο αυτό το βιβλίο.
Η σκέψη μου παραμένει σε μια χαρακτηριστική αναφορά του συγγραφέα σε ενα σημείο του βιβλίου που μιλά για την συμπεριφορά του Χίτλερ στα παιδιά. Ο συγγραφέας αναφέρει οτι τα παιδιά ήταν αναγκασμένη να εξερευνουν σεξουαλικά το σωμα τους αναμεταξυ τούς υπό την επίβλεψη των στρατιωτών του Χίτλερ και εκείνα πιστεύοντας οτι αυτό ειναι σωστό νιώθουν οχι ντροπή αλλα ευχαρίστηση.
Τελικά τίποτα δε είναι οπως φαίνεται. Τιποτα πραγματικό απο την αλήθεια που μας πυρωνουν στο μυαλό στην αθωα ηλικία της προεφηβιας.
Ισως μέσα απο το βιβλιο βρείτε πολλά κοινά με τους δικούς μας προγονους.
Ισως πάλι αντικρυσεται την αλήθεια των ψυχών των κατεκτημενων, ηττημένων ανθρώπων που έζησαν προσπαθώντας να ξεχάσουν.
Ισως σας κάνει να δείτε με μια διαφορετικά μάτια αυτα που χρόνια πριν κανείς δε θα άντεχε ούτε να σκεφτει.
Γιατί οι άνθρωποι παραμένουν άνθρωποι μέχρι κάποιος να τους κατακτήσει την ψυχή και ή θα τους ελευθερώσει η θα τους καταστρέψει.
Το μονο που δε μου άρεσε στο βιβλίο είναι το απότομο τελος του. Αλλα και αυτό εχει τη σημασια του.
January 20, 2016
Куда легче разрушать, чем строить: город, поднимавшийся тысячу лет, можно стереть с лица земли за день; жизнь человека – оборвать в долю секунды.
Ридиан Брукс «После войны».
Хочу признаться в безграничной любви к серии книг Vintage story ♥ Пять книг прочитано и все они прочитаны на одном дыханием. Потрясающие истории.
Место действий «После войны» - разрушенный Гамбург, голод, мор, безработица. Британский офицер Льюис Морган, временно назначенный губернатором Гамбурга, вместе семьей перебирается в один из реквизированных английской армией домов. Пожалев хозяев дома – немецкого архитектора и его дочь, Льюис разрешает им остаться жить в доме вместе с его семьей. Англичане негодуют, как так? Жить в одном доме с врагом? Но Льюис не такой как большинство англичан, он совершенно по другому смотрит на беды немецкого народа, он сопереживает им…
В истории много действующих лиц, так что мы увидим истории и глазами Льюиса, и его жены, и его сына, и немецкого архитектора, и его дочери и даже глазами беспризорников. Когда переворачиваешь последнюю страничку хочется упасть на пол и вопить «хочу еще! Давайте мне продолжение!». Очень тоненькая книга, но потрясающая книга. Финал открытый, но такой правильный. Оценка: 5 из 5
– Думаете, англичане будут обращаться с вами лучше!
Урсула взглянула на русского:
– Да.
– Они не пережили того, что пережили мы, – сказал Кутов. Гордость того, кто пострадал больше всех, вышла наконец наружу.
– Есть вещи, которые даже война не оправдывает, полковник. Что бы вы ни пережили.
Ридиан Брукс «После войны».
Хочу признаться в безграничной любви к серии книг Vintage story ♥ Пять книг прочитано и все они прочитаны на одном дыханием. Потрясающие истории.
Место действий «После войны» - разрушенный Гамбург, голод, мор, безработица. Британский офицер Льюис Морган, временно назначенный губернатором Гамбурга, вместе семьей перебирается в один из реквизированных английской армией домов. Пожалев хозяев дома – немецкого архитектора и его дочь, Льюис разрешает им остаться жить в доме вместе с его семьей. Англичане негодуют, как так? Жить в одном доме с врагом? Но Льюис не такой как большинство англичан, он совершенно по другому смотрит на беды немецкого народа, он сопереживает им…
В истории много действующих лиц, так что мы увидим истории и глазами Льюиса, и его жены, и его сына, и немецкого архитектора, и его дочери и даже глазами беспризорников. Когда переворачиваешь последнюю страничку хочется упасть на пол и вопить «хочу еще! Давайте мне продолжение!». Очень тоненькая книга, но потрясающая книга. Финал открытый, но такой правильный. Оценка: 5 из 5
– Думаете, англичане будут обращаться с вами лучше!
Урсула взглянула на русского:
– Да.
– Они не пережили того, что пережили мы, – сказал Кутов. Гордость того, кто пострадал больше всех, вышла наконец наружу.
– Есть вещи, которые даже война не оправдывает, полковник. Что бы вы ни пережили.
May 15, 2019
I must say that I never read a book about post war Germany, and from what I read in the Aftermath, which was inspired by real events and stories told by the author's grandfather and grand-oncle (requisitioning a German house)..the situation was extremely difficult..
A devided country in ruins, starving people, bodies still under the rubble, lack of basic everyday essentials, work and shelter, in this novel, the story was set in the city of Hamburg, a part of the British zone, badly bombed and damaged by the allies during the war.
I quite enjoyed reading the Aftermath, the theme is new to me, the language is beautiful, I loved the use of German in the dialogue, but the ending surprised me and I have to say disappointed me a little, I can't wait to see the movie xx
A devided country in ruins, starving people, bodies still under the rubble, lack of basic everyday essentials, work and shelter, in this novel, the story was set in the city of Hamburg, a part of the British zone, badly bombed and damaged by the allies during the war.
I quite enjoyed reading the Aftermath, the theme is new to me, the language is beautiful, I loved the use of German in the dialogue, but the ending surprised me and I have to say disappointed me a little, I can't wait to see the movie xx
August 4, 2019
Вдъхновен отчасти от реални събития, романът на Ридиън Брук, без да е мрачен и песимистичен, е вълнуващ, пропит с тъга, болка, недоверие и неразбиране, и едновременно с това със състрадание, човещина и надежда. Това е история за последствията от войната, представени през погледа на две обикновени семейства, доскоро стояли от двете страни на фронта, история, която събира под един покрив победители и победени, история за любов – не толкова романтичната, а онази любов, която се поражда, когато преминеш отвъд границата на отчаянието и скръбта.
Казват, че в една война няма победители, всички са губещи. Или победители са тези, които са успели да оцелеят, макар цената, която плащат след това, да е твърде висока? Всеки изпитва своята болка, която едва ли отслабва само защото и другите страдат. Всеки преживява собствената си трагедия, която му е предостатъчна. Даваме ли си сметка, че животът ни без подобно безумие е прекрасен? Защото един, успял да се съхрани, човек мечтае само за обикновените неща:
„пътища за автомобили, дървета, обрамчили красиви булеварди, библиотека с покрита веранда и вътрешен двор, фонтани…паркове и градини…, хубави градове за влюбени и мечтатели, за съкрушените и обнадеждените, за скърбящите и за тържествуващите, за изчезналите и за намерените.”
1946. Войната е приключила преди повече от година. Съюзниците са обявили линиите на разделение в нова Германия. „Французите получават виното, американците – красивата гледка, а британците – руините.” Хамбург прилича на призрачен град, в който сякаш е вилняла неземна стихия, раздробила го на парчета. Озверели от глад хора ровят из отломките в търсене на храна или късчета от миналото си. Ала британският офицер Луис Морган живее сред пепелта и разрухата вече толкова дълго, че е престанал да ги забелязва. Задачата, с която е натоварен, е отново да подреди мозайката и да възстанови първоначалното изображение. Разделен от семейството си, сега той с нетърпение и безпокойство очаква пристигането на съпругата си Рейчъл и сина си Едмънд, за да се настанят, както останалите британски офицери, в разкошен конфискуван немски дом. Двамата с Рейчъл не са се виждали толкова отдавна, че са се превърнали в химера един за друг, но когато, пристигайки, Рейчъл разбира, че трябва да живее под един покрив със собствениците на дома – красивият архитект Луберт и своенравната му дъщеря Фрида, тя е неприятно изненадана. И докато Луис е щедър и състрадателен, не вини никого за случилото се и разбира войната като битка в името на доброто и проява на героизъм, смазаната от скръб, заради смъртта на другия им син Рейчъл, не намира утеха в чуждите неволи. Неутешима в тъгата си, самотна и отчуждена от съпруга си, чийто ум е насочен към далеч по-интересната зона на работата, тя намира убежище в любовта. А Луис, освен с възстановяването на страната, се изправя пред предизвикателството да спаси и брака си.
„Толкова по-лесно е да рушиш, отколкото да градиш: град, издиган в продължение на хилядолетия, можеше да бъде унищожен за един ден; животът на човек – заличен с един изстрел.” А в годините напред хората обикновено не помнят онези, които съграждат отново разрушеното."
Казват, че в една война няма победители, всички са губещи. Или победители са тези, които са успели да оцелеят, макар цената, която плащат след това, да е твърде висока? Всеки изпитва своята болка, която едва ли отслабва само защото и другите страдат. Всеки преживява собствената си трагедия, която му е предостатъчна. Даваме ли си сметка, че животът ни без подобно безумие е прекрасен? Защото един, успял да се съхрани, човек мечтае само за обикновените неща:
„пътища за автомобили, дървета, обрамчили красиви булеварди, библиотека с покрита веранда и вътрешен двор, фонтани…паркове и градини…, хубави градове за влюбени и мечтатели, за съкрушените и обнадеждените, за скърбящите и за тържествуващите, за изчезналите и за намерените.”
1946. Войната е приключила преди повече от година. Съюзниците са обявили линиите на разделение в нова Германия. „Французите получават виното, американците – красивата гледка, а британците – руините.” Хамбург прилича на призрачен град, в който сякаш е вилняла неземна стихия, раздробила го на парчета. Озверели от глад хора ровят из отломките в търсене на храна или късчета от миналото си. Ала британският офицер Луис Морган живее сред пепелта и разрухата вече толкова дълго, че е престанал да ги забелязва. Задачата, с която е натоварен, е отново да подреди мозайката и да възстанови първоначалното изображение. Разделен от семейството си, сега той с нетърпение и безпокойство очаква пристигането на съпругата си Рейчъл и сина си Едмънд, за да се настанят, както останалите британски офицери, в разкошен конфискуван немски дом. Двамата с Рейчъл не са се виждали толкова отдавна, че са се превърнали в химера един за друг, но когато, пристигайки, Рейчъл разбира, че трябва да живее под един покрив със собствениците на дома – красивият архитект Луберт и своенравната му дъщеря Фрида, тя е неприятно изненадана. И докато Луис е щедър и състрадателен, не вини никого за случилото се и разбира войната като битка в името на доброто и проява на героизъм, смазаната от скръб, заради смъртта на другия им син Рейчъл, не намира утеха в чуждите неволи. Неутешима в тъгата си, самотна и отчуждена от съпруга си, чийто ум е насочен към далеч по-интересната зона на работата, тя намира убежище в любовта. А Луис, освен с възстановяването на страната, се изправя пред предизвикателството да спаси и брака си.
„Толкова по-лесно е да рушиш, отколкото да градиш: град, издиган в продължение на хилядолетия, можеше да бъде унищожен за един ден; животът на човек – заличен с един изстрел.” А в годините напред хората обикновено не помнят онези, които съграждат отново разрушеното."
March 14, 2022
The Aftermath
The book is good and the story a unique angle on the war time story. Families often did have to stay in the homes which had been requisitioned by the Germans. How this must have felt is something I can’t even begin to imagine. The grand house in this book is maybe not the best example as many homes the Germans took over were ordinary homes of ordinary people.
The characters despite the emotion in the story are surprisingly flat. I think for the depth of the story, the book is far too short. The faltering love story between Rachel and Herr Lubert happens too quickly for me but it was an interesting story to follow. How would you feel if the enemy stayed in the house where you were living? How would he feel by his house being requisitioned? What about his young daughter? Already damaged by the loss of her mother, she is struggling with the changing situation right in the heart of her home.
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