In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin in History is Not Boring

Feb 09, 2012 Sarah rated it really liked it

Shelves: german-ic-y, read-in-2012, non-fiction, wwii

What makes this book exceptionally interesting is the perspective, that of Ambassador Dodd, certainly not the best man for the job, and his daughter Martha, who spend four years in Berlin before the outbreak of WWII. They give the reader an anchor to the times, and it's interesting especially to read of Martha's changing opinion, at first impressed with fresh-faced Nazi Germany, and later disillusioned.
Dodd himself comes off as a pedant and an academic bore, but decent and well-meaning. His fit ...more

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Dec 12, 2022 Jim rated it liked it

Shelves: history

Reading anything about the rise of Hitler and the beginnings of the atrocities he and his followers committed is not usually my thing, and this book only added to my revulsion for the Nazis. What I found interesting is how much of their behavior has parallels in the rise of white nationalism in the current political climate in the U.S. I didn't find Dodd nor his daughter very compelling, and it bothers me how much our diplomats and politicians looked the other way or tried to find anything good ...more

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Jul 16, 2017 Laura rated it liked it

This book astounded me in many ways. Yet it was oddly hard to get through. But worthwhile. What a remarkable view into this painful time in history. (Not just the Nazi horror but also the intense but subtle antisemitism that pervaded American government, of course combined with sexism and classism). Unfortunately there are points where this history matches up to current events and atrocity going unaddressed. I do recommend putting in the effort.

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