Tuesday, March 28, 2017

The Women In The Castle - Jessica Shattuck


Before,​ during​,​ and after the war Marianne was there to support everyone even though she had lost everything except her ​castle and her children.

Marianne previously lived in a castle with her husband, Albrecht and her children before the Germans took it over.  Her ​husband was a member of the resistance but was killed by the Germans along with other members.  His request was for Marianne to take care of the families of other members if he and his fellow members were killed.

Marianne complied with her husband's wishes and found two women including Benita who had married a man Marianne actually had loved at one time and who was a family friend.

These women and their children lived together and endured the hardships after the war as well as sharing their lives before and during the war.  


Marianne was an organizer, Benita was a follower, and Ania was a great help to Marianne.  All three women had endured a lot and were there for each other in their own way as they recovered after the war.

THE WOMEN IN THE CASTLE gives us insight into how families lived in Europe before,  during, and after Hitler's regime.  ​The book ends with the year 1991.​

THE WOMEN IN THE CASTLE is well written, well researched, and with authentic characters and descriptions that draw you in...descriptions that allow you to share the experiences every character is dealing with whether good or bad.​  Some of the experiences are quite grizzly.​

It took me a few chapters to get connected and to warm up to the characters, but once I did, I became fully involved with their lives as well as becoming familiar with yet another piece of WWII's history.

Historical fiction fans and women's fiction fans will love THE WOMEN IN THE CASTLE.  Be prepared for a heart wrenching, but very thought-provoking read.


The historical aspect and the friendships between the three women draw the reader in and keep the pages turning while you also don't want the book to end.  4/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.​


Video courtesy of Harper Collins:
 
 

15 comments:

  1. Have you read this book yet?

    When you do, I hope you enjoy it.

    Thanks for stopping.

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  2. This is a book I've been wanting to hear more about, so thanks for the great review!

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    1. You are welcome...I hope you read it if it catches your interest.

      Thanks for stopping, Susie.

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  3. I'm not a big historical fiction reader so I'm not sure this is for me.,

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    1. I am glad you stopped by, Kathy.

      Historical fiction isn't for everyone.

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  4. I love books about women who stand together, helping and sharing their strength with one another. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. It was very good.

      Thanks for stopping, Laurel.

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  5. I really want to read this one. So many WWII stories being published!

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    1. Oh yes on the WWII stories.

      I hope you get to read it, Laura.

      Thanks for stopping.

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  6. I'll keep this in mind as I've read more than my usual amount of WWII set novels lately.

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    1. You can get saturated with the topic and need a break.

      Thanks for stopping, Mary.

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  7. Replies
    1. It was good.

      I hope you get to read it.

      Thanks for stopping, Erica.

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  8. I like historical fiction, especially set in Europe, so may read this book. I joined in on Books I Loved for the first time this month.

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    1. Books I Loved is a lot of fun and a way to add MORE books to your TBR stack. :)

      Glad you joined in.

      I hope you like the book when you read it.

      Thanks for stopping, Terra.

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