World War II, Berlin, 1943. A historical setting that seems to be quite popular for fictitious novels. City of Women, written by David R. Gillham, is a national bestseller, acclaimed for its beautiful storytelling and gripping suspense.
The leading lady, Sigrid Schröder, appears to be a model German soldier’s wife. She goes to work at the patent office every day, works with the rations she has at her disposal, and cares for her harpy of a mother-in-law. But as with all characters, there is more than one side to Sigrid. With her former Jewish lover gone, Sigrid ends up getting herself mixed up with a group of people who smuggle Jews out of the country. She soon finds herself torn between what is right and what is wrong, and what falls somewhere between the two.
Gillham’s novel holds merit for its historical accuracy. It’s impressive, but what will really catch the reader’s attention is the romantic plot that carries through the story during the chaos of war.
Sigrid is a complex character with motives that are even confusing to her at some points. She has a duty to her husband but she loves her Jewish lover, yet she also begins a short-lived affair with another soldier. Some may cast her as fickle or perhaps a “slut,” but Sigrid is neither. She is a woman with passions and desires and she is trying to fit the mold of what her mother-in-law, and everyone in Berlin, needs her to be: a good German wife.
It’s a similar issue most modern women face. Fit the societal mold, or create your own model of yourself, one that will not please everyone.
In the beginning of the novel, Gillham masterfully integrates flashbacks with present day memories. His writing is crisp and to the point, exactly what the topic requires.
The story doesn’t lack drama or suspense, especially when Sigrid is questioned by the Gestapo or when her young friend is forced into hiding. The twists and turns the plot takes keep the reader on their toes.
City of Women is a complex, intriguing novel that will have any reader staying up past their bedtime.
The leading lady, Sigrid Schröder, appears to be a model German soldier’s wife. She goes to work at the patent office every day, works with the rations she has at her disposal, and cares for her harpy of a mother-in-law. But as with all characters, there is more than one side to Sigrid. With her former Jewish lover gone, Sigrid ends up getting herself mixed up with a group of people who smuggle Jews out of the country. She soon finds herself torn between what is right and what is wrong, and what falls somewhere between the two.
Gillham’s novel holds merit for its historical accuracy. It’s impressive, but what will really catch the reader’s attention is the romantic plot that carries through the story during the chaos of war.
Sigrid is a complex character with motives that are even confusing to her at some points. She has a duty to her husband but she loves her Jewish lover, yet she also begins a short-lived affair with another soldier. Some may cast her as fickle or perhaps a “slut,” but Sigrid is neither. She is a woman with passions and desires and she is trying to fit the mold of what her mother-in-law, and everyone in Berlin, needs her to be: a good German wife.
It’s a similar issue most modern women face. Fit the societal mold, or create your own model of yourself, one that will not please everyone.
In the beginning of the novel, Gillham masterfully integrates flashbacks with present day memories. His writing is crisp and to the point, exactly what the topic requires.
The story doesn’t lack drama or suspense, especially when Sigrid is questioned by the Gestapo or when her young friend is forced into hiding. The twists and turns the plot takes keep the reader on their toes.
City of Women is a complex, intriguing novel that will have any reader staying up past their bedtime.