Helpful Score: 3
A well-written thriller that takes place in Berlin immediately after Germany's surrender in 1945. The author masterfully sets the scene, showing you the devastated city through the shocked eyes of Jake Geisner, an American reporter returning to the city after four years away. Jake covers the Potsdam conference for Collier's magazine, searches for his former lover, and stumbles on a murder that takes him deep into the dark side of the occupation. The book explores some of the moral ambiguity of both sides of the conflict--both the victorious armies and the vanquished. The author has a real talent for characterization and detail, and you feel like you're really in the rubble of Berlin, looking around at the end of one war and the dawn of a new, Cold war. Incidentally, the book is nothing like the movie. The story details are very different, and the book is much more satisfying and complex.
Helpful Score: 2
If you are looking for murder mystery, a love story in a historical setting then you will enjoy this historical thriller.
Helpful Score: 2
Kanon picks such interesting settings (in this case, 1945 Berlin), that it sort of overwhelms the mystery part of the story. With building in ruins, concentration camps being discovered, people starving, World War 3 threatening to break out (all of which Kanon brings to life), I didn't find Kanon's murder mystery story especially interesting.
Helpful Score: 2
This book gives a very good picture of post war Berlin, with several layers of story going on at once. It is not a fast paced book but the characters are well drawn.
Helpful Score: 1
I really liked this book and didn't want it to end. It takes place in Germany after the war and contains a little history, a mystery and a love story.
Helpful Score: 1
Great story! I can't wait for the movie!
Helpful Score: 1
Interesting, informative, love during the time the world has experienced horrendous turmoil. Best Seller made into a movie starring George Clooney
this is set in post WWI germany.it starts innocently enough but the main charachter (a reporter) finds a large amount of corruption. a good read.
Set in postwar Berlin, a brilliant thriller about the end of one war and the beginning of another.
"It's a love story inside a murder mystery inside the most significant story of the twentieth century: the making of the atomic bomb... a stunning acheivement." the boston globe
"It's a love story inside a murder mystery inside the most significant story of the twentieth century: the making of the atomic bomb... a stunning acheivement." the boston globe
Think better if not abridged
This was a good post WWII story taking place in Berlin in 1945. An American correspondent returns to write about the Allies and search for a lover he left behind. A tale of espionage and love. And, of course, it helps picturing George Clooney as Jake.
After a somewhat slow first chapter, the book picks up and becomes very interesting thriller. A good read.
Very good book! A little slow at first, but stick with it and you'll be rewarded. Great author interview and discussion questions in back. This is the movie version, with movie poster on front.
Great book to read if you are a student of WW II and want to learn more about what happened after VE day
Excellent book. Was made into a movie starring George Clooney and Kate Blanchett.
Slow moving story with lots of atmosphere. Parts make you wonder what you would have done to survive in Germany during the war. Not as suspenseful as I like my thrillers.
Excellent book--very meaty, thorough, complicated, makes you really think and examine all the issues. Well-written. Masterfully crafted and written. I highly recommend it.
This is NOT a hardcover-it is paperback. Has same isbn as shown.
The book that I have has the identical ISBN numbers...however, it's not a hardcover...it is paperback.
