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Resistance Women
From the New York Times bestselling author of Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker, an enthralling historical saga that recreates the danger, romance, and sacrifice of an era and brings to life one courageous, passionate American—Mildred Fish Harnack—and her circle of women friends who waged a clandestine battle against Hitler in Nazi Berlin.
After Wisconsin graduate student Mildred Fish marries brilliant German economist Arvid Harnack, she accompanies him to his German homeland, where a promising future awaits. In the thriving intellectual culture of 1930s Berlin, the newlyweds create a rich new life filled with love, friendships, and rewarding work—but the rise of a malevolent new political faction inexorably changes their fate.
As Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party wield violence and lies to seize power, Mildred, Arvid, and their friends resolve to resist. Mildred gathers intelligence for her American contacts, including Martha Dodd, the vivacious and very modern daughter of the US ambassador. Her German friends, aspiring author Greta Kuckoff and literature student Sara Weitz, risk their lives to collect information from journalists, military officers, and officials within the highest levels of the Nazi regime.
For years, Mildred’s network stealthily fights to bring down the Third Reich from within. But when Nazi radio operatives detect an errant Russian signal, the Harnack resistance cell is exposed, with fatal consequences.
Inspired by actual events, Resistance Women is an enthralling, unforgettable story of ordinary people determined to resist the rise of evil, sacrificing their own lives and liberty to fight injustice and defend the oppressed.
After Wisconsin graduate student Mildred Fish marries brilliant German economist Arvid Harnack, she accompanies him to his German homeland, where a promising future awaits. In the thriving intellectual culture of 1930s Berlin, the newlyweds create a rich new life filled with love, friendships, and rewarding work—but the rise of a malevolent new political faction inexorably changes their fate.
As Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party wield violence and lies to seize power, Mildred, Arvid, and their friends resolve to resist. Mildred gathers intelligence for her American contacts, including Martha Dodd, the vivacious and very modern daughter of the US ambassador. Her German friends, aspiring author Greta Kuckoff and literature student Sara Weitz, risk their lives to collect information from journalists, military officers, and officials within the highest levels of the Nazi regime.
For years, Mildred’s network stealthily fights to bring down the Third Reich from within. But when Nazi radio operatives detect an errant Russian signal, the Harnack resistance cell is exposed, with fatal consequences.
Inspired by actual events, Resistance Women is an enthralling, unforgettable story of ordinary people determined to resist the rise of evil, sacrificing their own lives and liberty to fight injustice and defend the oppressed.
Kindle Edition
First published May 28, 2019
About the author
Jennifer Chiaverini
78 books4,727 followersJennifer Chiaverini is the New York Times bestselling author of thirty-three novels, including acclaimed historical fiction and the beloved Elm Creek Quilts series. She has also written seven quilt pattern books inspired by her novels. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Chicago, she lives with her husband and two sons in Madison, Wisconsin. About her historical fiction, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes, "In addition to simply being fascinating stories, these novels go a long way in capturing the texture of life for women, rich and poor, black and white, in those perilous years."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,495 reviews
April 21, 2019
This is my first experience with Chiaverini and I am impressed. From 1929 through 1946, three women look on in horror as the Nazi Party rises and comes into power. Mildred Harnack is an American intellectual married to a German and Greta Kuckhoff is a hopeful German writer formerly enrolled at the University of Wisconsin where she met the Harnacks. Their stories are factual and both are members of the Red Orchestra, a resistance cell operating in Berlin. Sara Weitz is a Jewish-German literature student and enrolled in Harnack’s lectures. She is a composite of Jewish members of the Red Orchestra. Having read a number of WWII nonfiction books, the historical accuracy is probably the best I’ve read within the subgenre of historical fiction. Don’t expect a rip roaring WWII adventure full of blowing up bridges and railroad tracks, carefully planned assassinations or harrowing escapes from the Nazis. Rather, this is a story of brave women committing espionage and acts of protest against an evil fascist regime.
January 2, 2019
Just started this book and feel an eerie similarity to our current situation in the United States as the unthinkable builds in 1930's Germany. Well written if not fast paced. The slow pace of the book provides a sense of the unthinkable unfolding and reminds the reader of how glacial change can be destructive, perhaps more so than a catastrophic sudden shift. A lengthy book reflective of the topic and the period.
May 22, 2019
I finally read a book by Jennifer Chiaverini! I’ve meant to for ages now, and I’m thrilled to say my first book from her was epic! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Mildred Fish is a graduate student from Wisconsin. She marries a German economist, Arvid Harnack, and moves with him to Germany. Berlin in the 1930s is swimming with intellectuals, and the newlyweds are enjoying their work and social lives.
At the same time, we all know Hitler and his Nazi party are rising in power. Mildred and Arvid decide to resist. Mildred begins by collecting intelligence for the US. Her friends, Greta and Sara, collect information from all manner of sources, including Nazi officials. They build a network to retrieve and share intelligence.
Mildred and her group work for years until they are exposed.
Resistance Women is inspired by true events. I was completely enamored with Mildred, her devotion to doing what’s right, and how she helped build a network of individuals who for years provided insider information she could bravely and boldly share for the good of the entire world.
Resistance Women is a story to sink into, to relax and explore, to worry, to feel, and to think. Would you do the same thing these three women did? The book is thoughtful, thought-provoking, powerful, and inspiring. The author’s note including information on the real people is not to be missed!
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Mildred Fish is a graduate student from Wisconsin. She marries a German economist, Arvid Harnack, and moves with him to Germany. Berlin in the 1930s is swimming with intellectuals, and the newlyweds are enjoying their work and social lives.
At the same time, we all know Hitler and his Nazi party are rising in power. Mildred and Arvid decide to resist. Mildred begins by collecting intelligence for the US. Her friends, Greta and Sara, collect information from all manner of sources, including Nazi officials. They build a network to retrieve and share intelligence.
Mildred and her group work for years until they are exposed.
Resistance Women is inspired by true events. I was completely enamored with Mildred, her devotion to doing what’s right, and how she helped build a network of individuals who for years provided insider information she could bravely and boldly share for the good of the entire world.
Resistance Women is a story to sink into, to relax and explore, to worry, to feel, and to think. Would you do the same thing these three women did? The book is thoughtful, thought-provoking, powerful, and inspiring. The author’s note including information on the real people is not to be missed!
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
April 22, 2019
This ambitious World War II novel is vast in its historical record and scope, taking us from the beginning of Hitler's rise to power through the end of the war, focusing in detail on the sociological and historical aspects of the rise of Nazism and Hitler, and the attempts by a few brave souls to withstand and resist and finally to just survive the onslaught of the horrors the characters face that grow larger and more incomprehensible every year.
The author's grasp of the period is amazing, and she conveys the realities of the time in Germany very well. There are broad historical brushstrokes as well as more detailed looks at what everyday life must have been like for your average German citizen, who found herself swept up in the madness of the National Socialist movement.
Because of the tremendous scope of this novel, which aims to provide an idea of the larger historical movement as well as the more focused daily impact of these movements on the lives of the characters, the story suffers when the author turns her attention to the actual human interests here, the 4 characters that are the foci of the story. In good historical fiction the historical background serves the interest of the characters, serves as a way to highlight their personalities, choices, actions, etc. The setting should always be in service to the characters. In this novel, however, the characters seem to just be the conduit for writing about the history, which is clearly the author's strong point. There's no heart here. We see the individual lives and the specifics of the day-to-day encroachments of Nazism on the characters, but there is a lack of soul in their stories. The reader is never very attached to them. This is partly because there are so many of them to deal with, the author never delves too deeply into any of their minds or hearts.
The author does a great job of showing the at first slow progression of the steady march of Nazism on German society, the incremental changes to the Jewish laws, and the way that the characters become the frogs in the pot as they go along with the changes to their world, having no other choice but to hope for the best as their world crumbles around them. We feel along with the characters the various reactions to events, moving from denial to disbelief, to sadness, shock, and horror.
I have to admit, though, that I skimmed much of this novel. It was overlong, at more than 500 pages. I think the author was trying for a saga but ended up with a textbook with some personal stories thrown in.
A word about politics: in a novel like this, the reader should never be able to detect the author's political views. However, the author makes a not-so-subtle point of repeatedly drawing a parallel between Hitler and Donald Trump. No matter where an author's political leanings fall, a novel of historical fiction is not the appropriate venue for such musings. Aside from that, the comparisons are ludicrous and so beyond the pale of any rational political discourse, that the novel suffers greatly from this insertion of the author's views.
The author's grasp of the period is amazing, and she conveys the realities of the time in Germany very well. There are broad historical brushstrokes as well as more detailed looks at what everyday life must have been like for your average German citizen, who found herself swept up in the madness of the National Socialist movement.
Because of the tremendous scope of this novel, which aims to provide an idea of the larger historical movement as well as the more focused daily impact of these movements on the lives of the characters, the story suffers when the author turns her attention to the actual human interests here, the 4 characters that are the foci of the story. In good historical fiction the historical background serves the interest of the characters, serves as a way to highlight their personalities, choices, actions, etc. The setting should always be in service to the characters. In this novel, however, the characters seem to just be the conduit for writing about the history, which is clearly the author's strong point. There's no heart here. We see the individual lives and the specifics of the day-to-day encroachments of Nazism on the characters, but there is a lack of soul in their stories. The reader is never very attached to them. This is partly because there are so many of them to deal with, the author never delves too deeply into any of their minds or hearts.
The author does a great job of showing the at first slow progression of the steady march of Nazism on German society, the incremental changes to the Jewish laws, and the way that the characters become the frogs in the pot as they go along with the changes to their world, having no other choice but to hope for the best as their world crumbles around them. We feel along with the characters the various reactions to events, moving from denial to disbelief, to sadness, shock, and horror.
I have to admit, though, that I skimmed much of this novel. It was overlong, at more than 500 pages. I think the author was trying for a saga but ended up with a textbook with some personal stories thrown in.
A word about politics: in a novel like this, the reader should never be able to detect the author's political views. However, the author makes a not-so-subtle point of repeatedly drawing a parallel between Hitler and Donald Trump. No matter where an author's political leanings fall, a novel of historical fiction is not the appropriate venue for such musings. Aside from that, the comparisons are ludicrous and so beyond the pale of any rational political discourse, that the novel suffers greatly from this insertion of the author's views.
September 8, 2019
Jennifer Chiaverini's latest historical novel delves into the lives of four women- three historical and one fictional that along with their husbands and family members took a stand against Adolf Hitler and the Nazi government. A well researched, well-detailed narrative, Resistance Women takes readers from 1930's Germany all the way through the war and into 1946.
Wisconsin graduate student Mildred Fish, daughter of an American ambassor Martha Dodd, literature student Greta Kuckoff, and Jewish university student Sara Weitz are our eyes and ears during this period of mass change in Germany. These women all faced tremendous personal and professional obstacles, but they refused to bow down and instead placed themselves in danger to protest the loss of freedoms in their country.
Although some political leaders in the post war period such as De Gaulle and Stalin wanted to stem the importance of resistance in the allied victory, there is no doubt that today's reading audiences are defintely hungering to hear more of what ordinary people did to resist. Many of my WWII reads in 2019 have been on the subject of resistance and in my humble reader opinion this is by far the best and most important historical fiction novel of 2019 The book is daunting with its four character perspective, large quantity of pages, and attention to many of the events in German history that show the way in which the Third Reich slowly gained power over its population. Trust me, it is all worth it!
Goodreads review published 08/09/19 My third attempt to write a review since Goodreads app was having some difficulty yesterday.
Wisconsin graduate student Mildred Fish, daughter of an American ambassor Martha Dodd, literature student Greta Kuckoff, and Jewish university student Sara Weitz are our eyes and ears during this period of mass change in Germany. These women all faced tremendous personal and professional obstacles, but they refused to bow down and instead placed themselves in danger to protest the loss of freedoms in their country.
Although some political leaders in the post war period such as De Gaulle and Stalin wanted to stem the importance of resistance in the allied victory, there is no doubt that today's reading audiences are defintely hungering to hear more of what ordinary people did to resist. Many of my WWII reads in 2019 have been on the subject of resistance and in my humble reader opinion this is by far the best and most important historical fiction novel of 2019 The book is daunting with its four character perspective, large quantity of pages, and attention to many of the events in German history that show the way in which the Third Reich slowly gained power over its population. Trust me, it is all worth it!
Goodreads review published 08/09/19 My third attempt to write a review since Goodreads app was having some difficulty yesterday.
May 5, 2019
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”
--- Edmund Burke
”Some fires burned themselves out only after consuming everything within reach of the flames.”
Beginning in June of 1929, this story shares the stories of several women living in Germany during the rise of the Nazi Party, and the stories of those whose lives connected with theirs. Two of these women, Mildred Harnack and Greta Kuckhoff, were based on their real lives, living and operating as members of the resistance in Germany, through the Red Orchestra. The third woman, Sara Weitz, was a character based on the multiple Jewish-German women who were also members of the Red Orchestra, Die Rote Kapelle, also called the Red Chapel by the Gestapo. The Red Orchestra being a conglomeration of separate resistance groups united in the belief that the evil incarnate in this regime must be thwarted.
Of these three women, one is an American, Mildred Harnack, a teacher in Berlin whose husband, Arvid, is German. Mildred meets Greta, an aspiring author, and Arvid when she is a student at the University of Wisconsin. Once they are in Germany, Sara Weitz meets Harnack through her lectures. Aiding these three women is Martha Dodd whose father is the American ambassador to Germany.
This was a fascinating look at this time and place, how things changed at a pace that had most of the population turn a blind eye to the changes, a little here, a little there, until it was too late. And evil triumphed, if for a time. The focus, however, isn’t on the war or the concentration camps, but on these women who put their lives on the line to end the spread of this evil.
At 594 pages, this was not a fast read, or leisurely, but it was eye opening and very thought-provoking to read.
Many thanks to the ARC provided by my BookAngel
--- Edmund Burke
”Some fires burned themselves out only after consuming everything within reach of the flames.”
Beginning in June of 1929, this story shares the stories of several women living in Germany during the rise of the Nazi Party, and the stories of those whose lives connected with theirs. Two of these women, Mildred Harnack and Greta Kuckhoff, were based on their real lives, living and operating as members of the resistance in Germany, through the Red Orchestra. The third woman, Sara Weitz, was a character based on the multiple Jewish-German women who were also members of the Red Orchestra, Die Rote Kapelle, also called the Red Chapel by the Gestapo. The Red Orchestra being a conglomeration of separate resistance groups united in the belief that the evil incarnate in this regime must be thwarted.
Of these three women, one is an American, Mildred Harnack, a teacher in Berlin whose husband, Arvid, is German. Mildred meets Greta, an aspiring author, and Arvid when she is a student at the University of Wisconsin. Once they are in Germany, Sara Weitz meets Harnack through her lectures. Aiding these three women is Martha Dodd whose father is the American ambassador to Germany.
This was a fascinating look at this time and place, how things changed at a pace that had most of the population turn a blind eye to the changes, a little here, a little there, until it was too late. And evil triumphed, if for a time. The focus, however, isn’t on the war or the concentration camps, but on these women who put their lives on the line to end the spread of this evil.
At 594 pages, this was not a fast read, or leisurely, but it was eye opening and very thought-provoking to read.
Many thanks to the ARC provided by my BookAngel
March 12, 2020
One of the reasons why I love reading historical fiction is because it gives me a chance to learn about people, places, cultures, time periods, etc. that I may not otherwise have known about. It is also an opportunity for me to better understand aspects of history and the important role we, as human beings, play in shaping and directing the trajectory of this world in which we live.
Even though Jennifer Chiaverini’s latest historical novel Resistance Women is set in a time period that most bibliophiles like me who read a lot of WWII-themed novels are probably very familiar with, the story she tells about American graduate student Mildred Fish Harnack and the many brave women who were part of her Rote Kapelle (Red Orchestra) resistance cell in Germany during Hitler’s rise to power in the 1930s, is not one that I had heard of prior to reading this book. Spanning a time period from 1929 all the way through the end of the war, this is an epic tale told in meticulous detail, through the eyes of 4 women who bear witness to Germany’s transformation from a thriving intellectual and cultural hub to an oppressive, violent, and much-feared Nazi regime. In addition to Mildred and Greta, the other 2 perspectives that formed the core narrative were that of Martha Dodd, the lively and vivacious daughter of the U.S. Ambassador, as well as Jewish literature student Sara Weitz (a fictional character based on other Jewish women within the Rote Kapelle network).
Over the years, I’ve read plenty of books about this particular historical period, but this one is unique in that it tells the story not just from the Jewish perspective, but also from that of anti-fascist Germans who were intent on saving their beloved country from total ruin at the hands of a madman. This was a fascinating and insightful read that was absolutely well-researched and well-written (I’m blown away by the extensive amount of research that Chiaverini did and how she was able to incorporate all of it into the story so seamlessly). At nearly 600 pages, also given the subject matter, this was not an easy read by any means, especially the sections that mentioned the horrors and atrocities of what took place during that time – however with that said, being able to learn about these courageous women and getting to hear their inspiring, powerful stories, definitely made this well worth the effort.
One quick footnote – I also noticed the political “comparison” that many of the other readers mentioned in their reviews and while I admit that it did frustrate me a bit at first because I felt it took some of the focus away from what the story was supposed to be about (namely the resistance women who sacrificed their lives to fight against evil), I eventually decided to ignore it and absorb myself in the women’s powerful stories instead.
Received complimentary copy from publisher (William Morrow) via Book Browse.
Even though Jennifer Chiaverini’s latest historical novel Resistance Women is set in a time period that most bibliophiles like me who read a lot of WWII-themed novels are probably very familiar with, the story she tells about American graduate student Mildred Fish Harnack and the many brave women who were part of her Rote Kapelle (Red Orchestra) resistance cell in Germany during Hitler’s rise to power in the 1930s, is not one that I had heard of prior to reading this book. Spanning a time period from 1929 all the way through the end of the war, this is an epic tale told in meticulous detail, through the eyes of 4 women who bear witness to Germany’s transformation from a thriving intellectual and cultural hub to an oppressive, violent, and much-feared Nazi regime. In addition to Mildred and Greta, the other 2 perspectives that formed the core narrative were that of Martha Dodd, the lively and vivacious daughter of the U.S. Ambassador, as well as Jewish literature student Sara Weitz (a fictional character based on other Jewish women within the Rote Kapelle network).
Over the years, I’ve read plenty of books about this particular historical period, but this one is unique in that it tells the story not just from the Jewish perspective, but also from that of anti-fascist Germans who were intent on saving their beloved country from total ruin at the hands of a madman. This was a fascinating and insightful read that was absolutely well-researched and well-written (I’m blown away by the extensive amount of research that Chiaverini did and how she was able to incorporate all of it into the story so seamlessly). At nearly 600 pages, also given the subject matter, this was not an easy read by any means, especially the sections that mentioned the horrors and atrocities of what took place during that time – however with that said, being able to learn about these courageous women and getting to hear their inspiring, powerful stories, definitely made this well worth the effort.
One quick footnote – I also noticed the political “comparison” that many of the other readers mentioned in their reviews and while I admit that it did frustrate me a bit at first because I felt it took some of the focus away from what the story was supposed to be about (namely the resistance women who sacrificed their lives to fight against evil), I eventually decided to ignore it and absorb myself in the women’s powerful stories instead.
Received complimentary copy from publisher (William Morrow) via Book Browse.
February 29, 2020
Favorite Quotes:
Darling, you must never become accustomed to the extraordinary and the outrageous. If you do, little by little you’ll learn to accept anything.
Scapegoating Jews – or Communists, Poles, women, immigrants – was the refuge of the lazy, envious, and unimaginative. It made the world an ugly hostile place to live in and did nothing to solve any actual problems. She would rather be solitary than count bigots as her friends.
I used to think the rise of the Nazis was about politics. I don’t anymore… It’s something deeper, more sinister, going well beyond mere racial prejudice. The German people are desperately ill with some dread malady of the soul… Think of it. An entire nation has become infected with an ever-present hatred and fear, twisting and blighting all human relations.
She knew before the doctors confirmed it that she had lost the child. She imagined that she had felt the tiny soul leaving her, letting go with a gentle, wistful sigh as if to say it had already learned enough of the world to know it dared not linger.
My Review:
This six hundred page book was arduous reading but well worth the effort. It was an epic saga involving four vastly different women’s intersecting stories while living, struggling, and risking their lives to exist in Berlin during the 1930s and ’40s. The tale spanned almost two horrific decades of sadistic and insidious Nazi brutality and ingenious cruelty during Hitler’s unfettered rise and ruthless abuse of power leading up to and during WWII. Based on fact and embellished with fiction it was poignant, disheartening, heartbreaking, artfully written, intensely emotive, and effusively detailed with vibrant descriptions of each scene. It ruined me. The massive research and attention to detail was profoundly evident and deftly woven into the complex storylines in a remarkably cohesive and thoughtful manner. This was my first experience of the devastating and evocative skill set of Jennifer Chiaverini, I - am – in – awe.
Darling, you must never become accustomed to the extraordinary and the outrageous. If you do, little by little you’ll learn to accept anything.
Scapegoating Jews – or Communists, Poles, women, immigrants – was the refuge of the lazy, envious, and unimaginative. It made the world an ugly hostile place to live in and did nothing to solve any actual problems. She would rather be solitary than count bigots as her friends.
I used to think the rise of the Nazis was about politics. I don’t anymore… It’s something deeper, more sinister, going well beyond mere racial prejudice. The German people are desperately ill with some dread malady of the soul… Think of it. An entire nation has become infected with an ever-present hatred and fear, twisting and blighting all human relations.
She knew before the doctors confirmed it that she had lost the child. She imagined that she had felt the tiny soul leaving her, letting go with a gentle, wistful sigh as if to say it had already learned enough of the world to know it dared not linger.
My Review:
This six hundred page book was arduous reading but well worth the effort. It was an epic saga involving four vastly different women’s intersecting stories while living, struggling, and risking their lives to exist in Berlin during the 1930s and ’40s. The tale spanned almost two horrific decades of sadistic and insidious Nazi brutality and ingenious cruelty during Hitler’s unfettered rise and ruthless abuse of power leading up to and during WWII. Based on fact and embellished with fiction it was poignant, disheartening, heartbreaking, artfully written, intensely emotive, and effusively detailed with vibrant descriptions of each scene. It ruined me. The massive research and attention to detail was profoundly evident and deftly woven into the complex storylines in a remarkably cohesive and thoughtful manner. This was my first experience of the devastating and evocative skill set of Jennifer Chiaverini, I - am – in – awe.
June 5, 2019
Although this book is shown as a work of fiction, it is also noted that the events portrayed in this book are based on historical facts.
Jennifer Chiaverini does it again, that being that she has written an extraordinary story in "Resistance Women". She never disappoints.
Told in varying viewpoints, the story revolves around American Mildred Fish Harnack, and the friends who support her - and each other - through an extremely harrowing time in history when nothing, and no one, is safe, especially Jews and intellectuals, of which many of the characters are a member.
Mildred Fish graduates from a school in Wisconsin and then marries Arvid Harnack, a German economist. She relocates with her husband to his homeland, settling in Berlin, where they hope to have a brilliant future together.
When the Nazis come into power, Mildred, her friends, and others decide to resist at all cost. That decision will cost them dearly. Mildred herself divulges intelligence to American contacts. Her friends, Greta and Sarah, also begin the high risk activity of gathering intelligence from journalists.
Knowing this book is based on factual events, you will find yourself both heartbroken and yet in awe of the bravery of people who refuse to bend and to stand and defy in the name of all that is right.
Jennifer Chiaverini does it again, that being that she has written an extraordinary story in "Resistance Women". She never disappoints.
Told in varying viewpoints, the story revolves around American Mildred Fish Harnack, and the friends who support her - and each other - through an extremely harrowing time in history when nothing, and no one, is safe, especially Jews and intellectuals, of which many of the characters are a member.
Mildred Fish graduates from a school in Wisconsin and then marries Arvid Harnack, a German economist. She relocates with her husband to his homeland, settling in Berlin, where they hope to have a brilliant future together.
When the Nazis come into power, Mildred, her friends, and others decide to resist at all cost. That decision will cost them dearly. Mildred herself divulges intelligence to American contacts. Her friends, Greta and Sarah, also begin the high risk activity of gathering intelligence from journalists.
Knowing this book is based on factual events, you will find yourself both heartbroken and yet in awe of the bravery of people who refuse to bend and to stand and defy in the name of all that is right.
May 30, 2019
Another historical fiction novel about WWII. I’m sorry, but this was a struggle from about 20% in until the end. The author seemed to lose touch with her characters and only slightly used them to give a TON of facts about the war in Berlin. So glad I finished but really wish I had never bothered to read it.
One additional note. I did marvel over the similarities in what Hitler said/did in his rise to power and what Trump says and does. It’s frightening, almost as if they were following the same handbook. Somewhere it said that Hitler and the Nazis kept repeating the same lies over and over, so much that even the people who had been there and had seen with their own eyes that this was a lie began to doubt themselves. Also, the free press is the enemy of fascism. Sounds so familiar...
One additional note. I did marvel over the similarities in what Hitler said/did in his rise to power and what Trump says and does. It’s frightening, almost as if they were following the same handbook. Somewhere it said that Hitler and the Nazis kept repeating the same lies over and over, so much that even the people who had been there and had seen with their own eyes that this was a lie began to doubt themselves. Also, the free press is the enemy of fascism. Sounds so familiar...
August 18, 2019
I'll be honest: I almost put this one off indefinitely after realizing I had about 5-6 World War II historical fiction novels sitting on my shelf, waiting to be read. I'm not sure why every author seems to have released one this year, but my shelf is FULL of them. It was hard to decide which one to read first, and reading too many of them close together would just confuse them in my head. I don't remember how I ended up choosing this one to come first, but I'm glad I was able to fit it in.
Resistance Women is based on real people (almost every main character was a real person) and real resistance activities. It starts quite early compared to most WWII fiction, all the way in 1929. It follows the characters through Hitler's rise to power and the gradual changes in Germany, all the way through the end of the war. To be honest, the resistance activities are pretty tame, as far as resistance went, but the important thing wasn't the resistance itself, but the women who risked their lives and safety to try to stop the Nazis.
It's hard to read historical fiction when you're familiar with the era, especially when you know the characters are making the wrong choices. When a character mentions offhand that a Jewish friend escaped to Poland where they'd be safe, how do you not sit and silently scream "noooooo"? How do you feel hopeful, as the characters do, and think "how much worse could it get?" as early as 1933? (Answer: so very, very much worse.) When characters are presented with multiple opportunities to escape to safety earlier in the 1930s, and they decide to stay in Germany, you just want to yell at them to stop being naive and just GO. But if everyone did what we know, in hindsight, they should have, it wouldn't feel very true to the era and wouldn't really be good historical fiction.
It took me a few days to read this, in part because it was fairly long (608 pages) and in part because I'd need to set it down from time to time to do something a little less stressful. It never felt particularly long or slow, which was nice, and I enjoyed the writing and the story, insofar as one can enjoy a story about Nazi Germany. This was an excellent book and it presented an angle I haven't read a million times (though, to be fair, I don't read every WWII historical fiction novel published).
I admire the men and women who put their own safety aside to try to help Jews and other persecuted groups reach safety and who did what they could to try to defeat Hitler and the Nazis from within. We so often hear about all the Nazis, Nazi supporters and sympathizers, and Germans who went along with the Nazis to keep themselves and their families safe. It was nice to read about the resistance in a way that looked at the people behind it rather than focusing on the activities of the resistance itself. This book is a favorite of the year so far for me.
Resistance Women is based on real people (almost every main character was a real person) and real resistance activities. It starts quite early compared to most WWII fiction, all the way in 1929. It follows the characters through Hitler's rise to power and the gradual changes in Germany, all the way through the end of the war. To be honest, the resistance activities are pretty tame, as far as resistance went, but the important thing wasn't the resistance itself, but the women who risked their lives and safety to try to stop the Nazis.
It's hard to read historical fiction when you're familiar with the era, especially when you know the characters are making the wrong choices. When a character mentions offhand that a Jewish friend escaped to Poland where they'd be safe, how do you not sit and silently scream "noooooo"? How do you feel hopeful, as the characters do, and think "how much worse could it get?" as early as 1933? (Answer: so very, very much worse.) When characters are presented with multiple opportunities to escape to safety earlier in the 1930s, and they decide to stay in Germany, you just want to yell at them to stop being naive and just GO. But if everyone did what we know, in hindsight, they should have, it wouldn't feel very true to the era and wouldn't really be good historical fiction.
It took me a few days to read this, in part because it was fairly long (608 pages) and in part because I'd need to set it down from time to time to do something a little less stressful. It never felt particularly long or slow, which was nice, and I enjoyed the writing and the story, insofar as one can enjoy a story about Nazi Germany. This was an excellent book and it presented an angle I haven't read a million times (though, to be fair, I don't read every WWII historical fiction novel published).
I admire the men and women who put their own safety aside to try to help Jews and other persecuted groups reach safety and who did what they could to try to defeat Hitler and the Nazis from within. We so often hear about all the Nazis, Nazi supporters and sympathizers, and Germans who went along with the Nazis to keep themselves and their families safe. It was nice to read about the resistance in a way that looked at the people behind it rather than focusing on the activities of the resistance itself. This book is a favorite of the year so far for me.
April 11, 2019
Going into this book I thought I knew what to expect, but not in this detail, and not when I felt that I needed to get out of there and leave. When I think about those that stay and then what happened, I thought about staying in my own home, it’s mine why should I leave, and that mentality could get them killed.
Through the author we get to walk on the streets of Berlin during this horrific time, and we put faces to those who can see what is happening and do what they can to help thwart this evil.
This is a very long book, but I was mesmerized and hoping for a change in history, of course that didn’t happen, but the research that was put into this read is awesome!
I loved the fact that the author’s notes update on what happened to these real people, or mostly, making you wonder how so many could turn a blind eye.
A timely book, history should not be forgotten.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher William Morrow, and was not required to give a positive review.
Through the author we get to walk on the streets of Berlin during this horrific time, and we put faces to those who can see what is happening and do what they can to help thwart this evil.
This is a very long book, but I was mesmerized and hoping for a change in history, of course that didn’t happen, but the research that was put into this read is awesome!
I loved the fact that the author’s notes update on what happened to these real people, or mostly, making you wonder how so many could turn a blind eye.
A timely book, history should not be forgotten.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher William Morrow, and was not required to give a positive review.
December 29, 2019
One of the best books I’ve read; I could not put it down for the first 400 pages. My reading pace slowed as I neared the end because I’d fallen in love with the characters, and I didn’t want their stories to end as I knew they would. This excellent work needs to be on everyone’s “to read” list.
July 27, 2019
Long book gets a long review ;-)
I thought this book was very well researched and so interesting to read the detailed events of what unfolded. Not as good as Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s biography by Metaxas, because of the fictional aspect that didn’t really draw me in as much as the facts in and of themselves. Honestly, the book would have been better IMO without the fictional narrative and published as non-fiction. The author did significant and thorough research, but blending it with the fictional narrative increased length and detracted from the timeline of events without connecting me to the characters personally.
I need to comment on the tone and verbiage that alluded to comparisons to our current president. I noticed and I found it inappropriate and detracted from the accurate depiction of the history of WWII. I’m not the only one that noticed, many 5* - 1* reviews also commented on the comparison. Thankfully most of this tone was found toward the beginning and dissipated as the novel progressed.
However, Let me share some facts below...
January 30, 1933 Hilter appointed chancellor
March 24, 1933. Enabling act which effectively nullified the Weimar Constitution
April 1933, the Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service, or 'Civil Service Law', ability of the Nazi Party to legally remove undesirables from the civil service profession, including doctors, teachers and lawyers
April 1933 as a supplement to the Civil Service Law, forbade any Jews from taking the bar exam which was necessary to become a lawyer
April 1933, under this legislation, patients who saw a "non-Aryan" doctor would not be covered under the national health insurance, thus excluding Jewish doctors from German society
April 25, 1933, the Law Against the Over-Crowding of German schools was passed, the Nazis limited the number of Jewish students enrolled in German schools to 1.5% of the total enrollment.
July 14, 1933 Denaturalization Law, the Reich government could take away the citizenship of those who were deemed "undesirable", applying to anyone who had been given citizenship by the Weimar government.
September 29, 1933 hereditary farm law, this law "excluded Jews from owning farmland or engaging in agriculture"
September 29, 1933, the power of Jewish Cultural life in Germany was transferred to Joseph Goebbels, who established chambers of culture that would regulate activity in their chamber of either film, theater, music, fine arts, literature, broadcasting, and the press.
October 4, 1933, stating that to produce work for the press, journalists and editors would also need specific legal permission
September 1935, the Nazi leaders announced a set of three new laws to further regulate and exclude Jews from German Society. These laws now known as the Nuremberg laws.
The first law stated that black, red, and white were the national colors, and the swastika flag was the new national flag
The second law established who would be granted full political and civic rights and those who would now be deprived of them. Citizenship rights were to be granted to those who were citizens of the Reich, which were only individuals classified as being of "German or related blood"; therefore, Jews were excluded from any and all citizenship rights, becoming Staatsangehörige or state subjects, essentially making them foreigners in their own country.
The third law forbade marriage and any relations between Jews and German citizens. The law also made any previously existing marriages or those contracted outside of Germany invalid. Furthermore, Jews were forbidden from employing German female citizens who were under 45 years old. Under this law, Jews were also forbidden to raise the German Flag.
November 14 1935, the first supplemental decree was published, and it defined a Jew as anyone who had at least three full Jewish grandparents, had two Jewish grandparents and were married to a Jewish spouse, belonged to the Jewish religion at the time of the law's publication, or who entered the Jewish religion later.
December 21 1935, second decree which stated that Jewish professors, teachers, physicians, lawyers, and notaries who were state employees, and had previously been exempt, would now be dismissed from their positions.
1936 Olympics in Berlin, and to prevent economic loss and a blow to German prestige, Hitler eased the anti-Jewish stance momentarily
At this point, these are the laws passed during the first 3 years of Hitler ruling. Even though I am NOT a fan of our current president, he has been in power the same amount of time at this point, and these things ARE NOT HAPPENING! While he may have no control over his
mouth/tweets... these LAWS against any CURRENT citizens of the United States are NOT happening. Our constitution is not being revoked, our flag is not changed, current citizens are not being stripped of their jobs, livelihood, or their land. Hitler started his laws within 3 months of becoming chancellor, and first on his list, getting rid of their constitution!
I will continue to read WWII historical fiction and non-fiction, because I never want to forget the atrocities of man, but I may steer toward published dates before 2016.
I highly recommend Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s biography by Metaxas. Cousin of Arvid, the husband of Mildred Fish Harnack.
I thought this book was very well researched and so interesting to read the detailed events of what unfolded. Not as good as Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s biography by Metaxas, because of the fictional aspect that didn’t really draw me in as much as the facts in and of themselves. Honestly, the book would have been better IMO without the fictional narrative and published as non-fiction. The author did significant and thorough research, but blending it with the fictional narrative increased length and detracted from the timeline of events without connecting me to the characters personally.
I need to comment on the tone and verbiage that alluded to comparisons to our current president. I noticed and I found it inappropriate and detracted from the accurate depiction of the history of WWII. I’m not the only one that noticed, many 5* - 1* reviews also commented on the comparison. Thankfully most of this tone was found toward the beginning and dissipated as the novel progressed.
However, Let me share some facts below...
January 30, 1933 Hilter appointed chancellor
March 24, 1933. Enabling act which effectively nullified the Weimar Constitution
April 1933, the Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service, or 'Civil Service Law', ability of the Nazi Party to legally remove undesirables from the civil service profession, including doctors, teachers and lawyers
April 1933 as a supplement to the Civil Service Law, forbade any Jews from taking the bar exam which was necessary to become a lawyer
April 1933, under this legislation, patients who saw a "non-Aryan" doctor would not be covered under the national health insurance, thus excluding Jewish doctors from German society
April 25, 1933, the Law Against the Over-Crowding of German schools was passed, the Nazis limited the number of Jewish students enrolled in German schools to 1.5% of the total enrollment.
July 14, 1933 Denaturalization Law, the Reich government could take away the citizenship of those who were deemed "undesirable", applying to anyone who had been given citizenship by the Weimar government.
September 29, 1933 hereditary farm law, this law "excluded Jews from owning farmland or engaging in agriculture"
September 29, 1933, the power of Jewish Cultural life in Germany was transferred to Joseph Goebbels, who established chambers of culture that would regulate activity in their chamber of either film, theater, music, fine arts, literature, broadcasting, and the press.
October 4, 1933, stating that to produce work for the press, journalists and editors would also need specific legal permission
September 1935, the Nazi leaders announced a set of three new laws to further regulate and exclude Jews from German Society. These laws now known as the Nuremberg laws.
The first law stated that black, red, and white were the national colors, and the swastika flag was the new national flag
The second law established who would be granted full political and civic rights and those who would now be deprived of them. Citizenship rights were to be granted to those who were citizens of the Reich, which were only individuals classified as being of "German or related blood"; therefore, Jews were excluded from any and all citizenship rights, becoming Staatsangehörige or state subjects, essentially making them foreigners in their own country.
The third law forbade marriage and any relations between Jews and German citizens. The law also made any previously existing marriages or those contracted outside of Germany invalid. Furthermore, Jews were forbidden from employing German female citizens who were under 45 years old. Under this law, Jews were also forbidden to raise the German Flag.
November 14 1935, the first supplemental decree was published, and it defined a Jew as anyone who had at least three full Jewish grandparents, had two Jewish grandparents and were married to a Jewish spouse, belonged to the Jewish religion at the time of the law's publication, or who entered the Jewish religion later.
December 21 1935, second decree which stated that Jewish professors, teachers, physicians, lawyers, and notaries who were state employees, and had previously been exempt, would now be dismissed from their positions.
1936 Olympics in Berlin, and to prevent economic loss and a blow to German prestige, Hitler eased the anti-Jewish stance momentarily
At this point, these are the laws passed during the first 3 years of Hitler ruling. Even though I am NOT a fan of our current president, he has been in power the same amount of time at this point, and these things ARE NOT HAPPENING! While he may have no control over his
mouth/tweets... these LAWS against any CURRENT citizens of the United States are NOT happening. Our constitution is not being revoked, our flag is not changed, current citizens are not being stripped of their jobs, livelihood, or their land. Hitler started his laws within 3 months of becoming chancellor, and first on his list, getting rid of their constitution!
I will continue to read WWII historical fiction and non-fiction, because I never want to forget the atrocities of man, but I may steer toward published dates before 2016.
I highly recommend Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s biography by Metaxas. Cousin of Arvid, the husband of Mildred Fish Harnack.
December 17, 2019
Resistance Women
by Jennifer Chiaverini
“Hitler lied with impunity, …. when his fanatical admirers disregarded all evidence that contradicted him? [Mildred] wondered sometimes if the Fuhrer believed his own lies, but she suspected the answer was much simpler, that he was ruthlessly calculating——“ (Page 280)
The story involves 4 women who are part of a cell trying to hasten the end of Hitler’s reign by passing information to the Allies and helping victims of Hitler’s Horror. The 4 women, Mildred Fish Harnack, an American married to a German professor, Greta Kuckhoff, a German woman, Martha Dodd Stern, the daughter of the American Ambassador to Germany, and Sara Weitz, a Jewish German. The story gives almost a month-by-month accounting of these women during the 1930s and Hitler’s rise to power. The first 3 women are actually historical people, although Martha is not that interesting and has only a brief involvement. Sara is a composite of people the author interviewed for this book.
The reader knows things will not end well from the first chapter, but the story builds tension as we follow the events. I enjoyed reading the first three quarters of this book about the heroic efforts of these women. I thought the story was well structured, the writing good, and the characters interesting and well developed.
However, in the last part of the book the story descends into the sadistic hell of Nazi Germany. At that point I considered putting the book down. It is not that I don’t think people should know about these horrors but I have read about them too many times. These stories are not fiction. They really happened and too many of the Nazi criminals were allowed to go free, as is one in this story.
It may be the temperature of the times, but I find the parallels between this history and our current political environment too eerie to be ignored. In addition to the quote at the beginning of this review, there is the following observation:
“Perhaps Germany will serve as a warning. May they learn from us to snuff out fascism in America when the first sparks arise and not delay until democracy goes up in flames around them.” (Page 153)
The line between History and Historical Fiction gets a little blurred sometimes. This book works on both sides. Anyone that would like to know what living in Berlin during the 1930s would do well to read this book. As a dramatization of the ideas and feelings of these women as they resisted Hitler and the Nazis this book is an excellent choice.
by Jennifer Chiaverini
“Hitler lied with impunity, …. when his fanatical admirers disregarded all evidence that contradicted him? [Mildred] wondered sometimes if the Fuhrer believed his own lies, but she suspected the answer was much simpler, that he was ruthlessly calculating——“ (Page 280)
The story involves 4 women who are part of a cell trying to hasten the end of Hitler’s reign by passing information to the Allies and helping victims of Hitler’s Horror. The 4 women, Mildred Fish Harnack, an American married to a German professor, Greta Kuckhoff, a German woman, Martha Dodd Stern, the daughter of the American Ambassador to Germany, and Sara Weitz, a Jewish German. The story gives almost a month-by-month accounting of these women during the 1930s and Hitler’s rise to power. The first 3 women are actually historical people, although Martha is not that interesting and has only a brief involvement. Sara is a composite of people the author interviewed for this book.
The reader knows things will not end well from the first chapter, but the story builds tension as we follow the events. I enjoyed reading the first three quarters of this book about the heroic efforts of these women. I thought the story was well structured, the writing good, and the characters interesting and well developed.
However, in the last part of the book the story descends into the sadistic hell of Nazi Germany. At that point I considered putting the book down. It is not that I don’t think people should know about these horrors but I have read about them too many times. These stories are not fiction. They really happened and too many of the Nazi criminals were allowed to go free, as is one in this story.
It may be the temperature of the times, but I find the parallels between this history and our current political environment too eerie to be ignored. In addition to the quote at the beginning of this review, there is the following observation:
“Perhaps Germany will serve as a warning. May they learn from us to snuff out fascism in America when the first sparks arise and not delay until democracy goes up in flames around them.” (Page 153)
The line between History and Historical Fiction gets a little blurred sometimes. This book works on both sides. Anyone that would like to know what living in Berlin during the 1930s would do well to read this book. As a dramatization of the ideas and feelings of these women as they resisted Hitler and the Nazis this book is an excellent choice.
March 22, 2020
Historical fiction that portrays the gradual rise of fascism in Germany prior to World War II, starting in 1929 and ending in 1946, from the perspective of the courageous women of Die Rote Kapelle (the Red Orchestra), one of the resistance groups that actively opposed the Nazis.
The novel follows four women, three of whom are real people. Mildred Fish Harnack is an American who meets her husband, Arvid, during her college studies in Wisconsin. She follows Arvid to his homeland in Germany and becomes a teacher. Greta Lorke Kuckhoff is a German who studies in America, where she meets Mildred and Arvid. After returning to Germany, she meets her future husband, Adam. Sara Weitz is Jewish and is one of Mildred’s students. The Red Orchestra is a resistance group that includes their husbands, other family members, and friends. Martha Dodd, spirited daughter of the U.S. Ambassador to Germany, serves to lighten the mood in interacting with the main characters, though she is not an official member of the resistance.
This book is character driven. The female characters are particularly well-developed. Some of the male characters are not as well defined, but they are not the primary focus. The plot is provided by the course of events leading up to WWII. This novel is a detailed, well written, and historically rigorous depiction of how a group of Germany’s residents become activists, how they try to save their country from a malevolent regime, and how they attempt to convince outside forces to join them.
It is a long book at over 600 pages, but I highly recommend listening to the audio, which provides a slow immersion into the historical era. It allows the reader to get well-acquainted with these admirable people and feel their frustration as their lives change, gradually losing freedoms and bearing witness to the rising violence during Hitler’s ascension to power. The reader of the audio book, Saskia Maarleveld, does an excellent job with female and male voices and a variety of accents.
Resistance Women is an inspiring story based on real people that faced death to take a stand for their beliefs. It is a sweeping epic that provides perspective on how ordinary people can become heroic. It is historical fiction at its best.
The novel follows four women, three of whom are real people. Mildred Fish Harnack is an American who meets her husband, Arvid, during her college studies in Wisconsin. She follows Arvid to his homeland in Germany and becomes a teacher. Greta Lorke Kuckhoff is a German who studies in America, where she meets Mildred and Arvid. After returning to Germany, she meets her future husband, Adam. Sara Weitz is Jewish and is one of Mildred’s students. The Red Orchestra is a resistance group that includes their husbands, other family members, and friends. Martha Dodd, spirited daughter of the U.S. Ambassador to Germany, serves to lighten the mood in interacting with the main characters, though she is not an official member of the resistance.
This book is character driven. The female characters are particularly well-developed. Some of the male characters are not as well defined, but they are not the primary focus. The plot is provided by the course of events leading up to WWII. This novel is a detailed, well written, and historically rigorous depiction of how a group of Germany’s residents become activists, how they try to save their country from a malevolent regime, and how they attempt to convince outside forces to join them.
It is a long book at over 600 pages, but I highly recommend listening to the audio, which provides a slow immersion into the historical era. It allows the reader to get well-acquainted with these admirable people and feel their frustration as their lives change, gradually losing freedoms and bearing witness to the rising violence during Hitler’s ascension to power. The reader of the audio book, Saskia Maarleveld, does an excellent job with female and male voices and a variety of accents.
Resistance Women is an inspiring story based on real people that faced death to take a stand for their beliefs. It is a sweeping epic that provides perspective on how ordinary people can become heroic. It is historical fiction at its best.
June 10, 2021
I just finished reading this captivating and engrossing read by the one and only Jennifer Chiaverini and I am enthralled! I loved this book and read it slowly over the last few days enjoying Chiaverini’s writing and her attention to detail of 1930’s Berlin. The development of these amazing characters I loved reading about, as well as, the building of the political tension of the Nazi regime.
Newlywed and recent Wisconsin graduate Mildred Fish married Arvid Harnack a German economist and lived with him in Berlin. The sudden rise of the Nazi regime was changing the country she had grown to love. Cruelty among the Jews and even Americans were rampant and Mildred and her friends will not stand for this and resolve themselves to do something about this. Doing what they can, Mildred alongside her friends Martha, the US Ambassador’s daughter and her German friends Greta and Sara all risk their lives to collect information and do whatever they can to resist Hitler and the Nazi Party.
This fictional story was inspired by actual events and the story as told, gave me hope and inspiration for the selflessness and bravery of these women and men who fought against the evil Nazi regime.
This was truly an insightful and inspirational read for me that highlighted the bravery of ordinary people to fight and win against cruelty, injustice and pure evil.
I highly recommend this amazing book!
Newlywed and recent Wisconsin graduate Mildred Fish married Arvid Harnack a German economist and lived with him in Berlin. The sudden rise of the Nazi regime was changing the country she had grown to love. Cruelty among the Jews and even Americans were rampant and Mildred and her friends will not stand for this and resolve themselves to do something about this. Doing what they can, Mildred alongside her friends Martha, the US Ambassador’s daughter and her German friends Greta and Sara all risk their lives to collect information and do whatever they can to resist Hitler and the Nazi Party.
This fictional story was inspired by actual events and the story as told, gave me hope and inspiration for the selflessness and bravery of these women and men who fought against the evil Nazi regime.
This was truly an insightful and inspirational read for me that highlighted the bravery of ordinary people to fight and win against cruelty, injustice and pure evil.
I highly recommend this amazing book!
May 6, 2019
I won this book in a goodreads giveaway. Thank you to William Morrow. The story is about the brave women in the resistance during the second world war. Some of the characters are the actual women who tried to fight the injustice being done to the oppressed during the war. Really well written and well researched. One of the best books I've read about the second world war.
June 5, 2019
3.5 stars
This book showed up on my desk for review a few months ago and I was absolutely in love with the cover!
It reminded me of spring and it was elegant and had a lot of visual interest. The summary also sounded like something I would love, as I especially love war time stories.
Chiaverini has written a variety of different books, with her most widely known book being Mrs Lincoln’s Dressmaker as well as a women’s fiction quilting series called, Elm Creek Quilts.
This book seemed completely out of her normal genre. Her signature genre seemed to be historical fiction with crafting and women’s fiction with crafting so I wondered how this book about resistance women in WWII was going to come together and be different than her usual stories!
I have to say that I admire Chiaverini’s ability to shift genres and write memorable stories. While this book was on the longer, more dense/heavy side (over 600 pages), I did enjoy it and I commend her for reaching out into a new genre. There were some parts that were a little slow for me, but on the whole I thought the book mostly flowed ok, but it was just slow in parts and had a lot of historic detail .
It definitely wasn’t a books that I was able to ‘breeze’ through. It took me a few days of aggressive reading to get through it. While it was an enjoyable story, it was just long and had a lot of heavy content to process and uncover. I did love reading about the 4 women though. I thought the author created interesting women and intriguing stories for them.
While this book was on the long side, I did feel like I learned some new bits about history. I liked that this book gave some female perspective on the state of Germany at the time of the war and I enjoyed getting a bit of ‘behind the scenes’ views of history here. I didn’t know that this book was based on a true story, the characters themselves were fictional, but their stories were based on true events. I thought that was exciting and well researched so I commend the author on this front but at times I felt like this book had a little too much history in some parts.
Overall I ended up going with 3.5 stars for this one. It was good and interesting, but the length was just a little much for the story in my opinion.
See my full review here
This book showed up on my desk for review a few months ago and I was absolutely in love with the cover!
It reminded me of spring and it was elegant and had a lot of visual interest. The summary also sounded like something I would love, as I especially love war time stories.
Chiaverini has written a variety of different books, with her most widely known book being Mrs Lincoln’s Dressmaker as well as a women’s fiction quilting series called, Elm Creek Quilts.
This book seemed completely out of her normal genre. Her signature genre seemed to be historical fiction with crafting and women’s fiction with crafting so I wondered how this book about resistance women in WWII was going to come together and be different than her usual stories!
I have to say that I admire Chiaverini’s ability to shift genres and write memorable stories. While this book was on the longer, more dense/heavy side (over 600 pages), I did enjoy it and I commend her for reaching out into a new genre. There were some parts that were a little slow for me, but on the whole I thought the book mostly flowed ok, but it was just slow in parts and had a lot of historic detail .
It definitely wasn’t a books that I was able to ‘breeze’ through. It took me a few days of aggressive reading to get through it. While it was an enjoyable story, it was just long and had a lot of heavy content to process and uncover. I did love reading about the 4 women though. I thought the author created interesting women and intriguing stories for them.
While this book was on the long side, I did feel like I learned some new bits about history. I liked that this book gave some female perspective on the state of Germany at the time of the war and I enjoyed getting a bit of ‘behind the scenes’ views of history here. I didn’t know that this book was based on a true story, the characters themselves were fictional, but their stories were based on true events. I thought that was exciting and well researched so I commend the author on this front but at times I felt like this book had a little too much history in some parts.
Overall I ended up going with 3.5 stars for this one. It was good and interesting, but the length was just a little much for the story in my opinion.
See my full review here
February 19, 2023
Thanks to Goodreads and Wm. Morrow for this ARC.
I struggled with this book until I dropped it at page 59.
I usually enjoy WWII/historical books but this one was just too heavy for me (literally and figuratively since it was 586 pages). I've read so many historical books about WWII that I felt this book was not for me.
This is my first book by this author and I've heard of her other books which are a lighter read and she's sure gone in the opposite direction and I commend her for trying something different.
I did love the cover if that counts for anything.🤔
I struggled with this book until I dropped it at page 59.
I usually enjoy WWII/historical books but this one was just too heavy for me (literally and figuratively since it was 586 pages). I've read so many historical books about WWII that I felt this book was not for me.
This is my first book by this author and I've heard of her other books which are a lighter read and she's sure gone in the opposite direction and I commend her for trying something different.
I did love the cover if that counts for anything.🤔
May 26, 2021
Book on CD narrated by Saskia Maarleveld
3.5***
This is a work of historical fiction concentrating on the women who worked in Germany as part of the resistance movement to thwart Hitler’s ambitions. Chiaverini uses research into the lives of real women – Martha Dodd, Mildred Harnack, and Greta Kuckhoff – who formed part of the “Red Orchestra” cell, relaying information to both the Soviets and the Americans, at great danger to themselves, their friends and their families. In an author note, she writes that she invented the Jewish student Sara Weitz, to fill out the quartet of women, but based her on real stories of Jewish women who also worked for the resistance.
I was engaged and interested from beginning to end. The novel spans the time from June 1929 to the year following the end of the war, 1946. I had to wonder at times, whether Chiaverini was lifting certain phrases and descriptions of the political climate that led to the rise of Nazism from current-day news reporting and commentary. It was chillingly familiar.
I did think that some of the story lines got overly complicated, while others just petered out. Sara’s story, in particular, fizzled away. But then, she is the fictional character, and the last chapters focus on the real women.
Saskia Maarleveld does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. She has a lot of characters to deal with and she managed to give them sufficiently distinct voices so that I was able to keep them straight.
3.5***
This is a work of historical fiction concentrating on the women who worked in Germany as part of the resistance movement to thwart Hitler’s ambitions. Chiaverini uses research into the lives of real women – Martha Dodd, Mildred Harnack, and Greta Kuckhoff – who formed part of the “Red Orchestra” cell, relaying information to both the Soviets and the Americans, at great danger to themselves, their friends and their families. In an author note, she writes that she invented the Jewish student Sara Weitz, to fill out the quartet of women, but based her on real stories of Jewish women who also worked for the resistance.
I was engaged and interested from beginning to end. The novel spans the time from June 1929 to the year following the end of the war, 1946. I had to wonder at times, whether Chiaverini was lifting certain phrases and descriptions of the political climate that led to the rise of Nazism from current-day news reporting and commentary. It was chillingly familiar.
I did think that some of the story lines got overly complicated, while others just petered out. Sara’s story, in particular, fizzled away. But then, she is the fictional character, and the last chapters focus on the real women.
Saskia Maarleveld does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. She has a lot of characters to deal with and she managed to give them sufficiently distinct voices so that I was able to keep them straight.
July 28, 2019
This historical fiction is heavy on the history, which is exactly as I like it. The history evolved around the many difficult situations for the Germans and emigrants inside Berlin and Germany during Ww2 who did not like the direction the country was taking under Hitler and his Nazi cohorts. Their dissension led to resistance groups and therein lies the plot of the thrilling story. There was so much to learn and plenty of inspiration to investigate further. Fact is often more intriguing than fiction. Chiaverini presents sound, complex, riveting history yet brings in emotion and feeling with her characters.
The broad lesson to learn is how unselfish, brave and courageous the ordinary person can be for the good of others in a time when it could easily cost his or her life.
“A little less fear, a little more love of life in a few hundred thousand and the war wouldn’t have been possible or would have been over sooner.” Chiaverini, Author’s Notes.
The broad lesson to learn is how unselfish, brave and courageous the ordinary person can be for the good of others in a time when it could easily cost his or her life.
“A little less fear, a little more love of life in a few hundred thousand and the war wouldn’t have been possible or would have been over sooner.” Chiaverini, Author’s Notes.
August 30, 2021
This is a well-written, entertaining, and informative WWII historical fiction novel which is based on actual events. It is both heart-wrenching and hopeful. The author's notes at the end of the novel are much appreciated. I listened to the audio version of this novel, and the narrator, Ms. Saskia Maarleveld, does an outstanding job depicting the characters and their personalities.
September 17, 2021
I must have the most rotten luck when trying to find good historical novels about the Rote Kapelle resistance group, because what I find tends to be too romanticised (in the romance novel sense) or an utterly dull recitation of history book chunks trying to pass for a novel.
Resistance Women is, sadly, the latter sort. It may fare better with an audience unfamiliar with Mildred Harnack, Martha Dodd, and Greta Kuckhoff, the three women (plus a fictional one), who are the women in the title and heroines of the civilian resistance against Hitler; but to me that am acquainted with their stories and that of the other members, the book required too much effort in order to finish it. And the reason was the monotonous recitation of fact after fact, scene after scene, name after name, that came from Chiaverini's storytelling. I commend the research that went into this and the preoccupation with historical accuracy (though there are mistakes), but this isn't a non-fiction account, and telling a story is important. I am able to read and get engrossed by novels about events I know well, I wouldn't read so much WWII historical fiction if I couldn't, so all I ask for is to be told a story engagingly, to be made to care in spite of knowing what's going to happen in the end, not to be made to feel like I'm rereading all my WWII history books all over again. Hence, my disappointment in this novel runs deep because I find this group so very fascinating and brave.
Also, History does, indeed, tend to repeat itself, but the enthusiasm for drawing careless parallels between WWII and nowadays is quite tiresome, especially when it's poorly argued or not argued at all.
Resistance Women is, sadly, the latter sort. It may fare better with an audience unfamiliar with Mildred Harnack, Martha Dodd, and Greta Kuckhoff, the three women (plus a fictional one), who are the women in the title and heroines of the civilian resistance against Hitler; but to me that am acquainted with their stories and that of the other members, the book required too much effort in order to finish it. And the reason was the monotonous recitation of fact after fact, scene after scene, name after name, that came from Chiaverini's storytelling. I commend the research that went into this and the preoccupation with historical accuracy (though there are mistakes), but this isn't a non-fiction account, and telling a story is important. I am able to read and get engrossed by novels about events I know well, I wouldn't read so much WWII historical fiction if I couldn't, so all I ask for is to be told a story engagingly, to be made to care in spite of knowing what's going to happen in the end, not to be made to feel like I'm rereading all my WWII history books all over again. Hence, my disappointment in this novel runs deep because I find this group so very fascinating and brave.
Also, History does, indeed, tend to repeat itself, but the enthusiasm for drawing careless parallels between WWII and nowadays is quite tiresome, especially when it's poorly argued or not argued at all.
May 20, 2019
Resistance Women is about the true badass woman named Mildred Fish Harnack and her circle of women friends who waged a clandestine battle against Hitler in Nazi Berlin.
My first book by Jennifer Chiaverini and I’m hooked! I love historical fiction and I was blown away by the true story of the brave women- A professor, an aspiring author, and a student- who helped commit espionage against Hitler during WWII.
While this book is a chunker, I loved the true historic events taking place, and fell in love with the characters. Mildred, an American who befriends the women who will play such an important role in fighting injustice, Martha Dodd, the daughter of US ambassador, and German friends, author Greta Kuckoff and Sara Weitz.
I was amazed at the research that went into this novel to accurately depict these events. I have a soft spot when it comes to WWII historical fiction, and I truly enjoyed this book!
My first book by Jennifer Chiaverini and I’m hooked! I love historical fiction and I was blown away by the true story of the brave women- A professor, an aspiring author, and a student- who helped commit espionage against Hitler during WWII.
While this book is a chunker, I loved the true historic events taking place, and fell in love with the characters. Mildred, an American who befriends the women who will play such an important role in fighting injustice, Martha Dodd, the daughter of US ambassador, and German friends, author Greta Kuckoff and Sara Weitz.
I was amazed at the research that went into this novel to accurately depict these events. I have a soft spot when it comes to WWII historical fiction, and I truly enjoyed this book!
April 4, 2020
I feel really proud of myself for finishing this one (thank you @williammorrowbooks @bookclubgirl for the free book).
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Resistance Women follows the lives of a group of women living in Berlin in the decade preceding WWII and beyond. I learned SO MUCH about German history and culture. Most WWII fiction focuses on the war itself or just before. But this book helped me understand why Nazism took such a strong hold on the German people and also showed how many Germans fought against it.
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I did struggle a bit, as there’s a growing sense of impending doom as the war draws closer. That, coupled with the anxiety I was feeling last week, made this a hard read. It’s also a pretty long book, over 500 pages, which took a bit to get going. But if you love WWII fiction, I think this is worth your time.
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Resistance Women follows the lives of a group of women living in Berlin in the decade preceding WWII and beyond. I learned SO MUCH about German history and culture. Most WWII fiction focuses on the war itself or just before. But this book helped me understand why Nazism took such a strong hold on the German people and also showed how many Germans fought against it.
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I did struggle a bit, as there’s a growing sense of impending doom as the war draws closer. That, coupled with the anxiety I was feeling last week, made this a hard read. It’s also a pretty long book, over 500 pages, which took a bit to get going. But if you love WWII fiction, I think this is worth your time.
July 8, 2019
This was a long book and took awhile to get through! 😅 Amazing history and heart gripping events! The author bases all her main characters on real people (except one who is a combination of people) which makes for excellent authenticity. Because this is so historically accurate the story gets choppy in places. The middle gets a little slow, but the last 100 pages are worth the whole book. There’s a brief affair at the beginning that I assume is historically accurate.
This story begins in 1929 and tells the less known years of the 1930s how Germany slowly changed in government and how the people responded-good and bad. I’m challenged by these brave women who did what they could to fight evil forces through this horrendous time in history.
This story begins in 1929 and tells the less known years of the 1930s how Germany slowly changed in government and how the people responded-good and bad. I’m challenged by these brave women who did what they could to fight evil forces through this horrendous time in history.
July 22, 2021
I won this last year as a Goodreads give away. I am so glad I did not waste my money on this liberal propaganda garbage.
I could not finish it. It was glaringly obvious of the author's liberal political stance just shy 50 pages. Numerous sarcastic mentions of Hitler "Making Germany Great Again", comparing people who are anti-abortion to women hating Nazi's, etc, etc!
The entire scene where Mildred and her husband have been married for five years and she's still not pregnant so she goes to see a Pro Abortion advocate woman doctor speak amidst the protests of brown shirts who yell a womans only job is to make babies makes absolutely no sense for her to do. It was ridiculously fabricated to make any pro-life person out to be a fascist pig who is also anti-woman.
I couldn't even make it to page 100...I have no tolerance for blatant political agendas and lies in a WW2 historical fiction. This genre is saturated with so many other books that does not demean and ridicule the pro-life and conservative reader.
Auf Wiedersehen & gute riddance!
I could not finish it. It was glaringly obvious of the author's liberal political stance just shy 50 pages. Numerous sarcastic mentions of Hitler "Making Germany Great Again", comparing people who are anti-abortion to women hating Nazi's, etc, etc!
The entire scene where Mildred and her husband have been married for five years and she's still not pregnant so she goes to see a Pro Abortion advocate woman doctor speak amidst the protests of brown shirts who yell a womans only job is to make babies makes absolutely no sense for her to do. It was ridiculously fabricated to make any pro-life person out to be a fascist pig who is also anti-woman.
I couldn't even make it to page 100...I have no tolerance for blatant political agendas and lies in a WW2 historical fiction. This genre is saturated with so many other books that does not demean and ridicule the pro-life and conservative reader.
Auf Wiedersehen & gute riddance!
July 2, 2019
I have read plenty of WWII historical fiction however this book read less like fiction and more like a history book. It desperately needed good editing to mold the story. The character development was not very good and frankly if I'm going to immerse myself in 968 large print pages, I want the characters to be the focal point. I'd want to care about the characters! I did not finish this book and I'm not sorry. There is plenty of good WWII fiction being written. If you were looking for a to-be classic WWII historical fiction novel, with great characters like Kristin Hannah's "The Nightengale" this is not it.
March 7, 2020
DNF.... too many characters with not enough development. I couldn’t figure out why this book was taking me so long to read and it’s because it’s so boring...too much like a history book. Also, the author’s political views are obvious as she blatantly makes inferences to trump via hitler, but the inferences she makes are untrue and based on her MSNBC watching..Trump is not Hitler no matter how hard people try to make them the same person. His daughter is Jewish and he is for the state of Israel...
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