Dutch Wife Original/E

At some points it was intense but honestly this was a good read.

I can't believe how many people gave this book 4 stars. Knowing it was about the concentration camps & the treatment of the prisoners, I knew it wasn't going to be light reading. But the author brought to light the treatment of women hand picked for their beauty who were forced to serve in a way that I had never read about before. While there was some kindness, page after page was depressing. I forced myself to finish the book because I had to know how it ended. If you need another lesson in how those in power can mistreat others, I guess you'll give this more stars than I did. I had to look up how to pronounce Marijke's name. It's muh-ray=kah.

Let me just say... WOW! I read this book within 3 days (might've been less than 2 days had I not been distracted by everyday life) I was so enthralled by the three main characters- Marijke, Karl and Luciano- and how their stories are all intertwined. Marijke is a political prisoner who takes the option of serving in a brothel -in camp Buchenwald- where she sleeps with prisoners awarded for good behavior. She does this in hopes of finding her husband who is also a political prisoner and asks every client she is with if they have heard or seen her husband. Karl Muller, an officer with the SS, notices her and despite having another brothel for the officers, goes in search of her and the two develop a relationship despite where they stand on opposites sides of the war. Karl struggles with how he really feels about the Reich and its views while understanding the atrocities and feelings of Marijke. Luciano's story takes place decades later during the Argentian War where -after a student rally- he is taken prisoner and left to be subjected to torture, starvation and other horrific acts. He strives for his survival and during the loniest parts of the late nights in his cell, formulates letters in his mind to his father who he feels like doesn't love him and hides his true self. The story envelops you into the angst and anxiety of all three stories and as you near the last 50 or so pages you see just how Lucianos story ties to one of the other main characters. (I won't spoil it for you but wow was I shocked but somehow expected it) I highly recommend this book! I've read many novels set in WW2 and I have to say, this one felt the most realistic in terms of descriptions.