Finding Rebecca
Finding Rebecca by Eoin Dempsey tells the complicated love story of Christopher and Rebecca. Neighbors on the island of Jersey, their lives are irrevocably changed by the onset of WWII. Rebecca, a Jew, is shipped away after the Nazis take over the island, and Christopher, a native German, decides to join the SS in an attempt to save the woman he loves.
This is such a powerful story. Christopher is the protagonist and it follows him as he serves at Auschwitz, desperately trying to rescue Rebecca while pretending to be a loyal servant of the Fuhrer. Even though it's fictional, the horrors he witnesses and experiences read like a true account - mainly because such evils did happen at concentration camps. It's hard to even fathom that such cruelty and evil could occur, but it did, and it was definitely difficult to read about - fiction or not. I felt so bad for Christopher, who detested what was happening around him but who kept up the charade in order to save Rebecca. The intense stress and depression he experienced takes its toll as the story progresses, and I kept wondering if and when he would just reach his breaking point, or worse - get caught. Without spoiling too much, I love that he was able to outsmart the system and end up saving countless other innocent lives.
I loved the ending and thought it was truly fitting of the relationship Christopher and Rebecca shared. My only qualm is that Rebecca's instant hatred of Christopher after she discovered he joined the SS seemed out of character. She knew him well enough to know that Christopher wasn't behind the breakup letter her father made him pen, so it was surprising to me how she didn't pick up on his actual motives for joining, or at least give him the benefit of the doubt. War changes people, though, and because things eventually worked out, I wasn't disappointed.
I think I mentioned this in a previous post, but this is now one of my all-time favorite works. It's a gripping, extremely realistic account of the horrors of war, but also an example of how love can still conquer all. Even after living through such evil and dealing with its toxic effects, Christopher and Rebecca ultimately manage to find their way back to each other. I just absolutely loved this work and would highly recommend it whether you're a fan of historical fiction or just looking for a great read.
This is such a powerful story. Christopher is the protagonist and it follows him as he serves at Auschwitz, desperately trying to rescue Rebecca while pretending to be a loyal servant of the Fuhrer. Even though it's fictional, the horrors he witnesses and experiences read like a true account - mainly because such evils did happen at concentration camps. It's hard to even fathom that such cruelty and evil could occur, but it did, and it was definitely difficult to read about - fiction or not. I felt so bad for Christopher, who detested what was happening around him but who kept up the charade in order to save Rebecca. The intense stress and depression he experienced takes its toll as the story progresses, and I kept wondering if and when he would just reach his breaking point, or worse - get caught. Without spoiling too much, I love that he was able to outsmart the system and end up saving countless other innocent lives.
I loved the ending and thought it was truly fitting of the relationship Christopher and Rebecca shared. My only qualm is that Rebecca's instant hatred of Christopher after she discovered he joined the SS seemed out of character. She knew him well enough to know that Christopher wasn't behind the breakup letter her father made him pen, so it was surprising to me how she didn't pick up on his actual motives for joining, or at least give him the benefit of the doubt. War changes people, though, and because things eventually worked out, I wasn't disappointed.
I think I mentioned this in a previous post, but this is now one of my all-time favorite works. It's a gripping, extremely realistic account of the horrors of war, but also an example of how love can still conquer all. Even after living through such evil and dealing with its toxic effects, Christopher and Rebecca ultimately manage to find their way back to each other. I just absolutely loved this work and would highly recommend it whether you're a fan of historical fiction or just looking for a great read.
Comments
Post a Comment