This is a thought-provoking story about guilt and complicity in post World War II Germany. It shows how little has been settled in the years following the war. It gave me an interesting glimpse into 1960s Germany.

I really enjoyed this book and thought that it was well-written and that the characters were well-developed. My interest was kept throughout the entire novel and I am thankful for the opportunity to read and review The German House. I look forward to reading more books by Annette Hess.

It's 20 years after the end of World War 2, but the repercussions are still being felt in Germany. Eva speaks several languages and her job as a translator puts her center stage in a war crimes trial, translating for Polish survivors of Auschwitz. Although she's trying to just live a normal life -- a fiancée, .helping in the family restaurant, caring for her little brother -- but the horrors she keeps hearing are haunting her and she's feeling much more of a connection to them.

I really enjoyed this book (if that's the correct term!). It was translated from the German, and the German perspective is clearly articulated. This is not to say that anything is excused because it's NOT, but it is a bit of a change from the strong condemnation often found in other books written about the camps. That becomes clear as Eva begins to recollect and recognize her family's connection to the camp. (This is not a spoiler since it's strongly hinted throughout the book until the big reveal late in the book.) This is a book that would foster a great book club discussion about culpability and personal responsibility.

There are a couple of sub-plots that are also captivating -- what's really going on with Eva's fiancée? And just what the heck is her sister doing??? Although this is reflective of real life -- there's never a time when just one thing is happening -- I did wonder about the point of the sub-plot with the sister. It seemed extraneous to me, just unnecessary and almost distracting. Having said that, however, it was also very thought-provoking. There are many layers to this book -- the perfect "book club" book.

One more thing -- the translation is excellent! The prose flows well and the texture of the language is kept. Very well written, and very well translated.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book. I ended up not finishing this book. I think I have recently read to many WWII based books and found this one difficult to connect with.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read and review this title. I will review this title at a different date.

The German House is a book you read while holding your breath and clutching your stomach, but not out of fear, out of disbelief, disgust, and anger.

Not at the book, but at what was done to the people.

The German House is centered around the story of a young German interpreter for the Nazi trials in 1963. We experience life as she experiences it, are brought along as she discovers that her life is nothing like she thought it was. Some secrets have the power to explode your life, even when they aren't your own secrets.

I don't want to give away any spoilers, because I just hate them, but Eva finds that everyone in her life has been keeping secrets. Her countrymen, her sister, her parents, and even her own memory, have been holding back events in the hope that they could make their version of events the truth. But as is almost always the case, the truth is hard to deny when it is take out of hiding and you are forced to look at it.

That is what the Nazi trials did to everyone in the world at the time, none more so than Germans in the 1960's, whose optimism for the future had clouded the facts of the past. Stepping into Auschwitz, seeing the physical evidence, feeling the weight of millions of deaths, did what no amount of personal testimony could. Forced everyone to stare into the truth until they could see it.

There were multiple parts of The German House that will stay with me forever. The testimonies that Annette Hess wrote from the actual trials, taken with some artistic license to give voices to as many victims as possible, were of course memorable. But a phrase she used stood out and has echoed in my mind.

When talking about Eva, who was trying to repent what her people did to Jews at Auschwitz, someone asked a man who had survived the camp what she wanted. He said, "Consolation. They want us to console them." It struck me as so true that perpetrators often want consolation in their regret, to make them feel better about the shame they bear for their actions. To think of Jewish people, let only victims of the Holocaust, consoling anyone makes me almost ache with injustice.

The story of Eva herself was a little bit all over the place. I understand that she was finding herself, and her truth, through the trials, and they impacted her view of everything in her life. However, I don't quite understand how the love story was resolved, especially in the end.

Also, her sister's storyline makes no sense to me, and I wasn't able to figure out the purpose of her in the book. I'm assuming there was some hidden meaning or symbolism, but I can't see it.

Other than those two elements, and a slightly slow start, I loved this book. It brought light to a part of the history of WWII that I was unaware of, and as we all should, I want to know as much as possible. We can never forget because we can never let something like this happen again.

This is a well written historical fiction about a perspective of WW II from the eyes of 1963. Eva is a young translator who is involved with the Frankfurt Auschwitz Trial as a Polish translator for the persecution. She is shocked by what she learns from the witnesses. She has questions about her family, her fiance. A consuming tale. Read and learn.

Unfortunately I didn't have opportunity to read/review this one due to other commitments, but I will feature it on my page. If I get the chance to review this one I will make sure to come and update it here. Thank you Netgalley and publisher for my gifted copy.

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was different than my typical WWII stories I like to read. It’s set in post war times but it still grabbed my attention.

Set during the Auschwitz trials of 1963, this is a thoughtful post-World War II novel. Eva Bruhns is a young German translator who learns of her country's role, and ultimately her family's role, during her work during the trials. This book is another good contribution representing yet another facet of this time period, for which readers are continually searching.

This book was so good that for me, it was very difficult to put down because the story was absolutely gripping!!! The story takes place in Frankfurt in 1963 when Eva, the main character (a German interpreter for the Polish language) in chosen to interpret for Auschwitz survivors involved in a lawsuit against men who worked in there during WWII. As she becomes more involved, she discovers secrets about her family and their role during WWII which she had no idea about. It was very interesting and of heartbreaking to read as Eva struggles to come to terms with the past. Eva really can't believe the attitude of the people in her country, booming post-war Germany, which is to basically ignore the terrible atrocities which occurred in the concentration camps as well as the unwillingness to deal reality of the crimes that were committed. As Eva uncovers painful secrets about her own family from the war, she changes her life and makes decisions so she can be true to herself and her own conscience. An amazing historical fiction novel!!!! Thanks to NG for the ARC!!!

This story peaked my interest as soon as I read the description. It’s not your usual World War II historical fiction story. What interested me was that this takes place many years after the war and involves the Frankfurt Trials. The multiple sub-plot lines keep the story moving forward, and intertwine in the most creative way. I really enjoyed the personality of the protagonist, Eva Bruhns. At times, I felt like giving her fiancé a piece of my mind. I couldn’t stand how controlling he came across, but then I have to remind myself that this was how men acted back in the 60s. The time period was so well written, with mentions of The Beatles on their claim to fame. Ironically, this book takes place around Christmas time, and that is when I ended up reading it. That I think that definitely helped me relate more to the story, and had me in the mood for it. I highly recommend reading The German House during the winter, it has a lot of snowfall mentioned, so if you’re somewhere snowy and you love historical fiction then read this!!! 🙂

I tend to get tired of WWII historical fiction, it’s a very heavy time period and can wear on one’s soul. This was a refreshing perspective, and I enjoyed it! I’m so thankful to have been approved for an ARC of The German House through NetGalley, and thank you to HarperCollins Publishing as well. I will definitely be looking to read more books by Annette Hess, especially if she writes more historical fiction with unique perspectives. It’s a genre I’d like to read more of, but also a genre that has so many set during WWII and not enough set during different periods in time.

As a daughter of parents who either lived in Germany during WWII or were born to parents who were of German descent, this book touched on what I have always wondered but was too scared to ask or couldn’t because my mother and grandparents from Germany were gone.
Were the Germans in Germany, not part of the SS, responsible for looking away as millions of people were killed all because they were Jewish, Bohemian, Disabled or considered an enemy of the state for their belief against what the SS and Hitler were doing? One side of my family was living in Bremen during WWII and the other side of my family was part of the Jewish citizens of Poland and Germany. I still can’t fathom how one part of my family could feel comfortable ignoring, pretending, or even thinking that the Jewish people were evil enough to deserve death through work, extermination by gas, gun or starvation.

German House discusses these thoughts and more.

Ms. Hess does an excellent job of bringing the honest feelings of regret, horror, indecision, ignorance and pure evil to the story in the book German House. The characters at times were not as richly developed as I had hoped they would be and sometimes I was frustrated with Eva and her lack of backbone when it came to her boyfriend. She was independent in most ways and yet let him walk all over her for 90% of the book!

Overall this book brings us to deeply contemplating and helping us to make up our own minds to what our values and morality will lead us if we see things happening that we don't agree with and what we will do when the time comes to act upon those values when things get out of hand.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read the German House in lieu of my honest review.

I found this to be an extremely interesting book about aa time in history I was not that familiar with. This book tugged my heartstrings at times and gave me an insight into the time after the war. I thought it was very well written and will be recommending it to everyone. I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

Historical fiction a book that drew me in had me shedding a few tears.A young translator a time in history after ww2 the auschwitz trials a heart wrenching read.A book I highly recommend.#netgalley#harperviaharpercollins

I had no expectations going into this book and I left it pleasantly surprised. The German House by Annette Hess is my 5th work of translation that I enjoyed this year. Eva Bruhns love and compassion for the war victims was truly something beautiful to read. (yes, I cried a bit). Based on the actual testimony at the Frankfurt trials, this novel is compelling and an absolute must read, 3.5/5 stars.


Thank you HarperVia & Netgalley for gifting me this darc in exchange for an honest review.

Annette Hess takes on the difficult task of portraying the Frankfurt Auschwitz Trials of 1963. I definitely applaud her for taking on such a topic, as I’ve read nothing else on this specific historical moment. I did find the writing did not have the best flow to it at times, but that’s possibly due to issues in translation. I also became confused at times when the story changed time periods. Hence a 3 star rating rather than 4. Overall a worthwhile read though.

Many thanks to Netgalley, HarperVia and Annette Hess for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Set against the Frankfurt Auschwitz Trials of 1963, a story about a young female translator discovering the very real truth about her country and the role of people in authority at Auschwitz. She must manage life with this knowledge and the role of her family in the past.

This book shines on every level: sentence after sentence is beautiful and precise. The characters are complicated and sympathetic, the ideas are sweeping and profound, but are never too overt. It’s a rare novel that is as accomplished in its meaning as it is in its storytelling while also succeeding wildly on the language level as well! A novel to lose yourself in and then reflect upon again and again.

I am not sure if it was the translation that turned me off or the actual story itself. The premise is promising, but somehow fails to deliver. The German House tells a story of two Germany's. Following the aftermath of WWII, Germany is struggling with how to deal with their war criminals. Many people want to forget about it and move on, while still others want to bring them to justice. Young Eva Bruhns works as a polish translator and gets sucked into translating for one of the war trials. Her parents never talked about what they did during the war, and like many young Germans raised post war, she does not understand the atrocities committed. She also has to balance her desire to work the trial with her shaky relationship with her standoffish and controlling fiance.

The whole relationship between Eva and Jürgen was painful. Again, I am not sure if it was the translation that made this come off badly or the actual story telling. Much of the story was comprised of short, crudely written sentences. The transitions between view points and paragraphs were poorly executed. Overall, a disappointing read in my opinion. Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC for review.