Cathy's house this month 18th March 2013
Apologies from Fiona, Wendy, Sue G, Sue Gil, Pauline, Jenny
All That I Am by Anna Funder
We had a lively discussion last night on Anna Funder's latest novel, "All That I Am", looking at the largely unknown history of the social democrats in Germany before the second world war. I was relived to discover that I wasn't alone in feeling that the book's beginning was confusing, and that the characters "voice" in different time zone was an unnecessary commencement to the story. Kate F agreed on a confusing beginning, causing her to start again to place time and people with the events.
A good deal needed to be read before a enthralling story took off. At this point all agreed on an interesting story full of brave ideologically strong characters which developed into a rich story, depicting history in a time, little of us had read about before.
The character of Ruth was someone Lynn felt the story could have followed to a much later age than in the story. There was a real connection to the places in Sydney and especially around Bondi mentioned in the story. To have heard more about how her life was when she got out of Germany and arrived in Sydney, before she became the old women recollecting her pre war self.
There were parts in the story which I found incredibly gripping. When you suddenly realized that there was a connection to something Hans had done and what was now unraveling. You wanted to shout out to warn Ruth and Dora not to stay where they were but to keep on running. But this is exactly how it was for the refugees of this and any era where you don't know who to trust or where is safe. Reading about the boat load of refugees being turned away from a safe port, knowing they were returned to Europe to a dreadful fate. Makes you think about current refugees coming to Australia seeking safety from persecution. How history has many lessons for us all.
Dora was my favorite character. She was so brave and driven. She had such a believable original ideology, of the social democrat voice in Germany. It caused her to risk everything. To speak out and educate. As time went on her message changed to educate everyone in Germany and the world about what was happening as Hitler rose to power. She believed to her very end that when people listened and believed her they would change and the disaster that was coming could be stopped.
Bronwyn was able to read some great parts out to us that helped her reflect on moving sections of the story. Unfortunately I can't remember them.(Bronwyn could you please add them in the comments)
There were places in Germany and France that Kate S had just returned from which made the story's location relate to her. Therese had visited I parts in Germany which told of the sad story of the lives lost because of Hitler.
For those of us who finished the book it was a great read and I hope inspires others to keep on reading the story.
Having had a long discussion we moved outside to the deck. We were blessed with a mild night and were able to enjoyed a supper of brownies and fruit and yogurt and caught up on the events in our families. Therese's news that she had sold her house, left us with both happy and sad feelings. Glad for her that she was for filling her dream but sad she was moving away.
Lynn was pleased to tell us of Anthony's new career, and the dramas of the interviews.
Next book will be at Sue Gee house on April 17
‘Love Anthony’ by Lisa Genova
1 comments:
At the meetings of the Socialist Workers Party in Exile in Ruth's flat the apprentice roof-tiler(before the war) Helmut Goldschmidt "he developed a passion for books&retrained.During a lull in a meeting he would heft a book like a grenade and quip 'An idea is a weapon to change the world.' I like the the thought of this especially in the context of this book.
The other part of the book which I found to be quite shocking was Theo Poepke's story_he had his nose and jaw destroyed by a grenade.He was waiting to be informed of his fate,he knows the doctors are coming to assess whether he can return to civilian life or be forever confined in a secret military hospital(so people would never have to be confronted by the horrors of war&therefore keep up morale&support for the war)This really affected me after just seeing a documentary illustrating the incidence of birth defects in Iraq following the radioactive weapons employed(John Pilger has written and spoken about this)
Another interesting story I found about people in the world protesting about the German Government co-ordinated attacks against the Jewish people in 1938.An Aboriginal man William Cooper led a group of people on a walk down Collins Street in Melbourne to the German Consulate,protesting the 'cruel persecution of Jews in Germany.He is honoured at the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem,and by the way Aboriginals did not have the right to vote at this time.
Bron
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