Review of The Years After

[Oluoma Chukwu]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Years After" by Gisela Roediger.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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The Years After is a memoir written by Gisela Roediger. It follows the writer's struggle for independence in war-torn Germany years after the Second World War. The book is a sequel to a previous book, "When Time Stood Still."
 
As the book begins, Giselle is still dealing with the death of her beloved husband, Hermann. With a devastated Germany in the background, Giselle must deal with a lack of adequate food and dim job prospects. She meets and marries Heinz, whom she loves but seems incapable of keeping up with her burning desire to be a successful businesswoman. When fate brings her together with a man of like passions, will she stay in the marriage she has built or yield to temptation? When her quest for independence makes her move to Canada, find out how she fares in this interesting book.
 
There's quite a lot to like about the book. I loved the language throughout the book; it is simple and easy to follow. I also liked the premise of the book. This is probably the first post-World War II book I have read that is told from the perspective of a German. It was interesting to gain insight into what life must have been like for the average German after the war. I found Giselle to be rather inspiring. Her drive to lift herself from the war-impoverished conditions she was in and become the financial success she became is something to be commended. I liked her adventurous spirit. I really liked the depiction of every individual, as the author did not shy away from showing their shortcomings, even those of herself. Showing those flaws must have required a level of vulnerability on the author's part that I must applaud. The book did a good job of keeping me emotionally connected to it. I must admit, I was heartbroken when I read "November 10, 1988".
 
My single negative issue with the book was that it had, in my opinion, too many chapters. Many of the chapters flowed into each other and could have been combined for a smoother read. Ultimately, it was an interesting book that also turned out to be enlightening as I gained perspective on post-war Germany.
 
I found no errors in the book. The book was professionally edited. Therefore, I rate this book five out of five stars. I found the book enlightening and interesting. I was very satisfied with the book, and as a result, I could not rate it any lower. I recommend this book to lovers of memoirs.

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The Years After
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[Kebun Bunga]

The feedback on the review of "The Years After" is well-articulated and provides valuable insights. The reviewer highlights the language and premise of the book, expressing appreciation for the simplicity and ease of following the narrative. They particularly note the unique perspective of a post-World War II story from a German point of view, which offers an interesting glimpse into the life of an average German during that time. The reviewer finds the protagonist, Giselle, inspiring and commends the author for portraying both the strengths and shortcomings of the characters, including herself. The emotional connection maintained throughout the book is also mentioned. The reviewer mentions the only negative aspect they found, which is the chapter structure that could have been condensed for a smoother reading experience. They praise the absence of errors and professionally edited nature of the book. Consequently, they give it a perfect rating of five out of five stars and recommend it to memoir enthusiasts.